Fete de Gastonomie

Poster advertising the Fete

For a while now, I have been feeling like I have had too many “have-to” things to do.  I have been a little deprived of just exploring my town with my camera and taking part in any of the countless activities Carcassonne has been offering  these past several week-ends.

Today, after church, I had a bowl of soup and headed out to Place Carnot where the Club Prosper Montagne had organized a little festival of gastronomy, to celebrate the foods, wines and products of the region.  It was smaller than some of the “fetes” that I have seen, but the quality of the offerings were second to none.  

Endless line at Michel Rabat's tent. Michel (in red hat) is cooking

Of course, one of the reasons I believe this is that my butcher, Michel Rabat, was feeding the crowd.  There was a line that never ended to get his lunch.  Drat, I wished I hadn’t already eaten!  I ran into his wife at the tent of the local brewery, getting beer for the cooks in her own tent. 

At the artisan brewery tent

All that bread--and they are eating meat!

The bakers were enjoying Michel’s lunch as they stood in front of their own massive display of breads. Bread was offered in all shapes and sizes, and how good it all looked. The aroma of the fish soup at the poissoniere’s tent called to the crowd.  Next door, a vendor was offering locally made heavy-duty bakeware.   The local florist was hosting a “Create Your Own Centerpiece” workshop and suggested suspending gerbera daisies in the empty beer bottles from Cuitat, the local brewery.  Jams and fruit jellies from Occitanie (the new name of our region) gleamed like jarred rubies.

Beer bottle  "vases"

The bagpipe band from the atelier in the Montagnes Noires was there, playing traditional songs of the region.  I love that sound, but even I have to confess that at times it sounded like a swarm of bees.

Occitan flag on the end of one of the pipes

 

Goatskin bladders for the bagpipes.

What I liked the best about this celebration was that locals were supporting locals.  Yes, there were a few tourists, (I caught definite British accents) but the vendors were buying and enjoying one another’s products.  The crowd ate and drank with obvious relish.  So many people seemed to know one another, greeting with loud exclamations of “Ca va?”  (“How’s it going?)  Even I got welcomed with the two-cheeked kiss from someone I know.  

Organization of the Best Workers of France--a hard-earned distiction

I bought a muffin from the bakers and wended my way home.  My new apartment is really close to Place Carnot, and for once, I could climb the stairs to my apartment without having to carry something heavy with me.  I missed the rain, which came quickly and briefly shortly after I got home.  I seriously doubt that it even slightly dampened the enthusiasm I saw at the fete today.  Bravo, Club Prosper Montagne, for helping our local gastronomy experts show the town how it’s done!

Food, wine, conversation, sharing a community bounty