Tuesday 26 August 2008

Borough Market

Last weekend I visited Borough Market in London, which is something I have been wanting to do for years. During the week I realised last Saturday was my last free weekend before returning to uni and so decided it was time for a visit. I don’t think I have ever seen such a selection of fresh good quality produce in one place before. It was fantastic! Some things were naturally more expensive than regular markets but the standard of produce made it worth while.

The market is only ‘open’ to members of the public on Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays and its best to get there early to avoid the large crowds which start to form around midday.

There were bread stalls offering delicious rustic loaves ranging from rye and pumpernickel to sourdoughs, granary cobs, nutty date loafs and crusty baguettes.

Stands offering paving stone sized slabs of chocolate and indulgent handmade truffles in flavours ranging from praline to gin & lime all beautifully displayed.

Stalls selling every kind of fruit and nut imaginable with some dipped in chocolate or coated in yoghurt.

Herbs and specialist sea salts infused with spices or rubbed with dried olives for all salads or meat rubs.

Bakeries offering towers of cookies and dainty little cakes. How adorable are those owl shortbreads!! Almonds for beaks and chocolate drops for eyes – I just had to buy some. They were wonderfully tender and crumbly with a slight gritty shortbread texture.

Check out the size of those Emmentaler cheeses – they’re huge! They had been matured for 17months and had a great mellow nutty flavour.

Another stalls offering a wide assortment of baklava.

Anyone for a fudgey chocolate brownie? Surly a chocoholics dream.

Freshly picked wild mushrooms. I was particularly taken with the shape of the Eryngi mushrooms at the back.

Ever heard of Parrot Fish? I hadn’t but I love their blue tinged scales.

A stall specializing in tomatoes, they looked so pretty all arranged in their rows.

I had lunch from this middle eastern stall which was offering a wide assortment of dips, salads and marinades. I had a falafel wrap with salad, houmous and tahini sauce – delicious. I also bought a pot of aubergine which had been marinated in a spicy sauce with chunks of walnuts.

I ended the day with a slice of the silkiest creamy cheesecake I have ever tasted and a slice of zingy lemon tart from this stall. It was a wonderful day and I plan to go back at Christmas as it would be the perfect place to pick up a few foodie gifts.

16 comments:

Katie said...

Wow, great photo tour!

Beth (jamandcream) said...

Im so jelous. Sometimes I wish I lived a little closer to the big smoke!

Gigi said...

Amazing! Thank you for the lovely tour of Borough Market!

Anonymous said...

So the Borough Market can be called as Food World where all type of foods are available.Right now i am in Leeds and willing to visit that market.

The Caked Crusader said...

I work right near Borough Mkt so guess I'm spoiled! I love the bakklava stall and only walk past it if I plan to buy something - otherwise it's too upsetting!

Sonya said...

Wow thats so neat! I loved the owls and the brownies and oh my gosh we actually own Parrot Fish! I had no idea you could eat those.lol

Jen said...

Hey Katie, I was also there on a Saturday around 10am. Wow, if I had only known that a fellow blogger was going to be at the markets too, we could have gone to have some brunch or something. Oh well, there is always next time.

Nic said...

Great photos, thanks for sharing!
I've not been there yet, must do something about that!!

Abitofafoodie said...

Absolutely love Borough market too - just fantastic. HOpe you came away with some goodies!

Anonymous said...

London is my favourite city, but visiting Borough Market is one thing I haven't done. I'm not sure when I'll be back again, but I have to make sure I do that next time. Your photos of all the different market areas are beautiful!

Sam said...

I've never been there but really want to! Great photos!

Kristin said...

Now I am officially starving! Such a feast for the eyes! :)

Reti said...

I loved Borough Market, it was one of my goals when I visited London last year and all the assortment of eatable things there blinded me which still doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the experience :-).

Tami said...

Ohhh I want to go there so badly! Maybe some day soon :)

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