When it comes to food markets in Melbourne, we’ll admit it we’ve been to the ones that are closest to the CBD purely out of convenience. Victoria Market (the great), South Melbourne Market, Prahran Market and even the Footscray Market (when we used to buy grapes to make wine.) However not so long ago we ventured a little further out – 20 minutes to be exact to the not so far Dandenong Market, and what a surprise.
(The famous Dandee Donuts stall)
It started in the underground car park when to our disbelief and shock the metre requested a mere 50 cents from our pockets per hour – I’m sorry, 50 cents not $5 an hour?! This experience is what set the tone for the rest of the visit – quality, surprise, great prices and variety. Dandenong Market is a melting pot representing cultures, food and produce from every corner of the globe – Halal meat and seafood, a Lebanese bakery, specialty Asian grocers, spice and nut stalls, Hot Donuts (exceptional), Mauritian food and stall owners that provide some of Melbourne’s restaurants and cafe’s with exceptional produce. Here is just some of our journey.
And we of course had to stop for lunch, sample a visual taste of our Chaat food feast (this is West Indian style fast food traditionally eaten between 1pm until late at night); at Chaat Corner – one of only a handful of West Indian eateries in Victoria (and the line in the afternoon proves it!)
(Delcious morsels – Dahi Chutney Puri, fried crisp pastry balls with potato stuffing served with tamarind, yoghurt, onion, tomato, coriander and gram sticks.)
(An assortment of yummy puff pastries and samosa’s)
(This is a wonderful dish, Paneer Tikka Chaat – softy and juicy cottage cheese with mixed vegetables marinated in Tandoori masala.)
(Here are the owners, wife and husband: Amiben Parikh and Chintan Shah – image courtesy of the Dandenong Market)
A trip to Dandenong Market can also involve a brush up on your cooking skills at their demonstration kitchen, ‘The Kitchen’. They have a resident chef, Russell Bald cooking up quick, cheap and healthy recipes every Tuesday and Friday from 12-1pm. Tuesday’s class focuses on health and wellbeing, with recipes catering even to those with health concerns (e.g. Diabetes, Celiac’s Disease). On the second Tuesday of every month, Russel is joined by a dietician to help answer questions about healthy eating and healthy lifestyle choices.
And more recently launched, The Kitchen’s Friday session focuses on connecting the various culturally diverse communities that make up Greater Dandenong’s family through food, with community ambassadors showcasing their cultural cuisines alongside Russell. In fact, there is one stall employee who we hear may be showcasing some of her Cambodian seafood cuisine very soon.
All in all, a great day out for a market and food experience with a difference and a very authentic multicultural offering. And trust us with the incredible prices, every dollar will really go a long, long way.
Trading hrs: Tuesday and Saturday 7am – 4pm, Friday 7am – 5pm.
Address: Cnr Clow & Cleeland St, Dandenong
Ph: 9701 3850
Website: www.dandenongmarket.com.au
Twitter: @dandenongmarket
Facebook: Dandenong Market
Must try: A hot donut at Dandee Donuts, take away West Indian at Chaat Corner, Peanut Market (you can buy mixed nuts, dried fruit and flour alternatives like almond meal very cheaply.)
Notes: You can park for 3 hours for $1.