At The Market



Yesterday was the first time I'd visited Bergerac market in many months. It's held on a Saturday so is nigh on impossible for me to visit during the season.



Worth the wait though. I'd forgotten about the un- hurried, convivial atmosphere that runs through events such as these. Sociality taking precedence above all else, and that includes trade.



It's tempting to say that produce is at it's best at this time of year. Maybe it is, but then I cast my mind back to the scent of strawberries in early June, the 'hum' of an aged goat's cheese in Spring or the perfume of truffle in December and it's fair to conclude that during any season the market is a treat.



Sure enough there are pumpkin and squash of every variety, but it's the tomatoes which steal the show for me.



This continued run of warm Autumn weather leaves them sweet and at a point. A day later and they'll start to turn, eat them today and there's nothing better.



Plenty of garlic,



and onions.



All manner of beans are around now. Cocos, Lingots, Soissons, different sizes and texture, a recipe for each.



Roots of every description. The French love salsify. It's enormously popular and sells by the crate load.




Radishes, black and red.



Even the humble turnip is held in high regard. Cattle fodder this ain't, sweet and delicate this is.



Of course with so much to eat, it's important to have something to wash it down with, et voila!



Comments

  1. Some very tasty looking vegetables on sale Rob.

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  2. Fantastic photos. I love those red onions. Diane

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  3. One thing I miss about living in France is the abundance of lovely local markets with wonderful produce,

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  4. rob, the photo of the beans! wow, just gorgeous. everything looks so great. i've never seen black radishes before. and i notice that even the table that the veggies are on are wooden, so unlike everything here that is plastic.

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  5. What treasures!!! I love the picture of red (purple) onions! They look like jewels! And black radishes, beans... everything is great! Most of all, I love the atmosphere. Thank you Rob! BTW, what have you bought?

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  6. No one's ever managed to make red onions look so appealing. Having visited markets like this in small towns in France, I long to be back there. We have a farmer's market every Saturday just a few blocks from my house, but with none of the character (and characters) of the French markets.

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  7. Great pictures! Makes me want to go to the market next weekend.

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  8. Great photos, Rob. Love the vivid colors and hearty flavors of the fall harvest. What a perfect way to spend an autumn day.

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  9. How lovely. Now I want salsify.

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  10. We hardly got any tomatoes from our garden this year, so all those beautiful tomatoes at the market are making me jealous. The red onions are beautiful too. Gorgeous shot of the wine bottles and grapes with the window opening out into the sun.

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  11. Rob, your photos really capture the atmosphere and the glorious produce to perfection. No doubt something quite delicious was on the menu once you had shopped and that wine must have helped to wash it down. Bon appetit!

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  12. Wonderful photos of the market! The produce is so colorful (as are the "characters" in your photos)! :-)

    I want to be there!

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  13. your market looks fantastic. we go to our farmers market every saturday to relax and get plenty of good edibles. there is never any wine though...what a great idea.

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  14. Oh thank you for taking and sharing such wonderful pictures! It was almost like I was there!

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  15. Hi Rob,
    A really great tour of the market...thank you! It looks as though you got some good wine as well. Oh, how it would be sooo good to be able to by my food at places like that.

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  16. I just chanced upon your blog in time to see those wonderful top 2 pics of that most gorgeous lady with character written all over her face!! Oh! and les tomates so...red and I'm sure full of flavour.
    ~Dianne~

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  17. Rob, you make me realize how fortunate we are in NYC. I believe, apart from not having access to some of the particularly French favorites, our green markets, full of fresh produce and foods from local area farms, must be among the best in the world. Or course we don't have the personal touch, and local color, you show in your photos!

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  18. I'm not sure if I like the photos of the gardeners or of their products more! In either case, what a delightful way to spend a Saturday!

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  19. What a wonderful market and all that yummy produce .Love the look of the market sellers reel life characters. Hope the vine is as good as ours in OZ.Liz

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  20. I love the area and your blog,do follow mine if you like! Those onions are absolutely luminous and the old lady is marvelous. I also love the imperfect tomatoes !!

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  21. Oh, Rob I know just what you mean about Saturday morning markets! Luckily we have an amazing Tuesday market that I can go to each week. You are right too about the wonderful slowed down pace and social aspect found at the markets. Only ours does not offer wine! So classically French. ;>)) Wonderful photos!! Thanks for taking us along with you. ;>)

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  22. Oh to be wandering round a French market right now! *sigh*

    I'm taking Himself to Whitby for a surprise weekend break next month - but it's not the same somehow!

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  23. C'est magnifique! This the first time I have visited your site. The photos are so wonderful, I feel like I have just visited the market. Your blog seems to me like a vacation that I will get to take often! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Très beau :)

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  24. It all looks heavenly to me. The faces! I adore the faces here, as much as any of the fine and tempting vegetables. That looks like a market destination place...how fun:)

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  25. we have pretty much same markets here in Chile with the best fruits and vegetables and so lovely people!!!They are great pleasures of life.
    cariños

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  26. Such beautiful and colorful photos. I wish that markets such as those could be found around here. Alas, everyone is in such a hurry, and the gardens did not do well.

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  27. Drop dead gorgeous - these photos are amazing. I want to be there - NOW!! I am in love with this blog!

    Vicki

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