5 Questions with Brasserie Bread

Brasserie Bread has had an incredibly long association with Organic Food Markets.  Can you enlighten us as to how this "introduction" came to be

Brasserie Bread has been actively involved in farmer's markets in Sydney for the past 7 years.  It's a very important part of our wholesale business.

Farmer's Market shoppers also share their experience with lots of other people, both good and bad!  This certainly keeps us on our toes and gives us invaluable insight for future product development.

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What we particular love and admire about the Brasserie Bread team is that they hold true to the mandate for the markets which is that we trade "rain, hail or shine", and with stunners like

and

and these

seems our shoppers are also stalwart fans cause they just keep a comin back for more!

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Your bread is known for winning many medals at many Easter Shows which is a testament as to how good your products are. What would be your best seller at any given time

Definitely our organic sourdough which is made with organic unbleached flour, Murray River salt and our 18 year old sourdough starter.

Our Quinoa & Soya Sourdough also have a big following.  It's packed with nutritious soya beans and five seeds including quinoa.

Do Brasserie Bread deliver to market sites or does the stallie collect from the bakery (which would then mean an extra early start for the stallies for sure!)

They pick up from our Banksmeadow Bakery

How would you sum up the world of Brasserie Bread in 5 words

Honouring traditions of artisan baking

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And on that note we thank Brasserie Bread for taking some time to tell us a bit about their story and for providing us each week with their amazing artisan breads and sweet treats!

5 Questions with Putrinos

When did Putrino's make their debut with Organic Food Markets

G & M Putrino have been part of the Organic Food Market family for around 10 years which is quite an achievement!

You are constantly busy, always with a smile and nothing ever being too much trouble. What separates markets like Hornsby, from a retail outlet or a supermarket chain.

Always having loads quality fresh produce at hand and having that personal interaction with customers...always keeps it interesting and definitely keeps us on our toes!

Market life is not for the faint-hearted.  How early does you day start and is there a process to make it a smooth set up and pack down

It's always a very early start.  Firstly we need to make sure we have all the equipment packed, the produce is protected for the journey, ending with a final check to ensure it's easy to unload when arriving at market and then easy to load up at end of day. 

As a stallholder, how does the fact that your fan base is so loyal they will shop whatever the weather, reinforce the fact that you are doing right not just by yourselves but more importantly by the customer

We always make sure we show up in any weather because we know our customers rely on us being there and we absolutely appreciate that they also make the effort to and shop no matter what the weather.  It's what makes it all worthwhile.

Obviously when the weather is great we do incredibly well, but when it's not then we don't.  Luckily for us, the weather is finer more than it's not.

For anyone who has yet to discover the delights of the Putrino crew at Hornsby Market, what 5 words would you use to get em in and have a sample

Come and have a taste!

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As the warmer months are here, so do the berries and stone fruit appear (hey!  we rhymed!!!) so it's THE perfect time to take on the Putrino advice of going to Hornsby Market and having a taste...we promise you will NOT be disappointed!

Porky's Henhouse

Can you give us a little bit of history behind Porky's Henhouse and why you chose to become part of our Hornsby Market Family

Porky's has been up and running for about 7 months now.  I have always enjoyed cooking up a big breakfast for people.  Now I'm just taking it to the next level.

Hornsby is one of the few weekday markets available, and as a long established market I felt privileged that I could find a place there.

How important is it for you to use both free range and organic produce for your food

The quality of my products is essential.  I stand by the reputation of my bacon, eggs and fresh rolls.  Without it, I would not come out to market. 

I refuse to settle for second rate produce.

You also sell organic drinks.  What makes a drink "organic"

No added sugar, no preservatives, no additives.  Made from organically raised produce

What goes in to your "monster rolls"

4 strips of bacon, two HUGE eggs, two massive slices of cheese on a large roll.  I always challenge all of my customers to go bigger

How would you describe Porky's Henhouse in 5 words

Outrageously tasty bacon & eggs

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You up for the challenge we ask?  Go on....give it a go!  MASSIVE thank you to Porky's Henhouse for not only being part of our market but providing an organic sport of sorts: wrapping your laughing gear around one of the MONSTER rolls each Thursday at Hornsby Markets!

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!