Open Faced Sandwich in Arles
 

Last fall we had lunch in a lovely little cafe in Arles. For lunch, I had a plate that had one large slice of coarse bread with a type of cheese, tomato and drizzled with a type of olive oil. It was served hot as if it were broiled. I have tried to duplicate this without much luck. I'm a little vague as to exactly what was on this open-faced type of sandwich but it was delicious. Does anyone know exactly what it was and how do you make it?

I would guess it is fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil, and olive oil under the broiler. OR as a panini.

Might have been pissaladière.

Isn't that just like some makeshift "pizza" or grilled open sandwich thing any of us might make at home for a quick lunch or light supper when we happen to have those ingredients on hand? It sounds good, but doesn't sound like it needs a "recipe"--just good quality bread (not necessarily very fresh), a cheese that you like, flavorful tomatoes, and some oil and herbs that go with it all (a few chopped olives or capers might also go with it, or a thin slice of grilled or sauteed onion).

Isn't pissaladière basically an onion and anchovy pizza?

It doesn't sound like any special dish that requires a recipe, I agree. What was the name of this when you ordered it?

Some cafes are just making the traditional Croque Monsieur with different ingredients now, it sounds like that--they may call these open-faced grilled bread things "croque ..." whatever.

I don't remember the name of the dish. I have tried to duplicate this at home but something is not quite the same! Do you think it is the atmosphere?

Hi LK,

>I have tried to duplicate this at home but something is not quite the same!<

Hmmm,

The bread is not the same, the cheese is not the same, the tomatoes are not the same and the olive oil is not the same.

Otherwise, it should taste the same. :)

((I))

And, unfortunately, the chef is not the same but then there are some things you can never duplicate completely. Atmosphere, or lack thereof, may be a big factor, too.

Guess you'll just have to go back!

the key for me would be which kind of cheese... Doesn't France have over 370 "controlee" individual cheeses?
Ohhhh boy what fun would that be at your local cheese shop. Start with provencal cheeses, good artisanal breads...and toast away!!!

Lynda, I think you are describing the open-faced sandwich called Tartines. I'm going back to an old wine bar in Paris called La Tartine that serves them.

You can google Tartine to get some recipes with cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, etc.

ttt

Tartine=tartiner means spread butter, jam and other spread, typically on holizontally cut (I hope you all know what I mean ) French baguette bread for breakfast so I don't think what OP described with cheese and tomato can be called tartine.

> I don't think what OP described with cheese and tomato can be called tartine.

Then again I stand corrected. Tartine = Butter/Jam spread on bread is the original use of the word but there may be a new use of it.

The original word is an open faced sandwich. The butter and confiture one is a beakfast one.
As I suggest you google.

The original word Tartine specifically means a slice of bread spread with butter or jam or both. I've never seen anything other than that called a tartine, but who knows?

Anyway, I agree this concoction isn't some sort of French "dish" requiring a recipe. Just grab some good bread, some fresh tomatoes, and some good cheese and pop it under the broiler with a little olive oil and some herbs on top - one of my favorite lunches!

I had a dish at the Jardin d'Epicure in St. Cyprien that was called a tartine and consisted of an open sandwich with tomatoes, cheese, prosciutto and summer truffles. Even took a picture of myself eating it.

Oooooh, that sounds good, Nikki! I'll have to go back there and try it!

Cigalechanta, I described "tartine" from the daily use of the word and the food itself but for you I did the google search.

Une tartine est une tranche de pain sur laquelle on étale du beurre, de la confiture ou d'autres préparations alimentaires sous forme de pâte.
From :fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tartine

See?