Bay Adelaide Centre Farmers’ Market

by Guest Market Blogger Andrea Toole

On Thursdays Financial District workers are greeted by a new farmer's market in the Bay Adelaide Centre, Arnell Plaza.

A satellite location of the Evergreen Brick Works farmer's market, it's a new hub for the farmers, artisans and restaurants who feed hundreds at their market on Saturdays. Thursday's location welcomes a convergence of the usual farmer's market enthusiasts and food lovers with downtown workers, people of every profession seeking something tasty for lunch or something to take home.

In writing notes about the market for this piece I scrawled, tongue-in-cheek, "Pick up a sandwich or a stockbroker, bread or babe, cupcake or cutie".  "Apples or accountants"?  Not that it's a meet-market disguised as a meat-market. It's a gathering for people who want to try something different at lunch. It’s an excuse – no, a reason - to leave the desk and bask in the sunshine while connecting with local food producers such as farmers and chefs. It’s the Brick Works market, only much smaller than the grandiose Saturday market.

Interested in buying meat from grass-fed animals raised on Ontario farms without hormones or antibiotics? How about fresh salads? Sustainably harvested fish such as line caught haddock, rod and reel tuna or harpooned swordfish? Fresh lemonade?  Local honey? I wish I could write about each and every vendor.

On its inaugural day, July 8, Chefs Brad Long and Kellen of Veritas were serving two varieties of tostadas. One suit-clad man bought one upon recognizing Brad from TV show Restaurant Makeover. The following week Veritas was gone, the spaced opened for Hank's and Wine Bar who have since weekly served pulled pork sandwiches, smoked Ontario pickerel nicoise salads and burgers made from Cumbrae Farms organic meat.  A popular spot, the line is usually long. Recently I witnessed a short period of time during which no one was waiting to get fed. Soon the next wave came. 

Picton Ontario's Buddah Dog brings their take on hot dogs and sauces for the hot dogs. One week I had a hot dog with rhubarb ketchup and cherry BBQ sauce and chatted with Buddah Dog's Andrew about what he's planning for the next little while. All I can say is that he's got special dogs planned for September and October. Watch for it.

Like at the Brick Works on Saturday, the scent of Yukon Gold french fries from Jamie Kennedy Kitchens enchants people to their table like a certain cartoon bird to a bowl of Froot Loops. Try the fries with aioli, organic cider vinegar and/or homemade ketchup.

For dessert head over to LPK's Culinary Groove where there's something for everyone. Gluten-avoiders and vegans rejoice, for they sell cookies and cupcakes for you too! The most amusing exchange I heard on a recent Thursday began with the warning, "There's parchment at the bottom. Don't eat it." And ended with the customer replying, "I learned that the hard way." [!]  I've sampled their award-winning Spicy Chèvre Noir Shortbread Cookie™, made with Chèvre Noir goat cheddar from Quebec and Mexican chili imported by ChocoSol. You need to try it, unless you’re a gluten-avoider or vegan.

If you're a ChocoSol fan you'll find them here. Other vendors that I recognize from another market include Bee's Universe and Fisherfolk  If you need a mustard fix, Kozlik's has their award-winning mustard out for sampling and buying. Provenance Regional Cuisine, who also has tables at the Evergreen markets, sells it in their store.

Sound good? You've got three weeks left to visit this market. The last day is September 2. Don't worry, you can always go to the Evergreen Brick Works market on Saturdays to visit these and others such as Everdale Farms, Vicki's Veggies, Chez Vous Dining, Forbes Wild Foods and many others whom aren’t present at Thursday's market.

About the Bay Adelaide Centre Farmers’ Market:

When: Every Thursday, 11am-2pm, until September 2.
Where:  Bay Adelaide Centre, Arnell Plaza
What: Produce stands, artisans, caterers and restaurants.
Website: http://ebw.evergreen.ca/whats-on/farmers-market/

Our guest market blogger this time is Andrea Toole. Andrea knows farmer’s markets. She lives one block from the year-round market at Wychwood Barns (a big selling point for the apartment), has three more seasonal markets within walking distance of her office, has been to almost everyone in the city and recently visited the farmer’s market at Union Square, New York City. 

She is an active member of Toronto's social media community. Her blog is Andrea the Gastronaut and her food-related Tweets are at @cdnfoodiegirl. Read it to see her “smoothie of the day”, made with local ingredients. Will guest blog for food.