Les Jolis Marchés de Provence

Talking about his discoveries with the chef on his return is another pleasure. Cédric Luisin of Villa Marie or François Martin of La Bastide de Marie buy directly from small local producers. Early in the morning, you can see François' white van going to meet his supplier of small red onions in braided bunches, young carrots and rustic salads directly in his field. The Provence markets combine all the pleasures: Fruits that can only be found here, such as vine peaches, Cavaillon melon, red-cheeked apricots and multicoloured bags made of plaited raffia, soaps that smell of lavender and bunches of purple artichokes, espadrilles and lavender essential oils, wild boar sausage and lavender honey, the stalls follow one another on the markets that occupy the prettiest place in the villages, their square, shaded by plane trees with their powerful trunks. It is the life of the village, the bursts of voices with the accent, the little old men who chat on the bench in the shade, the hands joined on their cane, one strolls in the fresh shade of the plane trees, there is always a terrace to take the pastis or the lemonade. And we come back to the hotel to taste and find seasonal products prepared with greed by the chef.

Noëlle Bittner

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