Strolling through the city’s markets and taking in the sights, smells and samples is all part of the experience. We love the thrill of the find, but there are some things you just don’t want to miss. Here, our favourite finds from Vancouver’s best farmers’ markets.
Trout Lake Farmers’ Market
Start the morning with a “French from France” croissant from French Made Baking or choose from one of five cinnamon buns from Small Pleasures. Grab your greens from the Forstbauer Farm folks, who will tell you they cultivate their produce using “biodynamic methods” and “the soil food web approach.” We don’t really know what that means, but we like the results. Leave with some BeerBrats Handcrafted Sausages for the grill. Quite possibly the best meat to grace your barbecue all season, BeerBrats are made with local, premium beer and sustainably raised meats from local farms. Saturdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. John Hendry Park at Trout Lake.
Kitsilano Farmers’ Market
Seasoning salts are one of this season’s must-haves in the kitchen. Visit Maison Cote for an impressive array of sea salt blends, from chorizo-chipotle to raspberry-rosemary, and consider sprinkling some on the amazing heirloom tomatoes from Celyddon Farms. And it’s just too charming to refuse: a pint of handcrafted ice cream packaged in a glass jar and sold from a tricycle. Bring a spoon and try the whiskey with butter-salted hazelnut from Earnest Ice Cream. Sundays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Parking lot of Kitsilano Community Centre, 2690 Larch St.
West End Farmers’ Market
Skip Starbucks for Trudy Ann’s Chai, an authentic Indian beverage that will make your market experience even more enjoyable. Put together the perfect plate to accompany wine with cheese from Little Qualicum Cheeseworks and olives and bread from Dundarave Olive Company. Our favourite fishmonger, Blue Comet Seafoods, is the place to pick up wild B.C. sockeye salmon. It’s in such high demand, we recommend filling out one of their order sheets, which can be found at their stand. Saturdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Across from Nelson Park, 1100 Block of Comox St.
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Image courtesy of awsheffield.
