West End Farmer's Market

Farmer's Market season has arrived! Vancouver offers a variety of Farmer's Markets, and there is sure to be one in your area!

My local area- the West End- is lucky to have a great Farmer's Market on Saturdays. It has been open for the past 2 Saturdays, but I finally got to go pay a visit yesterday!

I was surprised to see a bunch of familiar vendors from the Kitsilano Market- Paul's Produce, bluecometseafoods (mmm sashimi tuna loin!), Flippers Organic Acres, and many others!

Today's Farmer's Market purchases included:

Beets and tops
Cherry Tomatoes (absolutely unreal!)
Strawberry Spinach
Long English Cucumbers (some nice and solid ones this weekend!)
Radishes
New Potatoes (the teeny weeniest you've ever seen! so cute!)
Red Kale
Zucchini

Beautiful produce! 

The West End Farmer's Market is located between Bute and Thurlow on Comox St.
It's open Saturdays, from 9am- 2pm

Get there early to pick out the best stuff! Lots of vendors sell out of some of their goodies!
Go grab breakfast- there is always a food truck and coffee vendors for you to eat while you shop.

Also- don't forget cash, or if you do- you can get Market Money through your debit. It's a $2 charge per transaction.

Next week I'm looking forward to seeing a whole bunch of new vendors.
Check out the Interactive Market Map to see who will be there each weekend!

Food Trucks Are All The Rage

As the post title states, food trucks are all the rage in Vancouver these days. In downtown Vancouver, they're hard not to miss- stationed at some of the busiest corners in the downtown core.

Being a person with allergies, these food trucks come with a big red flag- we have no idea what the ingredients are- or really any way to look it up. Street meat is pretty much out. It's unfortunate because so many of these food trucks are raved about. They are definitely the hottest trend for "fast food", and some of the products coming out of these food trucks are absolutely gourmet.

I have discovered my first food truck which boasts an ENTIRELY gluten-free, and dairy-free menu. Not only that- the food is absolutely amazing.

This food truck is called "Off the Wagon". They describe themselves as a "mobile Taqueria specializing in fresh homemade tacos." Having been to Mexico City a couple times and eating authentic tacos right off the street, my standards for tacos are high.

The tacos at Off The Wagon are fantastic. Authentic, and drool-worthy.
I ordered 2 pulled pork tacos- and absolutely would get them again, and again, and again. They also have a vegetarian option (yam and beans) that I would love to try.

They have a Facebook page!

https://www.facebook.com/OffTheWagonTacos


You can find Off the Wagon at the Kitsilano Farmer's Market on Sundays. You can also find them at Dunsmuir and Burrard during weekdays!

Kitsilano Farmer's Market- Van Markets

The Kitsilano Farmer's Market is up and running!

Check out the Interactive Market Map!

I've visited the Kitsilano market the past two Sundays and have found some delicious treats from lovely vendors that I'd love to share with you!

First off, here are the details:

Kitsilano Farmer's Market
Just outside the Kitsilano Community Centre at 10th and Larch.
Sundays
10am-2pm

Parking is limited, but it is available. I had to loop around a couple times today until I found a spot. There is parking at the Community Centre, and also a few spots on the street.

Last week I rode my bike, and they were doing free bike tune ups, and also, the fantastic Bicycle Valet is there to keep your bike safe and sound as you shop!

Bring cash, but if you absolutely don't have time to grab some before hand, you can get "Market Money" by using your debit card- all vendors take Market Money, and will give you back exact change, when needed.

Favourite vendors so far:

Paul's Produce- a family farm in Abbotsford. Radishes are only $1 a bunch here! I don't think Paul's Produce is organic, but it is local, and is the best priced produce at the market.

High Crow Gluten-Free Foods- I've tried the Ginger cookie, and a Cranberry/Orange Loaf. Absolutely divine.

Hui's Farm- Mushrooms! Many varieties including many exotic looking mushrooms that I'm hesitant to try, but I've picked up a large amount of Crimini for $4 here. The cutest wee little mushrooms you've ever seen. Delicious.

Kalley Kandy- Almond Nougat. Need I say more. It's gluten-free, dairy-free, with no preservatives, additives, colourings, or gelatine, but it's made of egg-whites. $5 will get you a package of 6 generous pieces.

Jane's Honey Bees- Met "Jane" herself...but actually it's her middle name. Bought myself a LARGE jar of dark honey for $10. Love buying local.

A little tip for those purchasing fresh greens at the market:

Many vendors have laid out "salad bars" where they have chopped, prepared lettuce. A medium size bag will run you about $7-9, BUT if you buy the lettuces by the bunch and prepare it yourself, you will get about 5x as much for the same price. I bought 3 medium bunches for $7.50, and ended up with way more lettuce than I knew what to do with. Seriously. I've been eating lettuce for every. single. meal.

But it's delicious and healthy.

I'm looking forward to my local farmer's market opening up- West End! I will let you know how it goes.

A Gluten-Free Kitchen

Starting up a gluten-free, dairy-free kitchen can be a bit of a commitment. You want to have yourself set up to be successful, with many opportunities to create the most wonderful, delicious meals, and treats for yourself and your family.

Basics to have around the cupboards:

• White Sugar
• Brown Sugar
• Honey
• Maple Syrup (The real stuff. Don't buy the poison. Keep it in the fridge or it will go moldy!)
• Sorghum Flour
• Rice Flour (brown or white, whichever you prefer)
• Tapioca Flour
• Corn Flour
• Millet Flour
• Buckwheat Flour
• Potato Starch
• Corn Starch
• Baking Powder
• Baking Soda
• Yeast (Both rapid-rising, and not)

All flours I have found at Whole Foods. Most of them are made by Bob's Red Mill- Whole Foods does have some in bulk (rice and buckwheat).

Great spices to have on hand:

• Cloves
• Cinnamon
• Ginger
• Nutmeg
• Turmeric
• Curry Powder (check the ingredients labels before buying!)

For the fridge/freezer:

• Fruits and Veggies. I cannot stress the importance of having these around to snack on!
• Fresh salsa! Grab some at your local farmer's market or deli! Fresh is best!
• Kale!!!! Kale chips....so good. Try using red or black kale for a bigger crunch!
• Frozen berries for smoothies!
• Unsweetened Almond Milk (The Silk brand is just terrible. Try Almond Fresh)
• Gluten-free Soy Sauce (Kikkomen makes it! Available at Safeway!)
• Chef's Natural Sausages (Available at the Vancouver Farmer's Market! Try Apple and Pork)
• Soy Good Frozen Dessert (ICE CREAM!!!!)
• So Delicious Cultured Coconut Milk (AKA YOGURT! This is BETTER than the real stuff. Available in Strawberry, Blueberry, and Vanilla. Just try not to get addicted)

For the cupboards:

• Vegetable Oil
• Olive Oil
• Balsamic Vinegar (Get both your Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar from an international market or deli! You'll absolutely find the best quality there.)
• Natural Peanut Butter (Try Adam's 100% Natural Crunchy! A little tip out there...next time you're buying peanut butter, check out the ingredients label on Skippy brand- one ingredient in there you probably didn't expect...)
• Rice pasta- vermicelli, as well as your standard penne, rotini...find a variety of brands at your local Whole Foods!
• Rice! Lots of it! Those who know me know that rice is my absolute favourite food.

Canned Foods:

• Black Beans
• Corn
• Campbells Chicken and Rice Soup. Great for a quick lunch.
• Young Sweet Corn (Stir Fries, and Curries)
• Bamboo Shoots (Thai Curries)
• Coconut Milk
• Dalla Terra Roasted Pepper Antipasto (Put on grilled chicken, mix into your thai curries...so versatile...so delicious)

Just a note: don't buy canned tomatoes. If you're going to: find them in glass jars. The acid in tomatoes leeches the metal out of the cans and creates an unhealthy metallic balance for you to consume. Google it.

Snacks

• Blue Corn Tortilla Chips
• Annie Chun's Seaweed Snacks (Try the sesame flavour)
• Rice Cakes
• Rice Crackers
• Make some of my OMG Bread and keep it on hand for sandwiches and toast!

I'll continue to add to this list as I discover new products! As of right now I've got most of this on hand. The baking ingredients may seem like a bit excessive- but all gluten-free baking uses a variety of flours versus just one to create a great product. Different flours for different recipes for different baked ingredients!

Vancouver Farmer's Market- Earth Day Post

Vancouver has some wonderful Farmer's Markets, and lucky for us, even in the dreary, wet winter, we still have one! This "Winter" market is located right near Nat Bailey Stadium, and there is a moderate amount of parking facilities available. Lots of bike parking- so if you can, ride your bike there!

 I decided I absolutely had to go visit the market this weekend after watching a thought-provoking documentary called "Farmaggedon" on Friday evening. It focusses on the debate over raw milk (which I can't have anyways...but you lactose-intolerants apparently can!)...and how it is illegal in Canada and in some states in the US. It was eye-opening, but what really got to me was the idea of buying local.

Of course, of course, we all know it's better to buy local, but without proper planning, we find ourselves at the supermarket time and time again without knowledge of where our food is travelling from, and how far it had to travel to get to our plates. It's self-explanatory that local food is better for the earth. Think about all the emissions that go out into the atmosphere every day just getting food to people's plates. Even "every day" type veggies like cucumber, and lettuce travel thousands of miles- why?! It just seems so silly if you think about it.

 The Vancouver (Winter) Farmer's Market had an exceptional number of stands and a very happy crowd slowly moved their way around the market.

I managed to pick up:
cucumbers
apples
carrots
leeks
tomatos
wild pink salmon
sashimi-grade wild tuna loin
GLUTEN-FREE ginger cookie (inspiration for baking them later today...)
GLUTEN-FREE apple and pork sausages
and more.

There was so much available- all sorts of lettuces, peppers, dried fruits, juices, all sorts of meat. Mostly organic, all local. It really makes you feel good supporting these farmers. Supporting the local economy. Knowing where your food comes from.
Whether it's all psychological that it tastes better, or not, is up to you...but in my belief, these products not only are better for the earth and better for your body, but they taste better, too.

I wanted to make a shout out to a couple of vendors:

1. High-Crow Gluten Free. They were the ones who had several baked goods on hand at the market, including the chewy ginger cookie that I purchased. Honestly, this was probably one of the best cookies I've ever eaten in my life. Their products are available at the farmer's market, and Edible Canada Bistro on Granville Island uses some of their products. Their website is: http://www.highcrow.com/

2. Chefs Natural Sausage. A wide variety of sausages, made with locally grown meats. All are gluten-free, no MSG, and no nitrates. I purchased a pack of 4 apple and pork sausages for about $6. Great price- delicious sausages!

If you want to find out more about the farmer's markets in Vancouver check out eatlocal.org

Markets are available all over the city- so look to see when the one nearest you is opening. Until then, check out the one on Saturdays at Nat Bailey!

Being healthy and allergy-free, and eating delicious foods is easy. All it takes is a little extra planning.