Once again I’m unsure as to how it has happened, but December is rushing past me at a breakneck pace and I’m pretty sure I’m on a collision course with Christmas which is going to end fairly unpleasantly if I don’t pull my finger out. With that in mind, yesterday I took myself down the hill to the Adelaide Central Market and at least made an effort to wrap my head around the impending food binge. I had a bit of a wander around looking for some specialties of the season and thought I might share a few of them here with you.
I don’t know about you, but Christmas isn’t Christmas here without a huge lump of ham on the bone taking up vast amounts of space in the fridge and appearing at every possible ingesting opportunity for a week or two. (Never store your ham in the plastic. Wrap it in a tea towel or an old pillowcase turned inside out which has been dipped in acidulated water – 4 cups water: 2 tbsp vinegar- and thoroughly wrung out, changing every day or two.) We are particularly spoiled for choice in this department at the Adelaide Central Market and I am struggling to choose between two especially.
Barbara Knoll at Barossa Fine Foods ,of course, has their splendid award-winning ham but did you know it also comes in a delicious orange glaze all ready for you to bake.
Poultry is another protein that will be on our table on the big day and I’ve opted for one of Saskia Beer‘s fine birds boned and stuffed, from Feast Fine Foods. A goose is one of the more traditional birds to eat at this time of year in Europe, but not so much here. If you fancy changing your traditions around a bit you can pick up a splendid goose from Marino Meats at $19.95 per kilo and then toddle over to Lucia’s and buy some French goose fat with which to baste it.
For those who want to stick with the traditional poultry, but only have a few to feed or simply can’t face the idea of a whole bird the lovely Frank, at Vegas Poultry , has the perfect alternative – free-range turkey chops! Sling them on the barbecue and you’re done!
Edible centre-pieces hold quite an attraction for me and this cake-pop Christmas cake can certainly make dessert a much simpler affair. You’ll find these at The Providore and they can be made as simple – or as huge – as you want. Too easy!
A couple of foodie-type gifts caught my eye, too.
These gorgeous blue and white ceramic pots of imported artisan Stilton available from Say Cheese are sure to make the cheese-lover in your life very happy indeed. And for last minute, emergency gifts how about a big bag of white chocolate rocky road from The Providore?
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How nice to see a round up of whats at the markets. Love the turkey chops and the centrepiece. They are inventive market people.
Love this Amanda! I could merrily lose myself at Central Markets and not emerge for a week! Compliments of the upcoming season to you.
I would so love to be able to visit those markets . Thanks for the trip.
Envious of that pot of Blue Stilton, and don’t mind admitting it! Hope you left the market with over-flowing bags of loot, Amanda. I’d be disappointed in you otherwise. And well done for showcasing your lovely local producers.
Amanda you have reminded us how lucky we are living in Adelaide and having the extraordinary Central Market, so much great food and full of great characters. I have a confession…. Turkey chops are not my ‘cup of tea’ I would rather fang into some of Tonys ham!
Since hordes demanding turkey won’t grace my doorstep this Yule, those turkey chops have a huge appeal! Well, I would probably do something quite unacceptable in the Anglo-Saxon culinary world with them, but . . .! BUT, that pot of Stilton has me absolutely and thoroughly ‘taken’: oh gosh, Santa!!!
I have such wonderful childhood memories of the Adelaide Central Markets – such a lucky city to have such a massive market with so much variety and passion. Our markets here in Perth lack the “soul” of ACM.
Too many yummy choices! And it is sneaking up so fast too! 🙂
I wish we had a daily market like the Central Markets!
The Central Markets are so wonderful. Love your choice of a Saskia Beer bird and yes we’re the same Christmas is not Christmas without a big ham on the table.
Amanda, look at that pot of stilton! I don’t know if I could pass it up! Sounds like there’s going to be a feast of meat at your house!! 🙂
Have a wonderful Christmas and a great 2013! xx