A Saturday in Paris…..
A Paris market -
It’s Saturday morning when it seems like the whole of Paris sleeps in – it is so quiet when we open our doors onto the balcony. (and even more so on a Sunday morning)
We strolled down to our local cafe for a croissant and our coffee and a read of the International Herald Tribune, then with shopping bags in hand, walked up past the Trocodero – with the best view of the Eiffel Tower, and then down to what is, in our opinion, one of the best street markets in Paris on the Avenue President Wilson. Open on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, it sets up in the middle of this divided road and is at least 200 metres long full of every conceivably different type of stall – amazing fruit and vegetables from all over Europe, flowers, the occasional jewellery stall and a couple selling beautiful linen tablecloths etc.
And in season right now are the beautiful little Clementine oranges – small and sweet, and of course many variety of grapes – or raisin blanc/noir in French.
And today we discovered a stall entirely set up for selling mushrooms – girolles – funny shaped and orange in colour which require very careful washing to get all the dirt out. Then the Cepes – huge field mushrooms which have come straight out of the fields. Lots and lots of different varieties and would love to have a mushroom cook with me to discuss their various uses.
In fact last week I did try the girolles – googled for a recipe, washed and wiped them individually, and cooked up a stack of them – very tasty but I did make the mistake of not washing properly enough – the grit gets into their trumpets and is hard to extract. Still, another new experience in Paris.
We bought a bunch of tiny little red and white radishes –(they are delicious dipped in rock salt) and the stall holder proceeded to wrap them up in brown paper like a bunch of flowers – what style for a bunch of radishes!!
He also wrapped the bunch of thyme in the same way – and in true French style showing a scant regard for the use of paper bags and wrapping.
Then there is the olives stall –20 different types of olives from the great big plump green ones, to the small little black ones – and denoyautee is the word for ‘ no stones’ if you ever need it. Took me ages to work out how to find the ones without stones, and I must admit I would go to the supermarket and squeeze them!!!
Have just been up to ‘our’ local market street and bought the magret canard for Ian’s speciality, blackberry and duck risotto – Tim and Mandy Cox are in Paris so they will come for lunch tomorrow. And will try some saucisson (dried sausage) and Ian’s favourite figs, lightly sautéed with feta crumbled on top –a delicious and light entree.
Friends from Melbourne who were joining us for dinner tonight have just had to cancel, so… we will go to The Ritz for an aperitif in their beautiful walled garden,(we have already been to Hemingway’s Bar where the champagne cocktails cost E30!!!) then walk along the rue de Rivoli to the Restaurant L’Epi D’or – just near the Louvre - for dinner in a classic French restaurant. And maybe Alan Hall will be able to join us – he is here from Dubai working for a couple of days.
Well, we have just finished our lunch of small Canard or duck sausages – absolutely delicious and will buy these again.
A bientot
Barb
PS Well I did manage one photo although it reduced it by cutting off all the edges!!! Still, one step at a time….
