Brixton Market

[fanta]

I wondered round Brixton Market with the little one in his pram earlier this week, the weather was fine and the place was bustling.

I've always been fond of the market, but as we mooched about buying bits and bobs I realised (yet again) just how great it is.

Though I've been living in this neck of the woods for a few good years now, I am constantly impressed with the sheer range of produce for sale. It is unbelievably diverse, cheap and plentiful and that there is so much choice means one is always assured of quality.

Baby loves it too, liking nothing better than being slowly pushed around, sometimes walking, with something to eat while taking it all in.

Maybe it was just because Spring is here, but one can't help but feeling cheerful here.

The place is a tonic!

[Minnie_the_Minx]

The place is a tonic!

Well to some maybe, but if you don't like crowds it's a nightmare

[fanta]

Where else can you go if you need fresh live crabs, huge Colombian sausages, tasty parma ham, yellow sweet Jamaican oranges, big rolls of bin-liners, big fuck off-sized bottles of fabric conditioner, whole salted fish, bright aubergines as big as your head, numerous spices & herbs, CD's, electric toys...etc etc etc... all at the same time?

As for crowds, well, the secret is not to be in a rush - just amble gently about.

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Where else can you go if you need fresh live crabs, huge Colombian sausages, tasty parma ham, yellow sweet Jamaican oranges, big rolls of bin-liners, big fuck off-sized bottles of fabric conditioner, whole salted fish, bright aubergines as big as your head, numerous spices & herbs, CD's, electric toys...etc etc etc... all at the same time?

As for crowds, well, the secret is not to be in a rush - just amble gently about.

Don't get me wrong. I DO go there. I just don't like crowds full stop and I am unable to amble. I didn't used to be nicknamed "The Rocket" for nothing

[aurora green]

Go early, I say. Brixton's quite a late starting kind of place, so you're laughing if you there by 10am crowd wise, even on a Saturday.
I'm also perpetually in love with Brixton market, I agree it's really special. I love all the music, the wierd stuff, the whole vibe. I like sitting outside that place Eco, having a coffee, watching the world go by...

[Minnie_the_Minx]

But I must admit, markets can be fascinating when you see food you've never seen before.

I wonder what this is?

[Minnie_the_Minx]

You'd probably love this market

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[Bond]

Was thinking the exact same thing last week, when I did loads of shopping from there last week Fanta.

Definitely reccomended for food, essentials, appliances etc as you're more likely to find them cheaper there than in any shop.

[Ms T]

I'll never forget the first time I saw those giant snails for sale on one of the stalls. Apparently if you serve them to your husband, he'll love you forever. (I wasn't sure if they were referring to staying power, or ever-lasting fidelity).

I agree that the market is fantastic. The only thing that frustrates me slightly is the lack of decent lettuce. It's iceberg (which I loathe) or nothing these days. You used to be able to get all kinds of different salad, from frisee to oakleaf, but the great watery one rules now.

I love those DIY stalls under the railway arches as well. There's one which is run by a couple of women, where you can buy picture pins for 2p each!

I do worry slightly though that the market stalls seem to be slowly disappearing over the years. I have heard that there is a serious problem with intimidation of the stall holders, which might explain it.

[hatboy]

I'm sick of it.. what a dump!












Nah... not really.

[Mr Retro]

I love the hustle and bustle and variety of Brixton Market. I do find the quality of fresh produce in many of the shops and stalls lamentable though.

It took me a while to work out which sell the best. I reckon the places that sell below par produce do the market as a whole no favours.

[rennie]

Ms T... the Portuguese butcher's on Atlantic rd sell a "frizzy" sort of lettuce... it's hard to explain, n i don't know the name of it, but it's light green, bushy n looks delicious. Have you tried it?

[fanta]

I'll never forget the first time I saw those giant snails for sale on one of the stalls

Baby loves them. Those and the live crabs. And the music that all the different stalls belt out.

Aurora Green is right about getting there earlier, if I'm not working on Saturday we'll get there for between 8.00 & 9.00 and easily kill a couple of hours, often much more.

I'm happiest when just wondering round thinking about what to buy and cook, especially after a couple of modest quenchers for inspiration.

Do you realise I managed to get a dozen meaty chicken wings for a mere £1.42 for fuck sake!?

[Ol Nick]

Baby loves them. Those and the live crabs. And the music that all the different stalls belt out.

Did you see the live catfish thrasing about near the Atlantic Rd entrance of Granville^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H Brixton Village? They left my baby open-mouthed. With excitement. Not hunger.

Do you realise I managed to get a dozen meaty chicken wings for a mere £1.42 for fuck sake!?

Hmmm. Do you think they lived a happy life before being taken to Brixton? I don't like encourage people to raise food animals in batteries for the sake of saving a few pounds.

[hatboy]

"Hmmm. Do you think they lived a happy life before being taken to Brixton? I don't like encourage people to raise food animals in batteries for the sake of saving a few pounds."

And cue an argument on morality, markets and chickens.

[Ms T]

Ms T... the Portuguese butcher's on Atlantic rd sell a "frizzy" sort of lettuce... it's hard to explain, n i don't know the name of it, but it's light green, bushy n looks delicious. Have you tried it?

I have indeed. I think it's a variety called batavia.

I am a complete lettuce freak! But the other day I couldn't get to either of the Atlantic Rd delis because of the bomb scare, so went in search of salad on Electric Avenue. I could only find iceberg because, "we can't sell anything else". In fact the old boy who served me said it was getting harder to sell anything apart from onions, cabbages, carrots and potatoes. I have to say I find that hard to believe. Brixton market is the only place in this country I've seen jackfruit, cassava and jamaican oranges.

[fanta]

I know what you mean Ol Nick and agree it is always better to buy free range, more for the superior taste than just to alleviate animal suffering (just my opinion) or save afew quid. Anyway, I doubt the catfish, snails & crabs) are living a happy life on death row waiting to be sold.

I still think it is great.

[Ms T]

Hmmm. Do you think they lived a happy life before being taken to Brixton? I don't like encourage people to raise food animals in batteries for the sake of saving a few pounds.

I have to admit I don't really buy meat on the market (although the Colombian butcher in Granville has been highly recommended by Mrs M). It just doesn't look like it's up to much, and often stinks to high heaven. Thanks to the lovely Mrs M I am now a regular customer of Phillips on Loughborough Rd. His lamb is utterly divine.

[miss minnie]

when my flatmate moved in with me it was his first time in brixton. he was rather reluctant to get involved with the weekly shopping, thinking it was such a chore.

i've dragged him up the market and made it as easy as possible - long leisurely lunch at the columbian cafe in granville arcade or pizza at ecco, bit of shopping, pint at the dogstar, amble around do a bit more shopping. now he absolutely loves it and looks forward to the weekly 'chore'.

a couple of weeks ago we counted the nationalities of the shops and stalls we'd visited and we'd been on a mini world tour. my favourite bit that day was buying some glasses at a shop at the back of granville - carribean lady, possibly jamaican, told us not to bring them back broken, only bring them back if they have cocktails in them. she was so lovely and friendly that i'm actually tempted to take her up on that one day!

[lang rabbie]

Several of the veg stalls do seem to have been going downhill on their non-caribbean selection - can't believe that large numbers of Brixtonians are traipsing back from Borough Market on the 133 with their rainbow chard, so where are foodie folks buying their veg instead - Sainsbury's Local ???

Or is just that the wholesalers at Covent Garden are selling their best stuff to the Supermarket buyers?

I'd happily buy vast quantities of purple sprouting broccoli, if it was fresh!
Think the lack of lettuces is seasonal - wherever you go, it will be the same flavourless stuff grown by "plasticultura" (sp.) in southern Spain at this time of year. Usually tastes the same as the poly-tunnel it has been grown under.

[jjf]

I'll never forget the first time I saw those giant snails for sale on one of the stalls.

Yeah, they're freaky. But I haven't seen them for months. Are the snails a seasonal thing? Or has health&safety gotten tough on the sale of live animals?

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I'll never forget the first time I saw those giant snails for sale on one of the stalls.

They sell them in Brixton?

[Ms T]

Yeah, they're freaky. But I haven't seen them for months. Are the snails a seasonal thing? Or has health&safety gotten tough on the sale of live animals?

They're still there if you know where to look! I saw some just the other day (but can't remember exactly where).


"Several of the veg stalls do seem to have been going downhill on their non-caribbean selection - can't believe that large numbers of Brixtonians are traipsing back from Borough Market on the 133 with their rainbow chard, so where are foodie folks buying their veg instead - Sainsbury's Local ???"

It's really frustrating that we have this huge market and you can't get much in the way of out of the ordinary veg. The perception is that Brixton types just won't buy purple-sprouting, jerusalem artichokes, swiss chard and the like. I used to go to Borough quite regularly, but it's just so darn busy now (and expensive), that I can't be bothered. I've turned to a local organic company, Abel and Cole, who deliver a box of fresh, seasonal veg every week. Today I got (among other things) mango, avocados and butternut squash. You're right about the seasonal thing though. One of the best things about the veg delivery (apart from the excitement of not knowing what you're going to get) is the newsletter they send you. Today I learned that we are in the middle of the "growing gap", when there's not much locally produced stuff around.

[lang rabbie]

[BUMP]

Q1 Any views on which stall might have the best range of fresh salad veg for a buffet to feed large numbers?

Q2 Any experience of a stallholder/other local greengrocer willing to fulfil a special order for decadent "bourgeois" veg of the sort needed for Nigel Slater style recipes?

[Retreats rapidly expecting rotten greens to be thrown at this attempt to gentrify the market]

[Mrs Magpie]

Well the stallholders tend to get what's left over after the supermarkets get their pick...I have often heard them moaning that supermarkets are affecting what the small shopkeeper or stallholder can get hold of wholesale.......