Belfast's Continental Market offers European flavour

The sights, sounds, smells and tastes of Europe will be on show in the centre of Belfast this weekend, when the Continental Market returns to the grounds of the City Hall for four days.

Traders from Spain, Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Holland, Tunisia, Iran and Poland will be setting up their stalls over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend, from Friday, May 26, until Monday, May 29.

“Among the stallholders will be old favourites such as Dutch plant seller Dirk van de Ward,” said Andrew Irvine, Belfast City Council’s Markets Development Officer.

“'The ‘Flying Dutchman' may be the smallest member of the team but what he lacks in stature he certainly makes up for in terms of his huge display of plants and shrubs and also the size of the vehicle he drives. Dirk is one of the largest plant and shrub workers on markets in Holland and loves visiting Belfast.

“Joining Dirk will be Karl Heinz from Germany, with his traditional Schwencklegrille selling Bratwurst Sausages and Julian Jimenez and his wonderful paella, from Cordoba in Spain, cooked to an old traditional family recipe. For garlic lovers such as Peter Kay there will be the grandly named Bolkolord with his garlic bread stall, which is a replica of a giant garlic standing almost 15 feet tall and proudly boasting, 'Garlic Bread – It’s the Future,’” said Andrew.

“There will be cheeses from France and Holland, charcuterie, pates, rich biscuits and cakes from Brittany and M. Couppey, a chef who owns five restaurants in Brittany, cooking up a traditional although specialist dish from the mountain regions of France called Tartiflette, made from Roblechon cheese, ham or bacon, onions, cream and potatoes.

“There also will be a wide range of olives from France, Greece and Italy, anchovies, dried fruits and nuts, garlic, shallots, strawberries and an array of fruit and vegetables from France, fresh bread baked regularly through the day with ‘melt in your mouth’ croissant, pain au raisin and wonderful French tarts.

“On the non-food front there will be leather goods with great handbags from Paris sold by M. Poullain and his wife Myriam, cashmere and silk knitwear, crafts, perfumes from France, and amber and handmade jewellery from Poland. Add to all of this the wonderful aromas of the specialist soaps from Marseille, pot pourri and oils from Provence and it all adds to a great shopping experience tantilising every one of your senses,” said Andrew.

The Continental Market will be open between 10am and 7pm each day at Belfast City Hall.

(SP/KMcA)