We went for a drive to the Adelaide Hills Farmers Market yesterday and then on to the Meadows Easter Fair. There didn’t seem to be much else on for families over the Easter Weekend (or was I just poor at Googling?).
It was a beautiful day and a lovely drive. We tried to leave early so we could get to the market before it was all over (runs from 8-12 I think) and we ended up arriving at 10am after an hours drive from the Western suburbs. This didn’t seem to be a problem as it looked like all the stalls still had plenty of produce on offer and the breakfast roll/coffee stall was still running hot.
Of course we had to immediately have second breakfast of a very nicely done egg and bacon roll (It also included wilted spinach, bbq’d mushrooms and tomatoes) and a very passable cup of coffee (although I really do hate the way that a ‘regular’ cup seems to have become enormous and you have to ask for ‘small’ to get a normal cup).
We (OK, I) also just couldn’t pass up the gigantic chocolate croissants being sold by Maccys Bakery (from Maclesfield). A lot denser than a typical croissant which made it a meal in itself but the pastry was still delicious. The chocolate filling was not as chocolately in flavour as it looked (very dark brown almost black). I went back and bought a loaf of their pumpkin bread ($7 so on the pricey side but was a big loaf, dense without being a brick and very tasty).
The AHFM has only been running for a couple of months and its size reflects these new beginnings. You’d be hard pressed to do your full weeks grocery shopping here. There are a number of vegetable stalls but the produce was a little bit limited although everything was lovely and fresh with very attractive, perfect specimens including herbs, salad leaves, bok choy, and broccoli heads, cucumbers, tomatoes, the last of the summer zucchini and eggplant plus a fruit stall full of autumn apples and pears.
Other stalls included some really lovely artisan breads (I bought two other loaves), honey, hand made soaps, preserves of various kinds, spices (Spice Girlz) olives (two producers); a couple of small goods producers; wine (E and A went straight for this stall and stood chatting and sipping for some time – they also had an Easter food and wine event the following day – Barristers Block); an excellent butcher (Feast – you would know them from the Central Market) from whom I bought what look like some very tender lamp loin chops for a lamb and sweet potato curry I’m planning this week (from an old Delicious magazine – April 2009 if you’re interested). I also bought two pizza bases (I know I should make my own but I’ve never been happy with the ones I’ve made – can’t get the thin crust I like – any tips/recipes welcome!).
I was disappointed that there were no cheeses on sale – especially as the hills are home to both Paris Creek and Udder Delights. I guess they are doing well enough not to have to bother with farmers markets? The stall holders do vary I believe (the website has a weekly list of which stallholders will be there that Sat) so maybe they have been there previously.
The setting was OK – it was in the Mt Barker TAFE carpark which provides the right kind of space needed but feels a little exposed on top of a hill – however the atmosphere was very pleasant with tables and chairs dotted around, a busker playing guitar and delicious breakfast smells wafting around. Plenty of people but not overrun either.
We then drove on to Meadows to visit the four day Easter fair. It was pretty large and there were lots of people. My little one (L) was delighted to be able to pat a baby joey and possum (rescued from mothers who had been road-kill). I also bought a hand knitted beanie for L from what looked like a country women’s association stall. Native plants and vegetable seedlings looked good but I wasn’t mentally prepared (and neither was my garden) for gardening. Otherwise the ‘fair’ didn’t hold a lot of interest for us (no rides, no face painting or roving buskers – not much to make it a fair – more of a bric a brac and home made goods market).
On the way in I spied a pie stall (Bull Creek Organics) that looked really good. We were still all way too full for any more food but I lined up (very long line – obviously they are well known) to buy some to take home. The pies were deep and largish, with nicely burnished pastry
We spent some time at the playground next to the fair which appeased L’s desire for rides.
Nice drive home through the hills. Exhausted, feet up, cup of tea.
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