If you haven’t already visited the new Stellenbosch fresh goods market then do so! We had a ball there on Saturday morning. Located on the Dorpstreet square in Bosman’s Crossing trading village - the historical entrance into Stellenbosch under the slopes of the Onderpappegaaiberg on the Plankenberg river – we were unintentionally highjacked by a strategically placed, and rather enormous sign which led us to a wine estate breakfast market en route, a minor detour that, had we had the time, was apparently worth the diversion. But I digress…

The fresh goods market is an authentic slow food market... endorsed by the slow food movement and modelled on numerous markets around the world. The ethos behind the slow food market is: ‘caring about the food we eat, the community we live in and the environment we share’ and it was if the very atmosphere of the market was imbued with the philosophy.

In a nutshell slow food is the antithesis of fast-food values and holds that we all have the right to good, wholesome food; that we deserve to know where our food comes from and we should support small artisan producers to ensure the sustainability of their farms. Slow food goes even further to defend rare plant species and educating about the true wealth of foodstuffs the earth offers us.

In similar fashion to the Neighbourgoods market in Cape Town, the slow food market emphasises good old fashioned food by the small scale artisan. There was food, food and more food and everyone was there to sample, savour and take pleasure in the array of delicious fare.

From organic vegetables, fruit and smoothies (handled with aplomb by the ethical co-op) through hand-made soaps, organic essential oils, worm bins, delicious honey, numerous artisan bakers to crêpes, outlandish cup cakes and tarts that would put your average generous gran to shame, and mouth-watering salad combinations from Greengate’s chef, the market was bursting with delicacies and mouth-watering delights.

And throughout the courtyard or square, which ultimately will be surrounded by restaurants, deli’s and bakeries, are trestle tables under umbrellas, providing ample place to comfortably sit on upturned crates to eat your way through a spread of your selection. It’s a great way to spend a Saturday morning and a great place to pick up a spread for weekend meals, whilst getting in touch with the heart of what food should be about.