Markets & Mornings: A Ritual of Quality Living
There comes a time in your life where you give up the Double Black Smirnoff cans and trade them for $15 Happy Hour Margaritas. After that period of time you then trade the $15 Happy Hour Margaritas for a 9:30PM bedtime. That 9:30PM bedtime then turns you into someone you’d never imagined you’d be and somehow you find yourself waking up at the crack of dawn… getting excited for the Local Farmers Market.
If this sounds like you, keep reading, we’ve done some research that might appeal to you:
For the Fresh Food Market Lovers:
Organic Food Markets is an open-air concept for organic fresh food lovers. You can do your weekly shop for a quarter of the price compared to the huge retailers AND you’re supporting local farmers.
The best part? You have first pass access into everything that’s in season and can cook accordingly. I love trialing new foods and cooking based on what the season brings. Walking the aisles of a harshly lit concrete building and seeing the same cosmetically treated produce daily doesn’t spark that same creative juice in me and I end up making the same dinners every day (But then again, that’s just me).
Botox & fillers may only work on some people, not your produce!
I need to shout out Rita’s Farm as a local fave, if you’re lucky enough to spot them!
On top of the certified organic produce, you have an array of artisanal breads, cheeses, deli goods, cheeky baked pastries and….. great coffee. Whether you’re from the North, South, East or West there’s a local organic foodies market near you.
They usually have a starting time at 8:00am, but I suggest going early (7:30am). Although get out of the way while the stallholders are setting up.
Locations, and days below:
For the Little Bit of Everything Market Lovers:
Carriage Works Markets is open every Saturday, 8am-1pm
The perfect agenda looks a little something like:
8am coffee at AP Bakery, baked good(s) from Berkelo, Sonoma or Flour and Stone
9am roam around looking at flowers from Mayfarm, or start your herb garden with Wormticklers Nursery
10am suppose you could start your grocery shop of fresh certified organic produce, from A&W Muscat (Hawkesbury River) Fanelli Organics (Central Coast Hinterland), Kemps Creek farms (as the name suggests) and then stock up on your favourite grass fed beef (also BDRI certified organic) from Greenhill
11am you deserve a little sweet treat from Gumnut Chocolates, a GF sweet treat from Nonie’s food, Crumpets by Merna, or Crepes by Charlotte..
Swallow it down with a juice from Parkers Organic Juices
Continue on to Pasta Emilia to buy fresh pasta for dinner, they source their ingredients from a network of certified organic and biodynamic Aussie farmers whilst remaining true to their roots from Bologna (Emilia-Romagna, might I add the food capital of Italy)
All this pasta talk is making me hungry so assume it’s lunch time, Bird & Ewe for a flatbread and/or salad bowl…or if it’s cold outside you can’t say no to a Bar Pho!
Here is a full list of the stallholders you’d be sure to see.
The Rocks Markets is incredibly touristy but great if you have relatives visiting from overseas and they want to experience the best of Sydney (Australia) in one street. Incredible mix of jewellery stores, indcluding handcrafted leather, art & more.
Don’t forget to indulge in a cup of Mapo Gelato from their pop-up van on the way out! Their real house is located in Newtown if you can’t always wait for the weekend - I know I can’t.
Mosman Markets are a perfect setting for the kids! Family vibes are always high. The priority criteria for stallholders is largely hand-crafted/home-produced goods, meaning everything is a labour of love. You’ll find over 150 stalls and some live entertainment in between them. Held every first Saturday of each month (excluding January).
Keep an eye out for their night markets..
Bondi Markets are on every weekend!
Local Farmers (Saturday 9am-1pm) and Designers - think vintage (Sunday 10am-4pm)
Similar to those above you can expect the Bondi markets to support local high-quality farmers and artisans.
Open Face Pantry is a current fave! They drop new flavours of their specialty organic porridge, granola & seasonal fruits depending on the season. Stay in the loop via their Instagram. At the moment they’re playing with flavours in yoghurt..
Manly Markets are a similar vibe to the Rocks Markets except think coastal.. local art that encompasses the sea, hand-made jewellery for the surfers, crotchet bags and succulents. Every Saturday & Sunday in the Corso!
For the French Market Lovers:
Le Marche French Markets market themselves with “a morning in France, with no jetlag” and I absolutely love it.
First Sunday: Entertainment Quarter
Second Sunday: Woolwich Dock
Fourth Sunday: Willoughby
A celebration of all things French, the culture & cuisine!
Say hello to slower mornings and goodbye to the Sunday Scaries!
Here’s to spending money on a basket full of produce instead of regret…
Enjoy your new ritual.
