August in the Charente and Dordogne is the month of night markets or marche gourmand. Its a tradition that makes the most of the beautiful squares in little villages like varaignes in the dordogne where we are going later.
Our beautiful chambres d'hotes/bed and breakfast is perfectly located to visit so many of these markets near cognac, angouleme, riberac, brantome, nontron, marthon and many more.
People get together with their friends on long tables in the market square and local produceurs have stalls cooking their own produce. Last time we had stunnnig maigret de canard lightly cooked with duck fat chips an an assiette d'agneau with lamb chops, sausages, potato salad ,basil sauce and green veg followed by artisanele ice cream washed down with local wine.
Not bad! The local produce is lovely and you could also choose steak, boudin noire, andouillette, chicken skewers, chicken pieces, cheeses and even an organic vegetairan salad option - unusual as france as not the best place to be veggie.
The usual response in a restaurant when asking for a vegetarian option is " so you can eat fish then?"
