I always love plump mussels. We call them "tahong" back in the Philippines. We get very fresh ones from the market harvested just hours before. Juicy, plump and sweet. Here, in the city - I am yet to be tempted with the ones I see on the Supermarket's icy shelves. They might look fresh but I doubt it. Maybe if we go near the coast I might buy some fresher ones.
I see trays unsold for days and days. I'd rather not try. I do have my fix at The Conservatory. Their seafood are fresh. We go there all the time. Only drawback though, their mussels just come in 1 flavour: Sweet-chili.
I crave for anything remotely Filipino but unless I cook it myself I might just have to wait.
Consider my surprise when Vic Market Instagram advertised "The Mussel Pot". From boat to shop! I saw the ad on Thursday. Then on Saturday, Rich and I were there.
Originally our plan was movies and Chinese lunch. It's been a while and felt it is over due. Rich was fine with my mussels plan so we went to the Market instead. Thank you IG and Rich!
We arrived early and walked around the CBD. The Grow Show Melb is still on with some plants in front of the Town Hall. Flowers, herbs etc are show cased in garden beds.
We thought that the Formula 1 car exhibit at Fed Square was on that day, too so we excitedly went, but it was for next week. We just walked around and basked at the quietness of the city. It is not always the case, believe me.
The people probably stayed home until later on because tonight from 7:00pm-7:00am the next day is WHITE NIGHT, in CBD. Light projections on buildings and literally a 24 hour Melbourne is open. Museums, restaurants, trains etc. Last year 500k people turned up.
We both do not like big crowds. We try to avoid it as much as we could. :-) So early visit it is to the city and the famous Queen Victoria Market.
Check out our photos leading to the bowl of mussels!
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The Town Hall |
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| Tamarin Monkey climbing the Town Hall ready for the White Night! It is big maybe 7-10 feet. :-) I am a monkey girl. In a monkey world :-) |
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Yarn bombing is back again! I admit, they are rather cute. Rich said that
"trees do get cold sometimes" :-) |
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| 20/2/16 10 am is very quiet in the city. I think everyone stayed home until later on for the White Night. |
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I had to get this miss to look up because a bird might have landed on its stem and broke it. :-( I wish
I could take it home to put in water. It'd look pretty in my kitchen. But there was a guard and he
might think my rescue effort is actually vandalising :-( |
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| Capturing Rich and the Melby sorroundings :-) |
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| Zucchini flowers |
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Rainbow Chard. Yum in stir fry dishes or just plain steamed
with diced potatoes and butter |
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| Sunflowers are the most friendly of all flowers. Daisy second. |
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| Lush is love |
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Putting my feet up while Rich took his lenses at Michael's.
One was playing up... |
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| Lunch breaks of the buskers! |
then...
TADAH!!!!
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| We arrived! Yum! I couldn't wait. I was fidgety! rofl :-) |
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| The roof is cute. Like mussel shells |
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| This is my steamed bowl with chili, parsley and coconut cream. This is so close to the taste I loved back in the Philippines! |
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| Rich ordered the fresh kilo mussels with garlic butter and bread crumbs...oh my! |
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| I adore this table. Just wood pallets and painted colourfully! Sustainable and eco friendly! |
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| Weekend is not complete without double doses of our fave Boost Drinks. |
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The aftermath :-)
while savouring my lovely meal, I was mentally mind mapping the entire market where to get some freshly baked sourdough breads to mop away this sumptuous soup! But they were far from where we were seated! Next time I will come ready with a big loaf of bread and a spoon :-)
What a lovely Saturday! Thank you Lord for blessings. :-)
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