Orange Grove Markets, Lilyfield

The last time I went to Orange Grove Markets was with my friend Sue atleast eight or so years ago. The markets back then were fairly small and nothing to write home about. Sue was just ducking in to grab a few fruit and vege before we went off to do more exciting things...like eat brunch.

The Boy and I were really only visiting the Orange Grove Markets this weekend as we knew that Jackie M had a stall there and we needed to stock up on her rendang frozen dinner packs ASAP! And perhaps indulge in some of her fabulous Char Kway Teow for a brunch. Oh and we bumped into Sue - still a loyal market shopper eight years on.

I was completely gobsmacked by how much the markets had grown.  Orange Grove Markets has EVERYTHING you could possibly want to eat - and if they sold cleaning products and loo paper well, you'd never need to visit a supermarket again. How blissful would that be?  There were stalls selling bread, cheese, meat, yoghurt, dips, chips, fruit, vegetables, plants, clothes, drinks - you name it, it was probably at Orange Grove Markets.

Although we were on a Malaysian food buying mission, we really could not help buying a heap of other tasty morsels. The Boy was quite taken with the offerings at Thistle Dew Meats (one of the many organic meat suppliers at the markets).  Although we both gave the Haggis and Black Pudding a wide berth we did come home with some lovely sausages and free range pork chops.

I decided that we needed some fruit and vege to go with our haul of meat as a gal can't live on pork chops alone. I grabbed some lovely salad items from a few stalls, as well as a handful of sweet Blood Oranges and Passionfruit from some other friendly stallholders.

All this shopping and food ogling can sure make a girl (and boy) hungry so we grabbed a drink during our market strolling - a fresh Orange and Raspberry drink - so lovely.

Orange Grove Market is a hive of activity. Whilst it bustles with adults, children, prams and...ponies...no dogs are allowed! We spotted quite a few pooches tied up at the Dog Parking Area out the front (aka "the fence") waiting patiently for their humans to return...maybe with a tasty morsel for them to sample.

The Orange Grove Organic Food Markets are on eac Saturday between 8 am - 1 pm at the Orange Grove Public School, Cnr Perry Street and Balmain Road, Lilyfield. Bring your kids, prams and small ponies, but please park your puppies outside.