This event was organised in conjunction with Slow Food Bristol

On arrival at the St Nicholas Market area in Corn Street, Bristol, everyone had to take refuge in Café Nero to warm up before inspecting the market. It's larger than Oxford Farmers' market and much more varied, with a great selection of cheeses, meats, cakes, bread and almost anything you can think of except fruit and vegetables (only one stall at this time of year). The market is distinctive because it is quality controlled by the volunteer organisers. The founder member is particularly concerned about animal welfare and all meat producers are inspected. Some produce is organic, but this is not the overriding theme. A waiting list for stalls means that the organisers can afford to be selective and the market is very busy even in bad weather, as we witnessed for ourselves. We heard that the November market was extremely busy even though floods of rainwater were running down the street.

Particular highlights were salt marsh lamb from the Severn Estuary, a beautifully made fresh cheese and the chocolate workshop! The taramasalata was also brilliant but had sold out.

Then off to Quartier Vert (QV) for lunch, where most of us sampled the Italian School Dinner menu of simple, low salt, but nonetheless delicious dishes. Carrot & fennel salad with garlic mayonnaise, cheesy deep-fried risotto balls or white bean soup with ham stock to start; pasta with home-made pesto, grilled tuna with a red pepper and tomato stew or baked canelloni with Bolognese sauce to follow; almond, lemon and ricotta tart, cheese or affogato to finish. And the winners were soup, tuna and affogato (ice cream with espresso coffee poured on top). It was all delicious - just imagine food of this quality in our schools.

QV's philosophy is simple. Good food depends on good cooking. Good cooking depends on good produce. Good produce depends on good agricultural practices. As well as the restaurant (which also has a great range of Tapas), there is a cookery school and bakery. The cookery school lunch going on upstairs, while we were there, was patronised mostly by men.

For market addicts and appreciators of good simple cooking, this is highly recommended as a day out. The Slow Food Market takes place on the first Sunday of every month and QV is opening another restaurant at Bordeaux Quay in the summer (see http://www.bordeaux-quay.co.uk/bqbrochure.pdf) to save you slogging up the hill to Clifton, or taking a taxi as we did.