We got some of this strangely shaped Caciocavallo cheese at the Italian Market in town today. The London-based market travels around the UK throughout the year bringing a taste of Italy to the provinces, and this is the second year it has been to Abingdon.
We also bought a mix of olives, stuffed vine leaves and artichokes from this stall. Food on sale is produced in Italy and represents many different Italian regions. Only the bread is baked in London.
Costa had a display of balloons round their tables that complemented the Tricolor Market Stalls.
This final picture was taken inside Jessops.
No price stickers on anything. The French, Italian and farmers’ markets are fine in principle, but they’re expensive. Oxford covered market knocks spots off these ‘occasional markets’ in Abingdon as, especially with the butchers, you’ve got a fair amount of competition ‘keeping people honest’ on prices. The Monday market is fine, but the other national markets in the Market Place are over-rated. A shame, but true.
“Newcomer”‘s comments made me stop and think a bit… I agree that the French and Italian markets have been disappointing recently – not much there that you can’t get in Waitrose or Added Ingredients. I also agree that the Oxford covered market is great – especially the way the butchers, fishmongers and greengrocers present their produce – mouthwatering!
Where I think I disagree is over the Farmers Market:when it comes to meat there is plenty of competition there – some of the stalls focus on price, others on quality. For other products there is not much competition between the traders, but they do have to compete with the permanent shops and to my mind the quality plus the fact that they are there every month makes them good value.
But more importantly, the market gives us an opportunity to support local farmers without getting in our cars to go to their farm shops: if we want them to remain in business to provide high quality produce we need to support them – and not always to be looking for the cheapest bargain.