The boys on the avenue

Frenetic competing passions belie the low slung comfort of bums on seats; Assessing horseflesh like bidders in an auction ring genetically programmed to disrobe the passing talent - before groping for yet another greasy burger. Mates - comfortable in their own skin and their shared world view.

Bondi Junction Mall Head nod to Patty Smyth for the title

A haven for foodies

Glebe Point Road runs the full length of the spur, from near the intersection of Broadway, Parramatta Road and City Road, the 2kms down to a dead end at the water's edge that is Johnson Bay/Black Wattle Bay. The first 500m of this is awash with ethnic eateries: sprouting up to cater for the massive influx of international students to the two universities in close proximity - The University of Technology and The University of Sydney - and to the experimentation of the general student population.

Glebe Point Road is a prime example of the geographer's term "ribbon development".

Hands

May I please direct your attention to the band-aids ...

Pyrmont Growers' Market: Simon sizzling

Could this boy cook up a storm? Yes siree: he surely could! And he had an attractiveness that was all character. What I believe we refer to as charisma!


It was the way he flipped the beef-patties from the wrist. It was the way he caressed the jet of sauce over the underbelly of the bun. It was the constant stream of slightly-blue patter ... and the grin. And judging by the queues, his hamburgers were crash hot, too!

And may I draw your attention to his logo: he purposefully stripped so that my camera caught his pecs proudly displaying the family farm logo!

Pyrmont Growers' Market: the produce

Cultural cringe: maybe! But, this market stacked up pretty good against Rue Moufftard and Uzes. Yeah, yeah I know: how dare I compare something brash and Australian with something 'spisticated and elegantly French. So here's a go: there are four images from the Pyrmont Market in this post and four images from either Moufftard or Uzes. Pick 'em!


Well ... maybe the signs are a bit of a give-a-way ... Hell, I'm gonna get me an old lady's shopping trolley: a red 'un ... and a beret ... a thin cigar ... young fella ...

Pyrmont Growers' Market: David smokin'

There is a technique known as "schmoozing" which David here has by the bucket-load. I would have punched this little Chinese lady on the schnozz: she was delicate, she was well-spoken, she was elegant. She asked for honey cured slabs in preference to shavings: she wanted ribs in lots of 4 rather than 8. When he had fetched and wrapped she then told him that she did not want them today; just wanted to see if he could supply what she MIGHT want down the track. Arrrgggghhhhh!!!!! But not our Kaz (David) he just sweetly asked if she was leading him on ...

Eumundi Smokehouse was wall-to-wall customers: one set being my daughter and her husband who breakfasted on an egg'n'bacon roll and bought a bunch of ribs for 'ron. Kaz settled in the big smoke after a sojourn through Queensland which gave him his trading name. He was a delight and is on my list for next month.

Pyrmont Growers' Market : 10 years strong

Pyrmont bustles under the very shadow of the city itself: settled early in the history of the colony,described by wharves and piers and deep anchorages. On the first Saturday of each month, a motley crew of wharves hosts one of the many incarnations of Grower's Markets that are spreading across the greater city. Compared with the previous day when a bitter wind tugged at the collar and whistled down the ear canal, on Saturday we were blessed with a glorious winter's day.


Arriving early and introducing myself to stall-holders, I felt like a long lost cousin. Strangers approached me to tell me of their favourite market "character" and how I really should meet them! Over the next few days I will introduce you to Uncle Andrew, Simon the BBQ whiz, Raewin who can't help it if she is a Kiwi and the indefatibible David who is smmmokin'.

What did I buy? A raspberry pie for $10. Two chunks of oozing cheese for a total of just under $20. A spinach and ricotta quiche for $6. A walnut, fig and raisin loaf for $7.50. Now that I know the extent and quality of the produce, next month I will ensure my crisper is bare and prepare me a list.


Prompted by Frances' comment, here are the location details. Parking is a bit of a hassle. There are some 2 hour meters but mostly 1 hour. I refuse to park in the Casino carpark for $18. Instead, I parked way over near the Fish Markets for free - and trudged up the ridge and over for about 15 minutes.

Home grown cuisine

Ocean trout nestles into a bed of field mushrooms - sauteed quickly in Extra Virgin olive oil - drizzled with Asian greens, then topped with a sprinkle of freshly picked coriander. Experience - borne from age not wisdom - has taught that the quality of a meal is often in inverse proportion to its quantity.