Jan Power’s Farmers Markets Review

For good, for bad, but for each Wednesday for the last two weeks Jan Power’s Farmers Markets have operated from Trevor Raddacliff’s space at the top of the Queen Street Mall opposite the Treasury Casino.

The Milano it is not. And to be fair, nor is it meant to be.  Legendary restaurants like Milano have in one generation turned themselves into Merlo’s coffee and pre-prepared sandwiches (incidentally with a much improved range since corporate changes at the Merlo kitchen’s headquarters).  Whether City markets is an over correction or natural progression remains to be seen.

For some time Jan Power has run successful markets in Brisbane.  On the second and fourth Saturdays of each month the caravans stop at the Powerhouse at New Farm.  On the first Sunday they are at Mitchelton.  Many lawyers are seen at the Powerhouse markets in a variety of states of culinary stimulation and sartorial presentation.  My observation of the first two of the City markets is that there are a lot of lawyers looking and quite a bit of buying going on but the jury is still out.  The lawyers are better dressed at least.

The “All About Meats” man told me that things are looking promising.  He does not sell the 2.7 tonnes of meat per day as he does at the Powerhouse but people by the second market were bringing cooler bags and seemed more prepared.  He sells mainly export quality Teys Bros meat and for instance eye fillet was $19.50 a kilo with (for the younger members of the Bar) mince at approx $7.50 a kilo.  Despite a few judges perusing the comestibles I looked hard onto the courtyard on the top of the courts’ building (The McPherson smoking quadrangle as it was previously known) but did not see any BBQ action last Wednesday.  I will keep you informed.

There is a reasonable variety of fresh fruit and veggies, one purveyor of fresh seafood (picked sandcrab $18.50 for 250 grams — would feed 1 barrister and 1 instructing solicitor) and a wide array of pre-packaged meals, particularly pasta and other Italian delights.  There were at least three stalls selling sausages in bread including big German sausages ($6.00), a beef person and lamb ($4 each).  There were multiple breads, olives, Margaret River ham, organic beef, lamb, macadamia nut products and some petite capsicums.  There was Swiss cheese, stinky cheese, Italian cheese and cheese-covered pizza.  There were heritage tomatoes, homemade semolina pasta, zesty herbs and Mr Curly bananas.  There was a man there sharpening knives.

The Dello Manno chocolate brownies (which are complimentary in the mini bar at Limes Hotel in the Valley — any available rooms $99.00 after midnight) and the air blown unsugared corn perhaps are the alpha and the omega of the culinary array.

The girls of Fullager Chambers (and one member who looked like he knew) said the popcorn and the brownies were the highlights.

While asking Ms Power for a list of the participants she said that the feedback had been positive notwithstanding that the weather was very hot the first week and wet and windy the second week. The prospect of winter weather is much anticipated.

Ms Power said the surrounding businesses were reporting an upswing in sales and it seemed like a win/win so far.

I suspect that the flower sellers and the pate/pie and filo people (Fresh Chefs) will be a big success if they make an appearance.

Even without a decent bottle of claret to be found and a substantial do-it-yourself ethos involved I suspect that “Dobbin” would have been able to eke out a modest repast of bread and cheese and olives and gossip with perhaps one thick sausage to hold it down.

A welcome addition/substitution for the legal precinct eating scene.

Michael Liddy