Summertime Provencal Produce

July 19, 2008 11:32 am

IMG_8783.JPGWe are deep into summertime here in Provence and enjoying the fruits – and the vegetables – of the local farmers’ labors. Each season has its produce charms but those of summer are incomparable. Tomatoes, especially, are in abundant variety. Some are best for making sauces, others for stuffing, and others just for eating as is. Drizzle the tomato slices with local olive oil, add a dash of red wine vinegar, and sprinkle with fresh ground pepper and Fleur de Sel (“flower of salt” in French, a sea salt) – et voila! Don’t forget to garnish with fresh parsley and basil from the kitchen windowsill pots.

Our favorite local market is close by at Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, a beautiful old village dominated by the 14th century hilltop Fort Sainte André. The village is on the Rhone, directly across the river from Avignon. All the outdoor markets are busier – thanks to tourists – during the summer, but this one never seems to get too overwhelmed. Every Thursday morning, Kevin and I arrive intending to buy just what we need for the week, but we always go berserk. We can’t help it. It reminds me of what Oscar Wilde once said: “I can resist anything except temptation.”

IMG_8787.JPGAs I was trying to stuff our purchases into the refrigerator (not the tomatoes, thank you), I counted fourteen different fruits. Fourteen! Okay, I admit to including lemons and limes on that list, as well as some non-local fruits such as bananas, pineapple, grapefruit, oranges, and some outrageous Bramley apples we brought back from England, but herewith the local fruits: raspberries, tiny plums, red currants, peaches, figs, cherries, and apricots. Yesterday, I removed by hand the stones from a kilo of cherries and made chilled cherry soup. Quite tasty …

Ruth

One Response to “Summertime Provencal Produce”

SurEsq wrote a comment on August 1, 2008

Oh, yummy. I would like the chilled cherry soup recipe!! Would you send it to me?

The Farmer’s Markets you have in Provence are the absolute best, Ruthie. While I like my little one on Fridays in Cambria (local produce), I was so impressed with all the various ones you took Nancy and I to — wow, 2 years ago, already?

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