The great evening meal and the 13 desserts of Aix

We know this side of Aix-en-Provence, the one that make of this city the ideal destination to recharge one’s batteries and to make the most of some little calm far from the hustle and bustle of the big cities. But is one aware of its history, the one that made it famous for years? Discover 2 interesting myths that have made Aix-en-Provence what it is today!

The great evening meal

Approaching the topic of the great evening meal is not easy. It is a garnished feast, but meager that you can take from 19 h. It gathers all close relation and has been prepared with much better products that have been specially kept for the evening.

The great evening meal is made up of a large number of lean dishes. During the festival, it is possible to taste 7 different dishes. In fact, it is the perfect figure in reminiscence of the 7 pains of the Virgin.

Foods are concocted with care that vary from one family to another or from one country to another. It is the same for the desserts declining in 7 different kinds. The whole is blended with harmony ... You can state some dishes mixed up that you usually find in this kind of festivity.

Snails should always be on the menu, as are vegetable gratin with spinach and cauliflower. Typical Provençal dishes like the aioli or the card are often present during the ceremony of the great evening meal not forgetting the accompaniments like the fish or the omelettes with the truffle or the artichokes.

For the most part, the fish are roasted, but in the case of cod or eel, the latter are simmered in "rèito", that is to say fried or sauced with capers and wine. The great evening meal often takes place on Christmas Eve when all the family members are gathered together.

The 13 Provençal desserts

According to legend, the 13 desserts come from an old Marseilles tradition and were less known before the beginning of the XIXth century. According to Frédéric Mistral's "Memoires", it was on Christmas Eve that the desserts were the most numerous. However, he did not specify the number ...

In this way, you will be able to deduce that there were not exactly 13 desserts, but that they were indeed abundant. These include the oil pump, nougat (white or black), dates, pies, winter melons or other seasonal fruits.