crab, and if so, what do they put into the
Scicluna’s that make me incredibly proud. I
paste? It is a constant learning experience.
have been to amazing markets and delis all
This influx of new people bringing their
over the world, but nowhere else has such
While supermarkets bring an incredible
passion, knowledge and experience drives
a diverse range of customers. From young
array of global ingredients they also rob
the market forward and keeps it vibrant.
to old, rich to poor, everyone is welcome
us of that essential human interaction,
Were the Asian and Eastern European
at Scicluna’s. You can pop in there and buy
which is such an important part of building
immigrants to leave we would be lucky to
a bag of lentils for 10p, or spend a small
strong, vibrant communities. What Josie
have the custom to support one fish stall.
fortune on Perigord truffles. Everyone is
and the other market stallholders, provide
treated the same. You could hardly say the
is almost like a culinary social services.
Nowhere demonstrates the positive impact
same about Fortnam and Masons or Dean
I am sure that for some of their older
immigration has had on our town more
and Deluca. The whole experience is like
customers it may be the only time anyone
than Sicluna’s Deli. I, for one, have been a
something from another age. It reminds
ever asks how they are doing. So my plea
loyal customer of Josie’s - who is of Maltese
me of my weekly trip to visit butcher Harry
to you would be to support our amazing
descent - for over a decade. A couple of
Martin with my father. People would be
independent businesses. Whether it be a
years ago I featured in a short film shot by
queuing down the street, but he would
Turkish grill or the Polish corner shop that
the very talented local film-maker James
take his time to chat to everyone. I would
sells great kabanos alongside discount
Lockie, and Josie was at the top of our
always be given a thick slice of homemade
lager, never be afraid to embrace – and
list to feature in the production. It was
hazlet on the house while Harry and my
taste - the new.
amazing to hear about how she is still
father chewed the fat. Dad still loves to
learning about new ingredients, traditions
recount how, when he asked Harry the
and techniques. People are often too quick
price of anything, he used to whisper: “That
to talk Doncaster down, but it is places like
depends who you are - some people can
Photography ©Michael Price, 2014
afford to pay full price, others can’t!”
End
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