In Aix-en-Provence, there are local food markets in the city center held nearly every day. There are lots of different stands with people selling a huge variety of cheeses, meats, vegetables, fruits and breads. Many people prefer to buy their groceries from the markets rather than from the grocery store because that way, you get to interact with the farmers and people who grew or made the product! These people are usually happy to offer samples and talk about how the different cheeses are made or how the fruits are grown. Going to the market in Aix-en-Provence is not just a way to get some food for the week; it is also a great opportunity to socialize in French and learn about the region's food production!
This past weekend, I went to the market with my host family, and we picked out a cheese for me to try for the first time: Roquefort. Roquefort is a cheese made out of sheep's milk in the Occitanie region of France, which is right next to Provence, where I am living. There are similar types of sheep's milk cheese made in other parts of Europe, but the person selling the cheese explained to me that there is a law in Europe stating that a cheese can only be called "Roquefort" if it is made in this particular region in France. I was super-interested by this piece of information!
