Gourmand Nocturne

There's been plenty going on here recently but the end of June really sees things ramp up on the old social front... so much so that it's impossible to fit it all in.

Let me give you an example - this coming weekend there's a music festival in Issigeac, a cultural event and picnic and a night market at Lauzun - all within a fifteen minute drive.  I'll write about the music festival next week.

But possibly my favourite thing to visit on a warm summer's evening is a Gourmand Nocture.

I can't think of an equivalent back in the UK but please feel free to correct me!

The Gourmand Nocturnes are put on by just about every village and town in the area - the picture is actually Eymet; a bastide town about fifteen kilometres from here.  Technically the Eymet event was a Marche Nocturne - a night market - with all kinds of stalls.

For the Gourmand Nocturnes the town square is cleared of cars and chairs and tables put out for visitors.  You can't book a spot - it's first come, first served which means you will often be sitting with people who could be on holiday or may be locals - which all adds to the fun.

You take your own plates and cutlery and you create your own little setting at your chosen table.  I have seen people (and I may well become one of them) who pull out a red and white checked table cloth, wine glasses from home and even, on one occasion, a candelabra.

There are food stalls set up around the outside of the square and there's usually a huge variety.  There will always be oysters but you could get a burger, a curry, pork kebabs are a favourite and often more local types of cooking.  There will be ice-creams, waffles, pancakes - all manner of things.  And, of course, you can buy wine and beer, too.

Once you've made your selection you take it back to your candelabra and have your meal.

But the thing I love most is that the stallholders will club together to pay for a band.  Last year on different evenings we had a jazz trio, a rock band, funk and soul, traditional French... the list goes on and on.

The atmosphere is great: people are chatting, listening to the music even dancing away.

I love it.

And the really good thing is that the local towns and villages co-ordinate: you could visit a Gourmand Nocturne every day of the week if you wanted to and all in a thirty kilometre radius.

I hope I've whetted your appetite and if you are coming to the area you get to enjoy this really pleasant way of spending an evening.

I've made myself hungry thinking about it so I'm off for a waffle!