dirty veggies or bust

Of the many things I love about life in Paris (thus far), top among them is the fact that I live within 10 minutes' walking distance of 3 daily outdoor marchés, 3 Au Bout de Champs (where one can find nothing but fruits & veggies that are local and of season), 2 biocoops, and 5 what I call "mini-WholeFoods." And let's throw in the 3 Monoprixs and 2 Casinos while we're at it. As vegetables comprise a large part of what I put into my body daily, I am in constant pursuit of the best, tastiest légumes I can get my hand on, and, over the past five months, I've decided that the more covered in dirt the veggie, the tastier. And dirt-covered veggies are a-plenty in Paris (even at Monoprix!). I don't think I truly knew what vegetables were supposed to taste like before moving to Paris (same for bread, but I'll save that for another post). Even veggies labeled as "organic" (at WholeFoods and similar) in the U.S. often, I found, had a plastic-y, chemicals-laden taste. Thankfully, the common "final coat" here is, well - dirt. Thank you, France.