Bonjour French Market Friends,
This week in France violent storms hit the Southeastern areas near Marseilles. Massive rains caused extreme flooding 
across a wide area. Roads were covered with mud, vehicles were swept away, even the fast TGV train was impacted as the support structure under the rails further down the line, was washed away near Tonneins, with 500 passengers being disembarked in the middle of the night and taken onboard buses and driven to shelter. The Mayor of Le Lavandou, Gil Bernardi, said the storm was like a war scene, with an incomprehensible violence. President Macron promised immediate aid and support to the impacted region.
Thankfully the rest of France continues with normal summer weather. Cannes Film Festival wraps up tonight, with the Award of the Palme d’Or for the best film and in Paris, Roland Garros Tennis Championships is in full swing, without the regular long term winners who have now all retired, all eyes are on the new major players.
Here in my quiet part
of Charente the cows graze peacefully in the rich meadows, chewing the grass to make rich creamy milk, essential for the best French cheese. All the Spring calves and lambs are growing and bounce around the fields. My week has been spent, painting and renovating. If you ever think owning a holiday home is easy, think very carefully about all the maintenance needed in old buildings
. Apart from scrubbing floors and walls, gardens need weeding, ivy needs pulling out. Whilst it may look attractive, ivy climbs into roofs and eventually breaks down buildings so it has to be removed. I shall return to Cape Town soon in need of a holiday.
At our shop we have lots of beautiful products for you to enjoy, I shall be returning with a new range of French biscuits. We have plenty of beautiful French cheese in stock, there are lots of interesting dry goods that we have received from France and plenty of wines. Come in and browse, it’s a
mazing how much stuff we have managed to pack in on our shelves. If you don’t have time to visit , you can browse all our stock online at www.frenchmarket.co.za/shop as we can always deliver to you.
Our recipe this week is Duck confit , one of my favourite dishes served with field mushrooms and 
roast potatoes dusted with truffle zest, see recipe below. Pair this dish with a glass of Comte de Thun La Maze 2012 merlot.
M
y letter is brief as I need to get on with painting walls. I wish you a relaxing weekend, our shop is open every day, I will be back in CPT by Thursday, but don’t hesitate to message me via Whatsapp or email if you need me, I am available most of the time.
Regards
Suzanne and The French Market Team