Otara Market

I made a very quick trip to the Otara Markets just before Christmas to buy Taro leaves for a Palusami I was making for a Christmas dinner, and enjoyed it so much I was determined to go back soon with a sketchbook.

Despite Auckland being the largest Polynesian city in the world, it is very difficult to find a Polynesian restaurant or even ingredients for Pacific dishes in our city. Your best bet is to visit the Otara markets in South Auckland, held every Saturday morning, not only will you find what you’re after, but it’s an excellent morning out with all the usual market items available, super fresh produce, island clothing, crappy toys (my son goes mad for these), ukeleles, reggae & island CD’s and all sorts of food, from the Banana Poke I spotted (bananas cooked with arrowroot until it resembles a black goo served cold with coconut milk, it looks terrible but tastes delicious!), Panakeke (large flat donuts with golden syrup inside) to Asian food to espresso coffee and churros. Diverse as!

Trimming the Taro for sale…

I tried sketching the huge

crowd as they walked past,

with average results…

and this awesome old cabover

Kenworth truck loading

up at the end end of the day…