Springtime

A couple of weeks ago the city was dressed up in this gorgeous lilac haze of the many Jacaranda blossoming trees; just magical. Everywhere in the city the lilac glow stood out against the coloured houses and historic buildings in natural stone.
Now we walk on a thick carpet of the fallen flowers to our favourite neighbourhood pub, the Fitzroy just around the corner. The Fitzroy has almost a European feel to it, with a mix of locals, travellers from Kings Cross and theatre visitors.
A Malaysian family presides over the kitchen and turns out huge bowls of delicious Laksa. We've been taking our visitors here and they enjoyed the place as much as we do.
Downstairs there is a little theatre with great shows. I saw a beautiful intense solo play here, 'seven kilometres north-east' by Kym Vercoe.

Sitting at the terrace listening to the live music enjoying a cold beer we're ready for the summer to start!

Exploring the Sydney Markets

We arrived just in time to enjoy the Sydney Crave Food Festival. There are many events you can sign up for and take part in like 'brekkie on the Harbour Bridge', Hands on workshops with master chefs, an evening with René Redzepi (of Noma, Copenhagen) at the Opera House, the Night Noodle market and lots more.

I sign up for the guided tour at the Sydney Markets with 'Bird Cow Fish' chef Alex Herbert. It is a huge fresh produce market – over 42 hectares - on the outskirts of Sydney. I arrived a little early to be able to grab a cup of coffee before we meet the chef at 6.30am at one of the gates. And of we go, first to the shed where the producers sell their produce.

There are some beautiful characters amongst them. It's amazing how these producers do it all; most of them have been at the market from mid night on to set up and sell to the big clients. Only after 6am the market opens to the restaurant chefs and general public. After nine they hurry back to and take care of their farms. I have no idea when they sleep.

Alex introduces us to her favorite producers and it is very interesting to hear all sorts of information from them. Like the chill winds that we felt in the city have a big impact on the cherries. There are hardly any that made it to the market and the ones that made it are crazy expensive.

We get to taste, smell and try all different fruit, veggies and herbs, some of which I have never seen before. Alex gives us tips how to prep and serve them. We carefully cross the lane between the sheds that serves as a high way of speeding fork lifters. Here are the agents with mostly fruit. It's obvisiously mango time, we see walls of different varieties. We taste a wide variety of heirloom tomatoes, it's amazing how different they are in feel, bite and taste, just delicious.

Inspired and with a green bag full of healthy goodies I take the train back to the city. Definitely a place to go back to and explore some more. We didn't even make it to the huge shed filled with only bananas!