Hello French Market friends,
This week the Tour de France is in full swing with cyclists having raced through the Eastern corner of Spain, then up through the Pyrenees towards Bordeaux. President Macron, who is a big fan of the event, was on site at the end of the 6th section to congratulate the Danish cyclist Jonas Vingegaard. With a heat wave forecast for this weekend it will be extremely tough for the cyclists. The tour continues until the 23rd of July so there is plenty of time to watch this gruelling and spectacular race.
In Paris this week the Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2023-4 fashion shows took place, with all the great fashion houses displaying their artistic creations across the city. Dior set their fashion show in the unique setting of the Rodin Museum. Displaying the exquisite collection by designer Maria Grazia Chiuri, models walked through landscapes painted by Marta Roberti. (Image courtesy Adrien Dirand)
Back here in our beautiful city of Cape Town, winter is still firmly in place with rain lashing down and chilly temperatures for this weekend. In preparation for the French National Day celebrations on the 14th of July, I have brought in a large stock of cheese, as we are supplying the French Embassy in Pretoria and the French Consulate’s parties in Cape Town and Johannesburg. A very busy week ahead as we prepare all the cheese for these events.
New stock this week includes Reblochon from the Savoie, these beautiful cheeses are great for making Tartiflette, the classic French potato bake topped with Reblochon. We also have a Fourme d’Ambert which is one of the original blue cheeses dating back to pre-Roman times. We have lots of small Camemberts, Pont l Eveque, Munster, Epoisses, Morbier, Raclette, Brie de Meaux, Brie with truffles and more to tempt you.
Back in stock at last, are Buche de Chevre, this is the log shaped goat’s cheese that has a soft white crust and crumbly white texture inside. The buche has a gentle flavour and pairs best with a 
Sauvignon blanc wine Sancerre from the Loire valley. The buche can be eaten fresh with a crusty baguette or it can be lightly toasted and drizzled with honey or served with salads. See my recipe below for a slice of toasted buche topped with chopped nu
ts and served on a salad dressed with walnut oil. I recommend that you pair this dish with my favourite Sancerre by Comte de la Doucette from the Loire Valley because the taste is intense and smooth. You can find this Sancerre at our French Market shop in Cape Town or order online www.frenchmarket.co.za.
If you enjoy watching the Tour, then I suggest that you stock up on lots of French cheese and French wine and watch the cyclists as they race around France this weekend.
Have a great weekend full of good French food and wine.
Regards
Suzanne and The French Market Team