You may be aware that I also blog for The Real Food Festival website where I’ve been posting about some of the producers. The 2009 festival may be over but the blog will keep running, although now it will be more recipe focused. I’ll love you forever with a cherry on top if you take a look now and again. There will be a larger set of pictures on the RFF blog soon but for now here’s my favourite bits.

The prize for the most animated market stall most definitely goes to the guys at Gaby’s Hot Stuff. Top marks for the music, dancing and banter. Their chilli sauce (below) is certainly ‘lively’ on the palate too. My friend and I dived in enthusiastically. Silly really, considering we should have learned our lesson the day before when we literally laughed in the face of a man who asked if we could ‘take the heat’. Turns out we couldn’t. It nearly blew our heads off. Eyes watered, tongues burned and there was sucking of air through teeth.

We later roped our mate into trying it too, knowing full well what he was in for but allowing him to carry on for our own entertainment. The look on his face afterwards though filled us both with remorse as we re-lived the pain vicariously. He left us to find his fiancée soon afterwards.

I did buy a bottle of the super strength stuff even though it packs a hefty punch, because it also has the most incredible fruity scotch bonnet flavour. I actually bought it for my boyfriend but I am the one who’s become addicted. I’ve eaten it with eggs, chips and I might as well admit that last night, I actually ripped the corner off a loaf of bread, just so I would have something to dunk in it to get my fix. If you’ve got a problem with chilli sauce like me, then how about trying this little game for jinks, courtesy of the chilli men themselves; next time you are feeling the burn, try putting the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth and holding it for as long as possible. When you really can’t take it any more, release and savour the ensuing endorphin rush you chilli freak.

Now on the hunt for something to cool and soothe, we turned our attention to oysters. These Jersey Oysters were an irresistible bargain at a mere 50p each, which is why the guys above were constantly opening them, poor shuckers (sorry). I promptly ordered six and waved goodbye to the fire plus the last lingering effects of over-indulgence the night before. Oysters are one of the best hangover cures going in my opinion, just make sure you get the most of their delicious sea flavour by giving them a good ol’ chew.

Cheese is also an excellent soother of palate and among the many on offer I found the Laverstoke Park Farm fresh buffalo mozzarella the most interesting. Made in Hampshire, it has an excellent flavour which kind of explodes in your mouth in a milky burst. Slightly unusual in texture, it is firm and almost grainy although not unpleasantly so.

I had to stop by DeGustibus too – for the entertainment as much as the bread. The guys here are super friendly and always up for a bit of banter. Take Jim (above) for example – if he’s not waxing lyrical about the latest loaf or cake from the DeGustibus kitchen, he’s having a laugh. Kneading clearly gives you great biceps.

This young chap from realale.com was also in fine spirits. He seemed slightly surprised (or possibly scared?) by my excitement at finding he had Brew Dog beers or perhaps he just doesn’t get that many female customers. Don’t worry though sisters, I’m representin’.

I also packed some Halen Mon smoked salt and a bulb of smoked garlic from French Flavour into my bag nestled next to a jar of excellent aubergine pickle from Cafe Spice Namaste (above), which gives me a great excuse to make a curry this weekend.

As much as I had a good time filling my belly and emptying my wallet, I’m sorry to say I didn’t catch any cookery demonstrations or tastings. Although, you can probably tell from the pictures that I most enjoyed talking to the producers anyway. The RFF recognises the value of the small producer, subsidising them – enabling many to attend that could not otherwise afford it. The benefit for the customer is that we get to taste the difference in something made with a bit of love and for that reason alone the festival made me a very happy lady.

Covent Garden Night Market has returned to the famous Piazza this year with the same promise of many good things for our bellies. A group of London food bloggers and I were invited down to sample the wares and generally indulge and immerse, as is our nature. I was delighted to finally meet writers of blogs I regularly read, such as Niamh, Julia and Ros - so wonderful to put faces to names and find that everyone really is as nice as you hoped.

So, the market? Anyone who has ever visited Covent Garden will know that it is busy, drawing tourists and city-dwellers alike. This is no matter to a hardened foodie Londoner like myself however, a regular at thronging food markets such as Borough and akin to my fellow residents in having given up on the concept of personal space. Let’s face it, any market with as many fabulous products as this is going to be busy, that’s the point.

Regular readers will know that I am not overly-partial to overly-sweet things. They will also know that there are a few exceptions to this rule, amaretto being one of them. Well, here’s another – it’s cupcakes. My appreciation stems partly from the moment of sinking my teeth into that sweet, unctuous butter cream, followed by light spongy cake beneath but I mostly love the cute factor. How gorgeous are these bite size sweet treats from Lavender Bakery? I opted for the raspberry cupcake with vanilla buttercream (pictured above – really good, pillowy topping with subtly fruity cake), while Chris chose a disgracefully large slice of flourless chocolate cake, polished off the second we got home, with beer.

There are plenty more sweet treats for those of you more ‘normal’ than me – the old-fashioned candy above (loving the aprons), along with Middle Eastern style pastries, fudge and coconut ice. A definite country fete, blast from the past, so-sweet-it-makes-your-teeth-hurt kind of theme here. We all know however, that no-one gets their pudding until all the dinner is gone, but what to choose? I would say the market definitely leans more towards food that is cooked right then and there and products that need no more than removing from the box when you get home. That said, there are some raw ingredients like meat and vegetables available too.

The carnivores are spoilt for choice with bangers, burgers and all kinds of meat-in-bun scenarios. There was a particularly enticing scent coming from Carluccio’s (I could not even get close) and from this Bratwurst stall below. Also check out the hog roast, two of them slowly turning and getting all juicy on their spits.

I was gutted to find that the wild boar sausage had all sold out but I had my eyes on another prize and remained resolute in my determination to find it above anything else – I had heard of a stall selling squirrel meat. I know this might sound disgusting/weird/heinous to some people, but I have to say I’m really curious. I had plans for it and everything. Alas, it could not be found. I asked a vendor at Manor Farm Game if he knew of the whereabouts and he replied that everyone in the market had been talking about it but no-one had seen signs of the furry ones. Apparently, he had been inundated with requests, so it seems I’m not the only one who is curious. No matter, I snapped up some pigeon breasts instead. I’ve had a recipe waiting all summer for those little beauties.

I kicked myself when I realised I forgot to buy some Girolles (below), the colour is beautiful and I can just picture them eaten simply on toast. I may have to go back. This could get a little strenuous on the wallet. OK, so the market ain’t cheap and I can see where others are coming from but the products are high quality and let’s think about the area, it’s Covent Garden, one of the most popular tourist areas in London. I certainly don’t like paying over the odds at markets (e.g. Borough) either but then I don’t shop there every day and I do enter fully into the experience. I live in hope that the higher the demand, the lower the prices…

So, what else did we actually remember to buy? Well, some wonderful marinated feta, redolent with oregano and some silvery anchovies, again, marinated, with a hint of chilli and the most wonderful texture. It must have been the way they were preserved but they seemed much drier than a lot you can buy and much the better for it. As you can see, there was lots of fragrant lavender too but I am emerging from my lavender phase and so managed to resist.

We started looking around for something more substantial to feed on as the smells wafting around started to get the better of us. There were rows of pretty tarts and pastries, paella, risotto, grilled halloumi and falafels among the stalls.

As always, we passed the lot in favour of heading straight for the oyster bar which was a bit weird, being the middle of summer and all (supposedly), but they were perfectly passable and washed down very nicely with a glass of bubbly.

I was in the market too for some spelt bread but disappointingly couldn’t find any. It seems to be catching on rather too slowly for my liking, I really enjoy the texture and my local bakery (The Blackbird Bakery in East Dulwich) does a great one (available on Wednesday’s and Saturday’s).

As usual, I needed zero persuasion when I spotted the sushi stall. It seems I will never tire of eating it – the cravings are getting out of control. These two gents were making endless California rolls with crab, salmon and a veggie option. Not an extensive selection but good nonetheless. Enough to satisfy a craving which was quite mild really, for a Friday.

They even managed to persuade me to try tofu (again). Oh tofu, how I have tried to like you! I realise that you are oh so good for me and a great source of protein, anti-ageing blah blah blah but you taste of NOTHING. I have tried marinating the tofu but obviously didn’t try hard enough because this was actually really good. To be fair, there wasn’t much tofu involved. It’s that brown thing on the right which is basically rice coated in tofu and then deep fried. It was sweet and delicious. Maybe frying is the answer?

If you haven’t eaten enough by this point you can grab a decadent ice or milkshake from the van on the way home. I also like the sound of the ‘brownie fudge sundae’ – who wouldn’t.

Cost and thronging masses aside, this is a great addition to the London food scene. Anything that encourages people to shop in this way is a major bonus in my book. Buying food direct from producers is something that is much talked about but how practical is it really? Well, imagine a wonderful future where everyone has a local market stuffed to the brim with people who care about what they sell and offer real food, not intensively mass produced at God knows what cost. We all thought the vegetable box was a funny idea at one point didn’t we? It is markets like this that get people interested in food and where it comes from and to me, that is a wonderful thing.

We’re not the only ones who think so of course – the Hairy Bikers were there too…

Covent Garden Night Market is in the West Piazza every Thursday and Friday in August. Open from 4-10pm on Thursdays and 12-9pm Saturdays.

This post was originally intended as a guest post for another blog. When I sent the post however, the recipient said they wanted to cut it down to one or two photos, which I thought wouldn’t really work for a photo tour. As they hadn’t set any specifications beforehand, I was also a little confused. No matter, I would have happily written another post or re-worked and edited it but there is one thing Food Stories will not accept people – and that is rudeness! One line e-mails and never once a single utterance of thank you for the effort – unacceptable in my book. I put a lot of work into the post and so thought I would share it here instead. I’ve since found criticism of the attitude of said person on the internet (from other bloggers) and so feel a bit silly for not checking them out before - you live and learn.

Anyway, let’s get started shall we? Borough Market is London’s oldest food market, and a big pull for chefs, tourists and locals alike, bursting with the finest produce. It is run as a charity, the trustees of which are all locals, living in the area known as Borough. The market has won many awards, including, ‘Best Market, ‘Best Specialist Market’, ‘London’s Best Breakfast’ (for Roast restaurant) and ‘Best Beer Experience’ (for The Rake pub). There’s something to cater for all tastes – foods from all around the world – and it’s easy to find more novel ingredients such as ostrich meat alongside traditional fare.

When I visited yesterday, the sun was shining and streaming through the ornate Victorian roof with it’s tangle of rail lines, bridges and listed buildings. The place was buzzing with an energy that only comes from visitors and producers who really love their food and a heady mixture of sounds, smells and voices. It’s overwhelming.

These guys above are from my favourite fruit and veg stall. That’s my money he’s holding! These two are always up for a laugh and have the most beautiful selection of tomatoes and berries. This is the place to go for a bit of friendly banter with your purchase.

Calling all chocoholics! This is a deliciously sinful stall just for you. In addition to these amazing slabs of pure chocolate, you can find chocolate brownies (seriously squidgy), coconut drops cakes (nuggets of fresh coconut bound with a sticky syrup) and just about everything you can think of covered, smothered or dipped in chocolate.

Feeling a bit guilty after all that sugar? Time to stock up on some fresh veggies then. For me, this is the way that vegetables should be sold – untrimmed, unwashed and making no apologies for coming right out of the ground. It makes me feel healthy just looking at them.

This jolly man sells the most gorgeous cider (drinking at 11 am seems perfectly normal here), either warm and spiced or traditional cold and not too fizzy. It’s poured straight from the barrel, dry, medium or sweet. As you can see, the seller likes to keep a pint on the go himself…

As I mentioned, you can buy foods here from many different cuisines, such as these French cured meats and 3 year aged Comte. We couldn’t resist buying a slab of that cheese which is salty, rich and creamy – brilliant layers of flavour.

Speaking of cheese, the market is home to a branch of the famous ‘Neals Yard Dairy‘ (see cheese seller above). These people take cheese very seriously – great emphasis is placed on storing the cheese properly and selling it when at it’s absolute best. A passion for the products is apparent from everyone and you find yourself constantly munching on samples, the air thick with wafts of different cheeses that are stacked floor to ceiling in lovingly placed rows.

The range of cheeses is impressive and there is something for everyone – even the more adventurous palettes – such as the oozing Milleens and Stinking Bishop below.

Want some bread for all that cheese? The variations are endless. One of my favourite destinations is DeGustibus, outstanding artisan bread makers whom I also saw recently at The Real Food Festival (pictured below).

They sell breads from five regions, America, Britain, Mediterranean, Continental and Eastern Europe – all using traditional methods to maximise flavour. There are many other bread stalls here too of course and I just couldn’t resist taking a picture of these beautiful baguettes, so fresh looking. I bet they have a wonderful crust and a soft, fluffy interior.

There’s a wide selection for the seafood lover too – the fresh fish gleaming on their elaborate display. Watch out flip flop wearers, it’s wet around there! I love how the roof is weighed down with bags of water, I half expected to see little goldfish swimming around in them.

I expect you’re getting a bit hungry after all this shopping – sample tasting aside – so how about one of these tasty lamb skewers, served with warm flat breads, tzatziki and salad. There’s plenty of snacks to choose from, sizzling chorizo sandwiches, burgers, bangers and seared, hand dived scallops which remarkably, were free!

And where to eat your lunch? Outside the adjoining Southwark cathedral of course. When built it was the first gothic church in London and the gardens provide some picturesque surroundings perfect for a Borough picnic.

To wash it all down, let’s make a final visit to the pub to quench our thirst with an ice cold pint of Sierra Nevada beer. This we actually discovered at The Taste Festival in Regent’s Park and were thrilled to find they have an outlet in Borough.

So, cheers everyone! It’s been a pleasure to show you around a little. I hope you enjoyed the mini visit – I certainly enjoyed being your guide. Even though this post didn’t reach it’s original destination (and I had to miss this month’s Daring Bakers challenge to write it), I’m always thankful for a good reason to visit Borough (even though it does put a strain on the wallet – it is a tourist attraction after all). I also want to give you a little heads up to watch this space over the next couple of weeks – I have some exciting projects in the pipeline for Food Stories. Over and out!

The Real Food Festival was a 4-day food heaven extravaganza. It was better than I hoped it would be. Imagine Borough Market but a whole lot bigger! In fact, a selection of Borough Market producers were there, along with hundreds of others from around the UK. The best thing about our visit was the opportunity to talk to like minded people – people who love good food to the same degree and are willing to talk about it for ages. I found a place where you don’t have to hold back on the food-talk for fear of people getting bored.

The variety and quality of the produce was outstanding and as someone has written on the graffiti board (top photo), ‘I left with my own body weight in food.’ Well, not quite, but we did buy a lot, it was hard to resist. A highlight was definitely the donkey salami, yes – donkey! The seller was so excited when we tried it and liked it that he said, ‘yes! proper human beings!’ Proper human beings eat donkey – now you know. The flavour is strong and it tastes like donkey (bear with me), it’s like you always knew what it would taste like – it tastes a bit like the smell of a donkey but in a nice way.

We also picked up some Atlantic sea lettuce (great for my new adventure with sea vegetables) and some exciting spices. The long peppers (they are catkins) in the left of the photo are apparently like black pepper, you crush them up and they are stronger and more aromatic. We also nabbed some dried limes (add to soups or curries) and a Japanese seasoning called Schichimi Togarashi which contains among other things, chilli, sansho, nori, orange and sesame (here’s where you can get it).

We ate well as we browsed too, samples galore. To settle our rather sensitive stomachs (too much wine), an olive, tomato, vegetable-stuffed bread – like a calzone but shaped like a pizza slice (From DeGustibus). I also could not resist a scotch egg – the best I have ever tasted. The seller (I wish I had the name) said that his wife made them. She is a very talented lady and he is a very lucky man. We also treated ourselves to some oysters, duchy specials. They were gigantic! The lady selling them was lovely too, recommending them as a first class hangover cure. We can reveal that she is correct. In her words, ‘it has the opposite effect than you expect, they completely refresh your mouth.’ I also nabbed a ‘liver cure’ juice – beetroot, apple and lime, just to make sure. The earthy flavour of beetroot was just right.

The garlic relishes and mayo are from The Garlic Farm on The Isle of Wight. We chose a ‘Vampire Relish’, a gift for a friend, a rhubarb-garlic chutney which is totally inspired and some ever-reliable garlic mayo. So, now for the cheeses. We chose a raw goat’s milk cheese which was soft but dense – creamy and really goaty with a peppery finish. As it warmed up on arrival back home, it started to ooze slightly at the bottom which pleased me immensely. The unpasteurised ewe’s milk cheese was strong, nutty and creamy and had a sharpness, a bit like that of a blue cheese. It was fantastic with the rhubarb chutney.

We ate a bit of everything for dinner last night, tonight and most likely tomorrow too. I think some of the best meals are made in this way, lots of bits and bobs all with a story and some good memories behind them.

This branch of Whole Foods Market is the London flagship store, situated on Kensington High Street. The size of this place is overwhelming and, although the selection of food is impressive, there is rather a lot. Of everything. This makes me feel slightly uncomfortable in a way – can they really manage to sell all that? Do they have gangs of bin raiders camping out the back?

We did enjoy the variety of goats milk cheeses (my favourite) although I resisted them this time round in favour of the brie with truffles (how exciting!) and the Blue Stichelton. This cheese is a collaboration between two leading cheese names (Joe Schneider and Randolph Hodgson) and is made from unpasteurised milk. As they say on the website, its early days for this cheese but ‘the flavours coming through are already promising’. Here’s what Matthew Fort thinks (for The Guardian).

We also bought some anchovies as we can never resist them. These are the Ortiz brand, fished from the Cantabrian or Mediterranean seas using methods that allow the fish stocks to regenerate. They come with a small pick for ease of eating which is the kind of thing that makes a sad person like me really excitable. The fig and anise bread caught my eye instantly, even though lots of great breads were available and it’s really good, there are little pockets of juicy sweet figs and a background perfume of anise that isn’t too overpowering. We also picked up a bottle of Greek extra virgin olive oil, now often cited as preferential to Italian as it is consistently good, whereas Italian oil can vary from region to region. Apparently, good Italian olive oil is often made from olives that have been imported from Greece anyway.

I even ended up buying another shopping bag – as if I don’t have enough already. ‘But they’re all different’, I said to Chris, ‘they are different shapes and sizes and suit different types of shopping’. It’s true. There are the everyday bags – the best kind, made of hessian that folds up easily so you can carry them in your handbag. Then there are the sturdier versions, which are great but thicker by nature and therefore not amenable to folding. We didn’t have to think about this kind of thing until recently, when plastic bags (quite rightly) became something to avoid.

I will say that the staff at this branch of Whole Foods aren’t always as friendly and helpful as you might wish (excepting the barmaid, she was lovely but she did give me alcohol.) Although observing the behaviour of some of the customers, I’m not surprised. There seemed to a be a lot of rude people in that shop. We enjoyed the visit, don’t get me wrong, but it is expensive and there’s a whole lot of it.