Janice Tripepi

There is a Fabulous new market around town.  Durban North sports The Food Market on the last saturday of each month.  You may ask – Why another market?  This market is open from a rather respectable 8 amd to 3pm which makes it possible for working people to buy fresh market goodies.  It is located at the Greek Hellenic Hall in Durban North and has an impressive aray of stalls.

My shopping bags were brimming with organic goodies – I have been cooking all weekend with my bounty.  Personally, the star of the show for me was the Truffles for Africa stall.  I purchased a bottle of their truffle oil for R100.00  - oooooooooh my giddy aunt – it is wonderful.  I used it to make breakfast on sunday morning – poached duck eggs with a parmesan and truffle oil butter.  The  Duck Lady has a stall there too – so we enjoyed fresh duck eggs.  Together with the bottle of liquid gold I was given a little booklet of recipes.  I shall be making the creamy cauliflower soup with drizzled truffle oil later this week with the magnificent cauliflower that I purchased at said market for only R10.00 — it’s enormous, must weigh at least 1kg !!!!!!

Being a real chocaholic I platzed when i got to the Forest Fairies stall.  People of Durban – Liquid Nougat in a jar is heavenly… the almond rocha to die for and the Nougat Caramel Pinwheels sent me into a diabetic coma.  Wow, I will be going to visit the creator of these magnificent morsels – Thejes is the manufacturer of this truly exquisite hand-made confectionary.  Ideal as a christmas gift. 

The fresh veggies on offer were mind boggling – huge piles of firey orange carrotts and deep purple beetroot.  Every herb imaginable  – even plump fennel with massive feathery tops like hats made for the July Handicap!!  I will be posting a recipe with these beauties as well.  The beetroot were roasted yesterday – ohhhhh heaven.

Wild Meats are there too – I know I have mentioned this before but the springbok carpaccio is a premium product.  They even had Wild Boar on offer.  Hubby loaded up on venison boerewors and a ton of biltong for the rugby on Saturday!!!! 

I was wending my way around the aisles and found myself hypnotically and instinctively following my “nose” to the stall of Nelson Newel of Bread 4 Us – fresh – still warm ciabatta and french loaves did I find…..  With my purchases in my bright orange Sunflower Fund bandana bags off we trotted home.  NO time was wasted … at home we halved the ciabatta – lathered it with butter (it was hot??? so need loads of butter hehe…) and filled two panini with our market booty – Rocket – chevin (goats milk cheese rolled in herbs) from Tracey at the Mediteranean Cuisina cheese heaven – peperoni (from my fridge) springbok carpaccio and cucmber pickle ……… need i say more.  Every single filling fresh as a daisy!!!!!

The Food Market will be working with The Sunflower Fund on their recycling of bandanas campaign till the end of the year and this market is an official Drop-off point for East Coast Radio’s Toy Story.  Nick Papadopoulos of the infamous East Greek Restaurant on Broadway – and Executive Chef Eric Edwards – have worked hard with Emma Dunk (EM- Between Communications) and Karen Brokensha (Hospitality Consultant) are committed to showcasing local initiatives.  Our province has a cornucopia of locally grown or produced goodies on offer.  I fully support the ethos of bringing food directly to the people – cutting out the large corporations and mutually benefitting producer/ comsumer.  Local is totally Lekker!!! 

People of Durban and surrounding areas – get down to the next market on the 28 November and take a new toy for the ECR Toy Story drive!!!

Have a great day!!!!!

Jan