So, here we are at our local town's two day Chestnut Fair. Of course there were plenty of Chestnuts on sale,
as well as sausages,
and some really nice looking farm produced Ewe's milk cheeses,
and various Chestnut products,
and even a few old codgers making apple juice.
I noticed that these guys were using an ancient garden-waste shredder to mince the apples before pressing. That's what I need too, I'm on the look-out for one.
I noticed that these guys were using an ancient garden-waste shredder to mince the apples before pressing. That's what I need too, I'm on the look-out for one.
It's a different world there. Thanks for the pictures and descriptions. I think it is actually illegal to sell such things as sausage and cheese here in an open air market.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to say so, but that really doesn't surprise me! 'Health-n-Safety' no doubt.
DeleteYeah as far as I know that's the excuse but people here are kind of crazy about that sort of thing. When I was still working we would occasionally have "pot luck" lunches at the Shops. Some people would not eat a food unless they knew the person who brought it.
DeleteYeah, we've just returned from the open air Sunday market at Colliure, selling locally-produced chirozo, cheese, wine honey, etc. The smells tell you what stall you're approaching. Samples cut and offered, not a health & Safety person in sight.
DeleteThis is only one of quite a few markets we visit here, Catalan country, celebrated for its chirozo, cheese and wine.
Collioure is a real favourite of mine; lucky you.
DeleteThe farmer and I were discussing apple juice last night Cro - we have plenty of apples, I have a small juicer, but surely I could only do enough for one drink in it - larger quantities would need a larger machine and would involve sterilising or something. And my little juicer is so awful to wash up!!
ReplyDeleteChestnuts have never really caught on over here.
I now have a nice, good sized, press, but nothing for mincing the apples. I really would like to make either apple wine or cider.
DeleteDon't think apple wine needs a press, I make it just chopping them into eighths, but just in small (demijohn) quantities. Suppose it might scale up to larger quantities though.
DeleteI made Cider with some smallholder friends a few years ago and we used a cheap garedn shreder they kept just for that purpose.
ReplyDeleteMy chestnut tree I planted at mum and dads 8 years ago seems to hae lots of nuts on it but most are shriveled up. Any ideas as to why that is?
Sounds like lack of rain at the right moment, but from what I understand that can't be so.
DeleteI've just mentioned this to a friend, and he says it could be too young still.
DeleteCheers Cro, I had another look today and found a couple of full nuts so maybe it is the age of the tree. I've planted quite a few here so I'll have to wait a bit before I get some nuts from these!
DeleteI remember there is a large sweet chestnut tree where I've been wokring so when I go back next week I'll have to pick as many as I can carry!
Could you not buy one of those old fashioned Spong mincers for your small quantities of apples?
ReplyDeleteI'd need a VERY big one. I would want to process about 50 kilos, or more.
DeleteIt all looks so delicious. Well, except for the rear view of the codgers (except that, as I stare at them, and the sausages, and the very large cheeses, everything starts to blend together and suddenly even the codgers look downright yummy).
ReplyDeleteI'm not so sure about 'Yummy', but 'Juicy' maybe.
DeleteI quite like the idea of making apple juice with those old contraptions. I've seen them at the various shows and the steam rally.Using a garden shredder is a great idea for chopping them all up. the apple trees are loaded this year.
ReplyDeleteBet that was great apple juice. Countryfile did a piece on apple juicing last week with traditional presses (and a more new fangled one) - they looked great. We've been looking at chestnuts today in the supermarket - £3.50 for a small net of them. pffftt!!
ReplyDeleteOh, to have chestnuts!!! None are grown here in central Canada. Love all the photos you took call it perfect I would! Good luck in finding your press
ReplyDeleteLovely Cro. How I wish I could taste all those delightful things! We too pressed apple cider today! Great stuff. We bought (new) one of those apple shredders to mount on our press and it set us back a bit, but it was an anniversary gift to ourselves.
ReplyDeleteI've already paid €80 for the press, so I'm hoping I can find a cheap shredder before next apple season.... Too late for this year, I fear.
DeleteFrance does have the most beautiful food/markets. Le sigh!
ReplyDelete