The Mandarine, Orangery Retreat

We loved staying here. Martine has a real knack for shabby chic decor, and the cute apartment has a lovely balcony view and a kitchen stocked with useful equipment. My favorite feature was the tub, with lots of room for your legs and a nicely sloped back. There are cats around the area, which we loved. We left the outdoor bedroom door open so they could come by; shut it like a normal person and you can keep the room cat-free. We also took a cooking class with Martine. Because of our mobility limitations, she drove us to the lower town, where we had espresso and pastries at a café and then stopped at a few shops for ingredients. We made several delicious dishes suited to the warm weather, with more than enough food. I didn’t get photos of everything. A surprise find at the produce market was a sweet, perfectly ripe mango grown in basilicata. We made mango salsa to go with flame-roasted, peeled, breaded and fried aubergine, along with gazpacho using tasty local tomatoes and burrata, spaghetti with fresh tomato sauce, and fennel with an almond crust. There was also a small appetizer plate of cheeses, anchovies, and bread. The food was wonderful, and spending time with Martine was just as enjoyable. I’d gladly come back if I get the chance.