I love a good market. I love the sights, the smells the sounds of a market. Whenever I’m the City (aka New York City), I try to hit the Green Market in Union Square, if for nothing else than the ambiance. We have a market near home in the summer, in Highland Park. It’s okay – some local and some not so local farmers selling pretty much the same stuff, but you can make it through there in less than 30 minutes.
When we lived in St. Louis, my neighbor and I visited the Soulard market. It was huge and I bought tons of great produce there – somethings I had no idea what to do with (this was back in my very, very early stages as a cook) but while at home, cleaning said produce, I had a major morning sickness attack (by the way, if you didn’t know, morning sickness is a misnomer). Anyway, after that round of bleh, I never returned to Soulard. Actually, after that round of bleh, it was many months before I could stomach watermelon again.
Jerusalem Market

In Israel last November we visited a huge market in Jerusalem whose name escapes me, but on Friday afternoon, with everyone preparing for Shabbat it was the happening place. Had the most incredible chocolate Ruglach from Marzipan on Agrippas street (which borders said market).

Not to mention, Campo dei Fiori, the Rialto Market, one we hit in Martina Franca last year, a Saturday market in Paris we visited, yada yada.
So when Shannon says, “I want to visit the Sunday Bastille Market.” I’m in!
Today, while in my “supermarket” (aka the pit that is Shop Rite), I purchased these silver bags that fold flat and keep food warm and cold for up to 3 hours (thinking transporting hot chickens and cool cheese home from said Parisian market).
I also figured I’d find some time to do a little research, if I could on the Bastille Market. Surprisingly, there’s really not much out there on the Bastille Market (am I spelling it correctly?).

First, there was this entry, Bastille Sunday Market on the Parisien blog. The very first comment regards how touristy this market has become (remember touristy is the new four-letter word).

David Lebovitz also has an entry on his blog regarding the Bastille Market or as the alternative name, the Richard Lenoir market. He’s a bit more flattering of the market and it definitely sounds like a good place to pick up provisions for a Sunday picnic. He also gives a bit more information, so now I know that it starts at the Place de la Bastille.

Ah, now that I google Richard Lenoir Market, I find a bunch more informaiton on places like Trip Advisor, Chowhound, and Virtual Tourist. Okay – I’ve hit information overlaod. Suffice to say, we’ll be going!
T

he market goes from about 9 to1 on Sundays (and Thursdays), on the Boulevard Richard Lenoir in the 11th. If memory serves, it’s not far from O Chateau where we did a tasting with Olivier last June, well at least a good hike down the boulevard.