Spring is in the Air

 

 

Spring is in the air! Those lovely mimosas from the Côte d'Azur are always the first sign at our Provençal markets that the days are getting longer. That does not mean that we don't have to fear cold, icy winds, even snow - until the end of March you never know what might hit you here - weatherwise that is. So we get big armfuls of these beautiful, fluffy little flowers pretending the winter is (almost) over and it is already springtime in Provence!

The most beautiful Stall at Vaison's Market

Not only are their homemade tapenades the best, this young couples' stall was the most beautiful at todays Provençal market in Vaison la Romaine - they had taken the trouble to decorate it with fresh mimosas - so pretty! You can go and taste (and buy) their delicious spreads every Tuesday in Cours Taulignan.

Truffles in Buis les Baronnies

Went to Buis les Baronnies today, a lovely small Provençal village that is rather busy in the summer but right now the market is truly a village affair.
It was lovely to see the first mimosas today - here it is far too cold for them to flower yet, so these were almost certainly from the Côte d'Azur where they are always the first sign of spring.

Mimosas - the first sign of spring

But even better than the mimosas: there were truffles! Two weeks ago in Vaison la Romaine's market they were still at € 850 per kilo, now the price has come down to  € 600 a kilo. Since you only need one truffle the size of a golf ball to prepare a deliciously decadent omelette for four that would set you back about  € 35 - expensive still, but how delicious!

La dame aux truffes - the truffle lady