I’ve been to Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne CBD for about 3 or 4 times. I can’t remember how many times exactly but I love going there. The fresh fruit stalls, the organic produce, the deli shops, and the outdoor souvenir and dry goods market makes you want to spend a whole day there.
Compared to Footscray Market, Queen Victoria Market is more accessible as it is situated in the CBD, so you can easily catch a tram or train to get there. You can easily catch the tram on Elizabeth St. from Flinders Station to get there.
It’s also nice that Queen Victoria Market has an organic produce section that allows you buy anything from the basic herbs such as basil to whole wheat flour. And if you know what produce are in season, you will easily find a good range of them being sold in the organic section at a competitive price. For one, I bought an organic rock melon for $4 apiece when non-organic melons are sold at $3 each.
The variety of deli shops is also mesmerizing. By mesmerizing I mean I’ve seen cheese being sold whose name I can’t even pronounce, and the cuts of preserved meat hanging on the stall windows, I don’t think I’ve encountered most of them. And then there are stalls that offer fresh baked bread, hand-made butter, and the now infamous borek. Fresh butter, how can anyone pass that up?
Fruits too can go for a real bargain with pomegranate sold for $2 apiece, strawberries for $3 for 2 large punnets, and figs for $6 a punnet. The supply and demand can be different on days so you really have to go and see what bargains you can take advantage of.
Basically, what you need is in Queen Victoria Market. However, if you want to easily buy chili leaves, green mangoes, plantains, and other goods that you would usually find in an Asian market, then I highly suggest that you go to Footscray market. Oh, the treasures I find there are truly one of a kind.
For now, here are some items I grabbed during my grocery shopping.
Different shades of red. Roses $6 for two bouquets, Truss tomatoes at $1.99/kg, and Strawberries at a bargain for $3 for two large punnets
All organic produce. Potatoes at $2.95/kg, Lettuce at $2.95 apiece, Red Onions at $3.99/kg, and Basil at $2.95 each
All organic fruits. Golden Nectarines at $5.99/kg, Seedless Grapes at $3.99/kg, Rockmelon $4 apiece, and Bananas at $2.50/kg
Non-organic but still fabulous produce. Figs at $6 per punnet, Coriander at $2 per bundle, Avocado is $3 per piece, Lemongrass is 60 cents, and Broccoli Leaves is $2 per bundle.
Seafood fare! Ahoy mates! Prawns at $15/kg, Barramundi at $10.50/kg, and Live Mussels at $6/kg. Also Garlic at $1.50, Butter is $2.10 for $10 per kg, $3 Grated Parmesan, and Lemongrass at 60 cents apiece.
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