This time around, Verve travelled beyond Cannes — to Nice, vibrating capital of the French Riviera, to Monte Carlo (no, we did not burn any holes in our pockets), where we drove along the FI racing track and to charming perched villages, bursting with legend and art. Food being an integral part of travel, especially in France, we not only sampled our way through chic, creative cuisine but also simple, traditional fare.

And many of these unforgettable repasts were in the company of great chefs — revered not just locally for their remarkable culinary magic as also rated highly by the Michelin guide. The gracious, Christian Willer, founder of Martinez’s fine dining restaurant, La Palme D’Or, nodded approvingly at our publication, glancing for a moment more at our stylised food section, before signing a page with a flourish. As did the beaming Jacques Chibois, who lends his name to a clothing line and whose own Michelin two-star gourmet restaurant in the heart of Grasse is a connoisseur’s dream come true.

Wherever we went, Verve was the objet d’attention and we found ourselves answering queries ranging from Indian art to Indian cuisine, to Amitabh Bachchan’s next film! Ace photographer, Jean Daniel Lorieux, Galeries Lafayette’s Brigitte Roesch, Nice Tourism’s Florence Lecointre, International consultant, Anne De Champigneul, shared their memories and thoughts on India, while extending warm French hospitality. In Paris, at the presently trendy Nirvana, a young guest insisted on going through every page of the magazine before reluctantly handing back the copy which Ritu Beri (looking va va voom) then carried home! Verve was also privy to the rare privilege of sneaking a peek at legendary designer, Christian Lacroix’s workplace.

For more on the sparkling Côte d’Azur and France’s romantic capital city, check out the special supplement, a free value addition with this issue, and win a trip just as special as the one we have featured in it!