Why You Should Try Christmas In July

Entree

Freshly shucked oysters, cooked crayfish and prawns are available all year round from Aptus Seafood, Gem Pier Seafood and South Melbourne Seafoods.

Start with something special like a Crab and Samphire Salad, Sweet Chilli Crab on Cucumber or Scallop Tarts with Carrot and Cardamom Puree.

Or warm up with a soup, ready made from the market, or from scratch like a Celery and Parsnip soup with Bottarga or this delicious French Onion soup recipe by Agathe Kerr of Agathe Patisserie.

Mains

You're spoiled for choice when it comes to meat and poultry ideas for a main at the market.

In our Deli Aisle there's free-range rolls of Chicken with Cranberry and Chestnut or Macadamia and Apricot at Emerald Hill Poultry, Luv-a-Duck whole ducks, and quail K & L Poultry or South Melbourne Poultry marinated butterfly chicken (Lemon Oregano or Peri Peri) and free-range whole chickens.

Flinders & Co have Otway free-range pork, Cape Grim beef and the most amazing looking Pure Black Angus Rib Eye, sure to impress a red meat loving guest.

Or if lamb is on the menu, you won't do better than a leg or shoulder sourced from Fred Kirkpatrick's own farm at Kirkpatrick's Meats.

Thinking of Beef Wellington? Try aged Goulburn Valley Beef fillets from Ralph's Meat Company.

In the Food Hall Hagen's Organic Butcher stock Great Ocean Road and Milawa free-range whole ducks and Berkshire free range pork boneless shoulders perfect for roasting.

Sides

For a star side that will outshine the main, make this amazing Sweet Potato with Goma Dare and Crispy Tofu from Ottolenghi and Noor Murad.

Kohlrabi is another underrated veggie that will shine in this Side Dish in Creamy Sauce.

Green Beans, Pumpkin, Parsnip, Sweet Potato, Beetroot, Potatoes, Button Squash, Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts and Celeriac are all in season at our Fruit and Vegetable traders. 

Georgie's Harvest (Coventry Street) has a recipe for crispy Roast Potatoes.

Pud

If you're not a fan of the traditional fruit pudding, there's loads of options at Emerald Deli's with Bread and Butter pudding, Rhubarb and Apple Strudel and many other fruit tarts and crumbles.

Or prepare a Slow Cooker Lemon and Lime Delicious paired with a tub of Lychee and Lime ice-cream from Fritz Gelato (Food Hall).

There's also flourless Orange or Chocolate Cakes at Flour Patisserie and at Agathé Pâtisserie Coffee and Cinnamon Tart, Basque Burnt Cheesecake and Pear and Chocolate Tart.

Bevvies

Make your dinner festive with a unique winter cocktail like a Pumpkin Spice Negroni cocktail recipe or a Campfire Espresso Martini. Our wine stores in Aisle B have all the spirits you need. 

The Little Wine Shop offers Australian and imported wines including cleanskins, spirits and beers from all over the world.

Swords Select Wine and Beer have their own cleanskin range, commercial wines and an amazing selection of local and international craft beer.

After Dinner treats

Atypic Chocolate (Aisle D) make delicious handmade chocolate and specialty chocolate items that pair perfectly with a mug of chai tea from Tea Drop (Deli Aisle).

Flour Patisserie (Aisle G) and Pickadeli (Food Hall) have brownies and other sweet slices including gluten free and vegan.