La France Gourmande; A Food Lover's Guide to French Fetes and Foires

by Unknown

• ISBN13: 9781862053724
• ISBN10: 1862053723
• Format: Trade Book
• Copyright: 2003-03-01
• Publisher: Anova Books

Summary

Whatever the season or region, France's fairs and festivals are a prime attraction for both locals and travelers. Few can resist the lure of bustling markets as regional specialties and mouthwatering delicacies are fervently discussed amid the jostling crowds.La France Gourmandeexplores the country's age-old food festivals and fairs, highlighting the diversity of regional products and traditions, from Normandy's coastal fish fairs to the colorful cherry, olive, and lavender festivals in the south. Traditions, too, are explored, often with the locals themselves, offering a wonderfully evocative picture of French rural life. Each fair or festival features a delicious regional recipe, and the book's 12 chapters provide a month-by-month companion to events. Complete with a region-by-region index detailing all the relevant information on a particular area,La France Gourmandeis gloriously illustrated with color photos of people and places, foods and markets.

Author Biography

Marolyn Charpentier is a travel writer, cook and photographer who has spent over five years extensively researching and photographing gastronomic markets, festivals and fairs. Born in America, she has worked and travelled throughout Europe, pursuing her passion for gastronomy. She now lives with her French husband in France

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 8
January
Foire des Rois/Fair of the Three Kings and Foie Gras (Limousin)	p. 11
Journee de la Truffe/Truffle Day (Midi)	p. 19
Fete de St-Blaise et du Raisin/Annual Fair and Grape Festival (Provence--Cote d'Azur)	p. 24
February
L'Alicoque, Fete de l'Huile Nouvelle/Olive Oil Festival (Provence)	p. 30
Fete du Pain Chaud/Hot Bread Festival (Brittany)	p. 36
Foire aux Vins d'Allier/Allier Wine Fair (Centre)	p. 41
March
Foire du Printemps et aux Bestiaux/Spring Livestock Fair (Perigord)	p. 46
Foire Internationale aux Fromages et aux Vins/Cheese and Wine Fair (Ile-de-France)	p. 52
Foire au Jambon de Bayonne/Ham Fair (Pays Basque)	p. 58
April
Fete de l'Huitre/Oyster Festival (Brittany)	p. 64
Fete de l'Asperge/Asparagus Festival (Gascony)	p. 70
Fete de la Chevre/Goat Festival (Limousin)	p. 76
May
Fete de l'Agneau/Lamb Festival (Medoc)	p. 82
Fete de la Fraise/Strawberry Festival (Limousin)	p. 88
Fete de la Cerise/Cherry Festival (French Catalonia)	p. 95
June
Fete Gourmande/Food-Lovers' Festival (Rhone Valley)	p. 100
Fete du Fromage/Goats' Cheese Fair (Provence)	p. 107
Festival du Casse-Croute et des Goudots Gourmands/Snack Fair (Auvergne)	p. 112
July
Foire aux Melons/Melon Fair (Provence)	p. 118
Festival des Crus de la Vallee du Rhone/Rhone Wine Fest (Provence)	p. 124
L'Ail en Fete/Garlic Festival (Gascony)	p. 131
August
Fete de la Moisson/Wheat Harvest Festival (Pays de la Loire)	p. 136
Foires aux Vins/Wine and Local Produce Fair (Quercy)	p. 143
Fete du Charolais/Beef Festival (Burgundy)	p. 148
September
Fete de la Transhumance et du Munster/Transhumance and Cheese Festival (Alsace)	p. 154
Foire aux Haricots/Bean Fair (Ile-de-France)	p. 159
Fete de la Choucroute/Sauerkraut Festival (Alsace)	p. 164
October
BioFoire/Organic Products Fair (Midi-Pyrenees)	p. 170
Fete de la Chataigne et du Cepe/Chestnut and Mushroom Festival (Perigord)	p. 176
Foire aux Piments/Pepper Fair (Pays Basque)	p. 183
November
Foire aux Dindes/Turkey Fair (Perigord)	p. 190
Foire aux Harengs/Herring Fair (Coastal Normandy)	p. 196
Gastronomades/Rambling Gourmet Festival (Poitou-Charente)	p. 202
December
Fete de St-Nicolas/St-Nicolas Fair (Lorraine)	p. 208
Les Glorieuses/Fine Fowl of Bresse Fest (Burgundy)	p. 213
Across France: A summary of taste and terroir	p. 218
Map	p. 222
Gazetteer	p. 221
Popular Festivals and Saints' Days	p. 240
Food Festivals and Fairs by Subject	p. 241
Bibliography	p. 250
Recipe List	p. 251
Index	p. 252
Acknowledgements	p. 256
Table of Contents provided by Rittenhouse. All Rights Reserved.