Très Français Brings Provence Market Vendors Online

Gretchen and Paul Duffin are the creative founders behind Ideas We Share, a digital marketing and communications company based in Provence. Based in the Var, they work with clients developing professional profiles for websites, social media, and print.

Digital Solution for Markets

When the first Covid-19 lockdown occurred in France, they immediately witnessed the restrictions’ effect on micro-businesses. The market vendors and family-run shops that they frequented could not work or sell their products. The Duffins leveraged their business skills in website development and social media marketing to find a way to help. The result is Très Français, a multi-vendor website for market traders and small shops, a site that allows people to set up an online boutique in just a few hours and with no setup costs.

The Très Français website has a comprehensive list of the local markets across the Var, including days of the week. Their concept is gaining traction as vendors showcase their creations, which include (at the moment) everything from cozy sheepskin slippers to paintings by Tess. Each vendor has a dedicated page with a list of products available for purchase online, a profile and the market(s) where they regularly sell their goods.

Read about – Painting Workshops in Provence with Tessa Baker.

As we all know, the Provencal markets are about fresh produce, local products, beautiful flowers and artisanal creations. The Duffins are filling a gap by producing a virtual marketplace for these handcrafted goods. In the spirit of fresh and local food, Gretchen Duffin shares the following recipe. Enjoy the flavours of Provence!

Warm Goat Cheese Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing

This salad is quick to prepare. Use fresh, local ingredients, where possible. Enjoy for lunch or divide into smaller portions and serve as a starter course.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 3 minutes mins

Course Lunch Dish, Salad

Cuisine French, Provencal

Servings 2 people

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 4 slices of goat cheese from a local vendor, of course
• 4 slices of Farmhouse Bread
• colourful mixed salad lamb's lettuce, curly lettuce, arugula, or mixed...
• 1 medium cucumber(s) sliced
• 2 medium tomatoes sliced
• a handful of Walnut Kernels or pine nuts, toasted
• a few black olives pitted
• 10 tsp honey 4 teaspoons per slice of bread and 2 for the salad dressing (choose local honey if possible)
• 1 tsp mustard
• 8 tbsp Olive Oil more or less
• to taste salt and pepper

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F).
• Prepare the salad dressing by mixing salt, pepper, olive oil, honey and mustard and emulsify with a fork or whisk.
• Place 1 teaspoon of honey on each slice of bread. Add 1 slice of goat cheese to each slice of bread. Place in the oven for about 3 minutes.
• Divide the salad among the plates, garnish with the tomatoes, cucumber, olives and toasted nuts of your choice. Of course, you can add your other favourite seasonal vegetables from your local market!
• Place the slices of bread on the plates, add pepper, drizzle over the salad dressing and serve immediately.

Keyword Goat Cheese, Lettuce, Salads, Tomatoes

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Where to Find Très Français

Website
On Facebook
On Instagram

Carolyne Kauser-Abbott

With her camera and laptop close at hand, Carolyne has traded in her business suits for the world of freelance writing and blogging. Her first airplane ride at six months of age was her introduction to the exciting world of travel.

While in Provence, Carolyne can be found hiking with friends, riding the hills around the Alpilles or tackling Mont Ventoux. Her attachment to the region resonates in Perfectly Provence this digital magazine that she launched in 2014. This website is an opportunity to explore the best of the Mediterranean lifestyle (food & wine, places to stay, expat stories, books on the region, travel tips, real estate tips and more), through our contributors' articles.

Carolyne writes a food and travel blog Ginger and Nutmeg. Carolyne’s freelance articles can be found in Global Living Magazine, Avenue Magazine and City Palate (Published Travel Articles).