Saturday at the Market - Across the Bridge

View of Halifax from Alderley Landing, Dartmouth

One of the Tall Ships in town, barely visible through the fog. Let me explain my adventure....

When we are in town (Halifax, Nova Scotia, for newcomers here), I love to visit the Halifax Farmers' Market and it's been a while since I've been...what with holidays and visits to camp to see our angels. I've been itching to return. That said, there is another Saturday Farmer's Market just across the Halifax Harbour in Dartmouth. But first let me tell you about my mystical journey to get there.
I've often mentioned the Nova Scotian fog, how romantic and mystical it is (That's one of the churches in Mahone Bay along the Lighthouse Route). It always reminds me of one of my favorite novels...The Mists of Avalon, the mythical land in the time of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table.

This time the fog was so thick, that, in order to get to the other side of the Halifax Harbour (a five minute journey) I had to travel over the invisible bridge. Invisible??? Yes, just like Indiana Jones in The Last Crusade , crossing the deep chasm to get to the chalice, I had to have faith and trust that the bridge actually was there. I couldn't see anything ahead of me, except for a faint pink glow of the tail lights of the car ahead. Even after the ghostly bridge, the windy road, to the Landing was eerie and everything looked so foreign.

And if you think I'm doing my usual exaggerating, the photos at the top of the post show you just how foggy it was. Normally, the view of Halifax is sharp and so clear you can see the ships docked in port and hustle and bustle of the crowds on the boardwalk. And that tall ship you see is actually docked just off of the Dartmouth pier, perhaps 50 feet from where I was standing!
But back to the business at hand....Saturday Farmer's Markets. Alderney Landing is home to artistic events, shops selling local artisan art, jewellery and more, the ferry to Halifax, and (from my perspective, the most inviting) a Saturday Farmer's Market. I've spoken many times about how the Halifax market is so different to other markets I've been to - a very social scene with music and lots of chatting.
The Dartmouth Saturday Farmers' Market is more like farmers markets I've been to elsewhere...lots of lovely produce, mixed in with lots of local knitted items, jewellery and homemade jams, preserves, pies and breads. That's Anna Wall, who, along with her husband, Ben are Mennonite farmers from Noel, NS. Their Saturday begins at 3AM to get to the market in time to set up for the 7am opening. All those breads and pickles you see are made by Anna. You can't see all the pies in front of their booth or the beautiful fresh vegetables that they grow on their farm or the fresh eggs from their own free range chickens. But...
...in addition to eggs and basil and...well, I couldn't resist these cute Cocas (they are another summer squash, looking like tubby zucchini). and I'm going to use them to make some South Beach Diet friendly fritters...stay tuned.

The atmosphere at the Dartmouth market was more like Ontario markets I've visited in St Jacob and Kitchener, just on a much smaller scale. Lots of homemade breads, cakes, pies and preserves, lots of small booths but a feeling of a large community.
A stark contrast to the Halifax Farmers Market - this photo was taken at 9:30am and is why I usually go at 7am to avoid the crowds. So what's your preference...markets for shopping or markets for socializing or a bit of both worlds?

I love eating locally farmed, locally made, locally dished up- and you should be - everything tastes so much better! I encourage you to do the same. You can find out more here at the EatRealEatLocal website. Throughout the summer, I'll be working with the Eat Real Eat Local Campaign to highlight wonderful local Nova Scotian fare...markets, restaurants and festivals...stay tuned!

Local Markets & Favourite Food Finds

Nova Scotia
Ran-Cher Acres great goat cheeses

Terra Beata Cranberry Farm - you can even pick your own

Tangled Garden - best herb jellies on the planet

Dartmouth Farmers Market

Wolfville Saturday Market (1)

Wolfville Saturday Market (2)

Hubbards Farmers Market

Partners In Care Friday Market at QEII Hospital, Halifax

Halifax Market (1)

Halifax Market (2)

Halifax Market (3)

Halifax Market (4)

Halifax Market (5)

Ontario
Nathan Phillip Square Wednesday Farmers Market

St Jacob's Market

Greektown (The Danforth)

Kensington Market & Chinatown/Spadina

Dufferin Grove Market

Riverdale Market

Prince Edward County & Waupoos Winery

St Lawrence Market, Part 1

St Lawrence Market, Part 2

To Market To Market

Quebec
Jean Talon Market Montreal, Quebec

Saturday Farmers Market - Halifax Style

This post is long overdue. Blame it on the move, blame it on spending time with family going to U-Piks, or just blame it on being overwhelmed and awed by all that is glorious at a farmers market and time spent on putting up jams.

View from the upper gallery

Here, finally is my pictorial journey of the brand new Seaport Halifax Farmers Market (new website is not ready yet, so I can't tell you all about the state -of the- art eco-friendly features in detail, but here are a few stats...4000 square metres (that's more than 13,000 sq feet) of vendor space which doubles the size of the old market, four large wind turbines on the roof, which will also features solar panels, geothermal heating, a second storey gallery for vendors as well, and a rooftop garden (the railings still aren't in place so we can't go up there yet).

That's the mouth of the Halifax Harbour heading out to the Atlantic Ocean. How many markets do you know with such a spectacular view? The market opened its doors for the first time August 7th and was crazy busy from the second the doors opened at 7AM. In no particular order, here are some of my favorite places to stop and shop.
Waldegrave Organic Farm has a stand outside the front doors. Among other things, I love their spicy mixed salad green mix. Getaway Farm Beef - with a lineup from the second it opened and still holds true four weeks later. Worth the wait for the most delicious beef anything...strip loin, skirt, flank and brisket are my usual staples.
Sweet Williams Country Sausages has one of the longest lines, so I try to hit it early. Whenever you go...I suggest the turkey fennel and garlicky lamb...or maybe I shouldn't tell you that so there's more for me. It's often our Saturday or Sunday lunch treat.
Mike's Fish Shop is in temporary quarters- and tiny spot for now. Peter and the gang will be moving into spectacular digs at one end of the market in October and will have, not only the best fresh fish & seafood for you to cook up, but a place to munch on fish & chips, lobster rolls and chowder (Peter used to be a chef before taking over Mike's years ago)...more about that when it opens.
That's Beverley at the Tangled Garden booth. I've written about it often. The best fruit & herb jellies, vinegars & flavored olive oil anywhere.
Ran-Cher Acres has the best goat cheeses ever and always a must have in my fridge - cayenne & garlic are our absolute faves...plus some goat Gouda, feta & curds along with eggs from free range chickens.
And of course you need some wonderful French breads to go with that...Julien's
or Boulangerie La Vendeenne (both delicious, truthfully, it just depends on which line is shorter)
Who in their right mind would go to a farmers market without some fresh produce?! My first stop is always Ted Hutten's Family Farm for really interesting Asian greens, the cutest baby eggplant, zucchinis...gorgeous chards and beets of every hue and variety.
Riverview Herbs has greenhouse tomatoes, cukes, and of course fresh herbs all year long. This time I actually bought some rosemary, oregano, thyme, mint & basil in pots for my windowsill.
That is just a small sample of food to take home and prepare yourself. What about food to munch on while you're at the market? Crepes? Omelets? Mexican? Asian? That's the folks at El Gallo serving up some delicious Mexican treats. Whatever you fancy, you'll find it. You can enjoy a munch on the upper gallery floor (there are benches for that much needed break) or outside on the terrace. I'm hoping that the roof garden will have some seating too.

And the new market is the perfect showcase for all the wonderful artists and artisans of Nova Scotia. I was so busy snapping photos that I didn't get their names...
Stunning photography
Paper & bound journals

one of a kind clothing ...not to mention jewelry, wood work, knitted & quilted items...the list goes on and on. And if none of these got you interested, there are another 100 plus vendors to check out.

See you at the market! No matter where you live, remember...local IS better.

Halifax Market Bounty in the Winter

Halifax Farmers Market - Social Scene...troubadors and families

Long lines after 7:30 AM

My most favorite stall...fresh herbs from RiverView...even in the winter!

It's official....I'm an idiot. Okay, not a complete idiot, but...well, first...Gay, Scientist in the Kitchen has another food blogging event about local markets and I've been thinking about it alot.

This is our first winter in Nova Scotia and it's been cold and blustery, so I've been dying to see what sorts of local things one can buy in January at the Halifax Farmers Market. The last time I was there was before Christmas and the place was packed as always. My experience at this market has been that if you don't show up by 7 AM, the lines are long and the space crowded, which I personally don't find charming, although, for many, the attraction is first the social scene and second the food. So I steeled myself to be patient, since it was 8:30 when I arrived...and I was shocked! No crowds, no lines...lots of space...what gives?...quick take a picture because my Honey would never believe me... Which leads me back to why I'm an idiot...I left the camera at home! So here's a peak at the bounty once I plopped it all on our table... (The photos at the top of the post are from an earlier visit.)

Today's haul - not bad for January, I'd say.

But before putting the bounty away...I must have some fresh Just Us coffee (my Honey freshly brewed it when I called to say I was on my way home) with some Pain Chocolat from Julien's Bakery stall (even though they have a shop just down the street from our house - Saturday belongs to the market).

And look at these long and skinny sweet potatoes...or maybe they're yams...I never remember the difference, but cut across in coins, they're going to be beautifully roasted with some fresh thyme....yum.

Check out these adorable little brussels sprouts, the hearty kale that ends up tasting so sweet and, another fave stop at the market...fresh eggs from the quiet little lady in the main courtyard, who always has a smile for you.

But now it's time for lunch...

...a sandwich, easily made with fresh bread from Julien's slathered with Kozlik's mustard, slice of swiss cheese, stuffed roasted pork from the deli I never remember the name of but always buy something at, topped with some micro greens from RiverView Herbs and...voila!

Truth be told, I am in awe of Nova Scotian fishermen. This is a hard enough climate on land, so I can't even begin to imagine what it's like on the water.

And I can't imagine a trip to the market without stopping at one of the fish and seafood stalls. This time for salmon and fresh Digby scallops.

Supper last night....an old favorite...all fresh from the market Seared Scallops on Baby Greens. (It brought some summer to the table). I've run out of balsamic apple cider vinegar and used some blueberry balsamic from Half Island Harvest (he has a stall at the market) instead. (The apple cider balsamic vinegar will have to wait for a trip to the Annapolis Valley!).

And my favorite evening snack...toast with fresh crumbly goat cheese (or cream cheese) and apple sage jelly from Tangled Gardens...so how lucky was I that Beverley McClare of Tangled Garden has decided to set up shop at the market. If you're in town on a Saturday morning, you have to check it out.

So that was yesterday and today started off with Mush made with fresh goat milk yogurt from Ran-cher Acres (a dollop of local Cosman & Whidden honey) and the last of my home-made brown bread with a thick layer of the last of my New Zealand honey from one of my other favorite markets...St Lawerence Market in Toronto.

Dinner will star the salmon with brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes...I'm not quite sure how yet, but I do know it will be delicious. And dessert will be something with those Russet apples. So who says you can't eat great locally in Halifax even in the winter!

Summer Must Be Here - Awesome Market Score

True...it's been a cool, damp, dreary, foggy, rainy ....(you get the message) summer, so far out here in Nova Scotia. But you'd never know it at the market. I guess all the fruit and veggies love the weather.

I had every intention of driving out to Wolfville for their farmers market, which is lovely any day, but I'm sure is over the top wonderful today. In celebration of Mud Creek Day and Wolfville's 114th birthday, 20 valley chefs will be cooking up a storm using valley fresh ingredients. What can I say...it's rainy and dreary, so we're staying in town.

Naturally I had to head over to the Halifax Farmers Market and I thought I'd take you on a partial tour.

Normally, I like to do a quick "go-round" to all the vendors to see who has what and then go back and do my real shopping. But I've learned over time, that sometimes, what I'm craving is gone by the time I'm done browsing.
So.... I quickly bought some gorgeous blueberries - wild and tame from Foster Farm. Their first crop of strawberries were already gone, and the last box of the raspberries was swooped up even before I could take this blurry photo.
Cherries and raspberries are out at a few vendors including these beauties from Noggin Corner Farms. Having some that I picked up yesterday at the Partners in Care market, these just had their picture taken.
And what is a trip to the market without picking up some fresh and fabulous things from the sea at Mike's Fish Shop. This time around...thick, gorgeous salmon fillets, perfect for grilling and Digby scallops - nothing better.
Around the corner and down the hall...is one of the most popular stands...they won Coast Magazine's Readers' Award for best stall at the Halifax Farmers' Market. Ted Hutton and the gang bring the most beautiful produce every week. I bought the most aromatic fennel root with tons of wispy, feathery leaves that I'll be using on the salmon. Aren't those purple spring onions (they're sort of hidden behind the radishes) too cute for words?
These gorgeous kohlrabi and the radishes above are for the slaw recipe I saw in a recent magazine that, naturally I can't find so I will spend the dreary afternoon watching a movie and flipping obsessively through every one until I find it...but I digress.
These beauties are fresh shitake mushrooms, although they remind me more of porcini, but what do I know...
Well, I do know that they will be awesome with these local cremini mushrooms in a frittata I'm planning for brunch.
Note to self: save some mushrooms for these strip loin steak medallions from VanOostrum Farms naturally raised, grass & grain fed beef.

And I did pick up some wonderful spicy mixed greens and cilantro from the certified organic Waldegrave Farm. And check out this very awesome "Summer Free School" program.

And speaking of wonderful programs to support local producers and educate the rest of us about how awesome buying locally grown produce, meat, fish and chicken really is....

The Hellmann's sponsored Eat Real Eat Local Project is having a great charity event. On Wednesday, July 29th, they will be increasing the donation made to Evergreen to one dollar each time someone tags their tips with the term #realfood. This is part of a Summer-long initiative seeing twenty-five cents donated to Evergreen for every use of #realfood (up to a maximum of $25,000 before September 30th).
Obviously I was starving by the time I got home. The Savory Chicken & Mushroom Frittata was made with organic free range eggs I picked up at yesterday's market adventure and the local free range chicken I roasted on Thursday.

And I thought I'd leave you with a little bowl of thick yoghurt and fresh blueberries topped with a little drizzle of local honey.