Tarragon & Truffles: A Guide To The Best French Markets

Traditional food markets and flea markets; markets devoted to foie gras or fashion bargains, oysters or truffles; massive everything-including-the-kitchen-sink markets and magical Christmas markets. In a region-by-region guide, the author picks out her personal favourites, usually in the most beguiling towns and villages ­and points out the specialities to look for, be they Mirabelle plums or Provencal cottons. For good measure, she adds a brief on nearby highlights, ­a historical curiosity, a shop or a restaurant not to be missed ­as well as suggestions of where to stay, completing each chapter with an at-a-glance alphabetical list of all the weekly markets in that region. Although primarily designed as a prop to take with you, the book's anecdotal style at times edges it into the realm of armchair travel, giving the reader a sense of following on the author's coat-tails and absorbing not only the scents and flavours of the markets themselves, but the atmosphere of their settings.