Today I spent like, a hundred bucks on food! I don't ever think there's anything wrong with spending money on good food, its always worth it (except for that five dollar bratwurst, but we'll get to that later).
This morning, I got up early and went to the Pyrmont Markets. They happen every first saturday of the month. My friend Kat went last month and came back rhapsodizing about duck sausages and creme fraiche and other things. I thought they would have other stuff too but when I got there this morning it was All Just Food. It was like, a dream come true. (And so totally worth it, because I don't get up at 7 on Saturday mornings just for nothing!)
I took a cab this morning as I didn't want to walk in the cold or have to figure out the bus switch. Despite the fact that Pyrmont is technically the next suburb down, there are no direct buses from where I live down to Star City Casino, which is next to the park/wharf where the market is. When I got there I met up with Kat and Caleb, who has grown and is the sweetest little thing. He can say "Sa-cha" now, (the name of his day care lady) and he makes sungit, gulat and smiley faces. He also makes the cutest attempts to jump, but he can never make it off the ground.
The first thing I did was buy ice cream sandwiches, at 6 for 25 dollars. We left them at the stall, which is run by one of Kat's high school friends, while we wandered around. I next purchased a ten dollar pack of duck sausages in apple and thyme. I also excitedly found Mirin. As I said to Kat's friend Nick, who does Physics at uni and knows Derek and Luke but not Sacha, (we were actually even at the same party last week without knowing) "I have no idea what it is, but the recipe says it needs it, so I got it!". I have been looking for Mirin for ages because I have been meaning to try out this recipe for Korean Barbecued Lamb, so now I can finally make it, yay! (I really need a new camera so I can take pics of food, mine is soooo busted)
Next we found the stall for Creme Fraiche. I was thinking of not getting any because we still have a tiny tub of it at home - I've been saving it for my famous beef stroganoff, I also put a tiny bit in my pasta, i highly recommend it, it makes even instant pack pasta taste yummy. One bite of it on a tiny piece of bread was just heavenly, so I grabbed a tub for five bucks, and am planning to cook Sacha and me dinner tonight.
After this I wisely decided to look around first and then buy later. I found a stall with exotic mushrooms - the kind that look like anemone and coral - and porscino mushrooms, which was what I should have put in my risotto. Since I've still got risotto leftover, I decided not to get porscino - maybe next time! I also found this cake stall with gluten free cakes, tried several different cheeses in different stalls, found a tart stall and all these other things!
In the end I bought chicken, caper and olive ravioli after tasting it - they had cooked it and left it to simmer a little so that it was almost fried, it was excellent - a pack of exotic mushrooms, feta cheese, and cherry tomatoes for cooking. The vegetables all looked so good I was tempted to buy them, but hello, they will all wilt and die before I get to use them all. I also must have annoyed the tart seller because I changed my mind three times before getting a brownie, a berry cheesecake and an apple and almond crumble for Sacha. I also found this stall with a giant brownie in pie form, which I will also buy someday, but not now!
Kat also discovered a stall that sold bacon. REAL BACON. As in the fattening filo/american kind that crumples up when you cook it. Do you know how long its been since I've had _real_ bacon? (All of you at home count your blessings because its so bloody hard to find here! :P) So of course I bought a pack. Its called "Streaky Bacon" here. She also negotiated with the venison sellers to have specially smoked venison at the next market to make "Tapang Usa" (or rather, she's going to buy some for her mum to figure it out!). I am looking forward to tasting that and have told her I am coming over to have some!
The only thing I regret buying is the bratwurst. I always get bratwurst when we go to fairs or markets, they are the only sausages I like - i don't eat sausages at aussie barbies - and I have them with onions, ketchup and mustard. Today I paid five bucks for a skinny bratwurst. I mean, bratwursts are supposed to be fat. Like really thick and juicy and round, not like skinny hotdogs. He also put it in a bread bun that was pre-lined with rocket, of all things, I hate rocket with a passion, (more than I hate toge even. wait, i can't decide!) and covered it with some sort of chutney. Now in fairness it was good, but for five bucks, that was truly the only thing that was so not worth it.
After spending too much money, seeing as we had to go back to the atms at Star City to get more, I decided it was time to go. I took the wrong tram and had to get off and switch, though it was very quick, and then took the bus home. I was planning to clean my room and the lounge room but Pat is having friends over tonight (plus there's one still asleep downstairs) so I think I'll wait till tomorrow. In the meantime I'm cleaning my room and possibly studying at a cafe or at my desk if I can get it clear!
I've already eaten two of those yummy ice cream sandwiches. Next time I'm just going to get the basic ones, like vanilla ice cream with chocolate cookies. The expresso flavor was good, but I like 'em basic. Tonight, its beef stroganoff for dinner. (and then off to Salsa ?!?) Mmmmm.
Now I'm off to meet Sacha and Derek for coffee before I come back, clean my room and sort out my studies. Go Me!
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