Queen Victoria Markets - Melbourne day one

Last Friday I got up at the crack of dawn, actually a little earlier, for the first flight of the day to Melbourne. Will was going down for work (and to see the tennis) so I took the opportunity to use some well-earned frequent flyer points and explore a small portion of the food world of Melbourne. I had such a fantastic time I came back with a pulled muscle in my foot (pathetic I know) from walking so far in not-s0-sensible shoes.

I started my first day at the Queen Victoria Markets - the oldest market in Melbourne. They are enormous! There's everything from...

cute teeny tiny ugg boots to...

gorgeous babushkas and from...

avocados you'd have to mortgage your house to purchase to...

the reddest capsicums I've ever seen in my life. After strolling around checking out the wares it was time for a morning tea break. What to have, what to have?

24 shots for $30? That sure would have been a bargain but I don't think it would have sat too well at that hour of the morning.

My mind was made up when I sighted these brightly coloured macarons. Ever since my first macaron at La Duree in Paris last year I've been hooked.

I wasn't very adventurous in my selection and opted for a classic chocolate fudge and a vanilla. The chocolate was rich and chewy and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The vanilla was just the right amount of flavour and I loved seeing the little specks of black through it - evidence that they used real not imitation vanilla. My only complaint, if I had to have one was that the vanilla one was perhaps just a little too big. Don't judge me I'm not one to prefer my sweets small but it was just a bit too much of one thing. I am envious of how tall their macarons are. Mine are always quite flat in comparison.

Well fed and rested it was time to check out the rest of the markets. They seriously have it all. I could imagine visiting once a week for fresh local fruit and veges, meat, home-baked bread, fresh pasta and even butter. Yes that's right butter.

If I had a car or an extra baggage allowance I would have taken at least a kg of this home. How amazing does it look. I'm imagining it spread on warm crusty bread. My mouth is watering at the thought.

How cute is the name of the butter (and cheese) shop?! It makes me think of Little Miss Muffet.

I also stumbled on these enormous sweet potatoes at the bargain price of $0.99 a kilo. What a bargain.

There are also some lovely shops around the outside of the markets including this girly girl gift shop. An Asian grocery store, a few cafes, a shop that uses recycled materials in all their products and a lolly shop (although the shop assistant was a bit mean and yelled at me for taking pics!) surround the produce hall.

The Queen Victoria Market is located on the corner of Victoria and Elizabeth Streets in the Melbourne CBD and is easily accessed by foot, car, train, tram or bus.

It is open Tuesday and Thursday 6am - 2pm,  Friday 6am - 5pm, Saturday 6am - 3pm and Sunday 9am - 4pm.

It really is a must visit spot in Melbourne.

Seeing all this wonderful fresh produce reminds me of the devastating effects that the floods have had on our agriculture industry. That means that now more than ever it's so important for us to buy local produce.

If you can't find a product that is locally grown, please don't buy the imported option. That will only give the supermarkets fuel to feed their argument to buy less expensive, inferior produce from overseas. It's a great opportunity to try something new if your usual favourites aren't available. Buy local, our farmers will thank you for it.

Ok off my soap box. If you need any help using a new fruit or vegetable product give me a yell!