This market is huge, really huge – and busy.

Intro

The Maastricht treaty is probably what makes this city sound so familiar. But it has more to offer, especially style and good shopping opportunities in a very nice historic setting. The Friday market adds its share to enhance the shopping experience. And it is very large, according to official sources up to 300 stalls. This alone is impressive. I am not sure, but I guess the produce and food section represents more than half of all these stalls, the other ones were more into clothes, textiles, bike spare parts and equipment etc.

What was impressive?

This Friday market exudes a real buzz. Even in the earlier hours people queued at some stalls for their shopping. The vendors are very communicative in many languages (Dutch, English, German & French) to attract their clientele and serve them with high efficiency. The supply never seems to end. All produce, be it fruits, vegetables, meat, fish etc.  are piled and busy hands make sure that those piles never get to small to impress potential buyers.

In the meat and fish section, it seemed that there is a zero waste policy. All parts of the animals were being sold. You will find minor fish cuts to make a fish soup of fish stock. I am not sure what chicken feet are good for, but there certainly will be a recipe somewhere in this city.

The fish stalls are something worth visiting. First there are plenty of them, each with a wide choice. Most of them are clustered at the Northern side of the market making comparisons very easy. Not being familiar enough with fish I would not be able to name them, but it is certainly overwhelming to see the different shapes and colours. It seemed that most come from the North Sea. I even found oysters, which always makes me happy. The further offering consisted also of smoked fish and street food, often seafood in a batter and then fried. I am not sure how one chooses her favourite fish stall, but all looked great.

The meat stalls were selling mainly chicken and some pork as well as convenience food. Chicken was rarely sold as a whole but each butcher seemed to have a big pile of each of the chicken parts: breast, wings, drumsticks, heart, feet, you name it. Next to those chicken specialists who reminded of wholesale business, there were more traditional butchers with a larger variety of animals and often meals for taking home like goulash etc. Lately I seem to suddenly “discover” rabbit on each market, this market not being an exception. The whole rabbit I saw came from France (see picture gallery). The sausage choice was rather limited comparing to what one will encounter in Germany.

When in the Netherlands it is a must to buy some cheese – Gouda is certainly the most known one, still the country has more to offer. Strangely enough, I saw only a few stalls in comparison to the meat & fish ones and they were distributed across the market. One of the characteristics of Dutch cheese is that it is being sold in different maturity groups, from young to very old. The older the cheese the more concentrated is the flavour, the young ones are very mild. I got a few: an old gouda (approx. 18 months, one with cumin, a young cheese and a Limburger (the one with distinct odour). Happiness back home!

The Netherlands are a hub of the global flower trade. Alsmeer is the location of the world’s largest trading centre for flowers and plants. Maastricht market makes a show case out of it. Many stalls offer flowers, bouquets and more in all kinds of colours. Enough to make the right choice for a loved one.

The fruit & vegetable stalls were a plenty as well. They looked like wholesale business going retail. Boxes and boxes full of what the greenhouses, fields and orchards across the planet are able to offer in large quantities. The prices were low, which also explains why so many people were doing their purchases here.

Besides all the produce, many street food stalls serve the market: fish & chips, all kinds of Asian ones, filled donuts and much more. Trying a mixed seafood platter – with batter and fried, accompanied  by a remoulade was rather disappointing. The donut filled with apple was a winner.

By the way: the Maastricht Friday market has been awarded best one in the Netherlands in 2014.

What was less impressive?

Despite the wide choice, especially when it comes to fish, this market offers rather commodities than specialties or gourmet stuff. Being familiar with European markets, there will be no real surprise. To a certain extent it is a huge outdoor supermarket – for feeding people in an affordable manner it is the place to be.

Some of the street food would have deserved a more sophisticated twist, it would make them truly unique. This is especially valid for the fish food.

But the market still fascinates me, my thoughts are coming back to all what I saw. There is some attraction I cannot explain. Probably it is the impressive buzz at the market, it gives me a great incentive to cook more often with truly fresh stuff.

All in all: A market which is attractive because of its sheer size and buzz. The large choice and quantity of fish is remarkable.

A little link list:

• The official site of the city with market information
• A small but nice post with beautiful pictures from the Crème fraîche blog
• More pictures on my photo site

The post The big one – Maastricht Friday market / Netherlands appeared first on Food & Farmers' Markets.

Bright autumn sun. Vivid colors. No need to hurry. A chat over a coffee with a stranger. Watching people doing their purchases at the market. This is the good side of life.

This is what can happen to you at the market on the Place du Marché des Capucins. The market is also known as Marché de Noailles. This square is framed by nice, older apartment buildings and small shops – not yet gentrified. A few trees add shade and colour. Maybe dogs will like them as well.

At one of the cafés overlooking the market I found an empty chair next to a guy. I ordered my coffee and soon we started chatting. He was of Algerian origin like many people around. He explained me a little bit the area and the people living here. A lot of people come from Algeria, Morocco, Senegal and other countries. And the vendors have different backgrounds, amongst them also one Italian, which I did not expect – always nice to get your own cliches challenged. I also learned something about the pecking order amongst the people based on their origin. Everywhere the same story, always somebody else to look down at.

Every couple minutes a friend of his walked by, stopped, shook hands, exchanged a few words. I had the feeling to get to know the whole neighbourhood during two glasses of coffee. Should do this more often.

The market is fully focused on vegetables and fruits. The shops around take care of fish, bread, meat and the other daily needs. The crowd visiting the market seems to come mainly from the neighbourhood, only very few tourists walked by (travel bloggers?).

The stalls have a very lush, colourful presentation of the produce. Together with the light in Marseille it almost gives an impression of a garden of Eden. As the buyers do not belong to the rich crowd, many products are sold at low prices – a 1€ per kilogram sign is to find quite often. In all the talks I had, the weak economy was a topic, explaining the prices at the market quite well. Still there was no bulk selling as such. Only one vendor sold it by the prepared bowl which helps to make fast purchases. Somehow it is like packed goods, just without the plastic.

The shops around the market square were worth a visit as well. They give almost the impression of an indoor market section. The offer of the fishmongers could certainly compete with the one of the fish market at the old port. Beautiful display. The baker where had a distinct Arabic influence in his products. I chose a sesame seed topped flat bread, yummy. So there is no worries to find good food at a budget.

All in all: A great place to relax and enjoy a very interesting mixed crowd without having to spend too many bucks

A little link list:

• The markets of Marseille by marvellous-provence.com
• A feast for the eyes by stay.com

The post Marché des Capucins, Marseille / France appeared first on Food & Farmers' Markets.