Back in 2019 I found myself leading a fabulous group of foodies from Australia and the United States on a culinary tour of a lifetime. Seven days of indulgence awaited us, and Menton was our destination for an extraordinary day of surprises.

Little did our eager group know what awaited them as we arrived in Menton. With a mischievous smile, I told everyone to dress casually smart for lunch, without revealing our destination. Our first stop was the vibrant undercover Menton food market, where colors aromas, and flavors tantalized our senses, but that was just the beginning.

Next, we ventured to a renowned local citrus jam maker, where the secrets of preserving the region's citrus treasures were revealed. From zesty marmalades to tangy spreads. We tasted the essence of Menton’s vibrant citrus culture.

As we stroll back towards our bus, curiosity filled the air, I turned to the group and said are you ready for a lunch experience like no other. An unrivaled culinary masterpiece that tops the world's restaurant scene was our destination, Mirazur, the world's number one restaurant at the time.

Recently on Fabulously Delicious, I continued my conversation with Chef Maxine Kien from Boucherie restaurants in New York City. This time with a focus on his place of birth, the French city of Menton and its food, particularly its wonderful food festival, the Menton citrus festival.

When you look at the map of France, if you go to the left you will find Menton on the right Chef Kien says and he fills us in on all things about this wonderful city located on the Cote D’Azur.

Each year the city throws one of the biggest food festivals in France. The Menton Citrus Festival highlights all there is to know about delicious citrus, lemons, limes, oranges, and everything else in between. Chef Kien remembers past festivals that he’s been to as well as their themes. That’s right each year the festival picks a theme to highlight citrus.

Chef Klien discusses all there is to know about Menton and who better to learn from than a Fabulous French chef who used to call the city home.

This was the topic on Fabulously Delicious: The French Food Podcast and you can listen to the full episode via Spotify or Apple Podcasts on the links above or wherever you listen to podcasts.