Market day

Friday is market day in Bar-Sur-Seine. The sleepy town comes alive with the hustle and bustle of the locals buying their weekly fresh produce. There is an array of seasonal fruit and vegetables, with tomatoes the size of your hand – but still sweet and juicy. Nectarines ripened in the sun and full of flavour. The cheese stall has some perfectly ripe Brie, “Shall we get some of that?” – Brian knows my answer before he asks the question. The pieces of Langres are also looking good. It’s a cheese made about an hour away from here. It has an orange rind, a smooth, soft centre and not too strong. It is particularly good for lunch. A friend of mine, Sam, sent me a recipe where you cut a hole in the cheese and pour champagne into it. Lastly a visit to the champignons man, “Deux feuillettes aux champignons s’il vous plait, et cinq cent grammes des champignons Marron”. “C’est tout?” he asks. “Oui, c’est tout”. All very basic french, but now we are being understood, which feels like progress.

Before we head off to the Intermarche for the rest of our shopping, we stop by the market café for a coffee, and a pastry we have just bought from the bakers. It’s so pleasing that the café owners are happy for you to eat a pastry bought elsewhere whilst sitting at their tables drinking coffee. I just love that approach.