PDA

View Full Version : Food/Flower Markets


Pacion
06-10-2004, 07:51 PM
Do you ever go to markets? Any particular kind/favourites?

I have been to New Covent (Flower) Garden Market as portrayed in My Fair Lady with a couple of MINOR differences, ie. the flower market is no longer in the area of Covent Garden but about 10-15 mins drive away :roll: It was relocated in 1974.

ANYWAY, it was an amazing experience as it is the largest market I have been to, not ignoring the fact that I had to wake up something like 6.30 on a Saturday :shock: and by market standards, that was still late :lol:

The flowers, oh, oh, oh, the flowers! :kitty: big ones, little ones, fat ones, tall ones, pretty ones, not so pretty ones, green ones, pink ones, red ones, yellow ones, oh, oh, oh :lol:

I will always remember that first time. It was Easter and there were young families with their children. There was one family with two young girls (about 6-8 years of age) and the girls had tulips in their arms. Because it is wholesale/bulk buying (but still fairly inexpensive compared to buying them in the shops, if one controls oneself :lol: ) there must have been something like 50 tulips and the girls had to have their arms circling the flowers inorder to hold them :lol:

The only disadvantage is that it was so cold :shock: I think I had had on my coat anyway, as it was Easter but my oh my!

I saw varieties of lilies such as I have never seen before, some larger than my two hands put together :shock: in a wide variety of colours and there were miniture pineapples on stalks (again, something I had never seen before) as well as other types of flowers and foliage that you could really make a very speical arrangement/display out of, if you wanted/needed to.

Elton John's annual bill in flowers reportedly runs into the tens of thousands of dollars (or pounds, depending on which currency you think in :wink: ) and I see why :oops:

I have also been to fruit and vegetable markets but without much success, ie. often made the wrong selection such that when I got home and tried to use them, they were bad inside and had to throw them away :oops:

pygmalion
06-10-2004, 07:58 PM
I've been to open air markets in a couple develpoing countries. Very colorful. Lots of really loud and demonstrative bartering going on.

The only thing I didn't like was the cuts of meat and fish lying out in the hot sun, waiting to be sold, while flies, etc, hovered about. :shock:

Pacion
06-10-2004, 09:36 PM
I can understand that one. Having grown up in the tropics, fish/meat in the open air, just does not do it for me :oops:

dr daffy
06-10-2004, 09:49 PM
lol, i hate markets... my parents go, not me :P

Sagitta
06-10-2004, 11:15 PM
Farmers markets are a lot of fun. :D Apart from usual produce there usually are all sorts of arts and crafts, aroma of good food... plus you actually directly support people rather then supporting the American corporate structure. :)

salsachinita
06-11-2004, 02:11 PM
I love markets........apart from the fish/meat in the sun type :shock: !

During my salsa hiatus, I bought myself a market directory & checked them out one by one (see, I never do anything half-heartedly :wink: ).

I love the homemade/home-grown type of artisan/goument markets. I love the idea of supporting my local artisans/foodies while creating good karmas (at the time I was researching to do similar things).

Flea/trash & treasure markets are also a lot of fun. I have a garage full of evidence :oops: :roll: :lol: !

pygmalion
06-11-2004, 03:09 PM
There's a giant flea market near my house -- about a ten mile drive -- that has the best bakery kiosk. Oh, my goodness. Fresh cinnamon raisin bread to die for! :D Guess I'll have to plan a trip for tomorrow.

Pacion
06-11-2004, 08:08 PM
Oh, my goodness. Fresh cinnamon raisin bread to die for! :D Guess I'll have to plan a trip for tomorrow.

Really? :roll: :roll: :lol:

pygmalion
06-11-2004, 08:23 PM
Oh man! It's so good, especially if you happen to get there when it's warm. 8)

Pacion
06-11-2004, 08:57 PM
So, you expect me to believe that you 'plan' a trip rather than spontaneously leap into the car and head to the bakery for it? :roll: :lol:

salsachinita
06-11-2004, 10:54 PM
My fav market has this little stall that sells fresh Italian donuts to die for :shock: :D ! They are always sold out in a couple of hours.

Hmmmmm. Donuts.

tasche
06-12-2004, 04:26 AM
I love going to the LA flower mart.

Also on wednesday at the local swap meet they have several vendors that sell fabrics off cuts from the garment industry. They are mixed and they lay them out on huge tarps on the ground and you just dig. i've gotten some AMAZING stuff for 50c yard. Also its fun as I end up stuff I would never normally pick like denim with a red suede flocking.