Peter Gibbons goes to market
My name, for the purposes of this guest blogging stint at least, is Peter Gibbons. I have known Mr David P Farrar for a considerable period of time, have been a regular reader of this blog since about Day 7 but have never actually had a blog of my own. Over the next week or so I will be posting some thoughts about the issues that really matter – sports, food, media and pop culture – leaving the hard politics to my co-bloggers who, I’m presuming, are far more knowledgeable than I.
It is Sunday morning in Wellington and these days that means just one thing for any self-respecting or even aspiring foodie – time to hit the markets. In the central city, the first stop should be the City Market in the Atrium of the Chaffers Building. City Market was set up just two months ago by top chef Martin Bosley and Rachel Taulelei from Yellow Brick Road and, despite the often appalling Wellington weather, is increasingly popular with eager, yet spatially unaware, shoppers. It is only open from 8:30am to 12:30pm on a Sunday.
The stalls showcase the best of local food and drink with bread, pate, sausages, fresh fish, Turkish delight, flowers, mineral water, wine, fruit juice, beer, produce, oysters, books, ever-changing hot dishes, bacon, crepes, sauces, oils, dips, mustards and much more battling for the shopper’s attention.
One of the best aspects of the City Market is that the person behind the stall has to be involved in the production of whatever they are selling. As a result, you tend to end up buying Martin Bosley’s inexplicably addictive almonds from… Martin Bosley himself.
By my calculations, Pudding Lane will be at the market today. I believe they make the best proper pork pies in the land and have every intention of “de-stocking” them of a couple.
Virtually right door in the Te Papa car park is the more established Harbourside Market. This market, which also only operates on Sunday, has a range of cheap vegetable and fruit stalls along with specialty stores and a number of places selling ready to eat food from pizza to dumplings.
Over the Moon Cheeses are available there and their Goat’s Camembert is probably the best cheese I’ve had all year – and I try a lot of cheese. It’s creamy, runny, unctuous and – for want of a better descriptor – deliciously goaty. It certainly won’t be mistaken for a chunky, generic supermarket camembert anytime soon.
Time to end this first guest blog because even writing this has made hungry.
Peter Gibbons
August 9th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Hey Peter, what’s happening? I’m pretty sure I told you I needed you to come in today, so if you could swing by on your way back from the market, that’d be great. Yea.
August 9th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Peter – an excellent post. I’d like to point out to anyone who goes to the market that they should try NYPD pizza – big juicy slices of new york style pizza cooked in a wood oven. And then go and see Rafael of La Famaglia for a coffee. Have just done so myself. What a great way to start a Sunday…
August 9th, 2009 at 11:17 am
The Willis St market has amazing free range bacon and pork products. Would suggest for everyone to try it out. Very smoky flavour. Also the people that run the stall run the farm in the Wairarapa that the pork comes from.
August 9th, 2009 at 11:38 am
Yawn……
August 9th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Too many stalls selling over priced chutneys the last time I went.
Some good stalls but overall needs to improve.
Pudding Lane pork pies can be improved, sometimes the bottom crust tends to be burnt.
The stall at Harbourside selling lamb from a farm in feilding is good.
The Riverbank Market in the Hutt on Saturdays is good and most if not all the stalls at Harbourside are there along with a few others.
August 9th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Just to deflate the delusion that only bureaucrat city has Sunday fun times and good food:
We’ve just been “downtown” in our tiny Russell for a superb coffee and brunch waterside at “Sally’s” while street music played at the corner as part of our Jazz Festival weekend, town is full of amazing vintage cars rallying here and we’re off to a jazz concert at “The Duke” this afternoon.
August 9th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Red – capitalism wouldn’t work if people did purchase.
August 9th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
*sigh* I’d forgotten what it’s like to live in a civilised, relaxed and friendly place that’s free of over-regulation.
Everything here is closed so rest can be had prior to arising tomorrow to continue the desperate acquisition of still more cars, boats and McMansions. It’s a weird mixture of Puritanism and capitalism alright – “make as much money as possible, any way possible, but not on a Sunday or after 5pm”.
You live in the best country in the world, folks. And on days like this I miss it more than ever.
August 9th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
what’s next..?
a trip to the laundromat..?
(recommendations on soap powder..?..)
phil(whoar.co.nz)
(hey..!..reddy started it..!..@ 11.38am..)
August 9th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
At least we can read Peter’s post, unlike you rather mindless, leftist, dribbling rantings. Have you got your nose out of joint Phil?. Fancy David not asking you for a guest appearance, I suspect the server would have a meltdown with all the abusive posts and foul language directed your way.
August 9th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
I enjoyed this article because I am a foody too. I didn’t know about the chaffers building market – so thanks for introducing me to that – I will definitely check it out next weekend.
August 9th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
wot..?
“..all the abusive posts and foul language directed your way..”
like this..?
“..mindless, leftist, dribbling rantings..”
mm..??
phil(whoar.co.nz)
August 9th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Very cool jazz this afternoon at the Duke: http://www.jazz-blues.co.nz/home
This was one of the highlights from Paris Dreaming:
http://www.parisdreaming.com.au/mp3_samples/la%20vie%20en%20rose%20elkavox.mp3
The other was Karen Anderson singing Cohen’s “Hallelujah”:
http://www.karenanderson.com.au/_dbase_upl/Hallejulah_snip.mp3
Goose bump material.
August 9th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Adam, yeas, overabundance of chutney is a hazard for markets everywhere I think. Speaking of, its sunday morning here and I might see if alexandra palace farmers market is on today.
When is NZ getting rid 0f that arssey no unpasteurised cheese making nonsense?
August 10th, 2009 at 12:49 am
OK so a little off-topic, but … I’ve been in Melbourne for the past 6 or so years, and am considering returning to live in Auckland. One of the things I would miss terribly is the market lifestyle they have here in Melb. If anyone in Auckland (or outside Wellington) reads kiwiblog, can you tell me if there’s a decent Saturday/Sunday market in Auckland? Anywhere in Auckland? And I don’t mean Otara market
August 10th, 2009 at 1:27 am
…In the Melbourne vein, probably not. There are various places catering for different demographics, I suspect the French Market at Parnel may be what you hanker for although the Avondale Mkt has great veges and some fish. There are mkts at Clevedon etc out of town a bit.
In my experience, the best marklets in NZ are provincial still.