Sydney Eat Street: Celebrate festive season at Christmas markets
‘Tis the season to head outside and tuck into some festive foods at the many markets being held in the lead up to Christmas Day.
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French Christmas Market
Safe to say, there probably won’t be any Christmas cards exchanged between Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and French President Emmanuel Macron this year, but don’t let their feud stop you from enjoying French food, French wine and French revelry at the French Christmas Market, from December 17-20.
The event, otherwise known as Bastille Festival, is usually in July but … Covid. Having been called off three times in the past two years, the festivities are set to make up for lost time by turning the Customs House forecourt into a Marché de Noël, a French Christmas market, complete with petite wooden chalets, with all the festive trimming — Christmas carols, falling snow, and mulled wines.
Obviously, there will be all the iconic French foods: melted raclette cheese, crepes, pastries and fresh bread plus wine, wine, and more wine.
There will be 45 wine stations representing France’s five wine regions, including Bordeaux, Burgundy, Provence, Alsace, and Rhone Valley.
The Champagne & Oyster Bar Experience will be back this year, courtesy of Pistou Restaurant & Deli, as will the ever-popular French Wine Tasting Tour Experience where $37 gets you five wines tasting tickets, a French (wine) Passport, priority access and a reusable, Bastille-branded eco wine glass.
You also get a map showing where the five different wine regions are located - not just in the actual country but throughout the Bastille Festival.
Be sure to visit the Bastille French Wine and Cheese Cellar to pick up something for a gift, a festive dinner, or to just unwrap some cheese and enjoy it with a fresh baguette and a tipple from the onsite wine bars. (Free Admission. Friday, December 17 to Monday, December 20, 2021.
— Customs House forecourt, Circular Quay, Sydney; bastillefestival.com.au
The Rocks
Have a shot of Christmas on The Rocks this year, where the historic streets and laneways have been transformed into a winter wonderland with ornament-adorned trees, twinkling lights, shiny stars and even a giant snow globe.
There’s also plenty of entertainment with roving elves and angels, live music, and classic Christmas movie screenings.
The weekend market remains a major drawcard and a great place to browse for gifts while enjoying eats and treats from some of Sydney’s best food vendors.
“Based on the amazing customer response we’ve had, we’re very excited about the fun energy back at The Rocks,” says Emporium of Chocolate stallholder Daniel Henrique.
“We are looking forward to the Christmas festive season and all the positivity and celebration it brings. The open-air location and now the night markets on Fridays and Saturdays, the vibe here is palpable, and everyone is really in the mood for markets and the great buzz of being out together again.”
Besides the regular offerings, there will also be festive biscuits from Adri’s Gingerbread and sugar-frosted cookies from Sweets by Sas.
Caramel Waffly will be there making their Dutch caramel-filled cookies covered in toppings ranging from pistachios to pink marshmallows; enjoy on the spot or gift one of Caramel Waffly’s DIY kits for a pretty sweet gift.
Take time out and bite into La Gitana’s Spanish Mediterranean paella or Firepop’s premium wagyu fire-grilled skewers. Literally something for everyone on your list. (December 3-10, Fridays, 4pm-9pm, Saturdays, 10am-9pm, Sundays, 10am-5pm).
— The Rocks, Playfair and George St, Sydney; therocks.com
Cambridge Markets - EQ, Pittwater, Wentworth Point
Just to be outside is a thrill, but to be outside relishing the sights and sounds of the holiday season is a real treat. Madeleine Anderson from Cambridge Markets, the organising entity behind the EQ, Pittwater, and Wentworth market, agrees, adding that there is a major post-Covid benefit to browsing stalls in Moore Park, Mona Vale, and Wentworth Point.
“You can shop and dine in the fresh air where masks are not mandatory. As well as have a great day out enjoying delicious food from all over the world,” she says.
“I think it is so important, more than ever, to support our small and local businesses. Covid hit this group of retailers/makers/designers hard, and they need the public’s support.
“How much better is it to support a small business who is a true artisan, a unique designer, or a dedicated and personalised business owner. Shopping and supporting each other over Christmas will make a difference.
“By shopping at Cambridge Markets, you are supporting this small but important retail group.”
There are more than 150 stallholders with a wide array of boutique fashions and unique homewares; food includes artisanal producers, farm-fresh produce, and an abundance of foodie-faves ready for eating.
For holiday gifts and festive foods, Love Pudding is selling homemade Christmas puddings and Christmas cakes; at The Original Gingerbread Lady, pick up a delightfully decorated Gingerbread house; The Sunday Baker offers a great range of baked Christmas treats, including our fabulous Brownies, the sweetest range of Christmas cookies, Christmas cakes, mince pies, gingerbread delights, homemade Christmas rocky road and Christmas cupcakes, and of course, there’s no passing up all the fresh cherries. All the regular market-favourites will be there too, including MILKLAB Oat Float; Street Food Project’s slow-cooked meats, including beef brisket; Mojo Picon’s Spanish Paella, garlic prawns and chorizo; Ottoman Gozleme’s Authentic meat, cheese, and spinach Turkish Gozlemes; Cafe Maison’s handmade pies; and Natas and Co’s Portuguese custard tarts. So, get outside and get into the holiday spirit.
* The Ultimate Christmas Market EQ, The Entertainment Quarter, Lang Rd, Moore Park, Sunday, December 5, 10am-4pm
* The Pittwater Christmas Market, Winnererremy Bay, Mona St, Mona Vale; Saturday, December 11, 10am-4pm
* Wentworth Point Twilight Christmas Market, Wentworth Place, Wentworth Point; Sunday, December 18, 4pm-9pm
Carriageworks
Forget whether you’ve been naughty or nice – the only thing you need to worry about is making sure you secure Crumpets by Merna’s buttermilk Christmas tree-shaped crumpets with Pepe Saya Butter … Santa with presents.
Carriageworks is one of Australia’s largest multi-arts precincts and, in December, will host two festive markets: December 11 for the Summer Seasonal Market and on December 22, the annual Twilight Christmas Market 4pm-9pm.
Local and artisanal producers will all bring in a selection of food-related festive treats. It’s a fantastic place to stock up for Christmas dinner — handcrafted spirits, craft beer and regional wines; produce including the coveted Christmas cherries; the centrepiece of any meal, ham and seafood from local farmers and producers, and of course, Christmas cakes and puddings.
Or curate a Christmas hamper for the foodie in your life with homemade preserves, chutneys, pickles, and a variety of other condiments. Skip dinner at home before heading to the Twilight Christmas Markets, as there’ll be plenty to eat onsite, as well as festive cocktails from the nearby sustainably focused bar, Re.
While the Twilight Christmas Market will be holiday-centric, the Summer Seasonal Market, held two weeks earlier on December 11, will not only offer some pre-emptive food-related gift-giving needs but also provide some yuletide menu inspiration with a culinary program that will include demonstrations and a discussion panel with three Farmers Market producer: Matt Simmons from Melanda Park Free Range Pork, Tim Eyes from The Food Farm, and Sheridan Beaumont from Broken Bay Oyster Farm. To complete the table setting, don’t forget to pick up an armful of native Australian flowers.
— 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh; carriageworks.com.au
WHAT’S FRESH
PlayStation to Plate
‘Don’t play with your food’ is probably the most used expression around every Australian dinner table, at least mine anyway, when I was growing up. But now you can, sort of.
Three restaurants have each created a dish inspired by a PlayStation game.
The first has burger-meisters Kenny Graham and Jake Smyth from Mary’s “Ellie’s Steak Sandwich” from the zombie apocalypse The Last of Us Part II. Fans of the game have been known to replicate the sanger, but Mary’s version with Australian beef, marinated peppers and cheese on a toasted hoagie roll is next-level good, something that Smythe attributes in part to the actual game’s details.
“Can’t create a sandwich … without having all the details in a game. You’d envision that in a post-apocalyptic world in North America (where the game takes place) that people would probably be eating cheese from a can (thankfully, Mary’s version uses real cheese),” Jake says.
The details in the game are further reflected in the steak sandwich’s presentation.
“In the game (the wrapped sandwich is passed over the bar to Ellie), you wonder what’s in it, but it doesn’t’ give a lot of insight as to what it looks like and tastes like.’ That’s where their mastery of meats came through, and as far a presentation goes, it’s served wrapped in the front page of The Jackson Chronicle,” Jake says.
“We replicated the actual packaging as closely as we could.”
The second food is Thief’s Pasta from The Italian Bowl in Newtown. The dish makes its first appearance in Uncharted 4: Thief’s End; the lead characters Nate and Elena have it for dinner at the start of the game. The final creation, a colourful dessert, is from Bistro Morgan, inspired by Ratchet & Clank: a Rift Apart.
A representation of the cultural interdimensional world, it features bright layers of gelatine, buttercream and an emerald green Sirangian Honey Mousse.
The dishes will be available through Sunday, December 12, at their respective restaurants and through Deliveroo.
MORE MARKETS
AVOCA TWILIGHT MARKETS
A waterfront setting plays host to this family-friendly community event with live music, bars and 75 stalls offering food, seasonal produce, gifts, and an array of artisan producers including Belgian treats from Scrumptious Chocolates, cold-smoked seasonings, and food products from Smoke and Spice, community bakery, Burnt Honey, and a few fine tipples from Upstairs Wines. (Saturday, December 11, 5pm-9pm, free admission).
— Avoca Village, Avoca Drive, Avoca; facebook.com/AvocaBeachsideMarkets
BERRIMA SCHOOLYARD CHRISTMAS MARKETS
Over 50 stalls selling gourmet foods, unique gifts, handcrafted homewares, and Christmas wreaths. There’ll be plenty of live entertainment, a sausage sizzle, and the school’s own kitchen cafe. (Sunday, December 12, 9am-12pm)
—Berrima Public School, Oxley St, Berrima; theschoolyardmarkets.org
CARSS PARK CHRISTMAS NIGHT MARKETS
Carrs Bush Park plays host to an evening of food and family fun with 65 stalls and food trucks featuring an expansive selection of international cuisines, artisan producers, food-related gifts as well as kids’ activities and live-entertainment. (Friday, December 10, 4pm-9pm)
— Carss Park, Carwar Ave, Carrs Park; ffmarket.com.au
HURSTVILLE CHRISTMAS NIGHT MARKET
Fans of the popular Foodies and Farmers Market will delight in this week’s festive focus with Christmas stalls and delicious food plus a pop-up bar for adults and a free circus for the kids. (Thursday December 9, 3pm-9pm).
— Hurstville Plaza, Forest Rd, Hurstville; facebook.com/events/hurstville-plaza
MOSS VALE SHOWGROUNDS CHRISTMAS MARKETS
Over 90 stallholders featuring fresh produce, street food and artisan producers including My Mate’s Relish, Baka Salami, and The Cake Lady MonMakes, as well as handmade crafts, boutique fashions, flowers, and more. (Sunday, December 12, 9am-3pm).
— 16 Illawarra Highway, Moss Vale; facebook.com/mossvaleshowgroundmarket
PORT MACQUARIE TOWN SQUARE HOLIDAY MARKET
Live entertainment, a kids’ craft tent, and over 45 stallholders will turn Town Square into a holiday shopping experience. (December 16, 19, and 23, 10am-3pm).
— Port Macquarie Town Square; facebook.com/marketplaceeventspmq
Winter warmers to celebrate the season
Everyone is happy to see the sun peeking through the clouds, but winter’s not all bad. Bid farewell to the colder days with one last hurrah of warming fare.
Sniffing out Sydney’s best truffle desserts
Save the best for last. As truffle season comes to a close, be sure to indulge in some sweet treats featuring the annual earthy gem.