As we sat over a rather good caffe latte, observing the relentless mono-culturalness that seems to be a feature of "farmers' markets" everywhere - the local girl had a thought. "There are pork buns in there..." she whispered, pointing at the door to a hall which housed the pop up food stalls.
We looked at the time. 11:35 am. Then how we laughed when we realised - ANY TIME IS PORK BUN TIME!
So - we ventured forth and lo - through the hazy mists we spied the bamboo steamer and the hand written sign promising Free Range Pork Steamed Buns.
On the outside a very respectable looking pork bun. A faint glossy sheen and a pleasing but not especially pale dough.
Inside, a nice amount of filling - cubed pork - tender, fragrant and very juicy looking. No sign of red char siu, mushroom or any Asian spices in this baby.
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Lookit tha' graveeeey |
...and the flavour? The dough agreeably sweet but not overpoweringly so. The filling - like a tasty meat pie - savory and umami with a lovely peppery after-bite. Really unlike any other bao I've bitten into.
I think it is the perfect country farmers' market bun - the meat pie baozi!