Delicious Dishes To Try In Monaco

The beautiful country of Monaco, situated on the French Riviera, is home to many delicious delicacies, some inspired by traditional French and Italian dishes. Here are just a few different meals we recommend you try when on holiday in Monaco.

Beautiful Bread

Fougasse is the French version of Italian focaccia and can be sweet or savoury. The savoury version has an aromatic flavour that comes from thyme, rosemary and sage in its dough. Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle cheese on top to complete this snack.

The sweet kind has oranges, nuts, aniseed and raisins mixed into its dough, making it a mouth-watering dessert. Traditionally, before baking in the oven, it’s sculpted and slashed into a pattern resembling an ear of wheat.

Pissaladière originated in Nice and is a twist on the classic Italian pizza. It uses a similar dough for the base and is topped with anchovies, black olives and caramelised onions. Although this used to be a typical breakfast food, it’s now a delicious appetiser served in local restaurants.

Spectacular Snacks

Often called Monaco’s national dish, barbajuan is a fritter usually filled with Swiss chard and ricotta, but numerous Monegasques add other ingredients like vegetables, herbs and rice. This fried puff pastry treat originates from Monaco and is eaten by many on 19th November, Monaco’s national day. However, you can have it as a starter in plenty of eateries or as a quick, on-the-go snack from delis and street vendors.

If you’re on the hunt for the ideal lunchtime sandwich, pan bagnat, a street food from Nice, is sure to suffice. It’s comprised of whole wheat bread stuffed with hard-boiled eggs, salad and anchovies. Some bakeries soak their bread in tomato juice and olive oil before sprinkling it with salt and pepper to give it an added kick of flavour.

Fabulous Fish

Bouillabaisse is a stew containing three types of fish – European conger, sea robin and scorpaena scrofa. Aromatic spices and herbs, such as cayenne pepper and saffron, are thrown into a rouille sauce that covers the fish, before it’s placed into a broth made from celery, leeks and onions. The ideal accompaniment is toasted bread to soak up any leftover sauce.

An alternative is brandaminaium, Monaco’s version of fish and chips. The cod is salted and preserved by drying, before being cooked in a rich sauce made of onions and garlic. Vegetables are served on the side to balance out the salty fish and creamy dressing. Traditionally, this meal is eaten during Lent, Easter and Christmas – be sure to try it when visiting around these times.

Marvellous Mains

If you find yourself staring at a restaurant menu, overwhelmed with what to choose, opt for the Swiss chard pie. This main is comprised of two layers of pastry filled with a mixture of fried eggs, onions, grated parmesan cheese, rice and chard. With a texture similar to quiche, it’s the perfect choice when you can’t decide what to eat.

A favourite with meat-lovers, porchetta is Monaco’s take on an Italian pork roast. A boneless pork joint is heavily salted and stuffed with liver, fennel, herbs and spices before being cooked over a wood fire for up to eight hours. The skin is kept on to provide mouth-watering flavours and add a crunch to the texture. This dish is also enjoyed by locals during the holiday period, so why not join in when visiting around Christmas?

If your mouth is starting to water and you wish to book a trip to Monaco, call us on 0800 021 3237 or contact us via our website. Alternatively, you can visit our Framlingham, Woodbridge or Ipswich travel agents to speak to a member of our team.