Why go far?
When you are on a holiday in Italy or France, what are you most likely to do? Do you go to museums, take a tour, sit in a roadside café, go to the beach? I like to go to the local markets, that is the place to meet and talk to the locals and get a feel of the country.
And at home? Caught in my routine I rarely go the local markets in nearby Germany and France, a pity since such a trip is like a mini holiday, relaxing (when not trying to shop and take pictures at the same time!) and will recharge my batteries.
There is a farmer market on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday in the middle of Lörrach, a town just across the border of Basel. Local farmers sell their freshly harvested products: from radishes to peaches, potatoes, cabbages, grapes, flowers and homemade bread, cakes, tarts, jams and brandy.
Stands offering cheese, cured meat, sausages and take away food border the new market square.
We go early in the morning, it is a lovely sunny day, there is already the smell of early autumn in the air, perfect light for picture taking.
Carrots for salad or sauteed with parsley and onions?
I see fruit or vegetable and immediately there is a recipe in my head or some ideas what to do with them.
Overwhelming abundance of produce, it is a feast for eyes and nose (I am a very olfactory person, much more than visual!) and I would love to put those smells in a bottle, reminding me of Patrick Süsskind’s The Perfume.
Light and shadow
In Italy you would call her a befana
I am taken in by this sweet old lady, with her few beans, tomatoes and red dahlias, with her battered scale. But she has got an astute business sense and charges me a fortune for those flowers. And like a flowermaid at a wedding I walk around the market, leaving a trail of little red blossoms – sweet.
grapes grapes grapes
1679 jpg
and more grapes
It is harvest time for the white grapes, mostly Chasselas. I look forward to savouring the fermenting grape juice, called Suuser in the local dialect (translated it means to bolt or to dash, referring to the effect the new wine might have).
Homegrown flowers
They come in all shapes and colours
Lovely display of cakes, bread, vegetable and pickles
I particularly like two stands: the one of farmer family Probst from nearby Kandern where I buy vegetable to last me a week: celery, carrots, cabbage, pak choi (braised and served with fresh lemon juice and olive oil), onions etc. I order a ton of quince (they will be on the market in 2 – 3 weeks) to make gelée and quince and lemon chutney.
celery
The other is Sonja Schumacher: she is here on Saturdays with her beautifully arranged flowers and homemade products. She has wonderful ideas for presents and does everything herself, make sure to pay her a visit when you go to the market. You will find her on the left side coming from town square.
Fragranced bouquet
Amazing mixture of herbs and flowers, would you not love receiving such a fragrance bouquet?
Next time I will buy a bouquet from her, forget about the bridesmaid!
Mine next time!
Which local markets do you go to? What do you purchase? Share your stories and adventures!
Comments 7
I’m ashamed to say that I have never been to Italy or France, but I *do* so share your love of markets, Barbara! In fact, when I visit new places in South America, I like to search for the markets too. I love all the colors, variety and the smells, which you’ve expressed so well in your amazing photos! =) Unfortunately, I always have to be extra wary in marketplaces here because they’re famous for petty thefts. =PWhen I first arrived in Huancayo, I almost got my cell phone stolen in the marketplace early on. Now that I’m more wary, I’m also more prepared and less afraid. At the Huancayo market, my new favorite thing is buy is granadilla, a fruit native to the Andes. Have you tried it before? =)
@Samantha Bangayan Aaah, granadilla, I know it as passion fruit, yes, I love it and again there are a thousand recipes flitting through my mind (maybe in a meat sauce to add some acidity to the rich meat flavours or give a kick to an extra sweet dessert?), but I remember a holiday in the Dominican Republic and gorging myself each morning on fresh passion fruit juice mixed with mango, pineapple …
I can only imagine what a market in Huancayo is like, as to safety I am glad this was in Lörrach, what with juggling camera, shopping bags, my trailing flowers, purse, business cards.
And here is the 8th thing about myself: I have never been to South America, but I hear the tango argentino calling to me, staying on one of those lovely fincas, savouring that fantastic beef from the barbacoa, seeing the waterfalls and wildlife.
What food is typical for Peru? Enchilladas? Beans?
Hugs, 😉
@Late_Bloomers Wow! You are a true chef, Barbara! I need you in my home. =) Those recipe ideas sound delish! =)I can’t wait for you to visit South America sometime soon! =) Would love to take you around my adopted “land” and I would love to watch you tango! =) Hehe!Typical food in Peru varies with the region, but here in the Andes, potato dishes are really popular. =P Particularly, “papas a la huancaina,” which is a dish of potatoes with a special sauce. =) I always thought South America would be filled with enchiladas and beans too, but that’s more Mexico! =)Hugs back!! =)
@Samantha Bangayan Is this an invitation? I will book a flight tomorrow! See, how ignorant I am concerning Peruvian food, but honestly do you tango in Peru?
Love your compliments 😉
Hugs, Barbara
Yes, it’s an invitation!! =) But we don’t tango in Peru. =P There are various other traditional dances instead!
Hi Barbara! I loved your post, especially the amazing pictures with the vibrant colors! We have lots of farmers’ markets near us, but I have a favorite I must visit every week. It’s only open Fridays and Saturdays and if I miss going for the week, I get upset.
So, how much were the flowers?
In your picture of celery, you focus on the celery root. Have you ever eaten celery root? It’s one of my favorite veggies.
Samantha, I haven’t visited South America either. The closest I have come was St. Lucia. Maybe someday…
@wonderoftech Hi Carolyn! I went to the farmer market again, today, as the lady of the celery called late last night to tell me that the quinces were ripe – now I sit here with a ton of quinces which will be processed into gelés (proper English would be jelly but the French word sounds nicer and reminds me less of jelly fish), lemon and quince chutney, jam and some quince specialty which we eat around Christmas (it is a thickened paste and can be lovingly cut up int any shape, rolled in sugar it is delicious and very very sweet).
Thanks for your compliment regarding the pictures, I think their beauty was due to the light conditions on that morning and less to my phtographic talent! And BTW all shot with my iPhone with the Camera Plus app-
The price of the flowers – the trailing red dahlia blossoms were € 5.00 (about $ 7.20) and they did not last long, but at least I got a nice story out of them! My mother loved them anyway and put them in a antique metal vase. Today I got a lovely bouquet from Sonja for £ 8.50, lovely light purple flowers and mint leaves combined. She is such a talented and clever girl.
Celery root – I adore it, there is so much you can do with it: it goes into my soups or instead of a potato puree I make a celery puree which goes well with venison. Have you ever tried making chips out of celery, makes a healthy snack or serve it with your apero.
I think we should surprise Samantha and go to Peru, the closest I have been was the Dominican Republic …