The Daily Diary of a Wandering Restaurateur
Jet Lag R Us
Remember that slightly illegal parking spot I found yesterday? Today I learned that it will cost me a parking fine. The problem is not with the fine, but that they will charge the owner of the car -- in this case, the rental agency -- who will, in turn, eventually charge me ... I assume along with a stiff handling charge. The bureaucratic machinery has no way for me to pay it directly, something to be aware of if you ever rent a car over here.
Our apartment is in a courtyard off one of the main streets in the old town. Courtyards are such
a civilized architectural enhancement, but one that has been lost in modern times, probably because land costs are high
and the space doesn't produce any revenue. What I really like to see in this old part of town are the courtyards for
vehicles as ours must once have been. It seems so classy to pull off the street into an open but enclosed parking area.
You can easily imagine horse-drawn carriages doing just that centuries ago.
Across the street from our building is a shop selling chef-prepared meals to go. They also have a small restaurant in the
back. I can see an idea like this working well for many restaurants, particularly if you do off-site catering. It's always
good to have an outlet for leftovers.
If you've followed previous trip reports, you know that we are big fans of the European street
markets, a group of vendors who traveled on a regular weekly circuit, bringing fresh provisions to the town. Many
expanded into events focused just on clothing or antiques. As supermarket chains have proliferated, the street markets
have become less of a necessity, but they have always been the place to go for the freshest food.
Winter weather also limits the appeal of street markets, but in Colmar, the answer is the Marché Couvert (covered market),
a yawning brick edifice dating back to 1865. It's nowhere as big or as extensive as, say, La Boqueria in Barcelona, but it
still has a real appeal. Inside we found vendors selling baked goods, meats, cheeses, fresh produce and a variety of
prepared foods, many with seating for a small restaurant operation. There is a coffee shop with a small bar selling
alcohol, booths of gift items, clean restrooms(!) and heat! Along with the Petite Casino food shop a few blocks away, it
has become a go-to spot for many of our daily needs.
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