Le Salon de l’Agriculture

Samdi 23 fevrier Le Salon de l’Agriculture 2013

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 'Presse'.Hmmm...