Having been born and bred in London I don't know why I had never been to Borough Market before, especially as I had always heard great things about it. Boyf suggested we go and check it out, so off we went yesterday morning.

It was a bit crowded and busy but it was fabulous! Loads of lovely looking fresh fruit, veg, all different types of meat you could think of and more - e.g. boar, crocodile, osterich, etc, beautiful patisserie items, fresh juices, and loads of delicious snacks.

I bought three traditional Argentinian empanadas - sort of like pasties with assorted fillings. I went for minced beef, and spicy chicken. Totally delicious, generously filled, and a bargain at £5 for three. I finished off with a scrummy creme caramel from the French stall, also at a bargainous price of a quid.

We did not stay too long as we had somewhere we needed to be, but I can't wait to go back gain next week to sample more delights.

What goodies do you recommend from Borough market?

http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk/

I don't go for the pre-prepared stuff like patisserie as it's too expensive and I'd rather have a crack at them myself but stuff I do get.

Rolled haunch of venison from the west country park venison - it will be the most tender meat you've ever had.

Ginger pig butcher is very good for all things meat, the place next door - silfield farm has amazing haggis/black pudding/ham.

Halibut from the main fish place was probably the best fish I've ever tasted.

In the green market there's a stall called 'wild beef' their beef is about as good as beef gets, bursting with flavour.

Of course none of its cheap - there was a place doing a dozen eggs for £1.80 which is a bargain but they don't seem to be open when I go (weekdays)

I work right near there and I love it too.

I like the stall that's on the outskirts of the market that sells garlic prawn wraps, and there is another stall in the centre,near a big cake stall, that sells delicious chicken burgers. I love monmouth for coffee and a place called Konditor and cook for the best boston brownies. Next door to that is fusebox which is fab for a quick lunch, that is also the area in which they film the outdoor cooking for Market Kitchen. In the summer I like to buy my food from there and then go and sit in the courtyard of southwark cathedral to catch some rays.

Too many posh types visit the place. I only go for prezzie ideas or Christmas pickings. On rare ocassions I've been there when a tv cook is being filmed knocking up some dish or other,

Market Kitchen is filmed there - often a chef will go and buy produce from the market and cook it there and then. It's a regular feature.

Peter Gott, the Wild Boar fella and his shop, often make appearances on that show.

I work practically across the street from the market. Monmouth is the only place I buy coffee from now. Konditor abd Cook do great Boston brownies, as stated by another poster. Brindisa do great tapas and their chorizo and roasted red pepper ciabattas are amazing (stall opposite Konditor). I also recommend Appleby's fish restaurant for the prawn or cajun fish wraps and the place that sells the ostrich minute steaks.

De Gustibus is great for bread but pricey. I don't recommend Elsey and Bent fruit though; it's overpriced and goes mouldy very quickly.

what do you think they do with it then.....keep it a couple of weeks before they put it on display ?

I don't know what they do with it tbh! It's just from personal experience the fruit hasn't lasted as long as fruit from other stalls. I'd hazard a guess that it's probably down to storage or transportation in non-refrigerated containers, but that is total speculation.

Ive always wanted to go there after watching market kitchen. Preferably with lots of cash.

I love Borough Market, me and my sister have been a few times. It's got a lovely Victorian feel about it. I love the fish stall with every kind of fish imaginable, last time I was there I bought scallops, which were melt in the mouth gorgeous !.
I prefer to go in the week when it's not so busy, can't remember any of the stallholders names but my sister got rabbit from the butchers which she said was wonderful.

I've taken a few pictures there, I even snapped 'Bridget Jones' front door.

I like Brindisa, the Spanish food importers - I used to go to their shop in Exmouth Market to buy bread, olives, turron and the bf loved their meat/ham/chorizo. Sadly it has now shut down (something to do with the recession and having to buy their goods in Euros) so I will have to get over to their stall in Borough more frequently.

There's a stall in the back bit of the market with excellent falafels - they do them with the proper pickles (what are those pink things - turnips? ) - anyway, they are delicious. The stall Sweet does nice meringues and marshmallow - I think you can buy it by length.

I always seem to buy oil, pickle and chutney whenever I go - I can't resist trying all the samples and then end up coming back with a bagful

It's a great please but you are right about taking wads of cash! Last time we visited at breakfast time and we had a bacon roll and a nice cup of tea - it was very tasty but not cheap. I always pick up some bread from flour power - but as we live about 70 minute rail journey we have to be careful not to overload ourselves!

Sounds delicous, something for me to try on Saturday methinks!

And this!



I forgot to add, I also picked up some gorgeous large, dark red, juicy, sweet strawberries. Two punnets for £1.50.

Me too...

Oh it is a great place. So much to choose from.

Best time to go is early on a Saturday morning (all the stalls should be open). By 11.00 it starts to get very crowded.

Top places:

Brindisa: superb oils, vinegars and chorizo

Konditor & Cook: great cakes

Mrs Bourne's Cheshire Cheese: speaks for itself

The stall next to Mrs Bourne's that does the preserves, chutneys etc has the best Horseradish Sauce

Flour Power City: the best (THE BEST) chocolate brownies. Also great bananna cake and almond croissant.

The venison place in the middle is superb (where you get the burgers etc)

The cafe in the middle os the market is great for breakfast

The chicken wraps at the stall just inside from the middle road are worth anyone's money

There's a place that sells the best Parmesan I've ever tasted but if you you ask for 100g "we can't ut it that small." Yes you can, but I can't get through any more quickly enough

It's a wonderful place. Can't think why other places don't copy it. A weekly market like that somewhere like Brighton would be a huge attraction.

No trip to Borough Market would be complete without a visit to the beer garden at The Rake.
Like everything else in Borough Market, it is dear, but worth it as a treat.

I used to drink occasionally in The Market Porter in Borough Market.

Good pub that was.

There's a stall that sells truffles and related items. The white truffle honey they sell is my favourite favourite thing I have ever tasted.

Still is.

had a dip a few years back when they had too many Aussie staff who had no idea how to keep the ale.

Stroll down the road to Winchester Walk wher the Utobeer people have a Belgian style Bar.

Forgot the mention the ostrich meat stall and Neals Yard Dairy - great cheese (Grommit)

Hi
I went in Feb 09 and I couldnt find the falafel stall...I thought perhaps they had moved elsewhere in the market but i did go all round

We had a weekend break in London last bank hol and went to Borough market to buy picnic ingredients- it was fab- easily as good as markets on the continenet although quite pricey. Like the OP we had the little creme caramels for a pound, some great cheese and hams and a wonderful chocolate and raspberry cake from a cake shop outside that was gluten free- made with ground almonds. Well worth a trip for any foodie

I must admit I've not been overtly impressed with the place.

Maybe it's the times I've been there, but it does seem more of a tourist trap than anything else.

Can anyone suggest a time to visit when you can get down to serious food buying, rather than wading through hordes of people looking for rustic focaccia and the like?

far from all tourists, it's Londoners (and local to London) who recognise quality food and don't mind that' it's a bit dearer the Sainsbury's or Tescos (there's a reason for that).

Go early on the Saturday. Before 10.00, even up to 11.00, it's not that crowded.