Ready to eat this weekend. . . . . . . . .

I thought perhaps, with the pre-Thanksgiving weekend upon us, we need to think about 

what to eat. After all, most of you here in the US will be out shopping for your

big meal on Thursday, additional cooking at home may not be something

 you plan this weekend.

I also believe we all need some cheering up and comfort food often helps.

What could be better than sharing food photos I took in France last month.

There, as in much of Europe, the outdoor and indoor markets are remarkable

 places abundant in everything 'gastronomique'.

Copious amounts of ready-to-cook and already cooked foods, overflow from

 market baskets, crates, counters, bakeries, and street vendors ovens.

One could never go hungry here, and one doesn't have to think that only the

home kitchen can produce great tasting, healthy food!

All these wonderful foods were top quality - let's face it, the French know 

food, how to choose the ingredients, preparation, cooking, serving.

The actual eating is like theatre, with a great glass of wine - the final act lasts

 long, with appetite satiated, company enjoyed whether with one special person

or a great group of family or friends.

Yes, I have to repeat, the French know their food and we thank them 

for educating us when it comes to cooking and eating.

Bon appétit!

I just know you found something here you would like to get your hands on!

 Whether you want to fill your market basket with the veggies and cook from scratch,

 or just grab one of those beautiful pastries calling to you from the pâtisserie

display, everything will be fresh, flavorful and perfect.

After all - this is France and they know food.

Come to the Fête de la Pomme. . . . . .

Fête de la Pomme, la Foire, an annual October fair for the apple. . . . . . this one being
 the eighteenth such Autumn celebration in this charming village of Aigues-Vive.
  A pleasant country drive through vineyards and farmland, not far from where my
 brother John and his wife Alison live, this small village of approximately 2,600
 welcomed huge crowds from the surrounding area in the department of Gard in
 the region of Languedoc-Roussillion. 

A brilliant warm, sunny Sunday morning - we arrived early and managed to 
look around before the crowds became heavy, loud, but obviously happy and
thankful for so much fun, entertainment, and an abundance of fabulous
 foodstuffs to buy and take home to their kitchens.

There was a fabulous band, school children singing, displays of incredible
farm and grape harvesting equipment. . . . . . and stands offering everything
delicious from fresh apples and juice (free cups of the best just pressed juice ever),
 to honey, jams, cheeses, vegetables,sausages, crepes, chestnuts, eggs, 
garlic. . . . . plus yarn, lavender products, and so much more. 
The French certainly know how to do the outdoor market that's for sure!

This gentleman was selling his family-made jewelry. I especially liked the

 polished wood pieces and tucked some in my bag to bring home. . . . 

and of course now wish I'd bought a lot more!

Hope you enjoyed a stroll around the colorful French apple fair.

les petits chats de France. . . . . . . .

This is just a little post for all my cat loving blog friends. . . . and you are

numerous.

I too love cats but no longer have one of my own.

When traveling I always try to get pix of the local cats to share 

with you - these are some of the delightful French kitties

I found in towns and villages. . . . . . 

. . . . . and even on the streets of Paris!

Of course France is known for its food, fish being extremely popular despite the 

huge amount of meat and poultry consumed.

So, with amazing markets everywhere it's quite predictable that French

cats are well fed with bounty from the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and

the English Channel, all lapping the French shores!

Do you have a fish-loving cat?  Do you prepare gourmet fresh seafood meals

 for your favorite feline - or open a can?