Our guide book said Prahran Market was "one of Melbourne's great Saturday morning experiences." I wasn't really expecting much though, because, in my mind, "markets" were either grocery stores or places intimately associated with fleas. Prahran forever changed that perception.
What struck me most was the extreme sensory nature of the place: a riot of colors from fruits and vegetables, the sweet aromas of flowers mixed with pungent garlic and cheeses, the textures of meats arrayed in cases like artwork, and the bustle of shoppers combined with the frantic callings of vendors trying to sell off their goods before closing time. We bought fresh-baked bread, a chunk of herbed cheese and a container of fresh-stuffed olives. This was our lunch for the next two days. Free tastings were plentiful, too.
I don't like to cook, and in fact, I am a very poor cook. Seldom has a place motivated me to WANT to cook the way Prahran Market did.
So do yourself a favor when next you are in Melbourne: visit the Prahran Market. For once, the guide book got it right.