Queen Victoria’s Market

Melbourne, victoria, australia

Brilliant Market

Visited in March 2015

Normally as I do reviews for this blog, it includes restaurants and wine. But being in the food industry, there is so much more in the food world that articles can be focused on. I learned that being in Seattle in 2014 when I went to the Pikes Place Market, a historical food and farmers market that gave me the idea that I can write about for than just restaurants and wine. So, while I was in Melbourne, Australia on a city tour, I stopped by the Queen Victoria’s Market, and found it just as impressive as the market in Seattle. 

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From the market’s home page:

Welcome to Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne Australia. Also known affectionately as ‘Vic Market’ or ‘Queen Vic’, the Queen Victoria Market has been the heart and soul of Melbourne for more than a century. A historic landmark spread over two city blocks, it’s a vibrant and bustling inner-city Market where you can shop for everything from Australian fruit and vegetables, and local and imported gourmet foods, to cosmetics, clothing and souvenirs.

Main review:

A very diverse market and extremely large covering nearly three city blocks. Once I finally arrived as the public transportation system and tram system can be confusing on which tram number to take to get you close enough to the market. 

As I arrived I noticed a small monument next to the parking lot dedicated to John Batman, who was one of the first settlers and founders of Melbourne. The first part of the market I entered contained a large mecca of non-farmers market items for sale. Rows and rows of people selling souvenirs, trinkets, and clothes. Once I made it past the many rows of these Items I discovered the actual farmers market selling all the local grown and organic fruits and vegetables of every variety you can imagine. 

The market then continued on into an inclosed building where there were several more rows of individual shops selling local cheese, charcuterie, and in the back section at least 40 venders selling meat, pork, and poultry.

It was great to see a good variety of local products to include kangaroo meat. After this section they had a separate seafood section with more variety than can be imagined, from Blue Crab to Coffin Bay Oysters. 

Outside the main building were small candy shops, restaurants, and fast foods, with even more shops, accept these were higher end and boutique places for shopping. Overall, it was a great experience. I purchased several varieties of cheese from the Melbourne area and 

Tasmania to include Kings Island Dairy from one of the local cheese stores called Woods Aussie Deli.

I highly recommend visiting the market if you visit Melbourne in the future.

Market address:

Queen Victoria Market Pty Ltd

Management Office

Rear of 513 Elizabeth Street

Melbourne VIC 3000

PO Box 12415

Franklin Street Post Office

Melbourne VIC 8006

Neighborhood:

Downtown Melbourne

Cross streets:

Corner of Victoria St and Elizabeth St

GPS Coordinates: 

Latitude:-37.806912

Longetude:144.959466

Contact Information: 

Contact:	(03) 9320 5822
Market Website:	Queen Victoria’s Market
Social Media:	Facebook Link
	Twitter @VicMarket
	Pinterest
	Blog

Hours:

Lunch: 

Daily: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm 

Dinner:

Monday	Closed
Tuesday	6:00 am –2:00 pm
Wednesday	Closed
Thursday	6:00 am –2:00 pm
Friday	6:00 am –5:00 pm
Saturday	6:00 am –3:00 pm
Sunday	9:00 am –4:00 pm

  

Standard Time (GMT +10:00)

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Review by:

Chef Sean Overpeck (CFE)

Chef Sean cooks for soldiers in Afghanistan, 2012:

"Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things, but in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well."

TTFN

Pike Place Market

Seattle, Washington

Review title

Visited in August 2014

When traveling down the busy streets of any American city you get lost is the hustle and bustle of what goes on around you, no matter if you’re a tourist or a resident. In Seattle, Washington, when traveling near the waterfront and after you have visited the Space Needle, you are going to run into an area that takes you back in history, and where you will see a city landmark known as the Pike Place Market.

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From the home page:

Welcome to Seattle’s beloved public market! Pike Place Market is the city’s center for fresh, local produce, specialty food and small independent businesses. Established in 1907 to connect citizens and farmers, the Market continues its “Meet the Producer” tradition with a year-round farmers market, owner-operated bakeries, fish markets, butcher shops, produce stands and specialty food stores.

Within the nine acre Market historic district is a daily crafts market, which features the quality work of 225 craftspeople, and more than 200 unique owner-operated shops and services. There are more than 80 restaurants within the Market boundaries, from take out counters to fine dining establishments.

The Market is also home to more than 350 residents, many of whom are low-income seniors. Four social service agencies, including a senior center, food bank, medical clinic and preschool serve the downtown community.

Welcome to the neighborhood!

Main review:

I was in Seattle for one day with fellow co-workers, and we all decided to visit the market, since all five of us were Chef’s, then why not. It is located in the center of downtown Seattle, very close to the waterfront, and is like stepping through a time machine back to the 1940’s. The market area itself was enclosed, but along either side of the walking path were concession booths selling fresh fruits, vegetables, and seafood. On the ground, were tiles with names of people or companies that had donated money to the restoration of the market. Besides local cheese farms, restaurants, and concessions was the world famous Pike Place Fish Market, where fresh catch is fished daily and brought back for immediate sale. Also to put on a show, every time someone places an order, they have several employees at opposite ends of the large concession stands, tossing fish in the air, and then back over to the employee who fillet’s them. It is a cool spectacle to observe. Below the main level there are more specialty shops that get away from the sale of fruits and fish, concentrating on the sale of trinkets, nick knacks, and outright collectables.

When you walk outside the market there are smaller venders selling cooked corn on the cob, a Piroshky store, and the very first Starbucks. Personally I’m not a fan of their coffee, and will not pay $3-7 for a cup, but it was neat to see the first store, back in the day when maybe they were a good coffee house before going global. All in all when you visit Seattle, you have to stop by and check it out, it will be worth your time. During your visit stop by the Pike Brewing Company Restaurant next to the Market, which has a good menu, great service, and an outstanding selection of micro-brewed beers to offer.

Address:         

Pike Place Market PDA

85 Pike Street, Room 500

Seattle, WA 98101

   

Neighborhood:

Waterfront

Cross streets:

1st Ave and Pike Street

GPS Coordinates:

Latitude: 47.608444

Longitude: -122.340549

Contact Information:

Website:	Pike Place Market
Phone	(206) 682-7453
Email:	Contact the Market
Social Media:	Facebook Link
	Twitter
	Pinterest

Hours:

Monday	9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Tuesday	9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Wednesday	9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday	9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Friday	9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday	9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday	9:00 am – 6:00 pm

  

Pacific Standard Time (GMT -8:00)

           

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Review by:

Chef Sean Overpeck (CFE) in Antarctica 2014

Chef Sean cooks for soldiers in Afghanistan, 2012:

"Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things, but in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well."

TTFN