We're traveling in France, upwards of 6000 miles away from the Ferry Plaza, and without any significant responsibilities on Saturday for the first time in four years, and what do we find ourselves doing on two successive Saturdays, but working a Farmer's Market stand. The first week was cold and cloudy and just after school holidays ended, so it was slowish, but decent. Yesterday was freezing cold and raining, and just as long and miserable as any rainy market in San Francisco. By the way, the guy next to us sells a fresh goat cheese, rather like a young Crottin. So it was rather like home.
However, there is a cheese truck that comes to this market, so that's something, anyway. However, the piece of St. Nectaire and the piece of Brin d'Amour I purchased were disappointing, and not any more interesting than anything available in the States. They were somewhat ambitious purchases, since there seems to be very little "fermier" production of those cheeses, but my hope springs eternal.
It is strangely satisfying how Farmer's Markets are all the same. There are the clients who like to talk, and the ones who just want to buy their piece of cheese and go. There are people who become friends, and new people who don't know what your are selling. There are people who are looking for something that someone else is selling, and there's the sinking feeling of watching your neighbor have a rocking day of sales, while you stand twiddling your thumbs. There's the standard, daily trades for lunch or eggs or whatever staples you don't make yourself, and the impatience for the last 30 minutes to go by.
On the other hand, this market ran from 9:00ish to about 1:00, and the stall fee was 1 Euro, so that wasn't quite the same.
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