Cannes: Café Hoche, lunch hour. Actually lunch. Café Hoche is a perfectly picturesque cafe on a street of perfectly picturesque cafes. On this summer day, they’re all buzzing with perfectly relaxed holiday patrons and Jason seems to be caught in the vibe, selecting the cafe and securing a table whilst I’m still deliberating over the street of menus, unable to decide. Luckily the term ‘lunch hour’ isn’t really a thing, the French prefer just to lunch.
I continue to deliberate over the menu once seated, nothing really tickling my fancy. Jason has already decided on a pizza and beer, presumably before even being seated. I eventually settle on a smoked salmon sandwich and a glass of wine whilst eliciting a promise of sharing, given that I’m still not completely convinced.
Shortly after a pizza arrives at the table next to us and I wish I had ordered the pizza now too. It’s taking ages. I’m a bit hot and bothered to be fair but try to enjoy my crisp glass of white, almost content. Jason is hungry which doesn’t help the conversation. No good conversation ever took place with a hungry man. We wait, lost in our own thoughts, mine veering back to the pizza next to us.
When it arrives, the Pizza – titled la burrata au jambon cru on the menu, feels like it deserves the capital P. Jason has settled in, nearly finished his beer and seeming both satisfied with his choice and sorry that he made a deal to share. I just hope he doesn’t renege.
I start off with my La Tartine de saumon fumé, fromage frais, avocat, oeuf frais, tomate cerise. It even sounds better in French, somehow, it tastes better in French too. Somewhat satisfied I turn my attention to the pizza. Jason, true to his word, shares a couple of slices and it’s every bit as delicious as it looks and smells.
The conversation improves as we eat and I relax into the atmosphere. It’s a bit cooler here and the wine may be helping as well as the food. We did do a rather long, sweaty walk after breakfast and it’s now after 2pm. Perhaps French lunch time, but my body clock is a bit out, used to a much earlier routine.
Jason seems to be improving too although he usually takes these things in his stride. Thankfully we’re on holidays and the afternoon can be what we make of it. A spot of shopping, a snooze and a swim is high on our agenda before we’re thinking of the next meal…
Good To Know
Cannes: Café Hoche is a vibrant café in a brilliant location on Rue Hoche in Cannes. The menu is extensive and in hindsight, while the salmon was satisfactory, there is a lot more on offer that could have much more readily satisfied whilst having the added bonus of enhancing the occasion and enjoyment.
While the service was on the slow side, they were extremely busy. The occasion could have been much enhanced by starting with me in a better mood and a menu choice of something more enticing. It certainly deserves another chance.
Would I Return?
Yes.