Well the English don't have too many
good things to say about the French. The French have nothing good to say
about the English, a happy agreement. However after my latest trip to France
I had to rethink this policy......
The Street To Visit
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Rue Mouffetard is a
small city market that two Irish friends recommended as a must see when
in Paris. Bert and Noreen had fell in love with this street during their
happy days working in Parisian kitchen's. Their words were enough for
me and a few pals to make a mini gastronomic trip and see what the fuss
was all about.
This Guy Knows About Sausage
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The street market is
only about half a mile long, rather narrow and packed with people. It
is a pretty cool place. The products on sale cover a broad culinary spectrum.
Fabulous cheese, fruits vegetable, charcuterie, herbs, nuts, olives; all
things French. There is a guy kicking out some French tunes on his squeeze
box, all he needs is a beret, moustache and a string of onions and the
picture would be complete.The smell of baking brioche and brewing coffee
fills the air. As we walk down the cobbled street things start to warm
up. There are ducks and geese for sale, hot sausage and cabbage (Choucroute),
wild mushrooms, fantastic artichokes. It is now that I really start thinking.
There would seem to be a sea of, dare I say 'house wives here' or bonne
femme as we would say back in college days. Busily buying provisions for
the weekend. I don't ever remember my mother coming home with a goose,
nice piece of sausage, two artichokes and half a pound of chanrelles.
I will write no more on this family issue as I know my Mum has started
to check out the web site, even though she resides in England and I in
Chicago, Mother's wrath is still just as fierce via digital connection.
This is the point though where the French set them selves apart from many
other nations. The icing on the cake went to the gratin potato (pommes
dauphinoise) sold hot for your convenience.
Sustainable Agriculture That's
My Bag
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The reward for the
one mile walk up and down the street comes in the form of a pain au chocolat
with a smoking hot coffee. We sat outside the cafe brandishing the pastry
that had been bought at the boulanger across the street, a concept that
I am sure Starbucks will not be embracing in the near future..
Knackered from the
walk, I pondered on my nation's view of the French with its reciprocal
agreement. Would this culinary find change my view? Nah, they are still
French but they do have a nice market or two!