marché

Marché means market in French and in the last day, I have been to two markets in the area, one night market and one day market. But, it is not just one day a week that you can go to market. In just one week, there are 14 day markets and 9 night markets. That's 23 markets that one can attend in an area that is about the size of a medium county, like Sonoma County in California. What is so impressive about the marché, is the community aspect. I think the French, and probably other European countries, take pride in this. They know that they are bringing together neighboring villages to celebrate food and people. There are a few differences between a marché and a marché nocturne, the biggest is a marché is like a farmer's market we would see at home, with vegetables, fruits etc being sold, while a marché nocturne is more like a county fair, if you will. It has vendors selling prepared food from the area, with long picnic tables and live music, in our case three accordion players.

Our marché  was in San Pompon, about a fifteen minutes drive. A small market, it had one produce stand, one olive vendor, a cheese guy, some olive oil and honey. But, that is all the people of this village need. Not set up for the tourists of the area, this market focused on the needs of the community, bringing in all the produce and goods they could need for the week, as in this particular village, there isn't a supermarket. They had a butcher (charcuterie) and a bakery (boulangerie) but nothing more than that. They are focused on being sustainable, living on what they can that they produce themselves, or buy once a week in the market. I know that many if not all of the inhabitants get food elsewhere, but it is nice to know that they know what they need, and aren't being overindulgent in their food shopping habits, as many people are, with our Costcos and Supercenters. Plus, all their food was beautiful, and made a nice meal of ratatouille later for us, and fresh berries and melons for the guests of the B&B in the morning

...to ratatouille, YUM

From Tomatoes...

Every week, when a town has a night market, they set up banquet tables, food vendors, music stands, and even bounce-houses for the little kids so the community can get together. Friends come and sit together and meet other friends of friends, or a casual stranger who just happens to be sitting next to them. You can buy beer and wine at the event and the whole idea is that you share your meal. The one I attended was in San Cyprien.

one of the four banquet tables

You share your moules frites (mussels and french fries) or your assiette de confits (duck confit) with your friends, they give you some wine, they go get the dessert, an apricot tart, and the whole while you are just sitting there enjoying the conversation, the friends, and the community atmosphere (for us, the accordion players were at a ear-shattering level, which made it difficult to talk over). 

duck confit

moules frite

apricot tart

Why don't these events happen more frequently in the US? Of course we have our own night markets, with street vendors and tables, but there is hardly an emphasis on mingling with, GASP, strangers! Perhaps something I may bring back? Either way, I know that I enjoy them. The food was good, people friendly, and a great evening to remember.