I love markets……but my last market affair had been weeks ago in San Francisco when I tasted plums and sour cherries until the juice was dribbling down my chin.
San Francisco Market
This last Friday finally after weeks of commitments and illnesses, I could get back down to my local market, the Wollongong Friday market in Crown Street mall. I love wandering around searching out new treasures. I make it a goal every time I go to a market to try something I have never tried before.
Heirloom Dutch Carrots
Not quite sure what I was going to do with 3 bunches of carrots but unable to resist one in every colour, these had to come home.
The Berry Guy
The guy who runs this berry stand has been here forever and is the quintessential market guy. He’s loud, friendly and don’t think you’ll get past his stall without him catching your eye…..”Two punnets for $8, best quality!” Every week its strawberries, raspberries, whatever berries are out and about. I tried my first logan berries from this stand.
Wonderful winter citrus
And this is just Poppy’s favourite time of year, oranges for breakfast, mandarins for little lunch, just not those blood oranges she tells me!
Honey with honeycomb
This honey is non heat treated so all the goodness and health benefits of honey stay intact. Make sure you always buy raw, non heat treated honey or you might as well just eat sugar on your toast!
Lovely sourdough
And beautiful freshly baked sourdough………..be early because they always sell out!
Batlow Apples
And if you have ever been to a market in the Illawarra, you will recognise this guy, the Batlow apple guy. He does all the markets down here. He has one of those old fashioned apple peelers and corers and Poppy always makes sure she gets a yummy peeled and cored apple from him!
The treasure for the day?
And so what was the find of the day? Blood Limes! There is one stall holder there who always seems to have something a bit different. Last time I saw him it was mushrooms, pine mushrooms and saffron milkcaps. Blood limes are an Australian hybrid, citrus fruit developed by the CSIRO on a project to investigate salt resistant crops. Apparently a little sweeter than a regular lime and it is actually a cross between a Red Finger Lime and an Ellendale Mandarin. The grower I was talking to suggested using these in a sauce or dressing. However……….. I have a hankering for a dessert …………I’ll keep you posted.
the spare change kitchen 