Empanada anyone?

How long have you been part of Frenchs Forest Market

We have been part of these markets for over 9 years...impressive isn't it!

You do a lot of prep at home so you are ready to feed the masses each market.  Where do you get your ingredients from and how long does it take to get it ready for market

A lot of our ingredients come from the heart of my grandmother....the special ingredient called love!

It takes roughly around 3 days to prep and get everything ready for market: the empanadas, our special sauce that goes on our chorizo rolls which remains a firm family-trade-secret of course.

What has been the biggest turnover you have ever had in one market day

Biggest turnover in cash or people!

well we reckon that reply deserves this photo of an Argentinian "apple" aka empanada turnover

We love you and we know your fans do to.  What makes market life special for you

It helps us to connect and interact with people and make new friends with people who enjoy good clean yummy food.

For anyone who has not yet tried your chorizo or empanada, what 5 words would you use to describe your food

Amazing Exquisto Taste of Argentina

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Ok so if you haven't, we can personally attest to the absolute heavenly yummy more'ish state your taste buds will encounter when they are introduced to their empanadas....so what you waiting for!!!!

Sharing a little bit of Frenchs Forest love with Inge

When did you discover Frenchs Forest Markets

I researched organic markets before we even moved to the Northern Beaches, so I would say about 5 years ago.

From shopper to stallie: was that a difficult transition

Hmmmmm...not really!  I still did all my shopping, even when I was a stallie.  There is such a great sense of community and camaraderie amongst the stallies and I loved being part of that!

Ask the Cappuccino Afloat crew if they miss our weekly dance sessions!  Dancing to funky music towards the end of market day....GREAT FUN!

Cappuccino Afloat

The masses obviously loved your fantastic gluten free goodies (ourselves included!). How long from start to finish would it take to prepare for market day

The would start at 4am with us packing the car to get to market.  It required careful and strategic planning to fit it all in!

By the time we got back home and unpacked it would be around 3pm.  So the whole day would amount to 11 hours!

Although now retired from a market life as a marketeer, you obviously still enjoy coming up and having a wander, buying organic goodies and catching up with people. What is it about these markets that attracts folk, from your point of view

The vibe, the vibe, the vibe! It's SO much fun!  

I still really enjoy catching up with our stallie mates!

Can you sum up this infamous "vibe" of the Sunday Institution known as Frenchs Forest Markets

Amazing range of organic and interesting foods that you just can't get anywhere else. I've always loved going to these markets.

The feeling that even though you don't personally know the others shoppers, you are having a shared experience.

Plus I often just talk to random people about what we're buying...it's more like the European way of village living.

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With that we thank the lovely Inge not only sharing some time with us, but giving us just that little bit more of an insight in to the stallie world as well as the shopper world at Frenchs Forest Markets!

 bet you didn't realise they had won had the Gourmet Gluten Free award!

TOLD you their products were yum, and we are thankful we got to sample and share before they became "citizens" once more!!

5 Questions with Putrino's front man Erkut

When did Putrino's make their debut at Frenchs Froest Markets

G & M Putrino have been here for around 10 years and for me personally, I have been here for about 4 years

number one fan!

Not only is your produce totally delicious, you are constantly busy which is excellent for any stallholder.  What is about being part of the market community that separates it from a retail outlet or a supermarket chain.

Always having loads quality fresh produce at hand and loads of people each with their unique personality

As your produce grows so does your stall size. From set up to packdown, from picking up produce to arriving at market.  It is not a life for the faint-hearted.  When does your day actually start and after all is said and done, what time do you finally get home and put your feet up to relax.

Very early start leaving home at 3am, then its off to the farm to collect the truck which is packed with market produce

Whatever the weather you are at market.  We absolutely appreciate it and we KNOW for a fact that the shoppers do also.  What has been the biggest sale at any market in one day

We always make sure we show up in any weather because we know our customers rely on us being there and we absolutely appreciate that they come out whatever the weather.

Some days we do incredibly well and sell totally out.  But when the weather ain't that great obviously it's a bit slower but fortunately for us, it's not that often.

It's hard to put a figure on best seller because our costs and produce change according to season and weather.

For anyone who has yet to discover the delights of your Orange Grove goodies, what 5 words would you use to get em in and have a sample

Come and have a taste!

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No point waiting....it's a no brainer really.  Gotta get in, have a sample and then when that's done, buy and buy big is our advice

It's August....It's Time

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christie

@cookfeedlove

@coloursoftherainbow

@studio2103

@nolitahearts

@fitmissal

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Sharing the love with Larissa

When did you first discover the delights of Frenchs Forest Markets

I decided that I had to visit it the first time about a year ago after seeing all the delights of everyone and their green smoothies on instagram

Your food photography and recipes look sensational! Do you try to use as much organic produce as possible when cooking

Thank you!  I'll admit it's hard to always get your hands on organic produce but I do whenever I can and you can really taste the difference.

Plus it's rewarding to know that you are supporting the organic farmers when you purchase from them, it makes it a bit more personal.

What is one staple that you simply MUST get each market

A good bunch of spinach - I won't go a week without eating it

Has your love of cooking and shopping at Frenchs Forest Markets infiltrated the lives of all those around you

There's nothing better than getting your hands on fresh ingredients to cook up a healthy, nourishing feast for a bunch of people you love

In 5 words how would you encourage those who have yet to be converted to organic produce to do so post haste

Not really 5 words, but one of my favourite quotes from a wonderful journalist Michael Pollan "Eat from a plant, not food made in a plant"

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Huge muchos to Larissa for sharing a bit of love of not only cooking and photography, but her time with us, and if you would like to see more of her beautiful culinary creations simply click "here"