The food of Juta - part 1

Neighbourgoods Market

I've heard a lot about this market in Juta street, with people raving about the food and the vibe - I found it a bit tooo overcrowded - perhaps I'm a hermit, but one guy did say that they were counting the people as they went inside the abandoned parking lot, where the market now finds itself, and that there were about 1 500 people inside. We were standing in a queue of about 100 people, waiting to get in. Eventually, we walked up a ramp, under some pretty bulbs and then Flip and I wandered - ahem, more like forcibly pushed our way through - swarms of people boasting black frame glasses with no purpose, scarves, leather shoes, funny hair and beards that look like they belong in a German competition. I had no problem with the latter - love me some beard.

Beards aside, there were also a lot of old people - which irked me, because Flip did something inappropriate and I said For fuck sakes really loud, and it felt like every old person at the market turned around to give me a scathing look. Seriously, you never heard a curse word before?

 While there were load and loads of food stalls that I just wanted to burrow my face in and die a happy, fat death, I didn't take too many photos of the options - one, because of the aforementioned crowd and two, because I didn't feel like asking every single table permission to snap a pic. While Flip was a little overwhelmed by all the people, as you can see below, I was enthralled by all the little tasters some of the stalls had to offer. And dammit, did I accidentally taste the Ooh La La Artisan Confectionery's Chocolate Pecan Pebbles! I had to buy it, it was sooo good. Can you just imagine this taste - pecans, set in salted butter caramel enrobed in couverture white chocolate? It was just the best tasting thing ever.

Flip opted for a more meaty option, going for Hilda's Pies. Now, Afrikaans people and 7de Laan fans will now that you shouldn't willingly eat a pie by someone with the name Hilda - and with equally strange combinations, such as beef and red wine pie, you should really just turn the other way. But am I glad we didn't! Her pies go for a whopping R38 a piece, but it's worth every penny, because it was packed with meaty deliciousness. Definitely a stall I would recommend, especially when the queues start forming for burgers and pizza. Someone should just tell the lady to smile. Grouch.

 As far at the drinking options went, I saw a margaritha bar, a fancy champagne soiree and some beer bar. Flip got himself a coffee beer that someone else ordered, but presumably this person walked away and he got it instead. It tasted just like COFFEE and BEER. Mind boggled. And that's us.

Tomorrow - Food of Juta - Part tweede!