Going to the Thippasandra market and H.A.L. market was a Sunday morning ritual for many years when I was growing up in Bangalore. It was a favourite self-appointed chore which let me choose the best veggies and very coolly determine the week’s menu. All my favourites were the first to go in of course.
The only irksome thing was that the vendors always used to think that I was a Hindi-speaking person and would beckon or address me in Hindi. The only thing to do was to reply in Tamil or Kannada and hear the price being knocked down by at least three rupees immediately.
Nowadays my weekend is never complete without a visit to one of the many farmers markets here. And even though it’s more of an elite thing here, the atmosphere is inherently the same. Vibrant, fresh, appealing and full of soul.
The Dun Laoghaire (pronounced DunLeary) market is open every Sunday from 10-5 and is superbly located. It’s a charming town and seaport nestled in the foothills of the Dublin mountains and has this air of total peace and recreation. We usually get off at the train station and stroll to the market taking in the splendid sea views, boats, windsurfers, a stray ice cream, and the incredibly cute dogs. This Sunday market not only has the tastiest fruit and veg stall, but also has an array of mouth-watering stalls offering cakes, breads, cheeses, falafel, pickles, chutneys, bakes, crepes, pizzas, teas and coffees. There’s also an Indian food stall but we’ve never made it past the Falafel corner. The smell of roasted cumin just envelopes the entire market and the two falafel stalls are simply the stars of the show.
The veggie and fruit stall is where the treasures lurk, though 
We usually go beserk and load up like we’re getting ready for a storm and this time the guy rightly remarked that we’d gone crazy. But seriously, the difference in taste compared to the supermarket stuff is remarkable. And since it’s only a weekly affair, I like to ensure that we have enough to sustain us for regular saapad and sudden cravings. Not only does the supermarket veggies taste like cardboard, but the experience of shopping there is one of singular dullness. Ultimately supermarkets are convenience stores and veggie markets are captivating kaleidoscopes. Take your pick.
April 22, 2009 at 3:36 am |
Nice.
I remember going with you to the HAL market and I don’t think I’ve ever seen you more focussed than when you are selecting your vegetables. With both you crazies together, I can only imagine how it will be in Dublin. And it sounds like a fair. Do they have a Ferris wheel? That would just complete it.
Reliance Fresh, Safal, and another thing on the Whitefield Road was a favourite with my mom for a while. Now we are back to the K. R. Puram santhe. I like santhes (on the odd times that I do visit markets), it’s the only time I feel excited about cooking. All those green and fresh vegetables. Slurp!
April 22, 2009 at 8:44 am |
Hey, I had single-minded focus with grammar as well.
Exactly, seeing fresh vegetables stacked up conjures yummy meals and that is the motivation for my week’s cooking. Ferris wheel missing in action. Only there during some festival.
April 27, 2009 at 9:59 am |
Yes, how could I forget!
“Read this paragraph and highlight all the noun phrases in this passage.”
“Read this paragraph and highlight all the noun phrases in this passage.”
“Read this paragraph and highlight all the noun phrases in this passage.”
LOL. Anuradha, you are a perfect ass! But God knows I miss your cooking.