Clos du Caillou

The market today (Thursday) was in Maussane so we took our time and walked from our villa, down the street, across the small brook and were there in less than 5 minutes.  This market feels more local in the small village of Maussane.  The vendors who attend every market were not there and the crowd seemed to be mostly local people purchasing their fruit, vegetables and cheese.  Allan and I walked quickly around the area and decided to head to our favorite boulangerie for a sacristain. The market is behind a big school and the children exploring, running and (especially) laughing brought big smiles to our faces.

Connie and Clay were at the market when we returned.  It really is amazing to think of these markets. Early today vendors came in vans, trucks and cars with their wares loaded inside.  They set up their spaces with display cases, tables, tents and umbrellas before carefully arranging all of the things they were trying to sell.  You have to imagine…the fish store was here with fresh seafood on ice; the fruit and vegetable vendors brought strawberries; clementines, kiwis, pears, apples, pumpkins (sold by the slice), lettuces, green and white asparagus, peppers, avocados, carrots, cabbage, leeks, tomatoes, and more–all bright and colorful; soap vendors brought bars of soap, hand lotion, liquid soap; there was a booth with a huge rotisserie that was roasting chickens and potatoes; there were clothing vendors; a shoe vendor;  a wine and local jams vendor and many other small entrepreneurs.  And this was a very small market!

Clay checked out the wine as he does at each place we visit.

We bought a chicken to have for dinner, took our purchases home and loaded up the car for a ride to one of our favorite wineries, Clos du Caillou.  It took us awhile to get there but the trip was well worth it, Clay sent a case of wine home to New Orleans and we bought a few bottles to have at our evening happy hours.

After Caillou, we went to an olive farm that was rumored (from one of Clay’s sources) to have olive oil that tasted like pure gold…we will see.  The first half of the drive from Caillou was on a tolled highway, which we have learned over the years to navigate pretty well.  The last half was on long, narrow and winding roads through a forest with rocky terrain.  Mas de Gourgonnier was on its own long and winding road with grey-green olive trees, bare grape vines, and almond trees just beginning to bloom on either side.  We each bought the olive oil–who wouldn’t want to taste “pure gold” olive oil! And, Clay bought some wine.

Dinner tonight was a smorgasbord–raw oysters, roasted chicken, salad, asparagus, roasted potatoes and, of course, a baguette and salted butter.