freshExploring Cardiff ’s food markets

Festivetipples

Warming winterpumpkin curry soup

Market DeliExclusive interview

Winter 2012

What’s in your bag today: 3 pots of cockles and whelks - £3

What’s in your bag today: Grapes, blueberries and onions - about £9

What’s in your bag today: Sirloin steaks at £6 per pound - £25

Carl Swanson, 34, Cardiff, Civil Servant“No generally this one, ‘cause it’s more convenient basically. I find it’s good value for money and there’s more variety than supermarkets.”

Kayley Skym, 27, Cardiff, Solicitor/Mother“It’s always this one, and the food market at Riverside on a Sunday. Obviously you can’t get fresh seafood at supermarkets, and I’m quite into supporting local produce. I think the prices are more competitive and I think the produce is of better quality.”

Leigh Chugg, 28, Cardiff, Catering“Just this one, because I work in town, so I come after work. I like to support local businesses, it’s good value for money and it’s a good wide range. You’ll probably find everything you need.”

Your best bargain at a food market“The best deal I’ve had is things for noth-ing basically. You can shop really cheaply at local food markets, you just need to come late and take your chances with what’s there and most traders will be open to bartering.”

The biggest surprise at RM?“Maybe tree rabbits (otherwise known as squirrels). I’ve never eaten it, but I hear it’s really good.”

Christmas at RM “We always try do a special evening market in the week leading up to Christ-mas. Farmer Christmas also occasionally shows up.”

Where? Riverside Market, on Fitzhamon Embankment across the River Taff from the Millennium Stadium. When? Every Sunday, 10am – 2pm

Market shoppersfresh visited Cardiff Market and asked shoppers

“Do you shop at a variety of food markets and why?”

A chat with Steve GarrettFounder of Riverside Farmers' Market

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The first thing you notice about Cardiff Central Market is the shouting. “Strawberries for a £1” and “Best pies in Wales”.

There are stalls upon stalls brimming with fresh fruit

and vegetables, seafood, local meat and delicious looking homemade breads

and pastries. The best things about markets in Cardiff are the value and variety of produce. Market holders are happy to help: they are knowledgable and passionate about their produce. Markets can be great for picking up fruit and

vegetables. There is always a great choice of fresh produce and many

bargains to be found. All the fresh vegetables for the recipe came to £4.72.

A stall with racks of spices captured our eyes, and we knew this was the place for a bag of distinctive curry powder. Noticing the breads and pastries on one stall, it was clear a huge loaf of white, crusty bread would be perfect to go alongside the soup.

For two people:

1/2 small pumpkin1/2 small butternut squash

1/2 onionCurry powder (as little or much as you want depending on how spicy you like your soup)

50ml white wine1/2 carton of creme fraiche

1 vegetable stock1 tbsp honey

2 tbsp olive oilSalt and pepper for seasoning

To accompany:Thick white crusty bread

Basil leaves to place on top=£7.05

Enough to buy ten welshcakes

at £1.80 for afters!

MEAL FOR A TENNER

Recipe:

1.Peel and chop the pumpkin and butternut squash. (Did you know? You can dry the pumpkin seeds and fry them in oil and pop them on the top.)2.Peel, chop and fry the onion in oil lightly until glassy.3. Add the pumpkin and butternut squash; and move back and forth for one minute.4. Cover in boiling water and boil for 15 minutes.5. Purate the vegetables.6. Add the wine, curry powder, vegetable stock, salt, pepper and creme fraiche.7. Serve with basil.

Pumpkin Curry Soup

scrummy

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fresh shows you where to look for Cardiff’s best food markets

Market Map

Rhiwbina Farmers’ MarketWhere: The Butchers Arms car park, CF14 6NB When: Fri, 10am - 1pmfresh says: pop into the pub for a pint!

Riverside Farmers’ MarketWhere: Fitzhamon Embankment, CF11 6ANWhen: Sun, 10am - 2pmfresh says: what’s better than shop-ping at Cardiff ’s flagship market under the shadow of the Millennium Stadium?

Cardiff Central MarketWhere: Central Square, St Mary Street, CF10 1AUWhen: Mon to Sat, 8am – 5.30pmfresh says: head to Ashton’s fishmongers - they have been selling a huge selection of fresh seafood since 1866.

Cardiff Bay Christmas MarketHosted every year at The Roald Dahl Plass.4

fresh shows you where to look for Cardiff’s best food markets

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Cardiff Castle is twinklling

with lights, the town centre is teeming with shoppers and revellers alike and, if you listen carefully, you can hear the faint sound of sleigh bells coming from somewhere up north. Christmas is in Cardiff.

And with it comes Cardiff Christmas market. Here are fresh’s tips on what to look out for during your market stroll:

Moosehead Bierkeller: a glass of Gluhwein for only £3.50 is the perfect thing to warm you up for your wander.

Original German Barbeque: their delicious Bratwurst is a

surprisingly filling choice. Try the Krakauer for something spicier.

Caws Teifi Cheese: a stall to stall at for their yummy oak smoked or sweet pepper cheeses. Or try the unorthodox nettle or seaweed fancies.

Finish at the Cup & Cake Bakery for dessert: exquisitely designed cakes are a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach.

There’s always time for another Gluhwein before a very satisfied walk home.

Cardiff Christmas Market runs every day until 23 December.

Splott MarketWhere: Titan Road, CF24 5JB When: Sun 9am – 5pmfresh says: go to Splott for a nice variety of goods.

Roath Farmers’ MarketWhere: Mackintosh Centre, Keppoch Street, CF24 3JWWhen: Sat 9.30am – 1pm fresh says: don’t forget the craft market next door.

Cardiff Christmas Market Where: Working Street, Trinity Street and The HayesWhen: Mon to Sat, 10am – 5.30pmThurs, 10am – 8pmSun, 10am – 5pmfresh says: take advan-tage of seeing Cardiff city centre transformed into a line of attractive wooden stalls.

Cardiff Bay Christmas MarketHosted every year at The Roald Dahl Plass.

“Markets are a place for the community”

A stroll into Cardiff Central market greets the senses with a range of bright colours,

beautiful smells and a warmth which is created not only by the sizzling pans full of fresh food, but by the humbling sense of community which is often hard to find in a city. Approaching Market Deli, I was pleasantly welcomed by a bubbly man called Gary Pearsey, who was more than happy to talk to me about the stall which he has proudly worked at for four years.

Do you think markets have become more popular during the recent recession?

Yes, definitely. I think the popularity of markets is growing in a time of economic trouble, as you can get so many bargains that you can’t always get anywhere else.

Where does your produce come from?

Our produce is from all over Wales. We tend to get our produce from places as close as possible, this way, it is all exceptionally fresh.

Why are markets so important to the city of Cardiff ?

Markets are a place for the community – some people meet up here, others come here with their families.

What is your best bargain today?

Our best bargain would have to be our Clarkes pies, they’re so popular and are such a good deal. People come here just for them and I don’t blame them!

Is Market Deli selling anything special for Christmas?

For Christmas, we are selling our popularChristmas rolls which include ingredients such as turkey, stuffing and cranberry mayo.

Have you had any celebrities visiting the stall?

We have actually had a few celebrities visiting us such as some of the Welsh rugby team and John Barrowman , but our favourite guest so far is Marco Pierre White!

Is there any competition between you and other traders here at Cardiff market?

All the stalls in the market have their regulars so there isn’t really any competition, it’s just a nice friendly community which people can easily get involved in!

Market Deli 8 - 12 Cardiff Central Market@MarketDeliwww.marketdeli.co.uk

“Our favourite guest so far has to be Marco Pierre White!”

Interview with Gary Pearsey

Name: Gary Pearsey

Age: 37

Stall: Market Deli

Market: Cardiff Central Market

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Festive tipples

rachel“I am a lover of everything cherry flavoured,

especially this black cherry liqueur as it tastes like my favourite dessert, black forest gateau.

This lovely drink is from Condessa Welsh Liqueurs at Cardiff Christmas Market and can be served with a variety of mixers, but my personal favourite is when I mix it with Coca-Cola!”

jonny“The Untapped Brewing Company makes some

really great ales. Truly amazing considering they don’t have their own brewery and have

to borrow kit! I love dark ale so the 4.4% Eclipse at Riverside Market tops the lot for me. Malty, fruity and with a beautiful reddish hue, it quenches thirst even if you’re not thirsty.”

Margaux“One of my all time favourite drinks in

December is mulled wine, so quite naturally the first place I went at the Cardiff Christmas

Market on Queen Street was to the Moose Head Bierkeller. A beautifully warming drink, the smells of cinnamon and orange get me in the mood for the festive season.”

liz“I love a bit of sloe gin, and Condessa Welsh

Liqueurs at Cardiff Christmas Market does a really nice one. This beautifully blended

gin is the perfect drink for those cold Christmas evenings. Just one sip of this deliciously homemade gin, with the refreshing taste of fresh sloe berries, will warm you right up.”

The fresh team share their favourite market drinks this month

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