The best recipes don’t start with a recipe. They start at a market stall at eight in the morning, with a farmer telling you the leeks are good this week and the tomatoes are finished.
How we shop
- Walk the whole market once before buying anything
- Buy what’s abundant — it’s cheaper and it’s at its best
- Ask what to do with the thing you don’t recognise
- Bring cash, a cloth bag and an empty afternoon
Talk to the people behind the stall
They know when the first figs arrive and which apples keep through winter. Most of our favourite dishes started as a question across a table of produce.
This week’s basket
| Ingredient | What we made | Keeps for |
|---|---|---|
| Leeks | Braised with butter and thyme | 1 week |
| Carrots | Roasted with cumin and honey | 2 weeks |
| Limes | Pickled, for everything | 1 month |
| Fresh herbs | Green sauce | 3 days |
Cook what the market gives you, not what the recipe asks for.
Maya Chen
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