Local Food and Wine Temptation

We truly did have good intentions the other Friday afternoon: a brisk walk through our rural village of Messimy, and up through the Monts du Lyonnais, then back home for a bowl of hearty, healthy vegetable soup.As we approached the church we noticed a crowd of villagers grouped around the Salle Jeanne Arc.‘Mmn, what’s happening over there?’ my walking pal asked, so across we trotted to see what the fuss was about. And voilà, in usual French style, we found ourselves in the throes of la dégustation des produits regionaux (tasting of regional products).
‘We don’t have to stay long,’ I said, as we moved from stand to stand, tasting local jams and honey, bread baked into animal shapes, salami made with blueberries, cheese, mushrooms and other unlikely ingredients. 


We then trooped over to the other room, and started on the macaroons, chocolate almonds and snails. Yes, a strange marriage of tastes, but never mind.
Our last stop was the wine stand, offering local reds, rosés, whites and a new pink bubbly one. Of course, we never got any further on our walk, and the hearty, healthy vegetable soup went into a Tupperware in the fridge.