Socca Du Cours - CHEZ MARIE THÉ — Local services in Nice

I came here quite late after 2pm. The stall here is at the flower market area and when I arrived, the shops were all packing and cleaning up the place so I thought I might have missed the chance to try this stall. I walked towards the stall and saw that they also were cleaning up and I felt disappointed, however my head turned and then I saw at the corner there were a few people waiting. I walked towards those people and realized they were waiting for socca! The socca here is prepared in batches so the previous batch was sold out. After a while a guy came with a trolley and seems to be a big container on the trolley and inside contained the socca! People saw it and started queuing, thankfully for me, I was sort of already "in the queue" so I didn't have to wait long. I took less than 5 minutes for me to place my order and get my socca. I just stood there and smelled it after collecting, enjoying the fragrance and the heat coming from the socca on a cold day. There was still smoke and I had to eat it instantly and gosh, it was so savoury, delicious and crispy! It's basically a flat chickpea pancake (sounds healthy) and this is one of the best places to try this local Nice delicacy. Well I have never eaten this before and my first impression of it is very good, guess I'm pretty satisfied eating at one of the best stalls which I think lives up to its name. Cheap and good, highly...

Socca (3 euros) - 5 stars The only socca I've had. It's phenomenal! We went right when they opened around 9.30am. It was piping hot. It was flavourful with umami and spice (sort of with the flavour of a pappadom? But more intense and savoury). The texture was perhaps like a crepe, but not chewy. My husband thought it was like a thosai.

Pan bagnat - 4.5 stars Flavourful and packed with ingredients. Good baguette as well.

Tourte de blette sucrée - 4.5 stars Had to get this again after first having it last night at Chez Acchiardo. The flavour was just as good (smoky pine nuts with the fresh grassy chard) but had a tart like crust compared with Chez Acchiardo's flaky pie crust. I prefer the pie crust. Still, it...

Right at one of the ends of the Flower market, you'll find this socca stall. Queue for this fresh socca was always a good few people deep! Within minutes the socca on hand is cut up and sold out... only for another to be brought by (on wheels with a horn to prompt pedestrians to move outta the way!) and the plates switched and voila, freshly baked socca to be sold again!

You get a decent portion for only €3 a part - certainly more than two handfuls! It's piping hot, mushy in parts and yet crunchy too - the best bits are the edges or tops which have crisped up from baking in the oil. Makes for a delicious Nice snack; worth getting a portion and enjoying by the beach just a...