Tuesday, August 20

I decided to go for a solo retki (which Google Translate tells me means a trip, an excursion, an outing or a jaunt) and chose to visit Kauppahalli, the new ethnic market in the middle of the Itis mall.

We went to see it during its alleged soft opening, when half the stalls stood empty, and the ones that had goods also seemed to have baffled staff. During my time in London it opened with a fanfare and a performance or two by local celebrities. Now I want to spot the difference.

When I get there I immediately notice the lack of customers. The Fazer café sits on the corner of Kauppahalli and it has more customers than seats. Kauppahalli itself has empty chairs by the restaurants and nobody by the stalls.

It has a major signposting problem. The stalls stand there with no explanation of what they sell or why it costs what it does. I photograph the deserted African stall with its wide variety of different bananas. Why would I would to spend 10 euros on a kilo of bananas? Nothing tells me.

Nothing explains about the differences between the bananas, which I happen to know a little about because of the variety of bananas in Kerala (none of which cost 10 euros a kilo). Most people who pass by won’t know the difference and therefore won’t find themselves tempted to splash out and test one or two.

I spot a little restaurant called Mala Master which boasts of its spiciness and seems to sell a thick broth or thin soup. What nationality? What ingredients? I have no idea.

I will give Kauppahalli 6 months at best before some of the stands go bankrupt, others leave, and the few successful ones expand. Or until the mall organises some signposting, live events, or tastings, to bring people in and introduce them to what the stalls actually offer.