Table of Contents
o Market Meal- down on the farm/ international flavors
o A Fish-Lovers delight at the Market
o Sweet Snacks that satisfy
o Quick-Cuts- Vendor News Snippets
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Be kind to Nature. Bring your cloth bags when shopping at our Market |
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Happy Thanksgiving! All the fixin's for a spectacular spread are available at the Barrie Farmers' Market, Barrie City Hall this Saturday from 8:00 am to noon. |
This is Barrie City Hall as seen from space (courtesy Google Earth). This year, we have more vendors than ever, so we have expanded the market. Vendors stretch on both sides of the walkway on the far left, to Mulcaster Street on the right. Vendors then run single file north on Mulcaster Street right up to Worsley Street. And for something fresh and different, we are adding vendors around the perimeter of the fountain, seen in blue. Access points to these vendors and the Rotunda (the circular structure) are at the red dots.
The first Saturday of November, the Indoor Season begins and runs to May 2010. The Rotunda is home for up to 42 vendors. (Our Outdoor Season by comparison this year runs 65 vendors). The Rotunda is the circular structure with the green roof in the image above.
When the fields stop producing and cold storage vegetables end, the vendor mix inside changes for the run up to the holiday season. Arts and crafts, baked goods and candy take front stage. Vegetables, meats and hot snacks continue inside, but in fewer numbers to accommodate the space. It's the season for contests, a visit from Santa, free cake and cider or lemonade, and much more.
Weird Summer Eh?
Local corn was late arriving but is now in full swing for parties and gatherings. The fall rite of a corn roast will smooth out the rough memories of a summer some say never arrived. This year, adventurous folk are making basil pesto and slathering that on corn cobs- after the butter. Whole corn on the cob, in thick slices, dropped into a hearty fall stew turns it into an Argentinian delight. Many of the recipes from Argentina use corn on the cob.
NASA says we should not be wringing our hands with guilt over global warming (and weird weather and summers like this). They say we are but bit players in a much grander opera. The star is our Sun. And it is currently having another "spell" where radiation levels fluctuate. It's not picking on us, but the entire solar system. Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are also warmer these days. It's just that the last time this warming took place, no one wrote down details or measurements.
The Fall Harvest is under way now. This is the time to buy for jam making and winter preserves. Vegetables, purchased in bulk, blanched and frozen, will keep well for many months. It's also the time to make sauces that can be frozen and used the entire year.
It could also be the time to note what varieties did well during this extreme weather, and what varieties perished. More of the sturdy varieties might be in order as Momma Nature tables continuing extreme weather.
Like a vacation in Europe, Frank Mika offers over 70 varieties of smoked and cooked meats. All with the sunny flavor of legendary village meats from Italy, Spain, Germany, France, England, Poland, Portugal and more. Taste samples are available most sessions. Be prepared for a crowd at this stall.
Regular and organic beef is now available at the Barrie Farmers' Market! Locally-bred beef is now available at the stalls of Nicholyn Farms, McBride's Organic, Green Valley Farms and El-Cam Farms. Nicholyn Farms is noted for their innovative lean pork farm and tasty pork products. They have expanded their line and are offering beef roasts, steaks, stewing and ground beef- all locally bred. Says Lynda VanCasteren, the beef is Canada Grade AAA or better and like their pork products, is all natural. They also offer locally bred roasting chickens ranging from 4 to 7 pounds, and skinless, boneless chicken breasts.
Green Valley Farms offers roasts, steaks, burger patties, smoked beef and much more. And it is all Angus beef- said to be the tastiest beef bred.
Organic turkey, chicken, lamb and pork are also available at the stall of El-Cam Farm. For lamb lovers, the stall of Mur Mar Meadows, Belle Ewart, offers fresh and frozen lamb, lamb meat pies and lamb sausage.
Lovers of deli, smoked and cured meats will find the stall of Frank Mika a must-visit. It's like a quick trip to Europe without a passport. Samples are always available. Truly a meat lover's magnet and a Market high light. Frank says there are over sixty varieties of meat available each session. A chunk of Kielbasa or Salami makes a tasty Market breakfast or lunch, and the smaller sausages are a perfect snack for camping or the hiking trail.
Also available from selected vendors are choice cuts of elk, venison, bison, turkey, goat and rabbit.
The thought of a piping hot meat pie can be very tempting. So give in and enjoy a premiere market meal at the stall of Rosie Rain Meat Pies. Lorraine or Tom will be happy to warm up a market pie on the spot. Available are beef, steak, steak and ale, chicken, steak and kidney, lamb and more. It's a hearty breakfast or lunch served piping hot. And for the family, try their full size meat pies for a take-home experience. Taste samples are available most sessions.
Drop by the stall of Nicholyn Farms for farm-fresh sizzling farmer sausage on a bun, a pork patty or back bacon on a bun. Talk to Lynda about the new breed of lean pork. Her pork has less fat ounce for ounce than trout (gram for gram if you prefer metric) . And you may even have to add fat when you fry up her chops! Her tasty pork has no antibiotics , growth hormones, additives or preservatives. "It is all natural" says Lynda. And they offer fair trade coffees to their own roasting and blending recipes.
Crave something exotic? How about hot Samozas using traditional spices from the East. From the Indian sub-continent, these tasty morsels are available at the stall of Doreen Fernandes. Also check out her line of clothing made from sari material for that touch of the exotic.
For a taste of India, try the butter chicken and chick peas on a bed of rice at the stall of Jasleen Dhanoa -Heena's Curry House. A mild curry way to ad pizzaz to your market visit. Also try their eastern Yogurt. Curry lovers will find this a refreshing and filling market meal.
And for the flavors of the far East, check out the piping hot chinese food at the stall of Zipeng Zhang. Egg roll, sweet and sour, and their famous Sushi are making customers return week after week for these delightful treats for market snack, or take home.
That forever treat from the Slavic nations, the Perogy, is available at the stalls of Ukrainian Delights and Best Pierogie. Perogies (also called perogi, perogy, piroghi, pirogi, or pyrohy) are filled Slavic dumplings. Where did they come from? The Polish, Romanians, Russians, Lithuanians, Chinese, Ukrainians, and Slovaks all claim to be the source. Each has a slightly different flavor.
Pierogi are semi-circular dumplings of unleavened dough, stuffed with cheese, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, cabbage, onion, meat, hard-boiled eggs, dry cottage cheese in any combination, or with a fruit filling. Mashed potatoes are the most common filling.
They are typically fried, deep-fried or boiled until they float, and then covered with butter or oil. Alternatives include the Mennonite tradition of baking and serving with borscht or with farmer's sausage and a creamy gravy and the Polish way of boiling, then frying in butter. They are typically served with plenty of sour cream, and the savoury ones are topped with fried bacon or onions.
Quiche lovers will find a perfect market snack or take-home treat at the stall of Gracie's Gourmet Quiche. The famous quiches are there as well as varieties suited to North American tastes. How about bacon double cheeseburger? Samples are available most sessions, but you will want to take home one or two of Gracie's Gourmet Quiche full size pies.
Nothing like a fresh brewed coffee or tea. So see Hamley Tea and Coffee for fine blends. Choose from country of origin, and type of roast. For tea lovers, they make a black tea infusion that deserves to be enjoyed as is without milk, sugar, or lemon. It's all free trade.
Hot and hearty soups are available from selected vendors on those cool mornings. Or you can have a steaming baked potato with your choice of toppings. See El-Cam Farm and Jane Blackstock.
It could start a tradition of having breakfast, snacks and lunch at the Market.
Pickerel (top), Bass (bottom) as well as Splake, Catfish, Whitefish and Trout are available from the stall of David Clark at the Barrie Farmers' Market in season. Fresh or frozen, David offers delights for lovers of seafood- both fresh and salt-water. See him for tasty salmon steaks, or whole salmon for a special family treat. A great gourmet shore-lunch awaits without the need for a boat or fishing tackle. Stop by his stall, and EVERY fishing trip will be a success. Check the Recipes page from the index for some tasty fish ideas.
A hot bowl of soup, a pork patty on a bun or a hot meat pie are a great way to grab your breakfast at the Barrie Farmer's Market. Stop by the stall of Jane Blackstock or Cam Steele for piping hot soup on cool days, and then try Nicholyn Farms for a hot pork patty, sausage or back bacon on a bun. For the lover of deli-meat, a visit to the stall of Frank Mika will reveal many taste treasures. A chunk of Kielbasa, Salami, or jerky makes a tasty and quick Market breakfast or lunch. For a tasty Eastern treat, try Somozas at the stall of Doreen Fernandes. Or pierogies at the stalls of Best Peirogy and Ukrainian Delights For a sweet meaty treat, try the lamb ribs from MurMar Meadow. Nut lovers will find a bonanza of tastes at In A Nutshell. Many vendors offer taste samples, making for a smorgasbord of flavors and delicious treats.
Then finish up your Market breakfast or lunch with a sweet. There are a bewildering variety of baked goods available from many of our vendors. Many vendors offer individual servings, so you can satisfy that craving for something sweet. How about a tart or two? Or gourmet chocolate chip cookies? Or chocolate treats? Sumptuous fudge in many flavours? Or a slice of pie? Baked goods are even available for those who are allergic to gluten, dairy or must watch their intake of sugar.
Maureen Rundle, Mur Mar Meadows, now not only offers prime lamb from her sheep farm, but has donned the hat of country baker as well. Look for cakes, pies, tarts, bars and much more fresh from the ovens of Mur Mar Meadows. But the same rule for baked goods selection holds-- arrive early for maximum selection, freshness and great taste. And enjoy the piping hot lamb ribs.
Nicholyn Farms reports her pork receives no antibiotics, no growth hormones, no additives and no preservatives. Nicholyn now also offers beef roasts, steaks, ground and stewing beef and boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Also available are free-range turkeys, lamb, beef, and just added, emu, buffalo, elk, deer,goat and rabbit. Check out her line of all-natural frozen dinners, meat and fruit pies as well, and her farm fresh eggs. The bread, buns and other baked goods at the stall are now made in their resident bakery at the farm store, they report. Try a cup of their free trade and special roasts coffee.
Jacob Haak, Haak's Wood Shop is known for his array of useful woodcrafts for home and cottage. Now he may just have a craft that fights West Nile. Jacob makes a line of apartments for bats- bat houses. Each bat house holds a small colony, and each bat can eat thousands of mosquitoes in an evening. Depending on the season and type of bat, female bats nightly consume up to half their body weight in insects, including mosquitoes. Many experts say that protecting bats- nature's own pest-control service -- is more cost-effective than using pesticides. A good spot to search for that unique gift, such as his line of pine folding tables, cd and dvd racks and much more.
Doreen Fernandes, A Taste of Cultures is the spot to visit for a quick trip to the culinary delights of East India. Sweet savories and sweets tempt the taste, particularly her Samozas. For a special eastern flavor, try a jar of her Dahl curry. Also check out her line of clothes made from sari material. An exotic taste delight awaits.
Exotic flowers for home, cottage or office are the sensation at the stall of Lee Ann Catling . Also at the stall, a diverse range of knitting, with proceeds going to local charitable organizations. Time to stock up on warm and wooly for 2010.
Judy Stasiuk of Bee Basics offers local honey and honey related products, and a new twist. Walking sticks carved and stained by her that fit the hand as comfortably as a kid glove. Just the ticket for those on the shopping list who enjoy the outdoors.
Want to see honey being made? Drop in to the stall of Lavender Hills Farms on Mulcaster Street. Tom Morissey has a live hive on display. Try to find the Queen bee. Tip, she's the one being waited on hand and foot by the workers. Tom offers fresh honey and honey-derived products. Such as soaps, balms, salves, candles and propolis. Propolis is produced and used by bees to safeguard their hive from disease. It also has human benefits. One nickname for propolis is Russian penicillin. Ask Tom about the health benefits of honey and propolis.
Bernadette Charters, Elegance By The Duo is an amazing stall for those into large stone jewelry Agate, granite and many semi-precious stones are available in small to large sizes in pendants, brooches and earrings. Tasteful and functional, they make a great gift for family or friends. Also check out her salon-quality photography of animals, insects and plants from around the world.
Cam Steele of El-Cam Farms has a tasty selection of produce and meats. Try the potatoes, tomatoes and root crops for a special treat. Cam also offers free range poultry, lamb, pork, and brown eggs. On those cooler days, look for his piping hot soup of the day for a quick snack. Cam also offers maple syrup in season. For a special treat, try his lamb sausage or rack of lamb!
McBride's Organic offers fresh certified organic produce. Organic is not organic, unless it is certified. Organic is an alternative for health-conscious folk. Drop by their stall and find out what certified organic means to you and your family. Check out the spinach, carrots, onions, squash, rutabaga, potatos and more. All natural. There's no taste like it.
Christine Gibbens is the stall to visit for exclusive, hand made jewelry that is sure to please. Earrings, bracelets, pendants and more are made of silver and her unique line of glass work. Christine is a lamp glass worker so each piece of jewelry is almost unique as a fingerprint.
Joan LeBoeuf has an alternative to a walking tour of the historic buildings of Barrie. Stop by her stall and see her impressive array of art cards of older and historic Barrie buildings. Art cards are unique photographic reproductions of oil paintings done on site by Joan and make a piece of history you can take home. And for a special gift, check out her line of paintings. On selected sessions, she offers painting demonstrations of portraiture and still life in the Rotunda.
David Clark , our fish vendor, says he has fresh mussels available from time to time. Look for his Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Splake, Pickerel, Whitefish and whole Salmon. His stall is a fish-lovers delight. For a taste delight, ask him about his smoked fish and his newest treat, trout candied in maple syrup. On special order are scallops and lobster for that special holiday occasion.
Families have been seen the last session or so, with pie and fork enjoying mightily. Who did they visit? Linda Desroches makes a wide variety of fruit pies, including at least four varieties of apple pie. Maureen Rundle has pie for every taste, (cake, tarts, bars as well), fruit and berry varieties and more. And for those who want just a slice or more, Nicholyn Farms is pleased to oblige with a tasty selection of fruit pies. Lillian Demytriw offers a very wide variety of pies, all with a unique European flavor that must be enjoyed. Pie orders are accepted by all the above. Desserts by 'D' offers a wide selection of gluten-free baked goods. Bars, tarts, cookies, biscotti and more, are all totally free of gluten for those who are gluten intolerant. Some of her products are made with only fruit juice for sweetener and she takes pride in the fact she bakes with pure creamery butter. Dairy free baked goods are also available. The secret of enjoying market baked goods is to arrive early to ensure availability and selection. Or if the vendor has an email, order ahead.
