Food is one of the things that I love. It is truly interesting how much joy it can bring, how creative you can get with it, and how each spoonful can be quite simple or complex, and both fantastic. Cooking, baking, and doing the grocery – I can just get lost doing them for hours on end.
So one day, I decided to go on an adventure and go to Footscray Market. It was just wonderful. Shopping for fresh produce, discovering new ingredients, and finding such great bargains, all of it just makes the trip more appealing.
Footscray Market is smaller compared to Queen Victoria’s Market, but it is packed with a great array of produce. You will find a lot of Asian greens, spices, and other items here.
Shopping in markets can be far cheaper than heading out to the nearest grocery store. It gives you a better idea of what fruits or vegetables are in season and gives you a far better range when it comes to variety. Also, you can get some real bargains, especially when you are keen on getting your money’s worth. For less than $80, I was able to haul all these goodies home from my trip to Footscray Market.

Strawberries $1/punnet, Cherries $8.00/kg, Watermelon ₵79/kg, Seedless Grapes $2.99/kg, and a Melon priced at $2/kg
- Eggplants $1/kg, Squash ₵99, Bittergourd $2.95/kg and Okra is $8.99/kg

Roughly a kilo of Green Mung Beans $1, Chayote $2.99/kg, a bunch of Bittergourd leaves $1.48, and Chili leaves $1.48
A jar of spicy sardines I had found at an Asian grocery was marked at $4.50. I had bought two but was charged only $3. Why? As it turns out, it was $3 for two bottles. See? I told you I was getting some real good bargains. Anyway, moving on.

Mama Sita’s Sinigang sa Bayabas Mix $1.20/pc, Pandan leaves $2, Broccoli ₵99/kg, Carrots $1.49/kg, Coriander $1.00, and Mongo Sprouts or Mung Bean Sprouts for roughly ₵78. I also bought a cucumber for $1 but forgot to take a photo of it.
Vegans need to look away at this post and anyone who is squeamish about seeing a whole fish. If you get upset, it’s not my fault. You have been warned.
Anyway, the only upsetting thing that I had bought at Footscray Market was the frozen mussels. They were somewhat dirty but I didn’t mind. At the time, I had thought that frozen mussels was commonplace. But it was a bad idea, bad. They turned out really rubbery. We couldn’t eat a single one at all.
As for pork, I bought some but I don’t think it is essential to post the pictures. The price at the time for Pork Shoulder was $12/kg and Pork Liver at roughly $5/kg.
So there you have it. More than a week’s worth of fresh meat, fruits and vegetables for less than $100. I hope to venture out into other markets and buy more great items. And by then, I would probably have more time to capture pictures of the place.
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