Rowheath Christmas Market
Had the following conversation with my wife last Saturday morning:-
wife: where you going?
me: the Christmas market
wife: but you don’t even like the German market.
As always, my wife was right. I do dislike the over crowded sorry excuse of a German market.
It’s not just the sheer volume of stalls all selling the same tat, or the fact that it doesn’t really benefit any of the amazing local independent bars, coffee shops or restaurants that bothers me most. It’s the quality (or lack of) of the food available that bothers me.
So with that in mind, I visited a favourite place of mine Rowheath Pavillion to see what was on offer at their Christmas market.
A fantastic place to visit, not just for the peaceful surroundings but because there’s usually some kind of market or event that offers a friendly atmosphere and decent food.
Their Christmas market didn’t disappoint. I arrived an hour after kick off, and already there was a nice buzz about the pavilion. Friendly customers conversing with passionate stall owners creating a warm welcoming vibe.
When I decided I wanted to start a podcast and a blog, it was because i really loved talking to people about food. Local markets like this excite me as they present a great opportunity for me to get chatting to passionate local food producers.
My first stop was at the great folks from jam vs custard. A Birmingham based bakery created by local pastry chef Adam Cross. that specialise in wholesome handmade bread and yummy doughnuts. Eighteen hours of love and care went in to making the doughnuts available at the market today. Jaffa cake, chocolate custard, vanilla custard, raspberry pavlova, Apple crumble and plum crumble was the selection of doughnuts vying for my attention today and took all my willpower not to take all of them.
Bag of doughnuts in hand I moved on to the next stall, where I met the very bubbly pip (of pips hot sauce fame) Pip encouraged me to try the different sauces helpfully talking me through each one. Being a bit of a wimp when it comes to chilli heat I didn’t stray too far up the scale, but the ones i did taste were delicious. I just HAD to buy the three award winning sauces to take home with me.
With my stomach rumbling (what’s new) I decided to seek out the source of the aromatic spice smell that was lingering in the cool November air. My search brought me to the stall of hibiscus grove. Where a gentleman named Philip was freshly frying lamb samosas and chicken pakora.I took two of the pyramid shaped parcels of joy and proceeded in discovering if the taste was as good as the smell.
It was, and then some!! Perfectly spiced meat and vegetables covered in a surprisingly light delicate pastry. So good I demolished the two I’d bought and went straight back to get more. I didn’t mind waiting for a fresh batch to cook as it was great chatting to Philip and hearing all about how he quit his job in the professional world to follow a dream of cooking.
Unfortunately time got the better of me as I had somewhere to be, so i grabbed a gingerbread man for my little one from the Rowheath cafe and made my exit.
Unfortunately I was unable to get to some of the other talented producers that were at the market. Luckily most will be at Stirchley community market, at Stirchley baths on Tuesday 4th December. So I will catch them there.
Breaking Bread Podcast, the podcast all about food