SloFo WeFo Farmers Market Where West Footscray Comes Together

The SloFo WeFo Farmers Market is one of my favourite things about living in Melbourne, and it’s right in our corner of West Footscray. This Slow Food market runs on the second Saturday of every month, and it has become part of my weekend routine, along with a morning jog, a slow yoga class with my fave teacher Anzari, a thin new book (so I can devour it over the same weekend), and a soy chai from The Chestnut Tree Book Shop.

This year the SloFo WeFo Farmers Market moved to a new, bigger spot on the field, which means more vendors and more room to wander. My routine hasn’t changed, and this month I finally sat down to document it. May it be a sweet memory for future me, retired somewhere in Bali, and maybe a little inspo for you to come and visit.

Treat on Repeat

I always start my day at the SloFo WeFo Farmers Market with a treat, which I nibble on during my first lap while making mental notes of the stalls I want to come back to. This time, though, I was tempted by the sausage sizzle in front of the bookshop, so I arrived at the market still a wee bit full. Luckily, there’s always room for coffee.

A New Coffee

The SloFo WeFo Farmers Market always has something new on offer, and while I tend to stick with the same treat (empanadas on repeat), I like to try a different drink each time. This month I was torn between a strawberry matcha, because the day felt very springy, and a Yemeni coffee stall. The coffee won, and I walked away with an iced qahwah from the friendly vendor in the corner.

Getting My Spicy On

My first proper stop was to top up on chilli oil from my favourite brand, Mrs C’s, because they are simply the best. They make a whole range of chilli oil-based products, and I love them all, but my monthly top-up has always been their signature, aptly named The OG. I have finished countless jars from this stall and gifted plenty more. It’s hands down the best chilli oil around, and it’s worth the trip to the market.

If you like your heat with a little sweetness, try their chilli honeys. The Bee Sting is the spiciest of the three, made with honey and The OG chilli oil. There’s also Alma-geddon, crunchy almonds flavoured with The OG and a touch of sweetness to balance the heat. And if you’re new to spicy, start with The Apprentice, which has all the crunch of The OG with a gentler burn. Yummy!

A Little Day Drinking

One of the best things about a farmers market is that most vendors let you try before you buy. One of the best things about me is that I don’t think day drinking is bad. So I stopped at a few stalls and worked my way through some gins and whiskeys before settling on a honey liqueur from Ironstone Farm, which I convinced myself could be an aperitif for Fafa and me. (The man doesn’t drink aperitifs, but that’s not the point, is it?)

Running an Errand

Another first this time was getting my Japanese knife sharpened by That Bike Knife Guy. I’ve always wanted to learn to do it myself, but I’m a bit of a scaredy-cat, so I finally handed it to someone who knows what they’re doing. It meant walking home to grab my knife (and my camera) and walking back again, which turned out to be a good thing.

Soaking Up the Vibe

With my Fuji around my neck, I chatted with a few vendors. The alcohol vendor talked at length about his passion for photography, from shooting beehives to travel photos, and told me to keep practising. Right after, I bumped into a guy from the neighbourhood who does pet and family photography. Maybe I’ll book him next time I drag Fafa along.

Then I found a spot, sat down, and let the live music do its thing for a while.

Multicultural Kitchen

For a neighbourhood market, the SloFo WeFo Farmers Market is wonderfully multicultural. I’ve made Sri Lankan curry and jambalaya from pastes I bought here. This time I went for fresh pasta, mainly because the stall offered me freshly made gnocchi to taste, twice. I settled with their beef ravioli, after asking about the difference between the ravioli and the agnolotti (more meat). It’s award-winning, and I will be cooking it on a slow Monday and will report back.

A Gift for the Next Catch-Up

Here’s a habit I probably picked up from my friend Liz. Whenever I can, I buy something at the market to gift at my next social gathering. This time I was torn between Irish gin and honey before landing on another award winner, Rose Creek Estate’s green olive oil. It’s gorgeous. I can’t wait to give it to my friend, and I loved it even more when the lady handed me a bag so I could keep shopping.

In the end, what makes the SloFo WeFo Farmers Market truly special is the people. The ones who greet me by name, smile and say “see you next month,” let me taste so many different things, and are generous enough to let me photograph their stalls. None of this routine was planned, but it seems to be working for me. I’ll be back at the Slow Food market next month, and I hope I’ll see you there too.

SloFo WeFo Farmers Market address: Johnson Reserve, 154 Essex St, West Footscray VIC 3012. Every second Saturday of the month, 9 AM- 1 PM.

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