Fresh oysters, flounder and scallops van

State Highway 1 at Waiwera
Unsure of opening hours, but I’d hazard a guess and say weekends during daylight hours

Noel Sullivan has been running the fresh oysters, flounder and scallops van for over seven years now. The flounder had come out of the Kaipara Harbour earlier that morning. The scallops were fresh too and they looked good.

We got two flounder for $9 and about a dozen scallops for $12. I have no idea how that compares to anywhere else but it seemed alright to me. I like buying food from a man on the side of the road who knows the guys who caught it.

I had scallops for lunch that day, and the next day. Cooked in butter with garlic, Maldon and cracked pepper, I had them on rocket with a bit of french bread and some beetroot hummous from Matakana market. The scallops were very good. And they were even better the next day when I had them with just a piece of baguette to mop up the garlicky lemon juice and butter.

That evening we had the flounder, lightly floured and cooked in a bit of butter, served with Maldon, cracked pepper and lemon juice of course. Again with rocket because that’s what we had.

Now, the potatoes were a bit of a luxury. Par-boiled we put them in a pan and unloaded a $5 pot of duck fat onto them. Decadent? Yes. Perfect? Also. Topped off with a dollop of red-pepper-chilli jam and a glass of delightful rosé.

De-lish.

3 Comments »

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!

11 Comments »

The Italian Country Market

439 Papakura-Clevedon Road
Tel. 09- 292 9229

The Italian Country Market is a delightful little secret, hidden on the road going out of Clevedon towards Papakura. Only a few minutes past the Takanini turnoff we stopped here after the Farmers Market and bought our culinary supplies for the week.

This charming shop stocked everything we could have dreamed of wanting to eat, from fresh walnuts and gourmet potatoes to the best tomatoes. Ever. We aren’t lying. This place has the best tomatoes we’ve seen anywhere between here and Aix en Provence.

They’ve also got a mean line-up of balsamics, proper mozarella and fresh, fresh, lovely veges and salad ingredients. Their provolone was something else. We enjoyed it later that afternoon on crackers with a drop of good rosé.

The fridges are stocked with gorgeous pastas from cucina and all the good cheeses one might care to daydream about. Well-stocked shelves are simply bursting with olives, aioli, biscotti and crostini, mustards, pastas and more.

If you aren’t up for the trip out to Clevedon they’re also to be found in Orakei (09-520 5976), Karaka (09-291 9364) and Whitford (09-530 9027).

11 Comments »

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

3 Comments »