A very big thing in France is big outdoor markets where all different vendors, farmers, fishmongers, and butches come to sell their goods. There are over a hundred in Paris alone that occur weekly. One of the biggest and most famous is known as the Bastille market which is located in Place de la Bastille early on Sunday mornings. I have ventured over a few times now to do shopping. They are super lively, crowded events with vendors yelling, or even singing, about their products trying to lure you in to buy. It is always crowded, especially with little old French women wielding their shopping carts which they do not hesitate to hit you with if you get in the way of them and a nice piece of fish that's had it's price reduced.
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| These little demon shopping carts do in fact hurt when they hit you . |
I brought along my camera my first time at the market. Here are a few pictures to give you a feel of what the markets are like. (P.S. This was at the end of October, so the produce being sold now is drastically different. The food here really changes with the seasons. A total contrast to the United States).
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| Olives and dried beans |
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| The egg lady |
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| Honey and beeswax items |
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| Foie gras and other duck products |
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| Soaps |
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| Breton (the region of Brittany, France) stand making the famed crepes and buckwheat galletes of the region |
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| The region is also famous for their hard apple cider, salted caramel, butter, and pastry known as kouign amann |
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| My bounty! |
Something I have really noticed and appreciated in my time here is the fact that the stores, markets, even the chain supermarkets, really only carry what is in season in regards to produce. I have seen the products change multiple times since I have been here these last four months. Right now there are is a quince, pumpkin, persimmons, clementines, apples, chestnuts, dark leafy greens, currants, and turnips. It is impossible to find somethings we consider year-round staples like broccoli. It is nowhere to be found. It is a welcome change though, and makes it fun to cook with ingredients we don't typically use very often in the U.S. I really hope that we as a country can start heading back towards this type of approach to shopping. It is so much better for the environment, and ourselves as well by getting us to eat a greater variety of fruits and veggies.
With love,
Christine
