[Aussie Keith]

The final installment covers the tour of the Queen Victoria Markets, a Melbourne institution since 1875. This is the place restauranteurs, grocers and those who care about their food come to do their shopping. On the first pass all the stores look similar. However we took the foodies tour where the differences between the stalls and some of the behind the scenes operations were explained.



We learned the stalls in the food hall and meat hall are indeed quite specialised, catering to specific needs. Otherwise how would the meat and fish traders for example survive side by side as they have done for decades. Some specialise in different cuts, specialised provenance, organic only, game, specific ethnic needs, offal and so on. Most cater to the restaurants and so prepare meat in portioned sizes in restaurant cuts which you can buy and cheaper by far than at Coles or Woolies.







Same deal with the fishmongers whose networks of suppliers allow them to offer the sorts of things you might otherwise have to search hard for and right off the boat as well.







Fruit and veg is also interesting with variants available not seen in supermarkets. A wide range of produce is available including tomatoes that taste like tomatoes, all fresh and often not seen in supermarkets.





Amongst the deli stands was a range of specialisations in helenic food, cheese, fresh butter, olives, spices, processed meats and so on. I bought a tin of smoked paprika at about one third the price I would have paid here in Brisbane for example so prices are pretty keen. The stall owners are really on top of their products and take great care with the presentation of them Check out the tower of anchovies in the last pic.









So Vic markets, there's more to it than meets (or is that meats) the eye and well worth the time invested.

About the QVM: Queen Victoria Market

[Dazzler]

Thanks for the pictures and commentary Keith.. All a bit frustrating though unless you are in self catering accommodation! 

[FatBoy]

Thanks Keith.  Great photos and great commentary.

We used to love QVM when we lived in Melbourne, we used to buy all of our fruit and veg from there.  Did you see all of the other "stuff" out the back as well, and did you try either the Hot Jam Donuts (a very big queue normally) or the Churros?

[Alasama]

Thanks for these photos, I've bookmarked it for there're many vocabularies I need to learn.   

[tla]

Haven't been to the QVM for quite a long time.   Must drop by to grab some of those lamb tongues and brains in photo 4.  Yum Yum.

[Aussie Keith]

Apparently there's everything you need in that window to make haggis.

[tla]

Apparently there's everything you need in that window to make haggis.

I just looked up the ingredients of haggis.     Sometimes ignorance is bliss.

[Phil №❶]

 

Not for me either. 

[rustynutz]

Great photos, Keith...but you lost me with the offal display..... 

[Aussie Keith]

Yes, it was... offal. 

[kittikat]

Thanks for all the great photos Keith. 
 
We went to Warrnambool for the weekend late last year.  My photos are nowhere near as good as yours.   

[The Gonz]

... or the Churros?

No, Jamie, just plain no. Any club members who drop in on our place will have their understanding corrected. I'll personally make you the real deal.

[Just Rick]

Changed a bit from the days I used to go there,but now I'm friggin hungry,Thanks 

[FatBoy]

... or the Churros?

No, Jamie, just plain no. Any club members who drop in on our place will have their understanding corrected. I'll personally make you the real deal.

You're on, Gonz. They'll have to live up to the ones I had in Ferrol, though.

[FatBoy]

I do believe that the churros at the QVM are the genuine ones, made by some little Asian guy.

[Phil №❶]

With a Spanish accent. 

[The Gonz]

... or the Churros?

No, Jamie, just plain no. Any club members who drop in on our place will have their understanding corrected. I'll personally make you the real deal.

You're on, Gonz. They'll have to live up to the ones I had in Ferrol, though.

No ferrolano can compete with mine, and many churros in Cordoba, Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia have given their all to substantiate my claim. We also have stock of the real chocolate to supplement its authenticity.

[Phil №❶]

Fatboy arranges his 1st stopover, on the way to Broome. 

[Lakes]

Hi Kieth, thanks for the great pic's, was hopping to see the great ocean road, not interested in looking at food 
cheers