A Foodie’s Delight

We just might have saved the best for last in Melbourne....tennis aside.

Cam Smith...cool name for a cool guy....host of the longest running radio food show in Australia.  I’d say we were in expert hands for our private guided food tour this morning.

First stop...Queen Victoria Market where you would expect that Cam knows everyone and everyone knows Cam.  While enjoying an expertly made piccolo latte, Cam describes the market and gives us hints of what he has in store for us.  

This was one of those times when you could taste not only with your palate, but with your eyes as well and definitely with your nose.  The colors were so vibrant and the aromas tantalizing.  

The cheese man had stories behind every cheese.  His suppliers are people who are laborers of love.  One in particular has about 100 goats, knows their names and lovingly cares for them so they produce the milk that becomes the cheese.  He shaved tiny slices of several expensive cheeses so we were able to experience them.  

And butter specialists...who ever heard of a butter specialist?  These smart shoppers come prepared with cooler packs so they can transport their freshly cut wares home in 110 degrees. Reminder - it’s summer in Australia. 

We ate Borek, what I would describe as similar to a calzone with just spinach and cheese.  The bread was simple and delicious.  

Who knew there were so many native Australian fish; so many types of prawns alone?

Cam told us the aisles would be full of shoppers come the weekend.  The market was reminiscent of those we have seen in Italy.  It’s awesome to see that Aussies shop in the same ways of old, visiting the closest thing to the source of their food as they can get.

On to the produce side of the market.  It was so bloody hot that several of the produce people didn’t even come in to work, and those who were there were planning on leaving very soon.  You could tell the vegetables especially were not faring well. They looked limp.

Cam chose a mango for us to taste and the produce man offered to cut it open for him.  Now that was a mango!  So juicy and sweet.

Next on to a bookstore dedicated to food.  The books in one room are arranged by cuisine.  The second room by meal category, ie brunch, salads, entrees, sweets.  They deal in new and second hand books, so often they get calls for books that someone’s mom or aunt had and the caller wants their own copy.  The owner told me they are still doing well despite the influence of the internet.  Cooks and chefs still want the visuals of a cookbook and they aren’t yet sure how to save their recipes.  I tend to read cookbooks like novels so it’s tough to stop myself from buying them.

After the market, on to the tram to explore more shops.  Cam took us to a honey shop with more types of honey than I knew were possible.  We were offered tastes and educated on the pairings of the different with fruit or cheeses or salads...or in cooking....or medicinal remedies.  So yummy!

Passing a tea room and savoring the cakes in the window...again tasting with our eyes!

The beautiful hand etched mirror on the back wall made the journey from England by ship, naturally, wrapped in molasses of all things, installed here over a hundred years ago.  What an awesome feat for the time.

No food tour would be complete without a trip to the ‘heart of Italy’ as Cam referred to Brunetti’s, where we again had coffee, but this time, accompanied by cannoli, of course!

We loved this place so much that Dom & I returned in the afternoon for their pizza which rivaled some of the best we have had in Italy.

Thank you to all of you for coming on this journey with us.  We have had an awesome time, seeing a part of the world totally new to us.  

We wish nothing but the best for the people of Australia as they continue to battle the fires.  Thankfully, our trip was not impacted at all but we know they continue to struggle with this dilemma.  We in Southern California can identify and send our heartfelt wishes for their recovery.