Market Report: Monterey Market

Disclaimer: This is the first time I’m blogging using my iPhone, so apologies in advance for weird spellings, missing links, etc.

I wanted to title this post,”Look at what I got at Monterey Market for less than $10!” but I thought that was too braggy. But really, this is what I got for less than $10:

Clockwise, from top left:
Bananas, organic
Shittake mushrooms
Carrots, organic and local
Ginger
Mango
Murcott tangerines, local and organic
Fuji apples, local and organic
Green onions, local and organic
Napa cabbage, local

Ok, so I’m bragging a little but I really love this market. I also love that it’s within walking distance. Monterey Market is definitely one of the gems of Berkeley!

Nishiki Market Report

Kyoto’s Nishiki Market is famous for being a must-see for food lovers, so how could I resist visiting on my first day in Kyoto? There are various vendors selling raw and cooked foods, as well as cooking supplies and eating utensils. After perusing the delicious looking food, there are plenty of restaurants to help satisfy your appetite (look for tomorrow’s post!). The whole market is probably about 4 blocks long, which is just the right size in my opinion. Anyway, enough words — I’ll let the photos do the explaining! (A friendly reminder that you can click on any of the images in the gallery to get a closer look. The next photo will be available on the bottom right hand corner if you choose to click through the gallery.)

Entrance into Nishiki Market

Bundles of fish

Artfully arranged fish

More fish!

Tiny dried fishies.

All kinds of tempura. Looked really tasty.

As expected, tons of fresh seafood for sale.

More seafood

Squid and scallops on a stick.

The Japanese take their rice VERY seriously.

Freshly made rice crackers. I bought a sesame one.

Pickles available for free tasting.

Bright purple pickles!

Pots and knives for sale. Japanese knives are world famous for their high quality.

A shop specializing in pickles. Each lantern advertises a different variety of pickle.

The only fruit stand I saw (kinda sad)

Tiny baby eggplants!

The cutest candies ever.

Night and Day

Entering the night market and already so many choices. Chicken vendor to the left, bubble tea to the right.

Because November is National Blog Posting Month (or some sort of nonsense like that), and because I would like to stop being 2+ months behind on blog material, I am making it my #1 priority to power through the Taiwan and Japan photos as quickly as possible. Since I wrote about the traditional daytime markets yesterday, I thought I’d post some photos of the night market today.

Noodle vendor. Mmm noodles...

These photos are were taken at our neighborhood night market late-ish (~9pm) on a weeknight, so the crowds were sparse and the vendors were not very busy. Most markets will stay open until 11pm (midnight on weekends), and on weekends, they tend to be very crowded. The most famous night market in Taipei is in Shih Lin but that one has become overhyped, at least in terms of their food stalls.

Step right up! Stinky tofu!

The type of food at night markets is called “xiao chi,” literally, “small eats.” Think of it like Taiwanese-style tapas. You might eat a small bowl of noodles at one stand, move to another for a traditional Taiwanese oyster omelette, and then to another for the infamous stinky tofu. It’s extremely cheap — expect to spend $1-$3 per item. Don’t forget to B.Y.O.B., as none of the food stands serve drinks, not even water. There are drink stands that make fresh squeezed juice and bubble tea as well as convenience stores that sell sodas and iced tea.  Most places don’t mind if you bring your own beer, but you shouldn’t walk around with an open container.

Sanitary standards used to be very lax at these food stalls but things have cleaned up a lot. However, now that everything is disposable, it’s disturbing how much waste is generated. It might be health-friendly, but not environmentally friendly. As a compromise, many Taiwanese carry their own set of chopsticks around. It’s a small step, but it’s something right?

Hm, I wonder why this plate is on clearance? Who wouldn't want a plate with ceramic boobs on it?