It's Saturday morning and stallholders across Queensland are unloading the week's haul in an east-to-west ripple of farmers and artisans bumping in. Marquees are going up, coffee machines are turning on, boxes are being unloaded and early risers keen to fill baskets are sniffing the goods.
For anyone who has ever uttered the words "paddock to plate" in earnest, shopping at a local farmers market is a way of life. And the first flap of the butterfly wing belongs to Brisbane gourmand Jan Power. When Power began Brisbane's first farmers markets more than 30 years ago she also unleashed a torrent of replicas across the state, and the country for that matter.
The first Jan Powers Farmers Markets (JPFM) held back in 1994 was a much different affair to the institution it has become today with its three locations at Brisbane Powerhouse, Manly and Mitchelton.
Since then, there has been much hardship and grief for the Powers. In 2019, Jan's daughter, former radio personality Sammy Power died suddenly at age 55.
It wasn't just the shock of Sammy's death that they had to process and deal with. Since 2012 Sammy had skippered JPFM and acted as the elderly Jan's full-time carer for years. Jan's granddaughter Olivia Gates describes the months following Sammy's death as crazy, a head-spinning period for everyone - particularly her mother Astrid, who in the space of 20 minutes bravely relinquished a banking and finance career of several decades, leaving Sydney to hop on the next plane to Brisbane and help out.
"I really feel for Mum. She lost a sister and gained a business in a few minutes," says Olivia. "She also had to take on care of grandma, to make sure she was being looked after properly. There were just so many competing priorities. It was insane. Then, the pandemic hit."
Denne historien er fra September 2022-utgaven av Gourmet Traveller.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra September 2022-utgaven av Gourmet Traveller.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
From personal experience
Former Hope St Radio chef ELLIE BOUHADANA invites you to gather your loved ones and enjoy an evening of good food and laughter with recipes from her new cookbook, Ellie's Table.
Kimberley Moulton
Kylie Kwong celebrates the individuals helping to grow a stronger community. This month, we applaud the international curator and Yorta Yorta woman who is shining a light on First Peoples.
Tom Wallace
We share a drop with the head winemaker for Devil's Corner, Tamar Ridge and Pirie Sparkling, a master of cool-climate grapes.
Best in class
The top drops to keep an eye out for on wine lists (and why they're worth the splurge)
A taste of refuge
Fleeing war and persecution, Australia's new arrivals push our food culture forward. DANI VALENT explores the contributions of the country's refugee communities.
BE OUR GUEST
Inspired by the sense of place conjured by Europe's Michelin-star restaurants, local restaurateurs are expanding their hospitality remit to include accommodation
Barcelona BUZZ
A popular drawcard for digital nomads and expats alike, the Catalonian capital offers equal parts sophistication and fun. Here, DANI VALENT discovers the latest dining hotspots.
HEATHCOTE BOUND
MICHAEL HARDEN hits the road to explore regional Victoria's Heathcote, home to this year's Best Destination Dining and a host of other delights.
The art of...relishing restaurants
Does working in hospitality make someone a better or worse diner
HEART AND SOUL
Not a vegetable but rather a flower bud that rises on a thistle, the artichoke is a complex delight. Its rewards are hard won; first you must get past the armour of petals and remove the hairy choke. Those who step up are rewarded with sweet and savoury creaminess and the elusive flavour of spring. Many of the recipes here begin with the same Provençal braise. Others call on the nuttiness of artichokes in their raw form. The results make pasta lighter and chicken brighter or can be fried to become a vessel for bold flavours all of which capture the levity of the season.