Local Markets

Posted on 21. Apr, 2009 by Justin in Cooking

I've just had a long weekend away in London and decided to look round Borough Market during my stay. This was an incredible experience and I've attached some of the photos from the market below.

This experience made me think about the culture we all seem to have become accustomed to of going to our local supermarket. I'm not saying don't goto the supermarket but how about thinking about how we shop a little more carefully. The retailers in this market are extremely passionate about the food they sell and think about quality before price. Most of the food being sold was sourced from the UK and this market is clearly is a great advert for British produce.

Every major city will have a least one market but people seldom visit them as the convenience of the supermarket is an overriding factor. How about over the next month you make an effort to visit your local market? Here are a few reasons why:

Save money - markets are on the whole cheaper than a supermarket as they don't have the same high overheads / staff costs.
Better quality - find out who are the really good suppliers in your market. Ask questions such as how long have you been here? Where does your meat come from? How long do you age your beef etc. You will soon get an idea about their ethos and passion for the produce on offer.
Get to know your food and the retailers - a lot of people buy the same food every week from the supermarket as it seems less terrifying when it's covered in a plastic tray. By talking to the retailers in the market they can help you choose a delicious cut of meat or new vegetables to try. Market traders have knowledge which you can't find in a supermarket. In fact next time you are in your local supermarket ask a member of staff where a particular cut of meat comes from in the animal. 9 time out of 10 they won't know!
Good fun - a market has atmosphere and there is an air of excitement.

Enjoy your local markets and enjoy the photos below!