BYOP

The fête several years ago. Are we in a Pagnol film? It got too big for the little square by the church and was moved under the giant platanes at the community hall.

If you’re in France during the summer, it’s worth keeping an eye out for local fêtes, where a big helping of charm is served with your meal.

But the ways of the village fête can be mysterious. To even find out about it, you must keep your eyes peeled for little flyers posted at, say, the local grocer or bakery or café. Or you might hear about it, literally, when the town hall makes an announcement over the local loudspeakers. You might have to buy tickets in advance, usually possible at one of the local businesses.

Place settings carried in shopping bags or your typical cute French basket

And don’t forget to bring your own place settings (BYOP!), or, as they stipulate on the flyers, il faut apporter ses couverts–plates, silver, glass, napkins. This is a very practical solution, in my opinion.

These places are taken!

Our village football team organizes a dinner, followed by fireworks at the château sponsored by the mayor, on July 13, not to compete with the huge fireworks in Carcassonne on Bastille Day. As if!

I love the before and after of the apéritif:

The meal is simple but good and hearty. This time was salad, followed by a duck stew, then cheese and a piece of fruit tart.

Sated, everybody headed to the château for the fireworks. Not big, but very correct.

In French, “correct” means not just not wrong but fair, reasonable, good value, in good taste. It can apply to a meal, clothing, people, work or effort….a useful word.

The waterfall effect on the stone bridge was more than correct.