Markets: The Beating Heart of Local Gastronomy and Cuisine (page 1 of 3)

I don’t know about you, but I’m a huge fan of markets. No matter where I go, in every country or city I visit, I won’t leave without having seen one. I’m mostly talking about food markets. I love the smells, the colors, and watching people from all walks of life stroll around. It’s like a mirror of a country’s culture, and I love soaking it all in.

Thai markets are particularly appealing to me. In my province, there are so many. Maybe more than elsewhere—I’m not sure—but every day, you can find a "Talat Nat." These are traveling markets that set up in specific places on specific days. They only stay open for a few hours. Some attract more shoppers than others because they have more stalls and a wider variety of products. Sometimes, they’re set up in pretty unusual spots: temples, roadside, even on train tracks...

On top of these, there are also markets in the city that stay open all day.

I’d love for you to share your photos of markets, local product stalls, and why not, let’s talk about gastronomy and cuisine too!

I’ll start with my favorite market—it’s 8 kilometers from my place and happens every Tuesday from 2 PM to 5 PM. I never miss a Tuesday unless there’s a downpour... 😉 It’s located in the countryside, in a village famous for its coffee (ThamSing), and inside the grounds of a slightly unusual temple. It’s easy to get to—over the past 10 years, the roads have been paved, which wasn’t the case before and made the trip a bit risky when it rained...

In the first two photos, you’ll see the temple courtyard on a normal day, without the market.

Hello

I’ll start with my favorite market—it’s 8 kilometers from my place and takes place every Tuesday from 2 to 5 PM. I never miss a Tuesday unless there’s a downpour… 😉 It’s set in the countryside, in a village famous for its coffee (ThamSing), right inside a slightly unusual temple.

I love markets too. Where exactly is this one located?

Oh yeah, I thought everyone knew about Tham Sing. ;) It's a village south of Chumphon city.

No, I don’t know it at all, but I thought "ThamSing." was the name of the café—otherwise I would’ve found it online.

I suggest posting your market photos

I’ll check if I have any...

and why not also branch out into gastronomy and cooking.

There’s already a similar thread here, but I found it pretty thin—our competitors do much better both in terms of the number of entries and the general and detailed explanations contributors have shared. But when it comes to market photos, "if I find any," count on me.

Hello

I suggest you post your market photos....

Like you, I love markets, and since you’re suggesting we post photos, here are a few from Laos to Tanzania, passing through Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, and others.

Paotere Market in Sulawesi (Indonesia)... plus, I don’t like bananas 😕



Buffalo Market in Bolu, Sulawesi



Few buyers in the tropical rain at this Cambodian market:



Another Cambodian market, this time without the rain:



Luang Prabang Market (Laos): bon appétit 😛



A rural market in Laos:



Flower seller (in a food market) in Kalaw (Myanmar)

Nyaung-U (Myanmar... before the return of dictatorship). The women wear thanaka, a plant-based cosmetic paste. Besides its cosmetic use, thanaka provides a cooling sensation.

Hi, Since we're in the Thailand section, I assumed we could only post photos of Thai markets, but it's true that Philippebrg doesn't seem to specify that.

Since we're in the Thailand section, I assumed we could only post photos of Thai markets

Yeah, that's true, but I didn't notice we were in Thailand because I always check the "Southeast Asia" section, not just "Thailand," so for me, it was all of Southeast Asia 😛 I even wondered if the markets could come from other continents.

Philippebrg's reply to follow: Thailand, Southeast Asia, or all continents?

Since we're in the Thailand section, I assumed we could only post photos of Thai markets

Yeah, that's true, but I didn't notice we were in Thailand because I always check the "Southeast Asia" section, not just "Thailand," so for me, it was all of Southeast Asia 😛 I even wondered if markets could come from other continents.

Philippebrg's reply to follow: Thailand, Southeast Asia, or all continents?

Hello, I didn’t specify, sorry, but in my mind, it was just about Thailand. I think we can expand it to Southeast Asia for more variety, without spreading ourselves too thin.

Philippe

Just last week, you could still find fruit at incredibly low prices at this very market. Here, mangosteens for about 50 cents per kilo, longkongs at the same price, and rambutans a bit pricier... These are the last of the season, which explains these prices.

For your information, Voyajou's message and photos were removed at their request as they were not related to Thailand.

This is a great topic for the contest, isn't it? 😛

I also love markets. They bustle, they hum, they smell, they stink, they’re alive!!

Siquijor, Philippines (with the bonus of leftover lechon, a typical dish—a sort of roast pig)

At the morning market in the charming town of Nan:

All kinds of dried fish at the Kota Kinabalu night market (Borneo).



The smell of durians is so delightful 😏 that they have their own separate market with dozens of different stalls, all just as pungent... which doesn’t stop me from eating them—as long as they’re not too ripe! :)

@Eiger @Envallis Thanks, lovely markets. @Songsam: I didn’t know those white vegetables that lady was holding with such a big smile. After checking with management, they’re eggplants. There are lots of varieties, but this one clearly doesn’t grow in the south—we’ve never seen them at the markets.

Philippe

Ah, durian... Indonesia is the third-largest durian producer after Thailand and Vietnam. However, they don’t export it—the fruit is meant for local consumption. In Thailand, over half of the production is exported, while the rest is reserved for local consumption (which is very low) and for making derivative products (like snacks). Here, it’s a pretty expensive product for locals. The Chumphon region, where I live, produces the most (along with Chantaburi). You can’t go a kilometer without running into a durian field.

Right now, you can find quite a few of these in markets, but what *is* this fruit? Do you know it? It’s not that common. The segments you remove from the bunch can be eaten raw or fried with their pit.

It's the one whose name in French can be written with or without a "c," unlike "Compostelle." I didn't know it was also eaten fried (in what looks like doughnut batter, based on your last photo?).

Fruit bought at a market in Bajawa on the island of Flores (Indonesia): I don’t know its Indonesian name or its French name (if it has one). Pretty good with a creamy texture and a yogurt-like taste! We even ate it with a small spoon.

The photos and description look like sugar apples, but the fact that the big black seeds aren't visible or mentioned makes me doubt...