« blooming peonies | Main | graduation »
May 02, 2007
hungry for provence
We've been reading Peter Mayle's books on his experience as an Englishman living in Provence. My favorite so far has been A Year in Provence where Mayle records his and his wife's first year living as locals in southern France. The following passage makes my mouth water:
All good Sundays include a trip to the market ... At one end of the market, a van from the wine cooperative was surrounded by men rinsing their teeth thoughtfully in the new rosé. Next to them, a woman was selling free-range eggs and live rabbits, and beyond her the tables were piled high with vegetables, small and fragrant bushes of basil, tubs of lavender honey, great green bottles of first pressing olive oil, trays of hot-house peaches, pots of block tapenade, flower and herbs, jams and cheeses -- everything looked delicious in the early morning sun.We bought red peppers to roast and big brown eggs and basil and peaches and goat's cheese and lettuce and pink-streaked onions. And, when the basket could hold no more, we went across the road to buy half a yard of bread - the gros pain that makes such a tasty mop for any olive oil or vinaigrette sauce that is left on the plate. The bakery was crowded and noisy, and smelled of warm dough and the almonds that had gone into the morning's cakes. While we waited, we remembered being told that the French spend as much of their income on their stomachs as the English do on their cars and stereo systems, and we could easily believe it.
art | By charity | 09:39 AM
Comments
Mmmm.
I read that book in one sitting, as I sat up all night guarding my luggage in the Marseilles (marSAYuh) airport.
*drooldrooldrool*
Posted by: Jeannette at May 2, 2007 10:34 AM
I LOVE that book - there's a sequel as well...Provence in the summer - it doesn't get much better!
Posted by: Bryonie at May 3, 2007 06:56 AM
ooh, sounds so good. i may have to pick up that book!
Posted by: lois at May 3, 2007 08:59 AM