Well, I got home from France last week and was feeling a little sad and experiencing some culture shock. Saturday morning rolled around, and I grabbed my market cart and camera and headed to the Pepper Place Market. No, it's NOT the rue Mouffetard Market but it's a place that feels like HOME! I did have a "Paris Moment" at Continental Bakery's stall. I had a pain au chocolat that was EVERY BIT AS GOOD as the many I had in Paris, for which I am eternally grateful!! I also tucked a baguette in my cart, another Paris staple that I can enjoy here in B'ham and was ever so delicious. I love the energy of this market - the friendly people, the helpful, smiling vendors, the live music, the flowers, the colorful fruits and vegetables....well everything about it. And did I mention that everyone spoke my language - SOUTHERN? Of course I saw many friends there. That's always a highlight for me, seeing friends old and new and catching up! My photography buddy Bill and I watched Chef Frank Stitt do a cooking demo and visited the Lite Box Gallery's newest photography exhibit. I have so many photos from this year and last year, I'll never be able to share them all. Today a taste. Enjoy!!!
44 comments:
Going to the market is so much fun no matter where you are!
les marchés bio deviennent de plus en plus à la mode, et si cela peut sauver la planète, c'est très bien
markets bio become more and more in fashion, and if it can save the planet, it is very well
I posted a Paris history tidbit that you might like .. it's a bit shocking though:) I can't see a carrot without thinking of bugs bunny!
Wdon't have a market here. Something I miss terribly from the other B'ham which is overflowing with them. Those sunflowers just begging to be painted. The Southern light is quite magical today. I do have a question about cheese? Is it true that American cheeses are a little bland or is that one of those urban myths? I adore French cheese and baguette, along with scary smelling Brit ones. Educate me.
I love these places, it makes shopping more "human." We don't have any in So Fla. Here in Michigan, they are all over the place and we love going.
I've noticed how everything always looks so fresh even in the heat! Those carrots sure look yummy. How in the world did they make it in all the humidity? We had potatoes that just rotted in the ground this year.
B,
Well if you're talking "American" cheese which is what I call faux cheese (processed something or other), yes it's bland. That said, we have most of the same cheeses available here that you can find most anywhere. We have a bakery that can nail a French baguette so I'm a happy camper!
RR,
The offerings were amazing Sat. despite the temps. I was melting but the produce wasn't!
Markets are what's best here in the Midwest, too! You describe the pleasure of walking around one quite well. The bottom photo reminds me that I need to go again to get some fresh produce. Such pleasures!
Markets are the places I miss the most. Over here they have a hard time establishing themselves due in part to the "summer season" which lasts three month with temperatures too high to be able to stay outside for long...
Birmigham is too far for a weekly visit, too bad lol.
I love PP!!! I always take a ton of pictures there (and at what I call the "secret garden") that is behind the building on the far right. I so miss Continential. My mouth is watering for one of their delicious crossiants.
Its nice being away but its just as good being home.
I like the carrots all neatly bunched up.
Hey, Virginia! I love Pepper Place, too! So glad to hear that the pastries that can be had there are good enough to rival the French ones that you just experienced!
Here is a link http://www.care2.com/farmersmarket/ to vote for Pepper Place as your favorite farmer's market. I know that if you do it and if you get all of your friends (since you have so many) that it would bump it up to be a contender!
What a great place with good (French) food and lots of friends...
Looks like you didn't miss a beat with getting down to great pictures upon return. It's nice to have a favorite place to go to. Love the color in these photos & the nice looking young man.
«Louis» understands the letdown you feel when returning from France....
Nikki, I'm happy to vote and hope all my readers will as well. The PPM is one of the very best things B'ham has to offer in my opinion! Look for more posts from there.
V
You almost make me want to eat a carrot.
I am a cheeseaholic. I know when I lived in St Andrews, Scotland all the Americans who came couldn't get over the variety of cheeses and fullness of flavour. We have nailed bagels yet though.
Ah, WHY would you eat a carrot when you could eat a Snickers???
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Great pictures upon return. It's nice to have a favorite place to go to. Love the color in these photos & the nice looking young man!
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Hey, Virginia! I love Pepper Place, too! So glad to hear that the pastries that can be had there are good enough to rival the French ones that you just experienced!
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Markets are what's best here in the Midwest, too! You describe the pleasure of walking around one quite well. The bottom photo reminds me that I need to go again to get some fresh produce. Such pleasures!
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Hey, Virginia! I love Pepper Place, too! So glad to hear that the pastries that can be had there are good enough to rival the French ones that you just experienced!
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