Saint Remy Market

Almost every village in Provence has a market day. Some are provencal markets with prepared foods and produce as well as provencal goods like linens, clothing, and lavender. Others are only farmer’s produce markets.

This morning we enjoyed the Saint Remy market.  The entire market wraps around the square at the Hotel de Ville (city government), winds through the small streets and expands to the parking lot across the street.  First, we checked out the whole scene. Then, we revisited our favorite spots–Allan bought green olives in chopped garlic, visited with”the duck guy” and bought a can of duck confit for four that “the duck guy” had preserved.  I visited with Frank, “the watercolor painter” but will wait to purchase.  And, of course, we had a mission.  Clay has an excellent recipe for oyster stew and our mission was to secure all of the ingredients.  Clay visited “his oyster guy” who shucked him four dozen oysters; Connie found celery and onions; Allan and I found milk and parsley.  Clay brought pastis  in a small bottle from home and he and Connie went to the InterMarche (big grocery store) for flour.

After the market, we relaxed, read, napped and enjoyed our lovely villa with the birds singing through the open windows.

Allan and I had a late lunch across the street at Le Bistro des Alpilles and returned to the villa for Allan to help Clay prepare the Oyster Stew which was delicious!  Our feast tonight also included artichokes and a lovely bottle of Clos de Calliou wine.

Chef Claude’s quote for the day: “the parsley on oyster stew is like the nutmeg on milk punch”