We’ve had an incredible month of September here in Bordeaux. Sunny and warm; ideal for the vineyard. I predict that 2014 will be a vintage to remember (I’m full of it. I have no clue). The farmers’ markets however have to follow the seasons. Tomatoes and strawberries are slowly disappearing from the stalls and I’ve had to cook batches and batches of stuffed tomatoes before the last of the big reds are gone…
I visited my aunt Nicole the weekend before last. We went to the market together and got everything we needed for the most amazing omelette with chanterelles and herbs. For our main course, Nicole bought a few pigeons from a 90 year old gentleman. We found out how old he was during our conversation with him (it lasted for EVER). We also bought the sweetest prunes and mirabelles for a pie. Aunt Nicole is a fabulous cook!
I took tons of photos; so many in fact that I haven’t had much time to sort through them all; but you good people are used to my slacking off by now. So here they are in no particular order:
MY FRENCH HEAVEN 
Your pictures are so inspiring. I lived for about 15years in Bordeaux before moving to Amsterdam. When I land on your blog nostalgia always grabs me and I remember what a beautiful city Bordeaux is… ❤ Thanks for this, I will be back!
Incredible photos!!!!!! Those ducks were real???????????? 🙂 Loved it!!!
Thanks! They were. They look like wood don’t they? 😉
Exactly……. great job… have a nice day… 🙂
These pictures are beautiful!
Thank you so much Madison!!
Super pictures. Thank you for making us feel we were there too 😀
Thanks! You are most welcome!! 😉
Lovely as ever, Stephane (I mean the photos but of course you’re lovely too!). Makes me deeply nostalgic for French markets. We have wonderful produce here too but somehow it always looks so bounteous in your pictures. I can almost smell the autumn woodsmoke.
Oh me too Linda! Autumn is my favorite season! 😉 It must be getting warmer and warmer for you guys over there…
Stéphane, your blog is absolutely amazing. I can feel your positive vibe every time I read a post here. Please continue with your pictures in “no order”, it gives this blog such a unique atmosphere 🙂
Oh thank you so much Alya! What a thoughtful comment. Useful too. The process of selecting the pictures is so painful sometimes that it makes me want to stop blogging all together… Thanks for you encouraging words! 🙂
What a beautiful farmers market!! I love each and every one of your photos!! The choices of food items look wonderful! Hugz Lisa and Bear
Thank you dear Lisa!!!
Your photos are just gorgeous. I am missing the farmer’s markets in France – they were one of my favourite things about visiting. The food, the colours, the people…just heaven to me!
So glad you liked it Samantha!!! Thanks for dropping by 😉
What a gorgeous collection of photos (as always!)! I was relieved to hear the bunny was sold as a pet – it’s so adorable!
Poor bunny… If it goes to a kid, it might regret not having been sold for meat. Quicker death 😦
Your blog is so lovely. I enjoy reading it and looking at the wonderful photos.
Thanks so much Mary! It mans a lot!
Wonderful photos. They took me back to all the markets we strolled around in Cherbourg.
Thanks Marie! I’m sure that the market in Cherbourg is lovely. Ours may have a little more sun 😉
Almost certainly
Wonderful set of pictures…..I haven’t been to a market for so long …..I shall have to change that..:)
You should Roger. There are always such incredible characters to meet there… 🙂
what a treat this post is! so lovely, enchanting really. I is natural and welcoming and so-very-lovely a reminder..that the time has come to such positive experiences ; ) Looking forward to the wine – best wishes, jm
And so you should 😉 Thanks Jm!
Fabulous as always…
Thank you my dear Sandra! And thank you for visiting so often. It means the world to me 😉
love the colours, vividity and your narration!
-http://noodles4thoughts.wordpress.com/
Awesome pictures
Thanks
Love to visit your blog! The photos are amazing and you always capture the moment in your writing. Makes me miss living in Europe.
Thank you so much for such a kind comment! Now stop whatever you are doing, sell the house, give the kids away, get a plane ticket and come on over. I’ll come get you at the airport.
I’m always look for your post. It is the highlight of my day! My 5th great grandfather was from Bourgogne, France. He was one of the founding families to settle in New Orleans, Louisiana. When I read your post I always feel I’ve gone home!!
So sorry for the late answer my dear friend. I’m sure your great grandfather could make a killer beef Bourguignon. I lived several years in New Orleans you know. I LOVE that city and I love the state even more. Such incredible memories. I had an asshole for a boss, but the most incredible friends and lifestyle…
No worries! There is no place like New Orleans! I just tried my hand at Beef Bourguigon and it was fantastic! ( of course I followed Julia Childs recipe) Next time I’ll take pictures to post.
You always manage to capture the character of the people you photograph, I just adore your market photo’s. So beautiful, the produce, the people I would love to walk through that market one day.
Thank you my dear friend! When I come to NYC, you and I will go to a market together. I’m sure there are great characters walking through the markets of Brooklyn etc 😉
Ahhh, the markets in France are wonderful. We have so many (&%^! health laws that much of how the food is displayed ruins the art of it, as you know. I was interested to see the onion tops tied the way they are….now that I am working on an organic farm and harvested all the onions, it was fun to see it that way…wonder how the farmer would react if I go in and tie knots on all the onions that are drying. LOL
Ha Ha! There is a little barn in my garden where my great grandfather used to hang the onions. He died in 1981 aged 97 and the onions are still hanging from the ceiling on the second floor… I’m afraid to even touch them. They’ll turn into dust instantly
Holy mother of fresh glorious produce! Awesome 🙂
😉
Gorgeous photos! I always look forward to seeing your posts in my email. It is a wonderful retreat in the middle of my day!
And I always look forward to your lovely comments! Thank you so much for taking the time to come to My French Heaven so often!!
Your photos are incredible. Thank you for sharing them!
You are most welcome! Thanks for such a lovely comment!
You never cease to amaze me with your blog. I feel like I need to drop everything and move to France. Your photography is nothing short of perfection. I am transported to another world and time each time I read your post. Thank you for allowing us into your country.
What a lovely lovely comment! When you’ve made up your mind to droop everything and move over here, just give me a call. I’ll help you find a nice cottage in the vineyard 😉
I have to (and hate to) ask: are the bunnies and ducks for eating? If so, I didn’t realize they’d sell them live!
No, the rabbits are sold as pets and the chickens were part of a beauty contest. They do also sell chicken to lay eggs. I almost bought several in the Spring for myself. Nothing better than fresh eggs at home…
Lovely photos! The Farmer’s Market here near where I work in NW Indiana will be closing up for the winter too. Like squirrels, we stock up for the winter now.
Ours never close, but we’re moving towards the Winter produce like pumpkins, cabbage and potatoes… They have their own charm too 😉
Yes they do 🙂 I’m waiting for my cabbage to get ready to pick.
This is what I love about France. I have hundreds f pictures like these ones from Metz, where we go almost every weekend to buy food at the market. Recently I was with my camera in Sicily and managed to get to the food market in Siracusa 🙂 beautiful pictures! lovely atmosphere 🙂
Thank you so much dear Marta! I’m glad you got to experience the real thing 🙂
Oh yes I do. I love the food markets around Lyon, I go there very often to visit my boyfriend’s family. It’s totally different experience isn’t it, not only the food that matters it’s the whole cultural thing and celebration of being together in this very moment, exactly like on your pictures. They show it beautifully:)
Thanks so much dear Marta!
Sounds like a great weekend with wonderful food – the chanterelles omelette being just one of the dishes I would have loved to have as well!
The chanterelles were divine Sabine. I actually had mine with scrambled eggs and a little cream 😉
Lovely post and photos Stéphane – as usual! I think the French Tourist Board should be paying you a handsome commission for the wonderful view you present of your region and the traditional values of French life we Francophiles love so much! J’espère que vous allez passer un super bon moment au Circuit des Remparts, on croise les doigts qu’il fera beau! 🙂
Can’t wait for the rally! Will you go? I hope my pictures of it are half as good as the ones you posted!! The weather should be OK. I don’t pray much, but if there is a god, he certainly owes me more than one favor 😉
Seriously gorgeous. Thank you for sharing. You really capture how much life and love there is in the market and how nature’s gifts animate people. Beautiful.
I must say I found the people there even more interesting than the market itself 🙂 Thanks for your lovely comment dear Amanda!
I feel like I just visted there with you! Thanks for the lovely trip!
I hope we can do it in real life someday dear J!
Your markets are the best in the world. Except I could not eat a bunny. Gorgeous photos.
The bunny was to be sold as a pet. Too small (and cute) to eat. Thank god 😉
The food looks fabulous, but your people portraits are remarkable. I’m so jealous! ;->
Virtual hugs,
Judie
Thank you so much dear Judie! I find that I like portraiture more and more. I might make it a specialty 🙂
Beautiful pictures!!
Thanks!!