The Queen Victoria Market, situated in the heart of the city, is the largest open air market in the Southern Hemisphere and has become a part of my weekend ritual. Whether you're a traveller or local, this market is one of the more recognised food establishments in Australia. The global appeal of this market was perhaps best established during my travels to Japan. A rickshaw worker in Asakusa begun convening with us about his time in Australia. At first we were suspicious as it was clear he was on business duty. He was limited in English but our reference point was Queen Vic Market, in which he proclaimed the word 'Borek!' Today I will provide you with the essential guide to experience all the food that this market has to offer.
This is the place to start. Having lived the entirety of my life in Melbourne, bar the odd trip abroad, I've grown up chomping down these jam filled goodies since as long as I can recall. You can grab 5 for $6 and enjoy your sugar fill for the day over an hour or a minute (they don't last long in my family).
The next port of call on our food adventure is to, as the Asakusa worker so brilliantly put, BOREKS! What are boreks might you ask? Boreks are 'baked filled pastries made of a thin flaky dough', originating from Balkan cuisine. Or in more basic terms, they're many morsels destined for your salivating mouths.
This is a particularly convenient eat out spot for vegans. My girlfriend is a vegan and has a few options at her disposal, including the sweet potato borek or the zucchini wrap. All boreks and wraps are value for money, each costing $3.50. The options include the aforementioned sweet potato borek, along with the lamb and cheese and spinach.
Other popular spots at the market include the Bratwurst stall located a couple of stores down from the Borek Bakehouse. In addition, there are numerous spots to grab your cup of coffee, all with varying reputations and prize ranges. The more favoured ones are generally packed to the brim, so determining where to go won't require much brain power.
This is an excellent place to be for the obsessed foodie, or the experience driven traveller. Make sure that you try out the Donuts, Boreks, Bratwursts and then go on to survey the diverse array of fruit and veggie options. A cup of coffee or a sugar cane juice goes hand in hand!