St. Lawrence Market - Toronto

On a recent weekend visit with my friend Sarah we let loose in one of my favourite places, the St. Lawrence Market. We had no plans, just visions of beautiful fresh spring produce. As Sarah was one of my partner's in crime when I lived in Italy for the summer semester in 2006, I had a feeling the meal that night would be have an Italian slant. We wandered around the market for a couple of hours, tasting cheese, adoring fresh meat, seafood and produce. We found marrow bones and decided to roast them as a fatty start to our dinner. We made a grown-up mac & cheese for our main and a rhubarb souffle for desert. I will include the recipes for all of these in later posts.

Although I realize St. Lawrence market is likely not as popular of an attraction for the average Toronto visitor as say, the Sky Dome (I know, to me it will always be the Sky Dome!), the CN Tower, the Distillery District or the Theatre, however, when I return to the city there is no place I would rather wander on a Saturday morning. St. Lawrence is over 120 years old, the oldest market in Canada. If you can't find it at the market, it is likely you won't be able to find it anywhere.

St. Jacobs Farmer's Market ...

St. Jacobs Farmer's Market, has always been one of my favourite markets in the province. It's open year round on Thursdays and Saturdays, as well as Tuesdays from June to Labour Day (7:00 AM - 3:00 PM). Located in the community of St. Jacobs, about 10 minutes north of Waterloo, it showcases local produce, meats, cheeses, baking and food staples such as local maple syrup, honey and canned goods. It's also a great place to purchase locally made arts and crafts such as quilts, knit clothing and Mennonite furniture. The majority of the produce, baking and craft items come from local Mennonite farmers, however there are non-Mennonite farmers that travel from as far as the Niagara region, to showcase their items. In the warmer months, there are many more vendors who set up stands in the parking areas that surround the main market building, expanding choices for fresh produce. Inside the market are many permanent stalls that have been there for generations.

Some of my favourite places include:

Hilltop Acres poultry products http://www.hilltopacrespoultry.com:

Specializing in Free-Run, no growth hormone poultry products, this family run business produces beautiful farm fresh eggs, chickens, capons, turkey, geese and duck. You may also special order partridge, quail and cornish hens. We have purchased our Thanksgiving and Christmas Turkeys from this location for many years.

Charles Quality Meats:

An abattoir out of St. Agatha, Ontario, Charles Quality produces gorgeous naturally raised lamb, beef, pork, veal, goat and rabbit. The butcher is also one of only two abattoirs in Ontario that raises the meat that it processes. They also grow their own hay, pesticide and chemical free, which they use to feed their animals.

Cinnamon buns, made fresh throughout the morning by Mennonite ladies, sweet, warm and melty!

Beautiful local produce:

Maple Syrup:

Honey:

Market goodies: