MARCHÉ AUX TRUFFES D'AUTOMNE

It's that time of the year in Champagne-Ardenne when there are a rash of markets, food, wine, champagne and Christmas. We were intrigued to see a truffle market advertised. So off we went. The market was in the cloisters of an old Abbey now a regional museum. The market was organised by the venerable 'L'Association Marnaise des Producteurs de Truffes'. Not to be crossed! Serious stuff this truffle hunting.

There they are at a mere €450/kg.

As well as a lot of discussion, choosing and smelling, the truffles were being bought in good amounts. Apparently a few years ago they had an exceptional regional harvest unearthing ~150 tonnes! That's a lot of truffles.

Margaret merging in as a local Reims resident.

In addition to the truffles there were numerous foods containing truffle and a few local delicacies such as Lentils de Champagne, Saffron and Boudin Blanc (White pudding) set in jelly. The lentils are excellent, the Boudin Blanc, well the less said the better.

Yes we did have the 'démonstration de chiens truffiers'.

The dog was very good and found all the hidden truffles and returned them without eating any. Obviously it prefered the reward food to the truffle.