To Market... To Market... In Nelson

 I love going to local markets where there is all sorts 
of fresh produce and unexpected treasures.

The market in Nelson is exceptional. It has existed

for many years and grown over the years with

established craft stalls and changing seasonal stalls.

I went reasonably early in the morning to find it already

crowded. Stalls bursting with all sorts of things and

the coffee stalls humming and smelling divine.

The photo above is what I went home with...

 These licorice allsorts were an interesting find...

Edible? No, not at all. They are little blocks of

natural home-made soap.

 This Beech Honeydew is delicious... And quite differently

made from regular 'clover' or 'manuka' honey.
Little insects that inhabit the Beech tree bark product
sticky sap that hangs in fine threads from the trunks.
The bees come along and gather it and turn it 
into edible sweet honey.

Another unexpected find was two men

selling alcohol of various sorts. They were

very willing to give samples - in each hand -

of what they made. I discovered they 

have their distillery and business- Te Kiwi - 

 in Takaka down a little lane behind the 

Wholemeal Cafe. As Takaka is my next 

destination, when I have finished this bottle 

of Gin I succumbed to, I think I will be 

paying them a visit. Do look at their web site

linked above and if you are in the area 

calling in is a must.

Here is my rope of plaited garlic. It's found a home

among my wine glasses... Handy to where I cook

so I can use it often. I've just made roasted

pumpkin soup and a whole small bulb found its

way into the pot... Yum!

Another treat is this Waihopai

Extra Virgin olive oil... You know

the 'real' stuff. Made from Frantoio

and Leccino olives in the Waihopai Valley, 

Marlborough, It even has a batch number

and date pressed on the bottle.

Yummy for dipping with bread and Dukah.

Tomatoes, grapes, lemons, pums made up the

rest of my shopping, all fresh, spray free

and delicious.

Next blog post - recipes for what I did with the

 Abergine and the Pumpkin soup - with

a difference... If I haven't drunk too much gin!