Unnatural

Bright red "ripe" strawberries in February. It's just Not Right. These are from Huelva, but even that mild climate can't produce ripe soft fruit at this time of year without a lot of environmentally unfriendly help. Not to mention the food miles. And yet here they are on sale in France for only 3.80 euros a kilo. Makes you wonder how much the immigrant workers are being paid to pick them. So you won't be surprised to hear that I firmly rejected them and instead bought squash, artichokes, carrots, kohlrabi and lemons.

After the market, on an impulse we went to try out the new Vietnamese restaurant that opened in Lézignan while we were away, the first one ever as far as I know. It is a strange kind of concept -- Oriental food served in a French way. The emphasis is on a classic French "menu du jour" with three courses, and each person is served their food on a plate, instead of it being brought in dishes, in a way that facilitates sharing. Chopsticks are provided alongside forks, but chopsticks, rice, and plates (as opposed to small bowls) are a bad combination. The food was OK, and reasonably good value, and the staff were friendly, but we won't hurry back. I suspect it's another Lézignan business that won't last long, but at least it's not yet another pizza takeaway. How we wish Maria would re-open the Tira-Tap on Wednesdays. The market just isn't the same without it!