To Market

One of my favorite experiences in France is the market.  It doesn't matter if they are selling birds, flowers, antiques or food--it's all wonderful, different and visually stimulating.  I'll take a good French market in any form!

Last week we took our group to Sarlat, a large Medieval town about 10 or 15 minutes away from Beynac.  Every Wednesday and Saturday (with Saturdays being the largest and busiest), locals and tourists mingle as the best produce for the best price is sought out.  The theme of the day was "market to table" so Aran, Nadia and I toted our friend Ouafaa's beautiful basket and filled it to the brim with yummy treats to eat and photograph.  The weather was outstanding that morning, as it was all week (hallelujah!) and while a few of my favorite vendors were missing, it was still glorious to be there...

My market favorites down in the Dordogne included Charlotte strawberries (which we caught at the end of the season...wahoo!), acacia honey, fruit rouges jam, walnuts and sweet, little potimarron (in the US it's called kuri squash).  Half of these we enjoyed immediately and the other half we tucked in our suitcases with all our rinsed out yogurt jars (hello pots de cremes!). When we lived in France during our renovation, walking around this very market was my weekly respite.  Despite having visited numerous times already, it still thrills me every, single time.  I feel like there is always something new to discover and I never take for granted what an absolute delight it is to be there. 

images by Stephanie Brubaker for stephmodo