the farmers' market to prepare your holiday menus from A to Z

Obviously, there are the essential oysters with a stall straight from Cancale (Brittany). But the Christmas farmers' market, offered by the Bienvenue à la ferme network, allows you to stock up from A to Z for your holiday meals with much more local products. There are 41 of them exactly at the Jeu de Paume, in Blois. And often organic, too.

Let's start with traditional foie gras, which several producers offer. That of the Cailleaus, from the Faubonnière farm in Chemery, is presented in all forms: “And this year, we haven't had the breeding problems that affected the profession two years ago and even a little last year, we are on 4 or 5 markets at the same time and people are coming in numbers. Many are finally on vacation, here there were crowds even before the opening”explains Hugo.

Here, it is the foie gras already ready, in a semi-cooked or semi-preserved version which is requested: “A little less fresh where there is more work to do on the products. And then some will give them as gifts! Foie gras alone can make almost a complete meal: from an aperitif to dessert since some people add chocolate to it! » All the more complete because alongside him, a truffle producer is under attack.

Products that are necessarily in season

While waiting for the foie gras dessert, a visitor recommends the poultry of Boël and Nourray, where the Noyau family offers chickens, yellow or black, turkeys, guinea fowl and even capons. “very plump” ready to cook. “We mainly have people who come to collect their orders and many faithful people who know how we raise our poultry, in the open air… and even finished with whey for the capon. » If all the turkeys are already reserved, she also recommends “small guinea fowl, very tender”.

Producers of seasonal vegetables or potatoes complete the main course. For cheese, again several producers tempt the visitor's nostrils. Like those of the family farm of La Cabinette, in Veuzain-sur-Loire, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year, where the p'tits flocons and other p'tit cabiquets, a specialty of the house, are sold. “It’s a bit crazy this morningconfides Sylvie Ragot, we don't stop”she explains, at the same time recommending her little flavored cheese treats for an aperitif.

For dessert, head for example to Le Rucher aux Plantes in Neung-sur-Beuvron, where beekeeper and aromatic plant producer Jeanne Hermant, in addition to her honey, offers sorbets made from organically grown fruits and plants. “And we also have after-meal, with Christmas infusions”with evocative names like “winter borders” which reboost or “after the meal” just to recover from the excesses of the holidays! Without forgetting the gingerbreads “which can be used as a dessert or served with foie gras”. We come back to it.

Until the table decoration

And in all this, obviously, producers of drinks of all kinds are legion here: wine, beer, rum… to enjoy (in moderation of course) or as a gift. Even the decoration of the table is possible: in particular with the floral farm of Maison Pisco, from Mesland, which allows arrangements to be placed in the center of the banquet. “These are flowers produced in organic farming, which are cut fresh and dried”details flower grower Erika Marques Pisco, newly installed in the department.

Visitors have the last word, like Stéphanie, who came to get supplies “for New Year's Eve menus, but also for the weeks to come, it's an opportunity to stock up on local and regional products. » Or from Jean-Luc, who sums up the spirit of the moment: “We buy what we need to have good times with our family. The holidays are there to make eyes shine… And stomachs! »

Producers' Christmas market, at Jeu de Paume in Blois, again Sunday December 22, from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.