Pizza and chilled red wine

publication date: Jul 7, 2008

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author/source: Fiona Beckett

We’re in Arles this week for our annual visit to the Rencontres Arles, the fabulous photography festival that takes over the entire town. Since we’re with our youngest son, culinary exploration has to alternate with visits to his favourite pizza and sandwich joints which is how we ended up last night at a basic but brilliant pizzeria in the Trinquetaille on the other side of the Rhone.

I have to say I don’t think I’ve had a better pizza in Italy. The wood-fired crusts are just fabulous, so thin, crisp and full of taste that you could eat them on their own. I ordered a Four Seasons, topped with mushrooms, anchovies, mozzarella and chorizo which went perfectly with the carafe of cold red wine (a cabernet blend, I think) they unceremoniously plonked on the table.

It was a great match certainly but undoubtedly helped by the fact that it was a beautiful evening, we were eating out of doors and were just pleased to be back in a city we know and love so well. Sometimes a food and wine match is more about mood and occasion than anything else.