Travels: Granville Island Public Market in Vancouver, Canada

Spoiler alert: This place was awesome. It was better than Pike Place Market in Seattle and any other market we visited during our three week vacay on the west coast.

Environment

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Granville island may sound inaccessible, but it is very easy to get to with public transportation. We took a bus here. The entire area feels like a different part of the country. It is cute, full of colorful stores and parks. There are tons of local shops selling art, clothing, etc. Then, of course, there are a couple breweries and many different restaurants to try.  The views of the city are also fantastic!

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But everyone knows that you come to Granville Island for the MARKET!

Public Market

The first section of the market is packed full of restaurant vendors. Everything from French bakeries, Indian cuisine, fish and chips, etc.

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The first thing I ate was a pear and butter crepe from Muffin Granny. It was the special for only $5.95 (Canadian money…even cheaper in U.S. bucks). You can watch them make the crepes right in front of you.

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Was it good? Very! And very large. I split it with Drew and that held us over for a while.

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The second, and largest, part of the market is the actual market. Here, it seems like hundreds of vendors of all sorts sell their goods. Everything from fresh produce, to fresh-made pastas, to baked good, to raw meats and bones, fresh seafood, and so forth.

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Fresh made pastas: flavored fettuccines, stuffed raviolis, etc.
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Bone marrow bones!
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Perfect macarons!

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Dried salmon and other fish jerky. Weird.

To say this market was overwhelming is an understatement. It was impossible to pick just a couple of items to buy. I walked through the place three times stressing about it. Everything just looks too good! If I lived in Vancouver, I would come here for lunch a couple times a week, for sure!

Review: Farmer’s Markets in Central AR

 

This is my first year selling at farmer’s markets. (Not that I haven’t tried before, but I finally found smaller, nicer markets that will accept me as a non-farmer, but home-baker) This has been my dream. While this dream is a little slower than I imagined, it is still so awesome! The Westover Hills Farmer’s Market on Tuesdays from 4-7 is amazing. We had 17 vendors there tonight and a lot of customers. Everyone there is REALLY nice: the farmers, the sellers, the customers. Seriously, this group of people is making my life better. I have made great new friends. I have struck deals with amazing farmers. (Ex: I am promoting Hardin Farm’s pecans by using them in my pralines, and they are giving me a great deal on their amazing pecans, which are really the best I have ever tried.)  And at the end of the market, we can trade goods. So, I can trade my leftovers for delicious groceries for the week. Do things get any better?!
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Goat Roper Farms selling their amazing food, full of goat’s milk, homemade goat butter, award-winning fudge….and the list goes on.
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The “Kitchen Witch” with her hubs, Mitch, selling amazing, gluten-free food. Seriously, this lady is making me fat. So. Good.

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On Wednesdays, I sell at the Winfield Church Farmer’s Market. This market is new and smaller, but it is growing every week. Again…can people be nicer? Come check this place out. These sellers are hard workers with amazing products. And I would know…I have bought them all, and continue to buy them every week. If I ever ask why selling pralines doesn’t make me any money, this is why! #worthit

No matter where you are, go check out your local farmer’s market. These are the best products/ foods/ etc you will get. And usually, they are also the cheapest. Plus, supporting local growers and businesses is important.