On cold wet Manly morning, we set off to the Manly Farmers market. Manly is my home, where I grew up, went to school - so it's always a pleasure going there - a 20 minute drive away. The beach, the endless streams of cafes and places to eat, the ice-cream strip and of course the markets.
Manly has a few markets: Every Saturday and Sunday at the end of Sydney Road, right off the corso - there's Manly Art and Craft Markets - home-made jewelry, picture frames, fashion, food.
Every third Saturday of the Month, Manly Village School Markets is on - this is your bric-a-brac - white -elephant-stall and plants, antiques kind of fare - it's fun. I've been going for years, never leave with nothing. There's rotary and the Lion's club for food too - Sausage sangas or a steak sandwich with onions..
But today and Every Saturday we are at the Manly Farmer's Market. It's small at the moment, but well worth a visit - especially when combining with the other markets - but you've got to be early as it packs up about 2-3pm.
Having a relationship with the people you shop from is the most enjoyable way of doing your shopping I think. But there's a lot (a whole lot) to be said about understanding where your food comes from. Then it's particularly wonderful if you have a relationship with your vendor AND you get some understanding of where the food they sell you originates.
The first stall we come to is a produce market - this family hails from Windsor/Wiseman's Ferry and bring a huge variety of fruit and vegetables from local producers. If you ask the husband/wife team where each piece of produce is from, they will tell you.
I bought some mandarins ($4.50 a kg from Windsor) Sebago potatoes ($2 a kg from Wisemans Ferry) and something else... read further..
Look at these beautiful artichokes!
continuing my fig obsession, I bought some of these figs - they were 6 for $5 and delicious - I used some for my fig, date and walnut cake.
Next stall up is Brasserie Bread. I am totally and unashamedly hooked on their sour cherry sour dough, so we pick up some and also some morning tea: plain and praline croissants. Hubby also picks up some of the Olive and Rosemary Loaf.
As you would expect, the service is friendly, and the bread is amazing. A special weekend treat.
Next we're onto Nashdale Fruit Co stall - Beau and Katie operate many markets in Sydney along with Katie's Dad - we visited them at Marrickville on a Sunday - but it's lovely to know they are close by down here at Manly.
Nashdale have recently launched their own blog - so you can see what they're growing, how they do it and where and when you can buy their produce. It's got recipes and all kinds of stuff - check it out!
Their apples are wonderful, and I just can't leave without a couple of kilos. I buy some pink lady and granny smiths. ($4.50kg) and some broccoli with the side stalks (raab - $4.50) which I used for yummy chinese broccoli this week.
I also treated myself to the lovely sweet mini zucchinis (I think $3 a kilo)- which I used to make my zucchini ricotta and thyme muffins last week.
Look at this beautiful seasonal produce! So inspiring...
And here's lovely Lil - who comes along for the ride sometimes from Nashdale - she's such a sweetie and my frills just adored her.
Lastly, Nashdale bring a variety of organic eggs - depending on weight will determine the price but basically $6.00 for a doz 60gr eggs.
So well worth the effort you do find yourself just enamored with the produce - dreaming up ways to cook/eat it so - make it a day out - tomorrow will have all three markets going - perfect time to go! Even if you're not a local, come for an adventure, a walk on the beach - come for the icecream!
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1 lovely comments:
I must go! I was having my hair done down there today and of course we finished it up with some fish and chips and ice cream! makes for a nice day but that market looks great and all the produce looks so fresh and inviting
Corrie:)
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