Photo by Hugh Davidson
Mélanie Masarin is a culinary enthusiast and entrepreneur with roots in the South of France. In the July/August 26 Issue, she shares with us selected recipes from her vibrant new cookbook, Riviera: Recipes from the Coast of France and Italy, which celebrates bold Mediterranean flavors and unfussy techniques. Mélanie’s creations translate sun-drenched dishes into approachable meals, perfect for effortless summer entertaining.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE MAGAZINE
In the magazine, you’ll find recipes for typical Mediterranean cuisine: Poisson en Papillote (Fish in Parchment), Ricotta Gnudi (Dumplings) with Sage Butter, Yogurt and Fig Cake, and Salade Niçoise.
Salade Niçoise Recipe
Mélanie’s Salade Niçoise trades lettuce for potatoes and builds everything around one pot of boiling water — potatoes, then beans, then eggs, each timed and cooled just right. A garlic-rubbed bowl holds it all together: tomatoes, tuna in oil, red onion, caper berries, Niçoise olives. Charred lemon and good olive oil finish it off at the table.
“This salad strays far from Nice’s original — no lettuce, yes potatoes — but it’s the kind of thing you can throw together from a well-stocked pantry and whatever’s left from the market. The key is getting each element just right: potatoes still warm when they hit the olive oil, eggs with properly jammy centers, really good-quality tuna in oil. Purists prefer to use only lemon and oil to season this salad, but if I have leftover pesto on hand or a vinegar I really love, I never mind using a splash of those either.” — Mélanie Mesarin in Riviera: Recipes from the Coast of France and Italy
SEE A PREVIEW OF THE JULY/AUGUST 2026 MAGAZINE
To see more of Mélanie’s recipes featured in the July/August issue, get a copy of the magazine here. You can also get a copy of her cookbook here.