It was a blustery day down in Stockbridge on Sunday, but the Stockbridge Market stallholders remained enthusiastic with smiles on their faces and canopies flapping frantically above their heads.
“The sun’s going to come out later,” one lady beamed, as she offered me some samples of her free-range, organic sausages. But who wouldn’t be optimistic surrounded by so much delicious produce?
The Stockbridge Market has been running since September last year and you can find it on Sundays between 10am to 5pm, close to the Water of Leith.
Already the market has become something of a Stockbridge institution and the number of producers present seems to grow week upon week.
What immediately hits you is the welcoming aroma of freshly brewed coffee and jazzy sounds coming from the quirky Artisan Roast campervan. Wandering around the market there was plenty to see – and try – from cupcakes to curry.
I loved the garlic or raspberry infused balsamic vinegars, tempting, freshly-baked bread, cinnamon swirls and plum tarts, and the interesting Mojito jelly (which goes well with oysters, apparently).
I treated myself to some creamy but strong tasting Scottish Crowdie – a cow’s milk cheese made in Lanarkshire and lovely with oatcakes. The goat’s cheese rolled in ash caught my eye too, but was a bit pricey.
My best buy were the Toulouse sausages, made from free range pigs who had led stress-free, happy lives and been well fed. The meat was mixed with a little all-spice and coriander, and they made a yummy Sunday dinner. At just £2.95 for five I’d be tempted to eat them for dinner every Sunday night…