Red Hill Community Market (Vic)

Now you are probably thinking that this does not look like a typical Melbourne cafe. If you are thinking along those lines that  is good. This post is more of an adventure piece. The Chommery and Co. rugged up, filled the ol’ truck with juice and set off for a one hour drive south of Melbourne’s CBD.

The destination was the Red Hill Market, operating on the first Saturday of every month from September through to May (refer to website for more details). Driving for two hours (return trip) on a Saturday is no small task, but I have been here many times and knew that it was well worth it. This market prides itself on hosting over 300 stallholders and is the self titled ‘Great Dame’ of Victoria’s markets. Established in 1975 this beauty seems to only get better each time I have visited over the years.

There is an array of fresh fruits and vegetables available at the market from the surrounding farms including locally produced cheese, bread, wine and dessert. The entire arts and crafts game is not really my scene, nevertheless there is plenty of it at this bad boy. I set forth on the first day of trading in September for one purpose – to eat! We slowly made our way around the stalls, eating as we went. I would describe it as a strolling degustation. One that I would strongly recommend to any foodie. Note: the Delgrosso’s apple juice above is liquid gold!

I have a rich history of scouting in my blood. My two brothers and I are all proud to say that we were once scouts, while my youngest sibling is currently a pack leader – making the family proud. Not to go too far off track, it is an organisation that I hold much respect for and my way of supporting the cause includes visiting their tent at the market. Not to mention, their scones totally rock!

Scones with jam and cream. Rarely would you order scones from a cafe or a restaurant so this was a real treat. They’re handmade by the Red Hill scout group in old barreled drums. You can’t beat home-made, fresh out of the oven scones. And $5.00 for 4 halves – you can’t go wrong.

These are famous caneles. These little gems may not look overly appealing but ask for a tester and you won’t be able to resist buying a few for the drive home. You are not going crazy if you think you have seen this treat before. The company Canele de Bordeaux supply these to many of your favourite Melbourne cafes but for some reason they taste so much better here!

I am sure you can tell this eating frenzy has no rules. Desserts can arrive before mains, and entrees at the end – it doesn’t really matter. An oven full of freshly baked sausage rolls and assorted meat pies is a hard one to miss.

The query was posed before eating this little beauty whether we should add some good ol’ tomato sauce. Let it be known that it was perfectly delicious on its own. This pie was the s#@*! It had generous chunks of lamb and was cooked in amazing rosemary juices. Dare I say – Better than four’n twenty.

Watching this gentleman prepare these Japanese delicacies is truly mesmerizing. You’ll stand and watch perplexed after placing your order for these small Japanese pancakes. Savoury and sweet varieties are available. Just a heads up, be prepared for a small wait – these take time to put the love and care into each one – but well worth it.

We had three different ones in total. Firstly, the chocolate with chocolate cream inside (Top left). Followed by tuna with cheese (bottom right) and lastly the green tea with red bean and cream (bottom left). These are served hot and squishy. The green tea was my pick of the day – save the best ’til last.

Poffertjes! YUMMMMMO! Who could say no to tiny pancakes! It’s like getting that precious part of the muffin in a mouthful, but of pancakes instead. Dusted with icing sugar and drizzled with maple syrup – here’s breakfast. If you ever make a smart move in your eating career you will take it upon yourself to chom a plate of these.

What’s Australia, and Melbourne, without a touch of cultural difference? So we threw in some gyoza, which were very delicious. $10.00 for a serve of 6. We had three chicken + shitake and three pork and shallot. Couldn’t for the life of me tell the difference, but they were great. As good as you would expect in a Melbourne bistro.

Had to save the best for last. The Flying Calamari Bros are a more recent stall to arrive at the market for me. I never saw this when I was a youngen. But I really feel that now I need to make up for some serious lost time. This store contains only one feature in their product line – a cone of calamari @ $12.50.

Worth every single penny. Wow. Just get them. And add the sweet chilli mayo. The calamari pieces are soft and only lightly battered. None of that rubbery crap which seems to plague many restaurants. These are truly heavenly and my market dish of choice.

Take it from me (or don’t – it doesn’t really matter) but this truly is a tremendous market if you are into your food. The stalls open at 8:00am sharp and close  very promptly and efficiently at 1:00pm. The Chommery approved suggestion is to arrive somewhere between 10 and 11am and try to give yourself a relaxing two hour wander from stall to stall. Have a loose $4.00 in change for the local Red Hill Lions Club parking service.

Enough from me – once again I leave it in your capable hands.
Maybe I will catch you at the next market.
Bye for now.