Atlanta Food: Sights Sounds and Smells
If you have been inside of a Public Market in Europe, you will know what I am talking about. Mercat Boqueria in Barcelona was actually my first venture into a public market.
I have seen farmers markets in my life, and many of them felt like people bought bulk produce from Sysco or Sam’s Club and spread it out on a table and sold by the pound. Even though I knew the secret of where the produce came from, I still enjoyed picking up some apples from a wooden table and feeling like I purchased something special.
A few years ago, I had an opportunity to go to Spain. After leaving Madrid, we went to Barcelona (Google Catalonia ). There I found the Mercat Boqueria. http://www.boqueria.info One of the largest and most famous Public Markets in the world. I went crazy and bought many things I really did not need just because of the excitement and opportunity to purchase things like a few fresh vanilla beans, or Jamon Serrano (Google that one MMMMM!)
That was a memorable trip, and I could have stayed in Spain, but that was not the time.
This year, I found a couple of markets that brought back the images of Barcelona. One is the Dekalb County Farmers Market in Decatur.
If you want to experience a real international market, you have to make the trip to Decatur. http://www.dekalbfarmersmarket.com/ This is a rare opportunity, and smack in the middle of Georgia! Whooda Thunk it! Fish for dinner is found swimming alive in the huge tanks, and looking for a spice that is found nowhere in the Southeast, you will probably find it here. The huge café was an international delight! While this is not necessarily a Public Market, it is the next best thing.
Dekalb is a little bit of a drive from Downtown Atlanta, and there is yet one more market that brought back the sights and smells of Barcelona, the Sweet Auburn Curb Market! www.sweetauburncurbmarket.com Right in the city! I love a good experience, and while you may not find everything you need here, you will find enough to interest you. You have to make time to go see this wonderful historic Public Market. Lunchtime is a great time to experience the culturally diverse offerings of this market. From a Calzone that is unrivaled in the South East to being able to buy a single BBQ Rib from an Asian vendor complete with huge woks in their kitchen. I bought some smoked meat to take home and put in a fresh pot of bean soup. With easy access and free parking (rare in Atlanta) this market is an experience not to miss!
Doug Marranci
Atlanta Restaurant Exchange
1708 Peachtree St NW
Suite 110
Atlanta GA 30309
www.AtlantaRex.com
404-892-4999
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