Our local market in Lozere, part of Palaiseau (a SW suburb of Paris)
The weekly/twice weekly roving markets are a little different to the regular shops on a market street as they are not there every day. All the special products may be under one roof or grouped in a square (in warmer weather, but even in winter for some).
In Lozere, our local market is on Wednesdays and Saturdays, just up the hill above the RER train station, and is a special feature to look forward to, with its warmth and cheerfulness. The local people stream up and down the hill with their bags, baskets, and wheeled carts. Even in December some fruits and vegetables are set up outside, under awnings, and the ‘huitre’ (oyster) table is just outside the entrance. Local organizations and politicians take the opportunity to hand out information (sometimes along with chocolates!) and a local performing group gives a prevue of what’s in store. Our market is small but well-patronized and always busy with all the specialities covered. Even after 5 months here, I’m still fascinated with all the produce, and the vendors have got used to ‘this strange foreigner who lives here’ wandering around with a camera as well as my purse.
We marvel at a ‘volaille’ stand with all kinds of chickens, ducks, quails, geese, pheasants, even a swan (many with their heads still on to prove what they are);
3 fish stands, with huge whole fish, filets, mounds of mussels;
2 boucheries, one often with hanging skinned rabbits (sometimes with the head still on);
olives and dried fruit piled high;
a charcuterie with a bemusing choice of dried sausages;
flowers in bright, colorful clumps, and small silver Christmas trees;
a moth-watering display of fruits and vegetables, arranged in mounds, pyramids, or even cascading from large glass jars;
a fromagerie; an egg stand.
All very fresh, all harvested or slaughtered that day.
Each vendor is happy to help us pick some of their produce— the perfect cheese to accompany the dinner meat we chose, or to make sure that the melon or strawberries or apples, for example, are at the exact ripeness for that day. The vendor at each stand sells only that product, and meat, or fish, or cheese are never mixed. At first we found it strange and unhygienic that the vendors don’t wear plastic/rubber gloves but after a while just accepted it, as those hands don’t touch anything else.
(If you’d like to see more pictures of Lozere market, please email me: vmackie@prairienet.org )
Coming Next: Market Streets in Paris
