Sharing some Hornsby Market love with Lisa

How and when did you first discover Hornsby Markets

Wow, it feels like I have always gone to them.  Four years or so?  I found them by change just trawling around Hornsby with small kidlettes in tow.

What was it that impressed you most about them

What impressed me most was finding beautiful artisan bread.   Having moved from the inner city, it was great to see yummy sourdough and farm fresh produce available at Hornsby and not have to go elsewhere.

Are you a browse, chat and see where the day takes you type of chick or are you a "got my list, know what I need and where to get it" shopper

I am a mix between both.  I do have a certain few stalls I frequent regularly to pick up my favourite products, but I will also have a look and a chat (time permitting).

Do you have a favourite recipe you like to cook using produce bought at market

Fresh fruit and veggies make me a very happy gal!!! I love making a Lebanese bean dish using green beans I often buy and the other week I made a gorgeous gluten free plum cake using some beautiful Sierra plums I procured.

check out Lisa's blog for this amazing recipe "here" and while you're at there are loads more inspiring little pearls so have a scroll through and get inspired!

For those who are yet to discover the delights of Hornsby Market, what 5 words would you use to encourage them to get in and give it a go

Vibrant

Brilliant Bread

Fresh

Exciting

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What more can we say!  Another devotee with some inspiring recipes using produce bought at market!  We LOVE that!  So if you haven't yet, reckon it might just be about time to get yourselves to Hornsby Mall on a Thursday and have a wander, a sample, take a friend, have some great hot food while you decide what you will be buying from market to take home and trust us when we say you will taste the difference!

From Silvia - Gluten Free Cuisine

Gluten Free Cuisine has been a part of (and more importantly) a firm favourite of our markets for many years.  What first inspired you to start experimenting with recipes that were gluten free but still yummy at the same time

My daughter was diagnosed with an intolerance to preservatives, all those years ago now, and we began a journey of creating "loved" foods with NO added preservatives (or "no numbers" as we like to put it), thickeners or additives.  With a background in research, it was not long before we recognised there was a need for great tasting QUALITY foods that could be made readily available to the many with special dietary requirements, intolerances, or simply wanted to eat well with and enjoying great tasting foods!

You have a few "signature" pieces (eg: lemon meringue pie being top of the pops).  As you do 3 of our markets (Hornsby on Thursdays, Orange Grove on Saturdays and Frenchs Forest on Sundays), is there a particular favourite per location or are they as equally popular no matter which postcode you are at

Good question!  We seem to sell across the range pretty much throughout the year at every market we do.  Over the years we have built a fantastic relationship with our customers and we are a weekly "one stop shop" for many - across our Freshly Baked Artisan Organic Breads (all soy free, dairy free, canola free, animal fat free)

Savoury offerings such as Handmade Fresh Pasta, Classic Pesto and of course our Sweet Treats.

Actually our range has evolved based on our customer waitlist, including more dairy free options, larger celebration cakes and the latest offerings are our NUT FREE Organic Banana Bread & Cookies: All Gluten Free!

There is no denying market life can be trying at times, particularly when the weather doesn't play nicely; yet you are always there with a smile, rain, hail or shine, which not only do we appreciate but we KNOW your customers do as well.  What has been one of the more memorable experiences of market life for you

We have so many memorable moments & experiences: all so special in their own ways. We received a text from a customer just before Easter last year saying his wife was going in to labour and had requested our GF (gluten free) DF (dairy free) Hot Cross Buns and please save him one, he was on the way!

Over the years, it has been our privilege to be part of families as they prepare to welcome precious new borns with weekly Lamingtons to help them on the way, then of course we get to create Special Celebration Cakes.  

We have created Signature Wedding Cakes and  that Special Birthday Cake for the 90 years young whose special request is the Lemon Meringue (of course!), and for it to be large enough for her 90 guests!!!

We get called upon for that Bespoke Catering that meets special dietary requirements and more frequently provide GF (gluten free) WF (wheat free) NF (nut free) treats for the school lunch boxes!

From your personal stance, what is it about markets like ours that play a pivotal role in the local community

We love that our customers are able to purchase products from us that are literally hours from leaving the oven.  It is so special to get to know our customers who eat our food, to hear their stories, their sincere appreciation for what we make and to know we can really make a difference.  Our customers in turn love to hear our stories too.

The pivotal role in the local community (as you put it) is that markets provide for that quintessential experience of what nurtures people socially, and communities economically and all this whilst providing produce straight from the producers.

How would you sum up the world of Gluten Free Cuisine in 5 words

Dedicated Gluten Free for Everyone!

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Fantastic story behind a firmly entrenched, much loved and ever evolving producer of all things Gluten Free.  Swing by and say a massive "Hi" to Sylvia and her team every Thursday and trust us, from what we have seen..the sweet treats are getting more delicious by the week!

5 Questions with Amphore (Janelle McInerney)

How long have you been part of the Organic Food Markets "family"

Gabriel has been at Hornsby from the start.  That is how I met him.  I am a local (living only a block from the markets!) and totally in to organic food & health (I am a Kinesiologist by training), to would stop and chat with him.

I have been doing Hornsby Market for about a year now - after losing my job at TAFE (along with many others).  Gabriel suggested I help him out.

That has now grown from only working Thursdays to helping Gabe at all his markets (Kings Cross on a Saturday & Frenchs Forest on a Sunday), then developing a new product (Coconut Kefir... soooooo good, literally walking out the door at the markets!) and effectively to a business partnership.

this is a lassi version that contains the kefir

also incredibly popular!

Now I am selling the products to Health Food stores Sydney-wide.

Can you give us a little bit of background a to how Amphore "came to life" so to speak

Gabriel wanted to develop and sell products that really worked minus the exaggeration and marketing spin.

So he asked a few pertinent questions:

• What is the best way to gain/regain a healthy gut
• What repaires and nourishes the skin best

Of course the answers to these questions respectively are the basis of what we produce now:

Kombucha drink (which contains Glucaric Acid - THE best detox tool in food form bar non) which tastes like Ginger Beer = BONUS

Coconut Kefir )the strongest most effective probiotic food there is, but DAIRY & SUGAR FREE and a complete replacement to Dairy in the kitchen) and tastes totally decadent

Certified Rosehip Oil for skin repair

Clear Jojoba for skin hydration

Skin Logique for face, hand & body cream (which does the lot and is Aloe Vera based)

You do quite a few of our other markets as well.  Is there any noticeable difference as to the type of custom which is unique to each location?

Pretty much the same.  Mainly locals who are switched on about health and how are looking for a bargain.

Of course we get to know some of our customers quite well, and consider many as friends.

Often we are told that they have come to market especially for one of our products as they have become essential in some way in their lives.

Market lift can at times be tough with the early starts and the weather gods not being particularly kind at times.  How has been a marketeer enriched your life.

As long as you are rugged up, the weather is not an issue.  On really wet days Gabriel will bring his guitar along and we "play" so to speak.

And it is surprising how well we scrub up after not much sleep.

What I do is more of a vocation than a job to me - I am an educator with a Natural Therapies background.  I can get to more people, enrich their lives in a way that matters to me far more effectively than I could when I taught.  And I am paying the rent: a win/win!

For those who are yet to discover the hidden secret in Hornsby on a Thursday, what would you say to encourage them to bite the bullet and give it a go?

Healthy bargains, delightful company, consistently high produce, always something new to try and a great way to catch up with friends.

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An enormous thanks to Janelle for sharing some of her Amphore life with us and you can find them at Hornsby Markets every Thursday!