May 23 2013 Latest news:
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Food and crafts from across Europe and beyond were on offer at a special market in south Norfolk at the weekend.
Traders from around the world set up stalls in the Market Place in Diss on Saturday for the town’s first international food and craft market.
Stallholders, including a couple wearing traditional costume and playing music from South America, were selling bread and cakes from France, Italy, Denmark and Poland, noodle dishes from Malaysia, Honk Kong and Vietnam, Greek olives and feta, paella, and freshly-made pizzas and crepes.
There were also cheeses, tartiflette (a cheese and potato dish from the Alps), croissants and a range of other treats and delicacies, savoury and sweet, to try or buy.
As well as food, there were handicrafts and jewellery, including drums, bracelets, notebooks and tribal masks from Africa, clothes made using alpaca wool and lucky charms from Ecuador, and didgeridoos.
Most of the products on sale came from each stallholder’s region, where they are produced by small organisations such as family businesses, farms or small factories using traditional methods.
Speaking before the market opened for business, organiser Olivier Simonin said: “The market will provide visitors with a true flavour of the European continent. People will experience all the tastes of Europe in one market.”
Norfolk turkey giant Bernard Matthews is in talks to sell a stake in the business.