Farmer’s Market Meanderings
What’s a weekend meander if it doesn’t occasionally include a traipse through a local farmer’s market?
One of my city guilty pleasures is a stop at St Lawrence Market near the waterfront of Toronto.
I will always have fond memories of my Uncle George and Tante Baiba who, upon my arrival to Toronto in my first year of university, introduced me to the visual delights, aroma and sensory elements of this Toronto treasure. Both of them are sadly gone now, but I cannot ever walk the aisles of this great market without remembering them.
My uncle was very active in the opera society and so it was not uncommon for him to come across one of his former colleagues along the meandering, and break into a robust bar or two …what a voice!!
A few fun facts about St Lawrence Market:
The St. Lawrence Market is one of Toronto’s oldest institutions, technically dating as far back as 1803 when Governor Peter Hunter designated the area south of King between Jarvis and Church and down to Front the “Market Block.”
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Former iterations of the South Market even housed Toronto’s City Hall prior to the construction of E.J. Lennox’s version on Queen just east of Bay Street ( Source: Stlawrencemarket.com )
If you ever do stop at St Lawrence Market, an absolute must-have is back bacon on a bun at The Carousel Bakery. As most of my friends know, I have a small bastion of assorted mustards in my fridge and am not ever a fan of ‘yellow’ mustard…except: it must be had on a back bacon on a bun. T’would be wrong not to do so. (Yes….foodies: roll your eyes, but some things cannot be compromised!). You cannot visit St Lawrence Market without a stop here.
I can’t say what my favourite thing is about this market.
Processed with Rookie
I love chatting with all the local growers….
I love seeing all the fresh, wild caught fish….
I love the crazy grass fed stuffed and rolled tenderloins, and creative burgers….
But maybe that’s just me, because I love supporting local….
and I love freshness and food….
And I love the memories of what my uncle and tante shared with me so many years ago… and I think THAT is what makes the visit for me so very special!
What is your favourite local market?
Xo – – Sandra
