They are my best. Not only are they noisy, chaotic, full of pushchairs and toddlers, wandering dogs sniffing, bargaining store holders, smells of freshly ground coffee and chargrilled steak, homemade ice-cream melting in the sun, floor stained with smashed strawberries and dropped free range farm eggs, wicker baskets filled with spinach, kale and other retro organic veggies… but markets always offer a bustling conglomeration of happy Saturday morning meetings, lots of delicious tasters (practically a second breakfast in my case) and always a story or two from the farmers. Farmers hold a wealth of knowledge and the years of toil ingrained in their stained, lined hands are… to behold. I like supporting them.

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I arrive at the Eveleigh Farmers Market, Sydney and I’m hungry. I walk through the stalls and I’m overwhelmed by choice. I feel like a kid at Christmas with all the plates of little bites of Brie cheese, double-chocolate brownie, roast macadamia nuts, humus and freash bread, cured salmon with crème fraiche, and some chardonnay… is it too early for wine? The wine-maker assures me it’s not. Ok then! I might as well try some the sauvignon blanc while I’m at it.

After tasting a gluten-free cupcake from Kimmy Choux (her stand was so beautifully decorated that I couldn’t resist one of her tasty treats), a scoop of delicious buttermilk ice-cream from the Dessertmakers, a big chunky piece of Angus steak (big Bill told me his favorite meal in the world was steak with mashed potatoes and gravy – some tastes never change) and then Jordan from Wormticklers gave me the most delicate little Kale plant! His parting advice, with a thick aussie accent was, “Give it a good water and you’ll be laughing!” As I was leaving I engaged a handsome young gentleman in a conversation about his family’s organic farm. I was genuinely interested in their produce and amazed at how they had been going since 1912… But either he wanted to get rid of me, or thought I was flirting with him as he gave me 3 big bunches of red kale! I was thrilled. With my basket overflowing, a mouth full of kumquats, I hopped onto my red bicycle and cycled home happy.