Sheffield European Market

There was a special market on in Sheffield city centre last weekend, involving lots of food stalls, gifts and garden plants from all over Europe. I didn’t know it was going to be on and it was such a nice surprise to come across when I went out for a walk on Saturday. I spent a happy hour wandering around looking at it all. Unfortunately it was a little wet, but the stands were covered and it didn’t seem to be keeping the people away.

The first foodie stand I came to was this coffee stall. You could buy a cup to drink made with the bean of your choice or buy a bagful of beans to take home with you. The smell wafting out from this stand was incredible. A whole mix of sweet and spicy aromas all mxed with that roasted coffee smell. They were selling some really unusal combinations too, vanilla cuppaccino, coconut rumba, maple, English toffee and …strawberries & cream although how that works in a coffee I do not know!

There were two very friendly guys selling assorted dried sausages and salami including wild boar, venison and duck.

Stands selling fresh French cheeses and olives.

Much to my excitement there was a man selling dainty French Macarons. I have never tried a proper French macaron before and so I bought a couple to try – vanilla and pistachio. The vanilla was lovely, with a thin crisp sugar shell and a soft chewy centre. I saved the pistachio until I got home to take a photo and it was nice but a little disappointing. It didn’t taste any different to the vanilla one and was scarily bright green inside – definitely not natural, but nice all the same.

There was a stand selling the largest slices of cake I have ever seen and absolutely enormous muffins. Check out the side of those rocky road muffins compared to that 11inch choc cake beside it – they’re huge! Enough to feed 2-3 people I should think. I didn’t even know you could get muffins that big.

I really loved these wooden carved garden animals. The ducks in particular are very cute, they all seem to have a different character. These wicker reindeer hiding amongst the plants were very festive too.

There were pizza baguette slices with a variety of toppings to choose from. Paper thin French crepes that were cooked to order and filled with an assortment of fillings. I loved watching these get made, its amazing how thin they can get them with tearing.

Stalls selling selections of dried fruits, nuts and oils.

Anyone for a venison or wild boar burger – too boring? Ok, how about some kangaroo, ostrich or crocodile instead then?

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw this – a whole hog roast!

This was my favourite stall, a French patisserie stand selling a large assortment of biscuits, cookies and mini cakes for you to help yourself to pick and mix style.

Some gorgeous looking fruit tartlets and some larger tarts and buttery brioches. I wish I could have eaten everything at that stand!