Maison D'hôtes Bastia

The name Radiche, or "roots", hints at the agenda of this chef from Bastia who, after several years in mainland France, has returned home and opened this bistro on Place de l'Hôtel de Ville. In a decor that oozes unpolished charm, Corsican ingredients are prepared with panache; the forthright and generous dishes often show flashes of creative flair. A case in point is the bluefin tuna crudo in an iced prisuttu broth seasoned with bottarga, or the floating islands topped with fermented milk cream and accompanied by a tarragon sorbet.

This well-known Cap Corse establishment stands on the pretty port of Erbalunga. Fish soup, tigerstripe veal, suckling pig, barbecued fish: the quintessence of Corsican food. The culinary tapestry relies heavily on classical bases, albeit tinged with the odd, unexpected note, such as barbecued capon, melt-in-the-mouth artichokes, fresh basil and a smoky gravy. The setting is idyllic with a few tables on a small balcony and a large harbourside terrace.