The Great Market- Rijeka, Croatia.

 The last stop in our Croatia tour is this local market near the coast .  It is just a few blocks away from the Bonavia Hotel- where we stayed.  Similar to Salcedo Market in Makati, you can find produce and products from small farms around the region. 

The daily market opens at 7 in the morning and closes at 2 in the afternoon.  The temperature outside is 20 degrees C, a sunny day to stroll around the market.

The area outside is for selling vegetable,flowers, herbs, and fresh fruits.

Inside the market buildings are shops selling an astounding assortment of olive oil, vinegar, honey, jams, pate, bottled and canned  products.
                                                 
You can also see these beautiful Pancetta ( pronounced pan-chetta) on metal hooks sold by the kilogram.

Pancetta are Italian cured meat similar to bacon.  Spiced and dried in the Dalmatian wind, it is a essential ingredient of  Italian dishes.

Wish I can bring some home, but I can't.  :(
                                      
But my heart is set on buying a bottle of Truffle.  Truffles are rare wild mushrooms considered as one of the most expensive delicacies in the world.  They have a strong earthy, pungent flavor. 

Truffle dishes in Manila costs a fortune and are predominantly flavored with truffle oil,  because truffle paste are too expensive. 

This 80 gram bottle of truffle with champignon ( mushroom) sold in the market is priced at 44.90 Kuna or roughly 360 pesos.  I didn't even try to ask for fresh truffle, I'm sure they will be far more expensive.

Truffle paste  in this picture are bottled with either with olives or mushrooms as additives.

 This market display with its colorful assortment of pate, shows me how much Croatian people love their breads.  What's a pate without bread?

 They line up for them early in the morning .

 Their breads are mostly crusty and crispy exteriors with dry soft interiors,  perfect for spreading jams, mediterranean honey and pate.

 Dried fruits  and nuts are also sold by the kilogram.

 This vendor is selling almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts, walnuts, figs, cranberries, prunes, pine nuts, sunflower seeds, and sesame seeds.

 Dried nuts and fruits are often added on local dishes, ice cream, breads, or used as garnish and antipasti

Some of the dried fruits are very tough, reminds me of our local dried mango.

The smelliest part of the market would have to be the fish market. I was surprised at how much fishes there are in this market near the port. Not much variety.  It seems they do not like fish so much. 

They love mackerel (galunggong) though.

  Mackerels are roasted in open flames and flavored with olive oil, parsley, salt and pepper. 

Markets show us the culture of food in a particular country. 

Croatia's market tells me their love for insalata (mostly flavored with vinagrette), cured meat and breads.