Glorious Food

>>> Today I have visited the Queen Victoria Market and marveled at the fantastic choices of food. AND I can't believe I don't come here more often! It's just two tram rides or a shirt drive in my car.. (note to self: get here at least once a month from now on!)
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>> The one thing I am enjoying whilst on my sabbatical is having time.. Time to cook and time to walk through places like the Victoria Market without rushing around.
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>> With my focus on cooking this month of course buying the best ingredients after spending a few hours each week selecting recipes from my cook books. My two current favorites were introduced to me by my wonderful US friend Rick who is also a great foodie and loves to cook.
>> The books are Stir by Barbara Lynch. A wonderful journey through Italian dishes, but not your traditional ones, they are better! The second book is Mexico One Plate at a Time by Rick Bayless. Rick is well known in the US through his TV cooking shows, and his restaurants and cook books all focused in authentic Mexican food.
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>> My visit to the market was to buy veal shanks to make Veal ragu with parpadelle pasta. This is from STIR. The shanks are slow cooked for many hours to produce a beautiful tender meat that just falls off the bone! I have not cooked veal shanks before and didn't realize how hard they were to find, hence my reason to come to the market. Having now purchased 6 veal shanks and walking around the market I feel like I am carrying half a baby cow!
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>> My other purchase is pork trotters, shoulder, and shanks to make Pozole a slow cooked pork stew with hominy (dried corn kernels) from Mexico One plate at a time. This is a dish my friend Rick cooked for me in Singapore a few years ago and it was delicious.
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>> After the market adventure it was time for coffee and lunch. I have now found a new coffee spot near the market. Seven Seeds, in Berkeley St Carlton. A warehouse conversion in an area with no other cafes around, and near the university precinct. It's got a three bean rating and at 11am on a Thursday it is absolutely packed and buzzing. For me it is a nice level of noise, I can still hear myself think. It is well hidden as I walked right past the back entrance before using my GPS to track it down. Great coffee, table service and I will be ordering something yummy for lunch.
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>> Before I sign off, an update in case you are wondering.
>> I have had second interviews on the job with Orica...it feels right. I am seriously thinking it will be a great role for me. So stay tuned.
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>> I have also booked another bike riding adventure with my wonderful friend Carole to Thailand and Laos in June for 13 days. Laos is a place we have both been wanting to visit, and comes highly recommended by Aaron my Son who has been twice! We are doing a bike tour with Grasshopper Adventures, yes are a real company. So when am not cooking, or exercising! I put my travel planner hat on and get on the internet. It's so easy these days to find flights, accommodation and all the info on Laos that we need.
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>> The question for you today then.
>> Where is your favorite place to shop for great food? And how often do you go to a great fresh market?
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>> Narelle