Yes, I really did take photos of vegetables and fruit in the Paris markets, they were so pretty! The displays had more of a farmers market feel, rather than an actual grocery store feel.
I'd love a few of these for a vase arrangement.
Their clementines were divine!
Juicy and so tasty.
I looked at the Curcuma and tried to figure out what I knew it as. The name was so familiar (no WiFi, no internet). Later I found this... "Curcuma is a genus of about 100 accepted species in the family Zingiberaceae that contains such species as turmeric and Siam Tulip" (source)
And then remembered I fell hard for Curcuma alismatifolia during the last Garden Bloggers Fling in WA DC, in the garden of Linda Holister. Here's a photo of one of her plants...
I wonder if I could have gotten one of these to bloom and what the flower would look like? (no, I did not try and bring one back through U.S. customs)
These "panier de fruits" (aka fruit basket, which really looks like a fruit bag)...
Were already made up and ready to go home. How handy, and with country of origin listed even.
The store was actually quite large, with shelf/dry goods and a meat and cheese department.
The produce section was the most photographable though.
Another day, another market. Although it appears to be the same company Bio c' Bon, something I didn't realize until looking through my photos.
Aloé Véra (aloeee verha according to my Google translate app), from Spain.
Have I ever had a Kumquat? I'm not sure.
The carrot selection! All the different colors...
Hmmm, and look at this, chocolate spread with hazelnuts and agave! I should have bought some.
Or maybe one of these instead. All the delicious and good for you drinks, like Carrot Kick, Green Love, Red Boost, Framboise, Menthe...
Another day, another market.
With a fresh juice machine!
I should have tried some fresh juice...
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Just a smallish market and yet the variety of carrots alone is stunning. Those kumquats are bigger than any I see for sale here. Probably can find similar size on the west coast. I like them best as a sweet pickled condiment. Want you to know that I read "Tulip slam" instead of "Siam tulip." I was really excited about a floral slam!
ReplyDeleteA tulip slam would be so much fun! Let’s have one.
DeleteIt's been a while since I saw veggies with some dirt still on, as if just picked in the field. It all looks so stylish. It was wise not to test U.S. customs, but you can find curcuma in Asian markets, in case you still want to experiment.
ReplyDeleteVeggies that look like they came from the soil, not a factory. Who can imagine? Ya, I had it very easy coming back through customs and was on a tight schedule to get my connection. Nice to not have anything to hide.
DeleteSo colourful and vibrant, those veggies and fruits looks so yummy! Curcuma is sometimes sold in leaf and bloom in houseplant section, might be worth keeping an eye in the spring and summer.
ReplyDeleteFollowing Evan’s advice (below) I’m even more excited to try and find the tubers to grow.
DeleteThe prices look reasonable. Curcuma (Tumeric) is a grown as a crop at a couple local farms around here. We can get it fresh in the fall, along with Ginger. It's a real treat.
ReplyDeleteOkay that’s it, I am determined to find some Curcuma tubers!
DeleteThat juice machine squeezed the oranges with the rinds intact? I'd love to grow violet-leaved artichokes! I'll have to see if I can find those in a seed catalog.
ReplyDeleteYes, crazy right?
DeleteTry Baker Seed for the artichokes, for some reason I think I’ve seen them there...
The third store started looking a little like our produce, if only because of the plastic containers. Everything else was so different. Google Curcuma longa to see photos of the plant and flowers those turmeric tubers should produce.
ReplyDeleteI love them! Curcuma longa, have you grown it?
DeleteNever tried. I've been tempted, but not quite enough.
DeleteWow. They certainly have our Safeway beat :-). Prices are very reasonable, considering the care that goes into keeping everything so neat.
ReplyDeleteAnd it's all so fresh!
DeleteYou can get turmeric root at Freddies. Here it's right by it's relative, Ginger root. Can't wait to see them grow for you!
ReplyDeleteHmm... it's hard enough to get ginger at my FM. I'll look for it though, thank you.
DeleteWe loved the food markets in Paris. Our favorites were on the Rue Mouffetard. The produce was pretty, as you say, but our absolute favorite was the cheese!
ReplyDeleteI had to look up Rue Mouffetard, unfortunately we weren't anywhere near there, bummer!
DeleteWe buy fresh turmuric at Food Front or New Seasons to put in smoothies. Seems very fresh, so I'm sure you could get it to grow.
ReplyDeleteI grew one of those Curcuma alismatifolia for a while. Got it at Home Depot. I think you were better off wandering Paris than India.
ReplyDelete