For the Love of Food

Gay at A scientist in the kitchen has started a wonderful idea of writing about ones local market(s). I thought this was an excellent chance to tell you a little about where I call home and to show you the wonderful people who are part of my every day food life.

First, a bit about Fürth.  Fürth is a “large-city” (groß Stadt) (in Germany you are technically a large-city when you have over 100,000 people) with about 114,000 residents. It’s the safest large-city in Bavaria.  It’s situated right next to Nürnberg, and is NOT a suburb of Nürnberg. There is tons of green space all around the city and it’s really nice and relaxing to live some place small enough to know many people, but large enough where you still have a private life.

The Fürther Open Air Market is located here: (courtesy of Google Maps)

Locally, in German, it*s called der Markt – which is short for der Markt unter freiem Himmel – which translates to the market under the open heaven/sky. It’s open every weekday from 7am-7pm, and Saturday from 7am-2pm. It’s closed on holidays and on almost all Sundays of the year except for special events. It also moves around from time to time. It’s situated on Fürther Freiheit (Fürth’s Freedom) – which is a plaza where festivals and other major happenings take place year round. It’s also the end station of the first train that ever drove in Germany (from Nürnberg to Fürth). There is also a farmers market “Bauern Markt” that is located in historic down town that’s only open from 7am-2pm on Saturdays.

I do most of my main shopping once a week, but I often stop by a few times a week when I take my son for walks so that we can get some fruit. I could easily spend tons of money here.

It is a little more expensive to shop at the open air market, but only technically. There is a local grocery store that has an OK selection of produce year round, but what often happens is the produce will look, smell, and feel perfectly fine on the outside, and when you get home and cut it open it’s rotten and molded. I don’t know how many times I’ve had to throw away lots of food from there it just makes me mad. So, instead of throwing away food, I decided to support a local business and local farmers, spend a little more, and get the best.

I also only from one stand: Bulut Hüseyin.

He’s a man from Turkey who runs the stand with his extended family. They have the best selection and, for me, the best prices. Now, I say for me because since I ONLY shop at their stand I get a discount – that’s loyalty for you. Some times a get €1 or €3 off, sometime it’s €0,50 and a few extra fruit it just all depends. For his birthday my son was given a whole bag of grapes!!! And, I always get a nice friendly conversation to top it off. I also know that if I need something exotic, he can get it for me – even if I’ve never seen it at his stand before, he can get it – he can get anything. I’ve also had the opportunity to translate some documents for him since he doesn’t speak English.

My favorite Cheese place on Fürther Freiheit:

Other markets:

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