Corsica is a beautiful French island south of Provence in the Mediterranean Sea. We took an overnight ferry/cruise ship there from Marseille. Magnificent mountains and hill towns envelope valleys, bands of goats, olive trees, cork trees, fragrant shrubby plants and vineyards.
Historically the island indured constant invasions. It was governed by Pisa and Genoa and was finally given to France. Because of the invasions, the people moved to the interior of the island for refuge. Therefore they did not eat seafood! The traditional diet was and still is goats milk cheese, goat, wild boar, beef, pasta, olives, wine, bread and produce. Today there’s great seafood along the coastal towns!
Le Ranch in Occhiatana has wood fire pizza and roasted meats, typical Corse foods and home made desserts, plus a fantastic view!
Typical Corse lunch-goats milk cheese sprinkled with dried mountain thyme, cured wild boar and beef meats and fig jam.
Wood fire roasted veal chop covered with melted strong cheese
Wood fire roasted lamb
Wood fire thin crust pizza
A liver sausage with figs
Corse soup is a split pea like soup with beans and vegetables
Traditional wild boar stew with potatoes
Grilled beef steak with Roquefort cheese sauce. Much of this cheese is made from Corsican goats milk. The bacteria is added in Roquefort France.
Wild boar stew over pasta
Wild boar bacon, liver sausage, bread with melted goat cheese and a fried egg, a Corse lunch.
A crepe thin omelette with grated cheese and herbs
Spaghetti soaked in a rich seafood and meat sauce with gambas, a shrimp like shellfish
Calamari braised in a rich paprika sauce and the above spaghetti at L’Escale in Tizzano, on the sea
Wild boar in wine sauce with baked tomato
Cigli or tiny lobsters with onions and baked tomato
Risotto with squid ink and lobster bites topped with gambas and a bubbly fish sauce
A white fish over artichoke purée with a gamba and fish sauce
A unique appetizer! Phyllo like rounds rolled around a piece of lobster, then fried and layered with lettuce and a saffron aoli dipping sauce
Voilà! Dining at Les Roches Rouges Hotel in Piana
U Castillè: A great eatery with a variety of venues in Bonifacio
A pot full of mussels with lemon and white wine
St Pierre, a white fish with rice and a roasted red pepper sauce
Some fast foods from the patisseries and delis
Sartenès specialty, pastry filled with liver sausage
Croque Monsieur, a toasted ham and cheese sandwich with melted cheese and goat cheese rounds on top
A sandwich with prosciutto and sliced cheese on ciabatta
Soft bread with melted cheese on top, like a mini cheese pizza
Ham and cheese melted on a pastry cut in squares
Dry cheesecake that is not very sweet
The 3 Stars is an award winning pastisserie in Belgedere
Strawberry tart from Belgedere
Brioche with local fresh goat cheese
Semi frozen dessert with strawberry sauce from Bonifacio
Dry cheesecake with no crust from Le Ranch in Occhiatano
These clementines grow all over Corsica. They make jams out of them and also from lemons and limes and sell them at the markets and shops
Corsica is a dramatically beautiful and earthy land. It’s a favorite!