Andiamo ragazzi!

On Wednesdays and Fridays in Autun, a market happens. Friday is better by a lot, with more vendors and greater diversity of product. It is tempting to focus on the pork in all its glory, the local cheeses, fish that seem to have jumped out of the ocean, colorful produce, tasty wines, and excellent bread. French food is not world-renowned by accident.

Revere the pig

Sometimes, however, it’s refreshing to discover some different cultures when you’re in a different culture. So, to Autun on Friday for some diversity.

Shall we go east a little bit, to the Boot, and see some Italians? We shall.

Here, in a cold room under the Hôtel de Ville, there is a booth manned by some gentlemen who are better versed in Dante and Chianti than Molière and Champagne. 

Pasta to placate Pacino

The star of the show is pasta. Pillowy gnocchi, tagliatelle, raviolis, rigatoni…it’s all there under their glass display case. And wait…what is this? Parmesan and pecorino in the land of De Gaulle? Quelle horreur? Mais non! Quelle excellence. Pick your noodles, nibble the cheese, and revel in the Italian’s hesitation as he searches for the right words to tell you 7 euros 67 centimes…although he speaks great French, he, like you, sometimes has trouble navigating the waters away from his native tongue.

It's OK to look beyond France every once in a while

What: Market

When: Wednesdays and Fridays, year-round

Where: Autun, Saône et Loire, Burgundy

How Much: Your choice