Paris’ Salon de l’Agriculture is one of the most awaited professional expos of the year. Every February, producers, farmers and culinary professionals from all over France unite at the Porte de Versailles Salon des Expositions to show off their wares. In recent years, it has also become a political venue, a place for the President and frontrunners for upcoming elections to prove that they’re still in touch with la province – the word used to refer that anywhere in France that isn’t Paris. And as for the Parisians? Well, they come to see the animals – and get a taste of regional culinary specialties from all around the hexagone.
Emily Monaco is a born-and-raised New Yorker based in Paris. After many years of trying, she has come to the conclusion that she will likely never be French. She writes about her experiences with Franglais and food on her blog, tomatokumato.com. Follow her on Twitter @emiglia.
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One of the major attractions to the salon is that you can see all manner of animals. The enormous cows are often a favorite, like this handsome fellow.
Photo by Emily Monaco
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What people don't often realize is that the animals at the salon are for sale. Farmers call out for visitors to make way for the animals, which are walked through the pavilion to one of the most important animal auctions in the country.
Photo by Emily Monaco
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There's no dancing around the fact that these animals are being sold for food – there are even butchers on stages throughout the pavilion, showing you how to break down a beef rib or truss the perfect roast.
Photo by Emily Monaco
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Livestock farmers aren't the only ones represented at the expo. Wheat is one of France's most important crops, and farmers are here to explain how it's cultivated to interested city-dwellers.
Photo by Emily Monaco
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Another pavilion is devoted to local producers from all over the country, who come to show off and sell their wares. This pavilion is divided up based on region: in Brittany, you can see the black-and-white Breton flag nearly everywhere.
Photo by Emily Monaco
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Brittany is famous for crêpes as well as for these little cakes called kouign amann – which means butter cake in the local dialect.
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Brittany's Norman neighbors offer freshly shucked oysters and a glass of cold white wine.
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Provence, meanwhile, brings bunches of aromatic lavender.
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You can also buy a braid of sweet, pink garlic from Lautrec.
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Alsace Lorraine is famous for its beer, so it's no wonder they placed a bar right in the center of the pavilion.
Photo by Emily Monaco