Food

The schedule of the daily market happens to exactly coincide with my work schedule: Monday through Saturday, 8am-1pm. For me, this is very sad, as farmers' markets are my one truest urban passion. This Saturday, however, Axel was sick and couldn't go to school, so I got the opportunity to go. I went the first few days I was here, of course, before we started school, and I've been missing it since. I find this particular market more intimidating than any of the other markets I've been to in Italy, so it is a good fun challenge.

The vendors, who are mostly older folks, are very assertive and insistent that you need to buy this or that from them. I'm still having trouble getting my ears to hear italian well, and it seems particularly difficult with this crowd. So I have to say "non ho capito" (I didn't understand) a lot. Right now, they have mostly leafy green type things, but there are also eggs, cheese, sausages, flowers, and fruit. I get the feeling that these could be people from the surrounding hills coming down with their garden spoils. I've been running up the winding roads that go up into the hills, along which the houses are strung sparsely, and there are large garden plots all along the way. There are also lots of olive trees. All of the veggies I have bought so far have been particularly flavorful and delicious.

It is a rather small little market- most days there are only a small handful of vendors, but on Saturday there are more- maybe 12-15. They all mostly have the same stuff- veggies, some hand-gathered and unwashed (love it) eggs (which have beautiful golden yolks), and sometimes cheese or dried beans or home-cured olives. My favorite is a young woman who sells cheese, sausage, and sometimes veggies, all labeled "BIO," which I'm beginning to think is their version of organic. Her stuff is particularly artisan looking, and delicious. Here is a photo of the Saturday market and another of some of my market loot, including onions, potatoes, broccoli, sausage (cured and uncured), dried olives, and pecorino cheese. Buon appetito!