La Cigale french market

69 St Georges Bay Rd, Parnell, Auckland. Tel. 09-366 9361 www.lacigale.co.nz
Saturdays from 8am. Wednesday mini-market 12 - 6:30pm

Our first reaction when we got here was why have we not been coming here forever? The market was bursting with deliciousness. First stop was coffee and then a wander around. Strawberries were $5 for a huge punnet. Too many to eat all in one go so they’re now in the freezer.

The fresh produce down the back was far too exciting to photograph at the time. Bunches of fresh herbs, fresh garlic… fresh everything! Red currants, organic avocados for 70c (!), okra, artichokes, marrows, beautiful lettuce, sweet red peppers - oh I could go on. It felt like being in the market at Aix. Oh how we miss Aix in summertime.

Inside there was more. An absolute fount of cheeses (sorry if that’s not english) - but there were a lot. All at room temperature. All waiting to be tasted. Oh my.

Just before we left we grabbed a packet of Lebanese bread for $2. I think it was the same guys who do Takapuna market. Anyway - this is THE best lebanese bread we’ve had in a very long time. We had it filled with salad for our lunch that afternoon. It was absolutely perfect.

The organic box has been cancelled. La Cigale is our new weekly Saturday morning ritual. And this time we’re getting two packets of the Lebanese bread. Just the thought of what brilliant pizza bases they’ll make is enough to get us very excited indeed.

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The German baker at Devonport Farmers Market

Sundays at the Devonport Ferry Building

On the way down to Cheltenham from Takapuna flea market we saw a big sign telling us the Devonport Farmers Market was on. So we delayed Cheltenham and headed down Victoria Street instead.

We had heard not great things about the Devonport Farmers market but it seemed perfectly good to us. Although we do prefer our markets outdoors.I had the best ever pastry from here - I’ve no idea what it was called, but the first taste was custard, then salt, then ricotta and then lemon. I’m going back next week just to get another one

Their Nüssecken may not have been triangular but they tasted better than right as did Kevin’s delicate ginger cake thinly coated in dark chocolate.

We forgot to get their details but think they originate from the Bays. But never mind as we know where they’ll be next week and then we’ll find out who these amazing food pixies are. And we’ll go early. They might just have some Bienenstich!

- - Update: they can be found here - -

Diehl’s German Bakery
5/65 Hillside Road, Glenfield, Auckland

Opening hours:
Wed – Fri: 7.00am – 2.00pm
Sat: 7.00am – 1.00pm

Tel (09) 443 7992

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Matakana Village Farmers Market

2 Matakana Valley Rd, Matakana
Saturdays 8am-1pm (Winter 9am-1pm )

It took us longer to get to Matakana than we’d anticipated. We didn’t get there till nearly half past ten having left Mt Albert at quarter past nine. We didn’t miss anything by being so late except the organic spiced hot chocolate. Which, judging by the plain hot chocolate, might be something to rise a little earlier for next time.

On the way in we stopped to chat to Barbara, the founder of the Market. She doesn’t run it any more but is still involved and mans the textiles stall by the entrance. She had some gorgeous aprons and tea towels with botanical illustrations of fruit and vegetables done in black on white. Also available are cotton shopping bags for $5 and the Oz / NZ guide to Farmers Markets.

While we were waiting for our morning coffees I hopped over to Hillfoot Farm’s little spot where I had a most enjoyable morsel of duck. And I just had to buy a pot of duck fat. After so many UK Christmases with potatoes done in goose fat how could I not?

The vegetables here were an absolute joy. They were fresh, colourful and vibrant just bursting with crisp freshness.

The garlic man who we often see at Takapuna Markets was here. He’d sold out of the garlic but had an abundance of the most gorgeous produce we’d seen in a long time.

The beets, carrots and radishes made a very pretty picture all together.

And why we didn’t buy a cos lettuce for a caesar salad I’ll never know.

The pyramids of tamarillos and avocados epitomised everything that’s good about a farmers market. Can you see also how good his potatoes look?

The neighbouring bread lady had some rather sumptuous looking cream buns and pan au chocolat to nicely set off the morning coffee.

At the stand with all the jams, jellies and relishes they had our favourite of all time - something we first discovered at Spitalfields Market (back in the day when it was big and proper) - and that’s red pepper and chilli jam. Whenever we see it we buy it. And this one didn’t disappoint. Although it was a bit runny for a jelly the chilli content more than made up for it.

Organic eggs $6 for a dozen. Now that’s extremely good buying if you like eggs. While I write this I am shaking my head at the things I didn’t buy…

Ah, oh, and the flowers were so pretty. Another thing that makes me slightly wish we’d been there earlier to see the full display. They were so so lovely. Spring flowers are truly upon us now.

Now the place to go for a hot chocolate isn’t the coffee bar at the front (but do go and say hello to Raoul when you buy your flat white); but yes, get your hot chocolate from the Dutch lady with the incredible organic chocolates.

The Puhoi Cheese people were there with delicious blues, bries and cheddars.

And there was some yummy home-baked goodness in the shape of scones, buns and cupcakes.

Everyone got a bit overexcited about the whitebait fritters so we all had to have one each for breakfast. They were perfectly done; in butter, served on bread with sea salt, cracked pepper and a squeeze of lemon.

Our old favourites, the people from Lothlorien were there. Their grapefruit juice is just like home-made, and since we last saw them they’ve added a feijoa and apple juice to their drinks menu. Their feijoa liquer is like nectar. A few years ago we ordered a case directly from them for our company Christmas pressies for clients.

And once all the fun had been had and the rain had been rained (actually it was still raining when we left) we had a quick stop off at the neighbouring building to visit the loos. And my oh my, they were terribly city-nightclub, a far cry from the rustic farmers market we’d just visited. But quite a cool surprise!

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The Clevedon Village Farmers Market

Clevedon A&P Showgrounds, Monument Rd, Clevedon
Sundays 8:30am - 12 noon

Every Sunday morning over twenty stall holders set pitch at the Clevedon A&P showgrounds to make up the truly delicious Farmers Market. Do not eat breakfast before you come!

At the urging of Mrs Lovely Food, Mr Lovely Food had a Hungarian hot dog straight from the pan.

Mrs Lovely Food is currently on a post-baby diet so she opted for macadamia muesli with organic yoghurt and seasonal fruits.

A chocolate brioche was bought and shared (and savoured) for afternoon tea. The extended family opted for French crepes. Citron and sugar of course or maple syrup. Just beautiful.

A gentle pace saw us around the market stalls in an hour, plenty of time for a slow hot-chocolate, nattering with the producers… so soon for Spring flowers to be up, yes it’s an odd winter isn’t it;

The herb man had just enjoyed eight weeks in France and Italy the lucky devil; The macadamia nut guy was off to Hahei that afternoon to see his folks; The bagel man’s using Spelt flour - good man.

The chocolate people are soon to open on Richmond Road - Philippe emigrated here a few years back from France - his pastries and chocolates are absolutely superb.

Inside there’s plenty more - cheeses, sausages galore, pizza bases, organic lamb, bread from Wild Wheat, heritage seeds from the Awhitu peninsula and of course the coffee bar.

Shopping in hand we found a picnic bench outside and set up base camp for the next hour or so while some of us went back for another wander, have another look. Time to mill about and talk, for uncles and aunts and grandparents and parents and daughters and sons. Somewhere to sit in the winter sun and watch a happy morning go by.

www.clevedonfarmersmarket.co.nz

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