Bread & Cheese

Where's the promised bread and cheese?

If it's not market day in your village, a short ride through the countryside......

..............a few turns through narrow village lanes..............

.............will bring you to a new village and another daily market.

Before heading for the freshly baked breads and gorgeous local cheeses, we have to admire the vegetables.

When they look as fresh and gorgeous as these how could you resist!

The French may think we vegetarians are a bit peculiar, but surely they must know we have good reason to skip the meat when offered such amazing veggies.

I do eat my veggies, as I'm sure you do................but then there's the bread and cheese!

There's no stopping me when the gorgeous crusty breads and amazing selection of French cheeses appear.

All images taken at various markets in the South of France in October.

You know about "bringing home the bacon"............more important is the fresh baguette. In France it will be presented to you proudly by the boulanger, wrapped in a piece of paper and, like the French, you will take a bite from the end while it's still warm!

Le jour de marché

It's market day. Hurry, grab one of these authentic French market baskets (these were made right here in the Provencal town of Apt in the Luberon Mountains).....................we're going shopping. I know it's early morning, the sun is just up, and you want a second cup of coffee, but do hurry please, the best stuff is waiting and the market will close at noon!

There is so much to see on market day. The abundance of goods for sale amazes one's senses. As you travel from town to town, village to village, there is always unlimited bounty at each market. Colors overwhelm your vision, your nose breathes in the heady scents of fresh bread, lavender, olive oil soap, Camembert cheese, ocean seafood, garlic, spices and so much more.

Pretty and pungent just harvested lavender from the nearby fields of the Luberon below Mt. Ventoux.

Robust chunks of kitchen soap made from pure olive oil..............

................the piece I brought home to my kitchen!

The local olives now being harvested and brined...............

.................and some made into the purest extra virgin oils and delicious tapenade spreads.

Sunny lemons...........................

................for dried fish (a local delicacy)............guess you soak it, but then what?

.................and freshly caught seafood from the Mediterranean.

Freshly bagged herbs, blended for whatever you are preparing for dinner.............

............and an array of spices to make any dish sing!

Perfect braids of freshly dug garlic..........to make the tastiest aïoli, that so French garlic mayonnaise.

Flowers at every corner - in every color.

Much more to see, can you wait until next time? The breads and cheeses - my favorites of course. The fashions, the antique treasures.................yes, French markets don't leave out much. So dress comfortably, tuck your euros in your pocket...........and choose your basket.
What does your heart desire?