Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Le Salon de l’Agriculture

Pet a cow or goat or pony or sheep

Or eat yourself silly tasting all of France's regional specialties. I did.

And I only hit half the regions.
I must go back for the rest (in building 7.3)
 
I was there opening day.
So was President Hollande glad-handing.
 
This is one huge exposition. I only got to buildings 3, 4 and part of 7, but I can easily say it's the BEST exposition I've ever been to. Better than the salon du Chocolat or SIRAH or any of them. For one thing you understand the deep respect the French have for their land and their animals. No wonder the cuisine is magnificent. You can't separate French food from the land. It's a direct result of great attention to details. Another thing: this is a terrific way to visit France 'profunde'.
 
Small purveyors proudly share their products with you generously
 
Impossible to resist. As chef Marthe told me, 'these people could sell milk to a cow' - they are that charming and persuasive. And this cow bought the farm or tried to.
 
I got to taste gateaux Basque cerise straight out of Cara Black's Murder in Passy. I must visit Basque Country! Miam
On 7.2 I tasted food from the Loire, Corse, Normandie, Lorraine, Midi-Pyranees, Augverne etc. There were accompanying restaurants serving formule lunches of each region. This is a foodies paradise. I must get this apple peeler-slicer thing! 15 euros only.
 
By the end of the show I felt I was still lugging overloaded suitcases like at CDG the day before.
 
I resisted tempting regional lunches and bought products instead. For once I was the ant/squirrel and not the grasshopper.
 
These are tortue(sp) a kind of fromagie gateaux?
Oh you tell me svp.
Did I say regional wines were flowing?
 
More out of this world cheese cakes me thinks.
What I lugged home. It could have been so much more. I must return and so must you if you're in Paris till the 3rd of March.
The Agricultural Salon lasts a full week and is such a special experience. You won't see many chic scarved Parisians there. But plenty of big families from the boonies I guess having a super grand time.
And so will you I promise!
*If anyone knows how I can get an INTERNATIONAL PRESS CARD do tell please. They would not count me as 'Press'.
 

42 comments:

  1. Love the white ceramic cow, and that guy coming at you with the knife :) I could eat that stack of sandwiches that are under his elbow........

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  2. I've STILL yet to make it to the Salon de l'Agriculture! It looks like such a fantastic outing and it also looks like you made the most of your time there.
    Very happy to have read that you've moved to Paris. :) Bienvenue!

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    1. I almost didn't go too and then I fell in love with it
      Totally chaleureus and friendly
      Tanks Loulou!
      Happy as a clam in France

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  3. I did a little research on international press passes and it looks like you should check out http://www.ifj.org/en/pages/international-press-card
    Their card seems to be the most recognized worldwide, but you have to be a member of a national organization in order to qualify. They have a list of such organizations in the US and Canada on their website. Good luck! And thanks a lot for making me so darned hungry!! Miam-miam!

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  4. Rose garlic:) Let me know if it is pink tinted Mme l'Artiste.
    That's an exhibition I would favor:)

    BTW those peelers work great..even the Starfrit plastic version..if you are doing a lot..well worth it..plus I love the look of the curly spirals..Speaking of Spiral..:)
    We're hooked.

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  5. You really did hit the nail on the head…the reason French food is so good is the great respect the French farmers have for their land, its countrysides and its inhabitants.
    http://www.basquefarmhouseinfrance.com/2013/02/10-principles-of-country-farming-and.html
    Good food is no accident. It is good because EVERYTHING is respected and cherished from beginning to end, from planting (or birth of livestock), to how it is cared for, to how it is picked or butchered or stored and finally in how it is packaged/transported. Thank you for the great article :)

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  6. Hope you WILL visit the Basque Country one day...

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  7. Carol, this exposition looks like heaven...delicious, entertaining, educational, and friendly.

    I'm sure you've now got lots of French regions on your destination list, attuning your travel time to the season when the region's products are at their best. Perhaps there's a book/calendar idea in that notion...with lots of your paintings and witty and wise commentary?

    xo

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    Replies
    1. Ah...but the book already exists
      Atlas de la France Gourmande
      And I thin this is next on Rachel khoo's to-list frankly

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  8. Carol-

    What are those grey flying saucers thingies pictured above the Cheese Gateaux?

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  9. Makes me hungry, Carol. Now about that flying saucer grey cheese...?

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    1. Are those grey flying saucers cheese??!!??!?!?

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  10. Looks like tasty work! Marie is correct--http://www.ifj.org/en/pages/ifj-members-europe#france is the way to go. It is for working journalists rather with the backing of real journalism orgs. Good luck!

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  11. The IAPP is another possibility and doesn't involve unions...http://www.ia-pp.com/en/benefits-of-the-iapp/freelance-and-part-time-journalists.html.

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    Replies
    1. This looks very good for me indeed
      Thanks!

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  12. This looks like a wonderful and educational way to spend the day. Certainly nothing wrong with large families from the "boonies". Real food for real people!

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    1. La vrais France indeed
      Leave yr scarves at home and bring and empty sac and an empty tum

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  13. Wonderful way to spend a tasty day!
    You should buy that apple peeler-slicer thing, I have got one and it is very handy!
    Hugs
    Kikka

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    Replies
    1. I want to eat more apples and less apple tarte!

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  14. I see the beginnings of a whole new set of ephemera! Hope you have room!

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    Replies
    1. I do NOT plan to start collecting cow bells anytime soon thanks very much!

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  15. I once was fortunate enough to attend the International Seafood Expo in Boston. OMG, I understand what happened to you, as I thought we could do the whole show in one day, and managed to visit two and a half floors of the seven or eight floor convention. As I waddled out, after tasting EVERYTHING I decided that I could not come back the next day.....the other floors would have to wait for another visit!!!!

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  16. un reve! lesquels je prefere, les vaches ou le manger!? difficile de dire!

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  17. Great way to start this trip!

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  18. Looks fabulous and now that we've cancelled our trip at school hols next week this is a brilliant answer, Carol. Looks great fun and by the sound of it, we could go there a few times ;-)
    For that blackened dome cheesecake, it's a Tourteau fromagé from the Poitou region which uses fresh goat cheese. They look good!

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    1. Run this weekend Jill
      It's over on dimanche the 3rd
      Yr family would get a huge kick I think
      Loades of kids
      The wine and major food regions are in 7.2 and 7.3
      Run don't walk

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  19. Looks like heaven to me! I'd buy some sausage and cheese. Though it doesn't compare, I want to go to our state fair!

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    Replies
    1. I'm no longer a meat eater but I had to taste the sausages here.

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  20. You do make it look so enticing! Sensory overload, again! Gateau Basque---my favorite.
    Jeannie

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  21. Wow! Who would have thought a Salon de l’Agriculture could be so fascinating. Here's to getting your Intl presse pass, tout de suite. I'll email my son, he interned with Jim Bitterman at ABC News Paris, who now teaches as the American University I believe. He may know.

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  22. This looks amazing! Wish I was there! Jeannine

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  23. Anonymous11:40 PM

    From Trisha-
    You can get in free as an international agriculture professional. You just have to show a business card if I remember correctly from last year. Free entry from the special booth. Should give details on their website

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    Replies
    1. Should I dress up as a milk maid?
      I'm a landscape artist...
      Does that count?

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  24. Love the cows! Wish I had room for one, would love to add to the petite ferme along w/ the goats,chickens & rabbits!
    I have my arrière grand-mère's apple peeler , it still works! You need one!
    Oh, the food looks so wonderful! I would be going back all day every day!
    Hope you get some goatie pics next visit! Well, all the animals! Look forward to more!

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  25. Ooh, that looks fun. By the way, sorry for the delay but I'm taking Biff for grooming tomorrow so that I can take a pic of him looking at his portrait. (His eyebrows are like lampshades at the moment, so all you see is black furball with no eyes ie not v photogenic)
    Gros bisous from both of us & glad to see you're being tres productive in Paris.

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  26. Anonymous2:24 PM

    Tourteau - a kind of cheesecake which looks like a crab, this where its name comes from.

    Best wishes

    Nathalie

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  27. Things must have changed a lot if the French have respect at any level for farm animals, I hope this is the case.

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  28. Love the tourteau ... So light and foamy. Have you tried it ?

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    Replies
    1. Only for the 1st time at the Agri Salon.
      Chef Marthe said to be sure and get a good one...how would I know a good one?
      Not by looks for sure but it tasted yummy there..

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