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I love it here…

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My saturday ritual to La Rochelle ‘s buoyant market leads me straight to my goat man.

A very proud man whose collection of goat cheese becomes a magnet for the likes of people like me . The queue does not direct you away… au contraire I take my place in the line…while I am waiting I listen to the ongoing conversation and taste the fresh piece of baguette overloaded in an inviting white coat. It is 9am , my mouth only just flushed by strong coffee, I am now indulging in an overwhelming dry and bitter goat gem.

Ahead of me stands a little girl, she is a serious goat cheese predator…her mouth would have been previously flushed by Nesquick ( all the french children drink hot chocolate in the morning, the chocolate mustache is indeed a trademark) .

She is diving eagerly in the dish. “hum…” “Daddy is it for my birthday?” ” are you buying it for my birthday tomorrow?”

This 10 year old is genuinely excited and needs confirmation that the cheese her dad is buying will be used for her day…

Today I had a thought for that little girl gathered with her family around an amazing cheese board…

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sylvied, October 14th 2007 | Tags: ,
Posted in La Rochelle market, food, produits du terroir

How do you like yours?

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This morning being Wednesday….and wednesday being great market day…I went out fully equiped with my basket and hungry stomach dictating every single move . Every trip to the market is pure delight, I know I keep going on about it but it is!

It could be that 12 years spent shopping in Tesco took its toll on me but when I am in that market I can’t help but smile!

I had my eyes on melons today. 3 for 5 euros…skin exploding…screaming at me…”eat me! eat me today!”

The proud melon owner winked at me: So how many would you like?

“All 3… one for today , tomorrow and the day after…go ahead and choose them for me I can never tell…I would rather leave it to the expert !”

And this took some time believe me!

She first held, smelt, pulled the tips and eventually took out her pencil and marked every single one in the right order of eating!

I ate number one today…so good!

I love the passion and dedication of these people! As for me I shall be there next week,while these little babes are still in season I will not miss a treat!

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sylvied, August 1st 2007 | Posted in La Rochelle market, food, market

So good to be home

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After a week away the house was empty. By empty I mean no food. Scanning the fridge and cupboard in the hope to find something remotely edible was …well, challenging.

I was lucky enough to gather enough grains for a fresh coffee and grabbed my basket.

How I love getting amongst the crowd! A mix of tourists ( oh look at these tomatoes! they actually smell like tomatoes!…how marvellous!!!), elderlies, tramps, students, housewives, sick leavers, unemployed, nutters ( literally straight out of asylum) and because it is summer, the odd music band.

This morning could have been a scene straight out of Amelie!

As I was waiting for my turn in various queues I learnt 3 things.

First was with this old lady who was telling me that she did not have the time to wait:” how dares that woman buy so much fruits!” she kept looking towards me and Ananas obviously expecting me to reply something like : “yeah I know, buying so many fruits on a fruit stall! It is really outrageous !!!… doesn’t she care how busy we are?!”

But I did not deliver and she went off in disgust. I do wonder how busy her life is and was surprised by my own patience…but I have to say the nectarine did look so juicy!

Then in an another queue…cucumber one I think.This 5.8″ goddess who did look a bit shaky shared her love life with well all of us waiting including the old folks behind. “Yes…5 years together totally thrown away…I am in pieces”

The poor girl…she nearly got me sobbing…

I am thinking about that gorgeous girl,she must be in a bad way for wanting to share it on a market stall. As I walk past my friendly olive man, Ananas stops and she won’t move until I buy olives. Here we discuss the inflation of the market, he is not impressed this morning: ” 18 euros for a kilo of handmade crisps that’s taking the piss!..I tell you what they have to be bloody good at that price!”

While paying I am so grateful his prices have not changed.

 

So this morning while shopping I learnt that:

 

  • I can be patient
  • It’s cheaper to discuss a breakdown with a market stall holder than a therapist
  • To be vigilant this summer if I don’t want to get ripped off.
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sylvied, July 19th 2007 | Posted in Charente -Maritime, France, La Rochelle, La Rochelle market, Uncategorized, market, produits du terroir
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