Getting the most from Sunday’s events

This posting will provide you with an easy-to-follow three-stop itinerary for your enjoyment this coming Sunday (December 8), provided that you will be in the Greater Daglan Area on that date.

The focus of my suggestions is the Christmas market, or Marché de Noël, that Daglan will be hosting in its Salle des fêtes, or community hall. But that’s not all: Sunday is to be the first day for our market of black truffles, the famed truffes noires of our Périgord region. Put those two markets together, a short walk separating them, and you have an enjoyable combination of events.

Let’s begin with the Marché de Noël. The poster below provides some of the key features of this event, so I’ll let you have a look, and then I’ll provide more detail. Here you go:

This colourful sign tells the story.

As of today (Friday), things are already taking on a festive look in the community hall. I have it on good authority (actually, the best authority — my wife Jan) that the hall is already decorated beautifully. All the organizers and volunteers — members of the Club de l’amitié Daglanaise — are set to go.

So, what can you expect? Lots of holiday decorations, of course, and a tombola (a raffle) for a basket of goodies, plus vendors selling gift items like crafts and jewellery, plus lots of cakes and cookies, plus coffee and tea, plus mulled wine, plus treats like sausage rolls and quiche, plus gift bags for the children, and of course, visits by Père Noël himself (Santa will make two appearances — at 11:30 a.m. and 16.30, or 4:30 p.m.).

Then there’s the market for black truffles, which is held (starting at 11 a.m.) in the courtyard of Daglan’s public school, a short stroll from the Salle des fêtes. To learn a bit more about the market, you can refer back to my posting of December 5, 2018, “Double your truffle.”

So then, what’s the suggested itinerary? Well, you start at the Christmas market at 10 a.m., where you can be among the first to check what the artisans are offering (I am thinking of some jewellery for a certain someone) while strolling around with a cup of coffee or tea, and maybe a cookie or two.

Then you can head out to the truffle market for its 11 a.m. start, and score one or more delicious black truffles.

And then it’s back to the Christmas market for, perhaps, some mulled wine (vin chaud) accompanied by a light lunch — maybe some sausage rolls, or quiche, or bacon sandwiches. Finish that off with some of the delicious desserts on offer, including a variety of cakes and tarts. And there you have it!

And by the way, if you’re not sure what to do with your black truffles, here’s a simple tip. Just grate the truffle finely, and mix it into some softened butter. Then roll the butter into a log in waxed paper, and freeze. It will last a long time, and you can just cut off chunks as you wish, to flavour any number of dishes — from pasta to mashed potatoes to vegetables like green beans. And you could rub the truffle butter onto a chicken you’re roasting. Enjoy!

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