Sunday 27 January 2019

The Local 'Fat Market' (Marché au Gras).



The Winter months are when our local farms fatten their Ducks and Geese for Foie Gras and Confit. In times gone past the ancient covered market place would be filled with farmer's wives selling their wares; nowadays (i.e. yesterday) there was just one lady with a very small selection, and they didn't even look particularly appetising.


Just two Ducks were on offer (without their livers).


And quite a few Duck breasts (magrets). The nice lady also had a big pile of eggs, so at least I was able to buy 'something'.

I'm afraid these markets have become a mere shadow of their former selves, and, frankly, are hardly worth attending. I wouldn't have gone myself, other than my desire for some fresh bread from one of the two town bakers.

                                      

For those who were disappointed with the morning's market, there was a 9pm game of Loto to look forward to. You can see by the list of prizes where people's priorities lie!

I wouldn't have said no to 15 Kilos of Entrecotes.


23 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. I didn't go; far too late for me!

      Delete
    2. I hadn't noticed the time - that seems very late for it to start.

      Delete
  2. Your markets are still better than ours. No ducks, or fresh bread though some do have fish.
    I looked up entrecotes...I presume you bought a ticket...and didn't win or we would have heard about it. They must sell a lot of tickets to make any money with those prizes!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's more like Bingo than a lottery; you have to be there to mark off numbers on a card (1€ le Carton). I have no idea how many people go to these things; probably a lot.

      Delete
  3. Times are changing and old traditions are being lost.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really found this quite sad. I went with the idea of photographing rows of beautifully prepared Ducks, but there weren't any. Very disappointing.

      Delete
  4. Our Stornoway 'Saturday Market' at this time of year has a vegetable stall and a fresh fish stall. At other times of the year we might have locally grown specialist potatoes and plants.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There was an Oyster man at market yesterday... I was tempted.

      Delete
  5. A very good first prize to win.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It would have kept me in Steaks for a whole week!

      Delete
  6. Our monthly Farmers' market ( Harpenden) has been cancelled today due to the wind ! Apparently the stalls could blow away and cause damage ! It doesn't look particularly windy, but then I haven't been out yet!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's really foul here. Wind, rain, and cold. I'm staying indoors.

      Delete
  7. Even if you do not find amazing things there you will always have beautiful views and places where you drive on Sundays.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's true Yael, although today's weather is a bit rough. I may not even go for my daily long walk.

      Delete
  8. No more farmers wives to do the jobs, they are out to work nowadays.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A lot of the old practices are now considered too much work for too little recompense. Very few farms now have Pigs, vines, or even Cows.

      Delete
  9. Didn't I read once that it is quite a cruel practice to produce fois gras?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's an unnatural process that imitates a natural one. In fact the birds queue-up for their daily feedings.

      Delete
  10. Every Christmas I buy about 8 French duck breasts, packed the same as your photo. They are by-product of Foie Gras of course, but still expensive. They exude so much fat in the roasting that I use it to roast the potatoes. I then spend the rest of the year eating nothing but porridge to bring my colesterol levels down.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have heard of people removing the fat before cooking; they must be mad. Duck fat is wonderful stuff; it makes the best roast spuds, and is very good for you (or so I tell myself). They're not cheap here!

      Delete
  11. I had to look up entrecote myself as I wasn't familiar with the term (steak, or perhaps a very specific type of steak). That would be a great first prize. Aren't we being told now, that fat is not the enemy? That it was sugar all along? For me I wish it was the other way around! -Jenn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Entrecote steaks are very tasty, and reasonably tender. I always chose them at restaurants, as they are very reliable.

      Delete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...