Going to the market in Frontignan
Presentation
By Ludivine - June 2019
Located under the halles just behind the town hall, Frontignan's market remains a must-see place to stock up on local produce. It's Saturday morning and we start our Mediterranean holiday with a trip to the market in the heart of the seaside resort.
Located under the halles just behind the town hall, Frontignan's market remains a must-see place to stock up on local produce. It's Saturday morning and we start our Mediterranean holiday with a trip to the market in the heart of the seaside resort.
Strolling around the covered market
We start by strolling around the covered market where many stalls are set up in front of the halls. There are a few fairground vendors and craftsmen unpacking all sorts of goods, from wicker baskets to brightly coloured scarves and small manufactured goods.
As we approach the halls, we are attracted by the scent of Mediterranean spices: oregano, basil, cinnamon, coriander and Provençal herbs... I can't resist these beautiful black olives in marinade which will be perfect for the aperitif.
A little further on, a producer of Muscat de Frontignan offers us a tasting. This natural sweet wine of controlled origin is a wine with delicate aromas.
Inside the covered market
We enter the covered market to continue our shopping. The building has been completely restored and has a beautiful metal frame covered in glass. Here, the colourful stalls of the market gardeners are filled with seasonal fruit and vegetables. Beautiful local tomatoes, aubergines, courgettes and a few peppers naturally find their place in my basket.
It's hard to resist these magnificent seafoods from the Thau Lagoon on the fishmonger's bench. I let myself be tempted by two dozen Bouzigues oysters and a nice handful of clams. I also choose some red mullet fillets that I will cook with Mediterranean vegetables.
To continue our introduction to the local gastronomy, we add four pretty Tielles to the basket. These small round pies filled with octopus and tomato sauce are already making our mouths water. We go to the cheese shop: a raw milk goat's cheese will go very well with a glass of Muscat.
