May-June France Seasonality

[jeremyp]

I would be interested to hear about the special ingredients/products that will be in season or coming into season in the late may-early june months... what special things should i be keeping a lookout for on menus?

thanks!

[souphie]

strawberries, lobster, last morels, first girolles. All vegetables, almost, are great at that time. First cherries as well. In general, the things in seasons are easy to spot on markets: there are plenty and they are cheap. First summer fruits too: apricots, peaches, etc. -- more late june, but a lot depends on the season. In general too, it's the restaurant's job to put what's in season on the menu, and the best thing to do is to ask them what they recommend that day.

[Ljubitca]

May I then ask what is available late april early may?

[souphie]

same, with more mushrooms, asparagus and no summer fruits. Actually, everything is available, but that's what's more in season in France/Paris. But there's no calendar rule that vegetables and fruits follow nicely, so each season is special. For instance this year there are still great truffles this week, which is very late in the season.

[Ljubitca]

The morel news is exciting. My husbands family picks them in a wooded area in central Illinois at the same time of year. We of course never really get to partake as we live in NY. There is always a frenzy as there is never enough.

[souphie]

Good morels are rare so you have to be picky on restaurants and shops -- I would argue in favour of Gérard Besson, Robuchon, Senderens, the Rostang connection, la Régalade, and Planète fruits rue Poncelet in terms of shop.

[Elyssa]

I was excited to hear about the morel news as well. I will be in France that last 2 weeks in May (Paris for 3 says and then Provence for a cooking school). I just recently got into morels so hopefully I can give them a taste in season in France.

Does is differ by region as well? Will I be finding something particularly interesting or different in Provence's farm markets vs. says Paris' or Loire Valley's?

[souphie]

Yes. Southern France markets tend to be richer. But the same problem exits North and South that you have to be picky. I have no first-hand knowledge of food shopping in the south, but I'm sure some here have.

[souphie]

Also petits pois, fèves...

[Ljubitca]

If one were to come across these French morels in the market - what would be the best way to prepare them?

We are renting an apartment in the Marais.

[souphie]

Like any other mushroom, imo. Poelé, possibly with an egg, a met juice always welcome. I wrote a post about it but I haven't translated it yet. http://www.julotlespinceaux.com/2007/...

[PBSF]

Best sauteed with other wild mushrooms, shallot, a little fresh herb as a separate course.
Sauteed in omelet or scrambled eggs.
In fresh pasta.
With asparagus and fresh peas.
With cream in a sauce for chicken or veal.
Make sure to rinse it well for sand and insects.

[Ljubitca]

Yes the ones I am used to have many inhabitants so they are always soaked, thanks for info and recipes cant wait!

[souphie]

soaking is a bad idea, as mushrooms absorb water and lose their taste. If soaking, should be kept very short. rinsing, as PBSF says, is better. For morels, you often need to cut them open -- and rinse quickly, and dry quickly on a cloth.

[Ljubitca]

We cut them open and only soak so that the bugs come up. Not long. I don't want the taste to go into the bug water. I cant answer to different morels in France as we have never been but will there soon.