![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lemouching.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Le-Mouching-fly-fishing-Fanny.jpg?resize=350%2C233&ssl=1\" "\\"Le")
<\/p>\nYou\u2019d better believe that I was ready at 9 on the dot and we raised anchor of the \u00ab\u00a0Fanny\u00a0\u00bb as soon as the motor decided to start. Ah\u2026 the music of those diesel motors\u2026 It\u2019s maritime Dubussy, it\u2019s Erik Satie of the blue waters\u2026 it\u2019s marvelous!\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n
We didn\u2019t go very far, barely a quarter of an hour out.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0To fish for a soup there\u2019s no reason to go all the way to Corsica\u00a0\u00bb said Marius, \u00ab\u00a0the girelles, the sarans and the rouquiers (all small mediterranean rock fish), they\u2019re everywhere. I know a spot over by Pointe Rouge where you only have to put your hand in the water to fill your basket with fish. You\u2019ll see\u2026 in Marseille we\u2019re not all liars.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n
When we got to the secret spot Marius dropped anchor and handed me the palangrotte (fishing line wrapped around a piece of cork). Just the word alone \u00ab\u00a0palangrotte\u00a0\u00bb warms my heart and to let the line run from the plaque of cork had me salivating in advance.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0Here Fl\u00e8che, do me a favor, stick these mussels on the hook and get ready, I sense that we\u2019re going to have a big day. I can feel it\u2026 good lord I can feel it!<\/p>\n
When the mistral (north wind) started around 10:30 neither Marius nor I had a single fish. Not even a nibble.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0Damn it, they\u2019re not biting this morning. It has to be the hellish mistral that makes them timid! And shit\u2026 the wind is starting to pick up big time\u2026 C\u2019mon Fl\u00e8che\u2026 let\u2019s pull anchor. We\u2019ll go and find shelter over by vallon des Auffes.<\/p>\n
Well, my friends, vallon des Auffes\u2026 what a jewel! It\u2019s a tiny port nestled in a crook of Marseille; \u00ab\u00a0surrounded by little cabins, not bigger then a pocket handkerchief\u00a0\u00bb (or, so goes the song of Vincent Scotto).<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0Well Fl\u00e8che\u2026 We didn\u2019t catch our soup today, but who cares. We\u2019ll go for a swim at the calanque and afterwards I invite you to eat a bouillabaisse at Fonfon. Yesterday I sold a painting of the Vieux-Port to a couple of english tourists; let\u2019s go and celebrate.![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lemouching.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Le-mouching-fly-fishing-Fonfon.jpg?resize=500%2C248&ssl=1\" "\\"Le")
<\/p>\n
Dear readers. If one day you want to eat a formidable bouillabaisse, don\u2019t go any further. Reserve a table at Fonfon in the vallon des Auffes. It may not be paradise, but it\u2019s as close as you\u2019ll get. The moment that you enter this gastronomic temple you are intoxicated by the delicate perfume of saffron. I had my taste buds in erection and when the waitress brought us the menu we didn\u2019t let her leave.<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0Two bouillabaisses, Victorine, and a nice cold bottle of rose\u2019\u2026 tell me are there favouilles (flavorful, small green crabs) in the soup today?\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00ab\u00a0And how, there are favouilles! And there are also rascasses that were fished this morning, as well as vives and pageots (all small mediterranean rock fish) that are still wiggling around and if you want, we can add lobsters. Even the good lord hasn\u2019t eaten a soup as good as this!\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n
And it\u2019s true that even the good lord has never eaten a soup as succulent and perfect; it brings tears to your eyes. The perfume has the odor of an orgasm and the color of the \u00ab\u00a0rouille\u00a0\u00bb (a rust-colored sauce) was a ravishment for the eyes. You would have to have the palette of a Bonnard to paint such richness.<\/p>\n
That night on returning to the house I couldn\u2019t get the famous song performed by the great Fernandel out of my head: \u00ab\u00a0The BOUILLABAISSE\u00a0\u00bb.