A SLICE of Italy has arrived in Derby and shoppers are snapping up the delights.
The stalls burst with tasty treats and are causing quite a stir.
There are queues on East Street. The award-winning market is back in town.
Salami, breads, cheese, nougats, biscuits, nuts, olives, baklava and Italian sweets create a colourful display.
"I'll be spending more than a tenner," smiled security guard Martin Jessett. "I love foreign food, especially Italian.
"The only downside is that I'm working later so I won't be able to have a this lovely food with a nice bottle of wine."
Martin, from Horsley Woodhouse, was shopping with his wife and fellow foodie Karen. The 53-year-old, who is also a security guard, said: "I know he's going to buy olives because he loves them.
"Martin and I eat more foreign food than English. I know he'll get a few things. He will want to make the most of everything that's being sold today."
Martin and Karen are invited to try some of the food.
On little sticks, they are handed olives and chillies and sun-dried tomatoes. "I want some shallots and a tub of sun-dried tomatoes," said Martin.
He isn't bothered about the price. It's racking up but he's not counting.
His wife, Karen, smiles.
She said: "He'll buy whatever he wants."
It is the second time this year the Italian market has set up in Derby.
The stall is full of mouthwatering products including pastries, a variety of cheeses – some of which are two years old – and sweets for children.
The nougats, in every colour imaginable, look tempting. Choose your flavour, mint, strawberry and orange.
The stall is a colourful sight and the Italian flags, pinned round the five gazebos, add to the summer display.
Business owner Hamed Javanmardi first brought his vibrant market to the streets of Derby last September.
The co-owner of award-winning Medfood London came to Derby to see what the city had to offer.
Since then, he has been making more return trips.
Holding the fort today is market seller Arash Ataei.
The 27-year-old is from Cyprus and tours across Europe and the UK with Medfood London.
"Today is a good day," he said. "The people of Derby like what we bring.
"They want the cheese and the ciabatta. They want the olives and all the sweets and pastries."
Joanne Smith, 42, and her friend, Sarah Wagstaff, 40, have splashed some cash today.
Joanne wants savory stuff, bursting with garlic.
Sarah wants something sweet and decides on a slice of Italian chocolate. It's Joanne's treat. She buys it.
"She's a good friend," said Joanne, from Derby. "I want to get her some chocolate."
Shopper Andy Farry, 30, from Chaddesden, buys pastries and nougat for him and his wife.
And Mohamed Moutasim, 33, from Derby – who is originally from Sudan – spends £6 on baklava. It's a rich, sweet pastry made of layers of filo filled with chopped nuts and held together with syrup.
"I'm fasting at the moment," he said. "But at 9.30pm, when I can eat, I will be sharing this with my wife.
"I love baklava. I used to eat it in Sudan."
