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Post by Truffaut on Feb 23, 2011 3:44:46 GMT -5
We went to the Salon d'Agriculture yesterday with "Bob Saccamano" from TA. I was amused to discover this line of meat products. I'm thinking a little re-branding might be in order before trying out the American market???! Attachments:
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Post by Truffaut on Feb 23, 2011 3:49:13 GMT -5
And in the ever-popular category of funny menu translations. One now knows why there aren't all that many virgins in France. Apparently they're all turned into sauce! Attachments:
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Post by Jody on Feb 23, 2011 9:40:56 GMT -5
Well, I guess it's better than Grandegas!
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Post by phread on Feb 23, 2011 10:01:05 GMT -5
Hey, you're in Paris??? I'm in DC!!!!
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Post by geordy on Mar 6, 2011 9:58:08 GMT -5
I guess we were there the same day as Doug....  Didn't see him  no wonder crowds were enormous! We got off the Metro and had to backtrack past the stop to get on the line which increased dramatically while we waited! You can of course buy tickets in advance but....not a top priority! As soon as you enter the first bldg..no doubt where you are...smell hit my stomach like a punch...but soon adjusted. (I can't recall the last time I was around livestock..perhaps a County Fair in NJ when my nieces were little??) Impressive beasts..saw Candy...the picture girl bovine...you'd think she was Miss America..or well..Miss France..huge crown wanting her picture!! She couldn't be bothered to get her face out of the hay!! You could buy a tote for 2E with her face on it....only way you were getting that shot ;D (well actually she's on the ticket and brochure) Started with a wee sample of vin..good start...and then the almost trampling...a bull being led to the show room???(and there were some), a feisty ram(they reminded me of my HS mascot  ??NO the reporters, photographers, and general mob swarming Jacques Chirac!!!!! Separated from S/O, lifted off my feet, practically sideways..really scary! Trust me at such an event in the USA there would be a perimeter around Clinton!! Finally got out of that mess...they took a turn in another direction..reupped with S/O , and sampled some cheese, sausage, nuts, blini with roe(they had a little sign that said 2E but everyone just assumed it was free like most of the stands....they revised their thinking and took away the glasses of champ they had on a tray with a little 5E sign!!! They have eating areas with communal tables from Switzerland..fondue and such..and others, wursts, but they were all mobbed! Families in the know brought in their own food and just snacked on the samples and/or bought ice cream, cotton candy, pretzels. etc. Also Paul's and other such vendors...we got a sandwich and small bottle of wine and ate leaning against a wall in a "Lounge area". If we had realized there were vendors and seating outside in between the pavilions we probably would have done that..but all that food on the hoof was making me hungry!!! But I don't mean that meanly...these were beautiful animals!! Never saw so many varieties of bovine...and they give us so much!! They have an international area as well which is great if you are French ....but I tend to stick to French in France!  Couldn't resist beignets de morue though at the Senegalese stall..3 for 2E..like at a street fair here except here they are Hispanic or West Indian! As I said a different slice of France...but the crowds were oppressive, it was a decent weather day so Metro back to Marais!! Lots of educational stuff, but getting near most things was a hassle. These people are serious..... Glad we went though... Also glad I wasn't really trampled...don't think I'd ever live that down...Upper East sider from NYC goes to wonderful, elegant, sophisticated Paris and gets injured at an Ag show!!!!!!!!!   |
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Post by Shoesy on Mar 6, 2011 10:22:20 GMT -5
Geordy - Did you go there primarily for the animals or the food?
BTW, I think Candy is a cute name for a cow. ;D
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Post by geordy on Mar 6, 2011 11:27:35 GMT -5
Geordy - Did you go there primarily for the animals or the food? BTW, I think Candy is a cute name for a cow. ;D For the whole experience Shoesy...for food I would have stayed in Central Paris! Back when we still got France 2 news here I recall reports on it all the time...esp. about Chirac always visiting and making a big deal about his "farmer roots" that his opponents would scoff at! And it was on the news every nite....a very big deal...read something about a large percentage of French identifying with agricultural roots even though a small percentage now make their living off the land. Mind you this is just from stuff I read..I do not presume to know. And I considered it our "out of town day"..As I said would have stayed longer if the crowds were less and the day not as nice...off course did go to a musee later ::)but it was a short visit and nice walk!!! |
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Post by Anne on Mar 6, 2011 12:15:41 GMT -5
Geordy you were right, what you write about the crowds doesn't prompt me to visit the Salon . Yes, Chirac visit to the Salon de l'Agriculture has been a tradition forever and added quite much to his popularity because of his obvious pleasure in being there, talking with the farmers and tasting all the food and alcohol samples that he gets close enough to, the combination of which would make most of us sick . |
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Post by sunshine817 on Mar 6, 2011 13:44:00 GMT -5
We went on a weekday (it was during the school hols, and hubby took a day off) -- and it was very crowded, but at least manageable. (Last year we went on a weekend and swore we'd never do THAT again).
Hall 7 was actually reasonably sane, and the vendors were much more relaxed, as they had time to actually speak to people. Believe it or not, you could spend an entire day just exploring the 2 floors of Hall 7 -- there are that many small producers.
Those of you from the US would recognize Hall 1 as a 4-H fair on steroids. (We both grew up in the Midwest, so even though we didn't grow up on farms, the smell of clean barns isn't out of the ordinary for us.)
The Salon is probably the fastest crash course in the relationship that the French have with their food.... and I mean that in a truly respectful and complimentary way.
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Post by mez on Mar 6, 2011 17:26:59 GMT -5
Also glad I wasn't really trampled...don't think I'd ever live that down...Upper East sider from NYC goes to wonderful, elegant, sophisticated Paris and gets injured at an Ag show!!!!!!!!! I'm also glad you weren't trampled, but you did make me laugh. ;D |
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Post by Truffaut on Mar 6, 2011 21:27:16 GMT -5
This year, the salon coincided with school holidays. I'm not sure that's always the case. In the past, we've gone on the first day and used the VIP entrance instead of waiting in line. This time, we had a French friend with us, so that wasn't an option. Also, we've gone on the very first day previously, which curiously, has seemed to be a little less crowded. I did find the crowds to be particularly annoying this year. Still...it's not an experience I'd miss for the world!
What did we bring home? Fleur de sel from a small artisanal producer. Armagnac. And....tah dah....champagne banana jam!!
Also made arrangements to have cases of champagne sent from a small producer we like directly to our cave in Paris at a favorable price. Who knows...we might start offering a bottle to our future guests!
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Didn't see him 
no wonder crowds were enormous!
Couldn't resist beignets de morue though at the Senegalese stall..3 for 2E..like at a street fair here except here they are Hispanic or West Indian!
Let the riot begin! LOL - 
hahahha