We weren't sure what to expect trying to locate Les Halles in Avignon to experience their market. We set out Sunday morning, starting for a quick stop at Isle sur la Sorgue for an errand, where the rain had already begun. Vendors were already anticipating a reduced day in their already short season.
We continued on to Avignon, trusting Emily (the voice in our Garmin GPS) to take us through the winding streets of this ancient city. Emily steadfastly guided us into an area which we may have never seen, with a wide open square and a large bell tower directly across from a very modern (by Avignon standards) building, probably built in the 1970s, square, with several levels of parking above it, certainly a premium in a city built for horses.
In reading the description in Michelin guide, I assumed it was an open-air market with a covered roof as I have experienced in the market in Cannes and other cities, but instead it was a large building with permanent stalls for each vendor. With a large fish market, butchers, several boulangerie/patisserie stands, and produce vendors, pasta, olives, nearly everything one would want for a beautiful meal. I purchased fresh ginger, scallions, and snow peas to use in this evenings tofu and vegetable stir fry (yes I know it is an odd meal in France, but sometimes we do need some variety). It was all so fresh that the snow peas had a certain snap and taste that I don't find at home. The ginger was pungent, and the scallions amazing.
Even though I make such an effort to find fresh produce at home, it does not compare. We will definitely return next week for more.
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