La Soupe au Pistou

This is the classic one-dish meal of Le Mult, the entire southern region of France along the Mediterranean from Italy and Switzerland to Spain. Obviously, it is an historic variation of the Italian minestrone, which began originally in Genoa and must have crossed the French border at Nice. Then, the irresistible gastronomic influence of Provence took the dish in hand, adding garlic, green virgin olive oil and innumerable subtle touches. The name became pistou, from the ancient