Well I've finally made it to this wonderful wholesale and retail food market in Southwark, Central London. It's been on my bucket list for a while. Purveyors from across England and other parts of the world display their wares in this open air market. It's a nice place to spend a weekend morning or afternoon, especially if you enjoy good food as they generously pass out samples.
The first thing we cast our eyes upon was this magnificent display of mushrooms, truffles and some very tasty truffle oils. While I considered bringing home a few kilos of these beauties, I opted for a bottle of oil as it seemed more practical. I'm not sure if transporting fungi across the pond is permitted, and having to hand these over to Homeland Security would really tick me off.
There's a vast selection of fruits and vegetables available from several purveyors. Notice the leaves still attached to the oranges and lemons; it's a nice touch and reminds us that they do grow on trees.
The figs were especially hard to pass up... aren't they gorgeous?
I'm not sure what this is, perhaps it's a cross between cauliflower and broccoli, but I do love the shape and texture. That's what I like about a good fresh market, you're always going to be introduced to foods that you've never met. Update on 2 Feb: Thanks to this recent post on the Borough Market Blog I've learned that this beautiful vegetable is called Romanesco cauliflower, a cruciferous vegetable that hails from the cabbage family.
Farm fresh eggs that still show traces of the hens that laid them.
Being an ocean loving person and a resident of Cape Cod, I was particularly impressed with the fish stall. I tried the Dorset Oysters and really liked them. They're plump and have a clean, fresh taste with a nice saline finish.
An abundant selection of olives and handmade olive oil soap from Turkey. The soap is in my suitcase.
Fresh flowers.
Traditional English pasties.
Loved this clever presentation, and they tasted as good as they look.
Lots of nuts, both sweet and savory.
I discovered two delicious unpasteurized cheeses which are also coming home with me. Let's hope the drug sniffing dogs don't have other plans for them.
Borough Market certainly lives up to its reputation. The vendors are delightful, engaging and knowledgeable. They take great pride in what they do, and if you'd like to experience London's food scene this is a great place to start.
