Nicoise Salad

Salade Nicoise is a Nicard composition — from Nice, on the French Riviera, where the cuisine reflects Ligurian Italy as much as France. In the traditional version: ripe tomatoes, good olives (Nicoise variety), anchovies, tuna (canned in olive oil, not fresh-seared), hard-boiled eggs, and green beans. Nothing is cooked to order. Everything is at room temperature. The dressing is oil, vinegar, mustard, and garlic. No lettuce. No potato (controversial — the Nice traditionalists say no; the rest of France says yes).