Typical day at the Boulangerie

One of the best Boulangerie's is literally 1 minute away from where we live. It's a typical Frenchie bakery with fantastic bread, cakes and sunny people. On leisurely days off this place is my 'it spot'.

A simple espresso with a delightful taste of the freshest croissants and a chocolaty 'pain au chocolat' was the order of the day. It seriously wakes me up and puts a genuine smile on my face!




Sitting peacefully watching the French hustle bustle go by was soothing. An ordinary man chooses a 'cafe americano' with a light bite and joined the tiny terrace in front of the Boulangerie.

This was my opportunity to take some quality photos and of course have some fun! He was a natural! And even though I took a few photos, only one sufficed to be fit for the post today!

 

Bread: Should I get started?! 'French baguettes' are the bees knees in the 'bread world'. My preference = the 'Ceraine', the king of all breads in this particular family run Boulangerie. It is delicious. Crunchy. Wholesome. The seeds interwoven throughout the entire loaf give me a Funny... Happy... Sensation. If you want to go all out why not add some 'Comte' cheese and nibble with contentment? ;)

Stacking finished coffee cups and messing with my little camera was essential. Being playful at 10am is a fresh typical starting day for Bella! Passer bys looked on with smiles. Obviously thinking I was a tourist, yet not knowing that I've been living here for months and have just bought a new camera, I laughed on!!

Much love et bonne soiree!

Bella :) x

Premier blog about the zest and life of a French countryside market

Coeur de Boeuf tomatoes baby

Welcoming... 

Bella O'Keeffe Supiana to step forward with her first ever blog post!

Exciting, yes! Nervous, yes!

Here we go... On y va...

Living in the south of France is 'la creme de la creme' in a foodies world. Food is the very essence of social encounters, bringing people from different working lives together to share a glass of rose after a blissful 'dejuner'.

French markets give me a colourful buzzy feeling. You can't imagine how fresh the produce is until you see it, smell it and touch it for yourself. The different colours jump from the hand woven baskets and plastic carts. The presentation is simple. Vendors effortlessly create a piece of art for the food lovers eye.

The picture on the top left illustrates 'Coeur de boeuf' tomatoes. Just look at them! Aren't they lush?! The intense colour and smell almost knocked me out. The price tag says 'look at me' or in frenchie terms 'ACHETEZ - MOI'!! The French sun allows for the best tasting vegetables in the world.

So What Can You Expect At A French Countryside Market?

Fresh carrots

1. Plenty of local, fresh produce
2. The odd flirt here and there if you allow yourself to get involved in the rhythm of French madness
3. An overly confident French man who gets the crowd going and criticises everyone elses produce 'mais... c'est une blague' (it's only a joke!)
4. Local restaurateurs buying their bits and bobs for the lunch menu
5. People walking around in shorts and tank tops
6. Funny little baskets to weigh the goods
7. Playful vendors with passion oozing out of them
8. Huge old cooking pans

Fried potatoes - French style

A French market has so much up for grabs! It can be the most enjoyable moment in a day for me and even turn into a very educational hour or so. It can teach you a lot about a countries culture and people. Look on the right... Are you thinking of what I'm thinking?? Yes??...

Woooohooo!!!

When I saw these potatoes they had to be tried. Some are slightly burnt but somewhat edible! However, the taste is incredible... 1cm thick sliced potatoes tossed in a paprika and olive oil dressing, fried with smokey bacon and onions. The name: Bliss In A Pan!

Cheeky meat & fried potatoe vendor

It's taken me a couple of visits to be able to handle the 'in your face', attention seeking vendor. The advice: smile, play along, have fun and get them to smile with you!

If you ever happen to be in south France, make it your business to get to a food market in Provence- Fayence to be precise!

Much love
Bella x