restaurants in aix-en-provence and avignon, quick

[eatstrong]

any favorite restaurants in aix or avignon? my brother and i are here in aix tonight and tomorrow night, and avignon the next night. no car, unfortunately. also, the best calissons in aix? thanks alot.

[Scott]

Best in Aix is Clos Violette, but try to get out - 45mins by car - to Oustau Beaumaniere in Les Baux.

3* in an idyllic situation

[Carlsbad]

Bistro Latin in Aix is simple, inexpensive and good. Only place I know about to get calissons is the place that has been there for a long time on the south side of the Cour Mirabeau.

[eatstrong]

thanks for the recs. we broke the bank at clos de la violette last night (excellent, full report to follow) so no 3* tonight, unfotunately. maybe bistro latin though. thanks alot.

[menton1]

Yes, Calissons d'Aix are unique and wonderful! I think the secret ingredient is melon paste....

Our favorite place to buy them is Béchard, on 12 Cours Mirabeau. Love the tins in the same shape as the Calissons. While you are there, look in the next block for the apartment building where the sculpture of two men is "holding up" the entrance. My favorite photo of Aix!!

[eatstrong]

thanks menton, went to bechard and had a whole assortment of petit fours, they were all delicious. thanks for the rec.

[menton1]

Did you catch those "two men" sculpture?

[Bux]

I always think of calissons as an almond paste confection, but there's more melon than almond and at least one recipe calls for 40% almonds to 60% fruit and syrup. The fruit being mostly melon confit. Here's a list of firms in Aix that make calissons. Roy René is probably the largest manufacturer and the one whose product you will most likely find in pastry shops all over France. Béchard, who has the only shop on the Cours Mirabeau, would have been the last place I bought them. As I recall it was quite a nice little shop with plenty of other distractions.