Promises, promises....
They are delicious and grace the tables of the most famous Parisian five star restaurants - the strawberries of Carpentras are not only beautiful to look at they are juicy and sweet and smell heavenly - just as strawberries are supposed to smell and taste! So we are real lucky to be so close to Carpentras which in fact is where we have to go to to see (if we have to) our tax inspector or go for various other, equally important official ventures.
So when we heard there would be a "Festival de la Fraise" this weekend we were so excited we couldn't wait to go there. Because usually food festivals in Provence are lovingly prepared, joyous and convivial affairs.
Beautiful and delicious - Carpentras' strawberries
Not so here. First of all you didn't even find the festival. No sign, no nothing. Since we were parked right next to the Tourist Office I went to inquire. "In front of the Lord Mayor's house. " Yes, and where please might that be? To cut a long story short - we had to fight our way through a massive fleamarket selling children's toys and clothes occupying the town center to finally arrive at about five or six stalls selling strawberries, more stalls selling wine and - worst of all - stalls of chefs trying to selling interesting concoctions involving strawberries.
Bulgur, red cabbage, strawberries and shredded radishes
The above being one of the at least aesthetically pleasing offers (don't get me started on a turkey goulash with strawberries...) all we did was buy our strawberries at this adorable young vendor's stall
had a coffee and a strawberry tart at the next café and admired this display by the one and only boutique that had tried to add to the strawberry theme:
So whoever is in charge of this festival: how about deciding what you really want - a big fleamarket or a celebration of your most famous fruit?
Worth a real festival: The famous Carpentras strawberry
The berries look wonderful. I can just smell them. Wish we were there.
ReplyDeleteSusan, when you will be here it will be mushrooms - and they are delicious, too!
ReplyDeleteThose strawberries are absolutely stunning. I have garden full of strawberries and they are not nearly as beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAwesome.
Velva
The ones in my garden aren't so beautiful either - but they taste great and I bet yours do too.
Deletestrawberries and mushrooms@ my idea of heaven!
ReplyDeleteHi Jaz, they are good, aren't they?
DeleteBarbara - I am so sad to hear that. I was so excited about the Fete de la Fraise. I love Fraises de Carpentras, they are soooo delicious. Hope the organizers will "get it together" for next year.
ReplyDeleteI know Marianne, we were so diappointed too and I just hope that my very nice guests at CuisinedeProvence from the day before that I mentioned the festival to didn't go there....
DeleteBarbara, the strawberries look fabulous. We bought some to have when we were there a few weeks ago and they were exactly as you describe. Too bad the festival was a flop. I hope the classes are going well.
ReplyDeleteMichel, they are delicious, aren't they? I prepared a strawberry clafoutis but have to say I prefer the raspberry version - strawberry are best eaten as they are.
DeleteMouthwatering! What a beautiful display of strawberries. It is such a nice fruit and so versatile. I love the apron and think I would have bought it...
ReplyDeleteIt is pretty, isn't it? But have another look - it actually is a dress....
DeleteAmazing strawberries, enjoy for us too, lovely post.
ReplyDeleteI just accepted your lovely Liebster award, many thanks again : )
those strawberries look delicious...I'd forgotten about the C. fête, we didn't have any indication there was to be one, they need to work on this too: your photos have inspired a hunt for C. strawberries~
ReplyDeleteWell, at least the strawberries and the strawberry-print outfit looked lovely! Strawberries are just starting here, so they are okay. A few more weeks and they should really be ripe and sweet. Afiyet olsun!
ReplyDelete