The Best Market Stall category was introduced to the competition this year to champion the entrepreneurs who start their retail lives as a stallholder. It was these humble beginnings that helped built household artisan food names. Readers have been voting in their thousands with food and drink stalls comprise about two thirds of the overall vote to date.
Wild About
is a market stall that has colour, vibrancy and one of the best personalities behind the counter, says Gavin O’Doherty says of her pitch in the
People Park
, Dun Laoghaire, on Sundays. “Fiona Falconer’s Wild About brand of market loveliness sets her apart even on the dullest of market days. Her range of jams, chutneys and syrups are sourced using wild Irish ingredients and I have pleaded with her to keep her Nettle Pesto a secret so I can keep this bit of heaven to myself. A truly Irish brand with a unmistakably Irish personality behind the counter.” The market stall has grown its business and now retails its top sellers.
Linda Murray loves the "beautifully designed fresh healthy produce" of My Barn, a stall selling fruits, nuts and cereals and grains run by Latvian-born Dublin-based Jurijs Sujetins that can be found in Blackrock SC on Thursdays and Marley Park, Rathfarnham on Saturdays and Sundays.
Niamh O'Connell loves Mero Mero Mexico, a stalwart of Dublin's Temple Bar Market for their "delicious array of Mexican goods. I go there so often that the staff know my order off by heart".
Suzi Button is standing by the Greek food stall run by Katerina Psimopoulos in the Saturday market in the Dublin Co-op. "The food is simple and beautiful."
Sinead Ryan is lured back time and time again to Castleruddery Organic Farm at Naas Farmers Market for its array of organic fruit and vegetables. "Uncommon ingredients including kohl rabi and okra ,pak choi ,rainbow chard, Russian kale, Jerusalem Artichoke, as well as tomatoes of all colours and sizes all grown on their own farm.
Country Choice at The Milk Market, Limerick, "consistently offers top quality fresh local produce and supports small producers in Ireland," writes Yvonne Ryan of a family business that has "really hands on owners"
Several stalls at Chapel Lane Market in Ennis have been nominated. Green Little Fingers is Michelle Barratt's favourite because "children can see where their vegetables come from and it encourages them to eat healthy". By selling seeds, gift boxes and aprons that are made from recycled denim jeans (and made in Clare) "Aine Purcell brings the joy of growing your own organic vegetables from seed to children and adults alike".
Timothy Counihan visited Frenchman Stefan Griesbach’s
Gannet Fishmongers
at the Galway Market. “One day I had the temerity to ask whether the prawns were fresh and the heavily accented Frenchman retorted with "I certainly 'ope so!" before popping a raw prawn in his mouth - superb display of fresh fish. Amusing staff.”
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Best Shops 2015 is sponsored by Clover, a First Data product from AIB Merchant Services
