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Wednesday, February 05, 2014

Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market

Blueberries at Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market

Blue skies, warm sunshine and a bounty of food. No wonder Sydneysiders take to their local farmers market in droves. Frenchs Forest Organic Food Markets is one of the biggest markets in Sydney. It's also one of the first, starting in June 1995.

Shoppers at Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market
Frenchs Forest Market

The markets are a popular day out for couples and families alike. There are kids underfoot, the smell of sizzling bacon in the air, and plenty of smiles on the faces of friendly stallholders. Dog owners should note that pooches aren't permitted here.

Dandelion, basil and parsley herbs at Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market
Organic herbs

The markets offer an eclectic mix of fruit and vegetables, preserves, fresh meat, cheeses, baked goods, candles, hats, tupperware and more. Not everything is organic here, but keep an eye out for yellow signs that indicate whether a stall sells organic or conventionally farmed produce.

We spent a good hour wandering the grounds, marvelling at the giant punnets of blueberries for $25, trying activated pecans (super crunchy) and getting our hands on a bacon and egg roll or two.

Bacon on the grill at Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market
Sizzling bacon on the grill

Brooklyn Boy Bagels at Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market
Brooklyn Boy Bagels

You'll also find Brooklyn Boy Bagels at the market, hand-rolled boiled bagels by ex-New Yorker and sometime food blogger Michael Shafran.

Brooklyn Boy Bagels at Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market
Everything bagels from Brooklyn Boy Bagels

I tried the everything bagel ($4), crusted with a thick layer of sesame seeds, poppy seeds, onion, garlic, caraway and salt. There's a good hit of garlic and the bagels have a decent chew. They do an interesting mix of whipped cream cheeses too, including maple syrup as well as a black sesame cream cheese on the day we visited. "It's for Chinese New Year," Michael said. An additional $3 for cream cheese is a little on the steep side, but there's no doubting the amount of love and pride in the product here.

Michael Shafran of Brooklyn Boy Bagels at Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market
Michael Shafran, the creator behind Brooklyn Boy Bagels

Of all our purchases that day, I'm most looking forward to breaking open the sachet of dried stevia leaves that can be used in place of sugar. It's 30 times as sweet as sugar, and looks much more intriguing than the white stevia powder you find in the supermarket.

Here's a selection of pics from our day at the markets:

Australian garlic and garlic at Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market
Australian garlic and garlic flowers

Sourdough multigrain breads at Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market
Multigrain wheat sourdough

Pasta sauce and choko pickles at Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market
Pasta sauce and choko pickles

Nectarines, plums and passionfruit at Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market
Nectarines, plums, passionfruit and tomatoes

Making okonomiyaki at Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market
Japanese okonomiyaki pancakes

Organic fruits and vegetables at Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market
Organic fruit and vegetable stall

Italian and French cheeses at Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market
Italian and French cheeses

Comte cheese wheel at Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market
Comte cheese

Portobello mushrooms at Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market
Portobello mushrooms

Dick Plumb's cornish pasties at Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market
Dick Plumb's cornish pasties

Prickly pears at Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market
Prickly pears

Cultured Jersey butter at Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market
Cultured Jersey butter

Organic radishes at Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market
Chemical-free radishes

Activated walnuts and pecans at Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market
Activated walnuts and pecans

Free Range Butcher sausages, chicken and duck at Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market
Pasture-fed beef sausages and free range chicken and duck from the Free Range Butcher

Pastured fed butterfly lamb legs and rump steak at Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market
Pasture-fed butterfly lamb legs and rump steak from the Free Range Butcher

Scented candles at Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market
Scented candles

Superfood smoothies with maca, lucuma and chlorella at Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market
Superfood smoothies

Certified organic fruit and vegetables at Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market\
Certified organic fruit and vegetables

Dosa Delight roti and crepes at Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market
Dosa Delight stall

Indian dosai from Dosa Delight at Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market
Vegetable dosai from the Dosa Delight stall

Passionfruit and tomatoes at Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market
Tomatoes and passionfruit


View Larger Map

Frenchs Forest Organic Food Market
35 Frenchs Forest Road East, Frenchs Forest, Sydney
Tel: +61 (02) 9999 2226

Opening hours:
Every Sunday 8am-1pm


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Every Saturday - Kings Cross Organic Market
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Every Wednesday and Saturday - Entertainment Quarter Village Market
Every 2nd and 4th Saturday - Castle Hill Farmers and Fine Food Market
Every 3rd Saturday - Northside Produce Market, North Sydney
First Saturday and Sunday of the month - Grounds of Alexandria
24 comments - Add some comment love

posted by Helen (Grab Your Fork) on 2/05/2014 10:56:00 pm


24 Comments:

  • At 2/05/2014 11:44 pm, Anonymous chocolatesuze said…

    i want those blueberries!

     
  • At 2/05/2014 11:58 pm, Anonymous Padaek said…

    I love farmers markets/food markets and this one looks a delight. I've never been to it before but am now keen to check it out, and looks well worth the drive. I'm confident I'll be entertained and inspired for hours. Thanks! :)

     
  • At 2/06/2014 12:02 am, Blogger Sherrie @ Crystal Noir said…

    This market looks amazing! No doubt if I went, I'd probably end up spending too much money on the great produce ^^"

     
  • At 2/06/2014 5:27 am, Anonymous Hannah said…

    Sunshine! *whimper* It is almost opaque outside my window at work. So Much Snow So Much Snow Flying Everywhere

     
  • At 2/06/2014 9:07 am, Anonymous Tina@foodboozeshoes said…

    The food offerings look fabulous - especially the blueberries, bagels :) and dosa!

     
  • At 2/06/2014 12:19 pm, Blogger Pearls of Style said…

    Oooo those bagels look fantastic, and I bet there are from a New York local! I must check it out.

    Krissie x - http://pearlsofstyle.blogspot.com.au/

     
  • At 2/06/2014 1:25 pm, Blogger Ramen Raff said…

    Wow! Them cheese!!! So much awesome looking produce. I wonder if activated walnuts are better than activated almonds. Either way their activated right? :P

     
  • At 2/06/2014 1:32 pm, Blogger Angie Lives to Eat (and Cook)! said…

    Blueberries!! $25 a punnet! And I love that you can get dosa at this market. Looks like it's worth a trip across the bridge ;)

     
  • At 2/06/2014 5:41 pm, Blogger Mel said…

    I love farmers markets and I've been wanting to go here for AGES...I had no idea it was so big...and the lure of an onion bagel is probably enough to finally get me there.

     
  • At 2/06/2014 9:43 pm, Anonymous Cindy (a foodie's joy) said…

    I have always wanted to visit this farmers market but due to my Sunday morning commitments, I just can't get there. Sigh! I want them blueberries!!! And the Comte cheese is calling me! :)

     
  • At 2/06/2014 9:52 pm, Blogger Helen (Grab Your Fork) said…

    Hi Ramen Raff - They had both for sale :) They are so much crunchier than normal nuts, I find.

    Hi Angie - It's a giant punnet - more like a carton really! Check the pic at the top of the post!

    Hi Cindy - Hope you get there one day :)

     
  • At 2/06/2014 11:04 pm, Anonymous My Kitchen Stories said…

    I still havent been to this market. your pictures of it make it seem like I better hightail it there soon

     
  • At 2/06/2014 11:26 pm, Blogger Annie said…

    it's amazing what you can find. would love to check this out but so far to get to especially from south west sydney. hopefully one day

     
  • At 2/06/2014 11:31 pm, Blogger Unknown said…

    I love your posts Helen. It's a great reminder to me that I've gotta get out of my kitchen and into that amazing food scene...More!

    I want one of everything, but if I really must choose then I'm in a Dosa kinda mood :)

     
  • At 2/07/2014 12:26 am, Blogger Unknown said…

    Your photos are heaven! It’s nice to see some organic markets around Sydney. I particularly like the multigrain wheat sourdough. I’m a sucker for good pastries; they look great. I’m sure you had a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to your other gourmet adventures this year!

    Austin Black

     
  • At 2/07/2014 3:58 pm, Anonymous Daisy@Nevertoosweet said…

    This market has everything I love!!! OMG It's amazing! :) With Brooklyn Boy Bagels, prickly pears, blueberries and everything else! Hope to make it there next time I'm in Sydney!

     
  • At 2/07/2014 6:04 pm, Blogger Sarah said…

    Wow, that market looks awesome! Those blueberries, and that cheese!

    How did you go with the stevia? I have, um, major digestion issues with it and I wonder if it's just me or everybody? Lol.

    xox Sarah

     
  • At 2/08/2014 10:25 am, Blogger Unknown said…

    What a huge market, there really is something for everyone, I love the look of the cheese and the food cooking yum!!! So hungry!
    Gourmet Getaways

     
  • At 2/08/2014 3:00 pm, Anonymous Iron Chef Shellie said…

    Oh how i love a good market!!

    Never seen prickly pears for sale, glad they take all the spiky bits off!

     
  • At 2/08/2014 4:08 pm, Anonymous Chris @ MAB vs Food said…

    I love food markets! This one looks like another one I need to check out. Everything looks amazing

     
  • At 2/12/2014 7:49 am, Anonymous Gareth said…

    Thanks for sharing this Helen, didn't know too much about this market. You had me sold as soon as I saw the NSW's Cornish Association seal of approval on those pasties (which do look the proper job). I've had to make my own to date.

    Great range and scented candles, just what ever organic market needs, but was there a stand selling carved wooden mushroom ornaments?

     
  • At 2/13/2014 2:20 pm, Anonymous Amanda @ Gourmanda said…

    You know I always mean to go (I'm only twenty minutes away!), but I never seem to make it! I MUST MUST MUST try to make it in the next few months.

     
  • At 2/25/2014 1:46 am, Anonymous Sara | Belly Rumbles said…

    Going to have to visit soon.

    Garlic flowers!!! I want garlic flowers.

     
  • At 3/06/2014 12:55 pm, Anonymous Livia Chamelle said…

    Your post made me super homesick! I grew up around there and used to go to those markets all the time in the early 2000s. Did you know it used to be a dedicated flea market since the 60s or 70s, and before that it used to be a drive in theatre in the 50s and 60s? and it closed down for a while around the early 1990s before it re-opened as a food market. I did extensive research for my book Between Beach and Bush, published in 2000. I'm amazed at how far the markets have come in terms of both quality and quantity of food. Thanks for taking me down memory lane... Livia.

     

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