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French Market Comes to Loughborough
Posted on 25/05/07
P. Klein
On Friday 25th May 2007 the town centre took on a distinctly Continental taste as le march Franais arrived in town. 30 stall holders and a few refridgerated lorries with French number plates arrived in the town centre and set up their wares. On offer were foods from across France, ranging from the most succulent tasty tomatoes to freshly cooked Chicken a la Provencale. It was tempting not to wash it down with the samples of wines and be croissants, cakes, crepes and gateaux.
It wasnt as busy as a normal Market day, but then it was smaller, unfortunately the weather may also have put people off as it had rained earlier in the day, however that didnt dampen the stall holders spirits who greeted the public with glowing smiles. The main thing that was apparent from the Market was the smells, maybe its because the smell of the Fresh French food is unfamiliar, but it the stalls grabbed one by the nose and drew one closer.
Cllr Richard Shepherd, the leader of the ruling Conservative group at Charnwood Borough Council, said before the event that it was: "An excellent chance to sample some of the tastes of France will be available for us all here in our Borough", and he was not far wrong.
To be seen were with the artichokes of global proportions were strawberries you could feel they were so pungent and tomatoes (almost 1 to the 1lb), biscuits of every description, cured meats, sweets, preserves " not only jams but whole meals in preserving jars, nuts and of course, being a French market, the widest selection of olives and cheeses you will ever have seen. For those looking for items other than something to eat there was a good selection of wine. A local restaurant owner was even seen buying up several cases indicating the quality and value for money that could be had!
Non food items included a splendid array of fragrant soaps of almost every colour in the rainbow, selections of hats and handbags (what made them especially French I did not manage to find out). There were also many textiles on offer, ranging from rugs to shirts and cardigans.
It would have been all to easy to leave the market with carrier bags filled so much that the handles would break, only being partially offset by a lighter wallet, however my waist line kept reminding me that although it would be extremely pleasurable it would not have been the course of action recommended by my doctor.
Oh, and if the foods or goods take your fancy, a couple of the stall holders may have!
News report by P. Klein