A series of anecdotes with or without any connection to the running of a restaurant.

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Antwerp Market...

Last Saturday after breakfast I headed for the market, just round the corner from the hotel. It was still quite early and just like in any other market around the world, the stall holders unfolded their wares and began laying them on display for the thousands of customers who would later amble up and down along the aisles, admiring, touching, feeling, trying and sometimes buying...




















Juicy pomegranates awaiting to be plucked. A spoonful of sugar and a dash of orange blossom...















So many necks to adorn with bling...










The police, vigilant as ever prevented this prospective thief from walking away with a coat.

Labels: ,

19 Comments:

Blogger Hayden said...

I adore markets - I'm on my way to the farmers market right now!

Never used orange blossom water - now I'm inspired to go find some and try it out with the pomegranates - thanks for the tip!

27/10/07 3:01 PM  
Blogger savannah said...

that's always my favorite part of visiting new places finding the open/outdoor markets, sugar! thanks to you and merisi, i'm getting travel fever!

27/10/07 4:25 PM  
Blogger zooms said...

Thanks for sharing these sumptuous sensual delights, except for the thief and,I have to say, cold looking jewellery display, can't wait to show T the pumpkin when he gets home from work.

27/10/07 5:32 PM  
Blogger Daphne Wayne-Bough said...

What a waste of a giant pumpkin, they could have made a carriage out of it. That jewellery seller had some neck. Your food pics are great, how about a new career as a food photographer?

28/10/07 1:51 PM  
Blogger zoe said...

i've never been to antwerp market - it definitely looks like one of the better ones!

28/10/07 2:50 PM  
Blogger Mary said...

I love when you take me shopping with you.

28/10/07 5:56 PM  
Blogger zooms said...

T says, wow, what do you think the pumpkin weighed and did you ask for any seeds and could he have some please?

28/10/07 10:04 PM  
Blogger Merisi said...

Very nice market stroll, thank you, Cream! :-)
Markets all over the world have this sense of exhuberance and abundance in common, as long as peace reigns of course.

28/10/07 10:55 PM  
Blogger Cream said...

Hayden, markets really provide good ingredients and the bonus is that they happen to be cheaper and fresher than in supermarkets!
You may be able to get orange blossom from ethnic shops.

Sweet Savannah, I am glad Merisi and I are taking you on a great journey.

Zooms, I couldn't begin to guess the weight of that pumpkin. But I can imagine the size of it seeds! Dried and lightly salted!! Ahh...A delight!

Ah, Cendrillon!
That was my kind of pun, Daphnee!
Food photographer? Do I get to eat it afterwards? With a glass of wine or two?

Zoe, it was really good. One usually always gets the same rubbish on every market in Europe but in Antwerp the food stalls were really interesting. And the vegetables looked so good!
As I strayed into the North African part of Brussels (?), I saw many ethnic shops and lots of food stalls here and there. Lucky!

Mary, you'll have to come when I go shopping for wine.

You're welcome, Merisi. I was lucky to catch this market before it started trading. The vans being unloaded, the stalls arranged, loaded and decorated, a steaming cup of coffee snatched in between... A real live theatre.

29/10/07 10:41 AM  
Blogger Akelamalu said...

I can't resist visiting the market when I'm in a foreign country, of course I love our markets too but foreign ones are always much more exciting!

29/10/07 2:03 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Très Jolies photos aux belles couleurs d'automne !comme sur un marché de province.
Je ne vais pas malgré la tentation commenter sur la citrouille, Daphne l'a si bien dit !
Et ce voleur chauve qui chaparde un manteau ! il aurait mieux fait de se laisser pousser les cheveux pour se prémunir du froid ?

29/10/07 5:24 PM  
Blogger Cream said...

Akela, I love foreign markets, too. I think they give you an insight into the people and the country you're visiting. The food they eat, the clothes they wear, etc...

Merci, Crabtree. Le voleur n'avait froid ni a la tete ni aux yeux car il etait completement saoul! A 9h du matin!!!

29/10/07 5:37 PM  
Blogger kj said...

i love open air markets--nothing better than buying cheese and fruit and vegetables and taking them home for the evening.

i've been in this fine city. i lived in germany for a couple of years and traveled here and there. i hope you're happy with your life these days, cream, you deserve fine days, fine food, and fine gallivants!

:)

31/10/07 12:10 AM  
Blogger Cream said...

Thanks, KJ. Yep! I am happy.

31/10/07 12:51 PM  
Blogger neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

I wish our Very Lazy mayor can see this and learn how to make markets pretty :-(

31/10/07 6:25 PM  
Blogger Merisi said...

Note to myself:
Don't ever visit Cream again late at night. He's showing way more food than a hungry soul can bear. ;-)

31/10/07 10:47 PM  
Blogger Mélanie said...

What is the big piece on the 5th picture. IS IT AN HUGE pumpkin ???
I love it ...

3/11/07 9:26 AM  
Blogger Cream said...

Yes, Melanie, it is a gigantic pumpkin!

3/11/07 11:12 AM  
Blogger City Inn said...

Whats the location of this market in ANTWERP

24/11/07 9:10 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home