Last night was my first trip to Mindil Markets for the season. Like most folk born and bred in Darwin, I have been going to the markets most of my life and I have throughout the years developed favourite stalls from which I very rarely detour from. I had interstate guests up who asked me for recommendations and I realised that I really hadn't ventured very far outside my 'must-haves' which by-the-way includes curry and roti from the Authentic Indian stall :-) I have now decided that each market trip I will have my 'staple' but also try one new delicacy on offer.

So here I was wandering down the thouroughfare studying the delights and 'spying' on what other market-goers had in their hands when the aroma hit me - BBQ squid! I can't believe I've never noticed this before (well I can really given that I beeline towards my favourites) but seriously I have walked past the BBQ Grill stall 'a thousand times'. I have never stopped as there are always people leaving with fish and chips - which is not my 'market' choice. Hidden quite inconspicuously in the far right corner of their bain marie are whole hoods of squid that have been marinated in tomato and spices.

A woman in front of me ordered one and it was quickly bagged and sold. Then a man in front of me asked them to slice it in strips and low and behold, they cooked a fresh hood and sliced it on the BBQ and served it fresh with a slice of lime...I promptly ordered two sliced hoods...to quote the youth of today OMG! That squid was sensational! Just the right amount of marinade to let the flavour of the squid shine and cooked to perfection! It took every inch of me not to devour it all before I got back to my chair and glass of wine. I now have the dilEmma of having another 'staple' on my list, I think I will have to fast before my next visit so I can fit it all in.

Try it out on your next visit, I guarantee it's 'Squid-licious'! :-)