La Mère Besson

La Mère Besson is a traditional Provençal bistro at 13 Rue des Frères Pradignac in Cannes, near the Palais des Festivals, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. The name recalls Mère Besson, the Provençal cook associated with the early years of the Cannes restaurant scene, and the restaurant continues to focus on regional home cooking in the central district. The menu is rooted in the classic dishes of Provence. Daube provençale, the slow-braised beef stew with red wine, is the central dish, and pieds et paquets, a regional speciality of stuffed tripe and sheep's trotters cooked in a rich sauce, is the item that most clearly marks the kitchen as traditional. Ratatouille appears as an accompaniment and a dish in its own right. Visitors who prefer lighter fare can usually find fish and simple grilled dishes alongside. Prices are moderate, and a full meal is considerably less expensive than at the seafront restaurants. The dining room is warm and unpretentious, with traditional decor, an attentive but relaxed style of service and a moderate noise level, and dress is smart-casual. The wine list typically concentrates on Provençal wines, including rosé from the Var and red wines of the Côtes de Provence and Rhône, and the staff can suggest bottles to match the daube. Lunch and dinner are served on most days. Reservations are recommended, particularly in the evening, in summer and during the film festival and trade fairs, when the area around the Palais des Festivals is full; a booking one or two days ahead is usually enough in the shoulder seasons. The central location makes the restaurant convenient for visitors attending events at the Palais or staying in the town centre who want a regional meal away from the busiest Croisette terraces.