Tomorrow is Saturday, the best day of the week. Market day.
There are markets on Tuesday and Thursday, but they’re smaller. Saturdays bring more sellers and buyers. It’s a big social event, centered on food. So very French.
I have my favorite vendors. I try to stick to seasonal produce. It is better in season, and the lack of it out of season makes it all the more special when it’s available.
The apples have appeared. The nectarines and peaches are still going strong, but you can tell they’re going to get farineuse–mealy–pretty soon.
There are plenty of tomatoes, and now that the heat has broken, it’s time to make spaghetti sauce.
An adieu to summer….
Do you cook from scratch? What will you miss most about summer’s bounty?
Taste of France 
Another reason to never leave France!
Sent from my iPhone
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There are many good farmers’ markets elsewhere but they don’t have that social aspect. Or the variety.
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Can’t wait to do my shopping at the weekly market 🙂 Seasonal is the way to go 🙂
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Yes! I just saw a good recipe with broccoli and told myself that broccoli days will be here soon enough. Focus on tomatoes!
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Gill’s always stuffed to the gills when she’s in France!
Yes we always cook from scratch, whichever country we are in
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I think anybody who cooks really sees the huge difference between the supermarket and the outdoor market produce.
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Our Saturday Market has the same feeling. The vendors have to make it….bake it or grow it. The crowds are in credible. The locals go very early and then the tourists arrive. You literally have a hard time walking through. Apparently SaltSpring and the Saturday market has been written up in the New York Times. We even have a French Baker. She and her husband came from somewhere in Southwestern France. There is a very high quality to all the food products and the crafts are of a very high standard. The smell of the fresh bread and the sausages grilling and the small children busking….most are really talented….will be missed. If I can’t live my life in the South of France, this is a very good option.
Ali
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It sounds great! Do people linger in cafés as well?
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We have some cafés as well…but the café culture is not quite the same…better than most in North America. These are the places where the gossip is and the watching of tourists trying to take it all in. Even our recycle depot is interesting. One of the men who works there has a PH.D. …that’s the magic about this strange and wonderful island.
A
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Not long now until I can shop those wonderful markets!! Love all your images…
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enjoy!
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Reblogged this on husifrankrike and commented:
Yet another episod from a great French blog to to alleviate my longing for Aude…
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Mouthwatering photos….. Love the charm of the markets. Years ago while visiting Aix en Provence we were fortunate enough to be there on market day. I must say the addition of antiques added another and welcome addition to the mix of fruits, vegetables and spices.
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Plus Aix is so pretty!
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If I were there, I’d definitely be taking home some melon and a rotisserie chicken.
Our tomatoes never did well this summer. Usually, we have a bounty of tomatoes and I yell at my husband to plant fewer, but this year, we didn’t have many. So sad. I haven’t even made homemade pizza with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil.
I can’t wait to visit the market each Saturday next fall when I live in France.
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You’re going to feel like a kid in a candy store!
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I’m crossing the channel in a week and hoping to get to a market during my short stay. I love all the hustle & bustle and seasonal produce is a must for me…at home or away.
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It’s one of the best parts of being in France!
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Miss the colour, the smells, the tastes, the occasion…everything really.
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Gorgeous photos- nothing beats a a fresh farmers’ market! This post is making me hungry! xx
http://www.mimazine.co.uk/
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Hop on over and shop! Carcassonne has Ryanair flights…
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Thank you for this lovely post. As someone who loves cooking from scratch, I wish I had access to your amazing markets. I’ll just have to make sure I get my fill of them while I’m in France next month.
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When you come, I’ll give you all the names of my favorite local producers!
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Excellent! Thank you.
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I noticed nectarines were starting to get mealy, and baked some in a pie along with prune plums, it worked really well! I will miss all the fresh fruit of summer for sure, and wish too we had an orchard to grow our own, it’s a future goal. Looking forward in the meantime to autumnal cooking, including pumpkin pies!
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That pie sounds yummy!
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I love the Saturday market in Carcassonne!! Would you allow me to re-blog this post sometime?
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Sure!
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Thank you!
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You have an absolutely marvellous blog. This is what I like best when I am in France, the French markets are one of my favourite. I love your blog. Beautiful pictures. real french style!
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Thank you! It’s all about appreciating the good life…which you can have in France or anywhere, really.
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I HOPE NOTHING SERIOUS IS UP WITH YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!
BE WELL………and VACAY from this stuff is GOOD MEDICINE!!!
XX
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