Markets

A few weeks ago, I finally got to go to Broadway Market with F and S, some family friends. I had always wanted to go when S first told me about it but never got around to asking her what it was called or where it was. I just knew it was a food market and that you could get samosa chaat from there. Now having been there, I keep berating myself for not finding out sooner.

The very first stall we came across was a smoked sun-dried tomato one. I happen to love sun-dried tomatoes and these ones tasted not dissimilar to smoked mackerel. Of course, I bought myself a pot. Not too long after the tomato stall, came the churros and hot chocolate stall. After seeing churros at the Columbia Flower Market and not being able to have any because they ran out just as I got to the front of the queue, I had been craving them. F and S were both so good in that they were going to go past all the stalls before deciding on what they were going to get. I, on the other hand, was like a child let loose in a sweet shop with a fistful of pocket money. I had to get some there and then in case, like last time, they would run out. The three of us found a bit of kerb to sit on as we ate our churros dipped into hot chocolate, watching the world go by. I love the hustle and bustle of markets and there's so much you miss if you don't stop to actually look.

With my tummy reasonably satisfied, we ambled on. Our thirst was quenched by freshly pressed apple juice and then after the rounds of the stalls had been made and some brinjal pickle taste-tested and bought, we finally settled on getting some food for our little picnic in the park from the Russian food stall. I'm not entirely sure if all the food sold at that stall was indeed Russian but the Salad Olivier definitely was. And if you have never tried aubergine with pomegranate before, then you really must.

With our food safely tucked under our arms and another bottle of freshly squeezed apple juice bought, we made our way to London Fields across the road. We sat, munched, talked, people watched and read the paper. It was an absolutely lovely morning.

Greenwich Market tomorrow, I hope. I planned to go the last two Saturdays but I ended up catching a cold and not being able to go. Can't wait to see what it's like. It's an arts and crafts market and food market all rolled into one, I hear.