To Market, to Market (Do you have a public one?)
February 1, 2011 6:33 AM Subscribe
Does your area have a public market? Please tell me about it.
We tend to be food tourists, and one of the places we like to visit the most is the Central Market in Lancaster PA. In recent years we've also visited the North Market in Columbus, the West Side Market in Cleveland, Faneuil Hall in Boston and the Ferry Building Marketplace in San Francisco. Last night we caught a re-run of the 2007 PBS documentary "To Market, To Market, To Buy a Fat Pig" and it made us want to visit almost every market shown.
I'm interested in hearing about other cities that have markets (here in Pittsburgh ours is just beginning to get settled) and if you do, what are the "can't miss" stores/stalls there. We haven't quite decided on our vacation plans this year, so we would love to see a few markets if possible. Thanks.
We tend to be food tourists, and one of the places we like to visit the most is the Central Market in Lancaster PA. In recent years we've also visited the North Market in Columbus, the West Side Market in Cleveland, Faneuil Hall in Boston and the Ferry Building Marketplace in San Francisco. Last night we caught a re-run of the 2007 PBS documentary "To Market, To Market, To Buy a Fat Pig" and it made us want to visit almost every market shown.
I'm interested in hearing about other cities that have markets (here in Pittsburgh ours is just beginning to get settled) and if you do, what are the "can't miss" stores/stalls there. We haven't quite decided on our vacation plans this year, so we would love to see a few markets if possible. Thanks.
Reading Terminal Market in central city Philadelphia is a fun place to visit.
posted by reptile at 6:48 AM on February 1, 2011
posted by reptile at 6:48 AM on February 1, 2011
The public markets in Montreal are AMAZING! The Jean Talon market (thought to be the largest open air public market in North America) is the best and well worth a visit!
http://www.marchespublics-mtl.com/
(there is an English option)
posted by unlaced at 6:51 AM on February 1, 2011 [2 favorites]
http://www.marchespublics-mtl.com/
(there is an English option)
posted by unlaced at 6:51 AM on February 1, 2011 [2 favorites]
Lexington Market in Baltimore is a fun place. Definitely stop at Faidley's for crabcakes and the raw bar. Cross Street Market is a little more upscale and more focused on food vendors, rather than being a true market. Between April and December, the downtown farmers market is pretty great too.
posted by electroboy at 6:52 AM on February 1, 2011
posted by electroboy at 6:52 AM on February 1, 2011
Dane County Farmer's Market, Madison, Wisconsin. The largest producer-only farmers’ market in the country.
posted by Floydd at 6:53 AM on February 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Floydd at 6:53 AM on February 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
We love markets too! Just got back from Seattle, and Pike Place, while touristy, is worth a visit. I especially loved the sweet and savory buns at Piroshky Piroshky.
During a recent visit to Toronto we loved the St. Lawrence market.
If you're even in London, check out the Borough Market. I had a sausage sandwich there that was amazing, and one of the best lunch bargains we had during our visit.
Seconding the Reading Terminal market. (Check Chowhound for "best of.")
I don't know if it's worth a special trip, but the York Central Market in York, PA has a lot of history. I grew up in the area, and always try to swing by when visiting.
I know I must be forgetting some...
posted by JoanArkham at 6:56 AM on February 1, 2011
During a recent visit to Toronto we loved the St. Lawrence market.
If you're even in London, check out the Borough Market. I had a sausage sandwich there that was amazing, and one of the best lunch bargains we had during our visit.
Seconding the Reading Terminal market. (Check Chowhound for "best of.")
I don't know if it's worth a special trip, but the York Central Market in York, PA has a lot of history. I grew up in the area, and always try to swing by when visiting.
I know I must be forgetting some...
posted by JoanArkham at 6:56 AM on February 1, 2011
Also, I've never been, but The Green Dragon is supposed to be legendary.
posted by electroboy at 6:58 AM on February 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by electroboy at 6:58 AM on February 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
I've lived in Cleveland, Boston, SF, and DC, and now reside in Montreal, and must say that Montreal's four open-air markets are hard to top. The aforementioned Jean-Talon is fabulous - where else can you get local raw-milk cheese and freshly-cooked wild boar burgers? - and the Atwater Market is down by the canal, so you can take a nice walk before or after. Its worth a visit, but come in the summer!
posted by googly at 7:01 AM on February 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by googly at 7:01 AM on February 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
The ones in PA are pretty cool . I went to green dragon this past summer.
I live on long island not far from the north fork.
We have local farmers markets BUT its much easier to go right to the farm stands and wineries on sound avenue.
posted by majortom1981 at 7:01 AM on February 1, 2011
I live on long island not far from the north fork.
We have local farmers markets BUT its much easier to go right to the farm stands and wineries on sound avenue.
posted by majortom1981 at 7:01 AM on February 1, 2011
The Byward Market in Ottawa is not without its charms; you would want a beavertail and a visit to the assorted nice cheesemongers, and "Market Organics," "La Botega Nicastro" (and then you would head to the Parkdale Market area in Westboro, which has totally exploded with foodie shops in recent years)
posted by kmennie at 7:04 AM on February 1, 2011
posted by kmennie at 7:04 AM on February 1, 2011
I lived in Rochester, New York. One of the pride points in town is the local supermarket chain, Wegmans. Another, perhaps paradoxically, is the Public Market, open 3 days a week (most people go Saturdays) year round and with a dedicated space in the center of the city. I tried to visit every week in the summer. It was the best place to get produce and so much more. I even took out-of-town visitors there in the winter.
There's an extensive entry on the RocWiki site, a Facebook fan group, and hundreds of photos on Flickr. (I admit, I retagged my photos just now to include that tag as opposed to just 'publicmarket', which is ambiguous.) The official site is here.
I'll tell you what I like about the Rochester Public Market: empanadas from Juan and Maria's (I once flew them, on ice, from Rochester to LGA then drove them to southern New Jersey), coffee from Boulder, cheese from "the cheese shop", running into people like Gerry who always takes your picture, and a quick trip to Rohrbach's for a growler of fresh beer. I used to buy a $5 bouquet of flowers from a guy named Russell who was in one of the "sheds" (enclosed buildings, as opposed to the stands in the open air stalls). He was across from the honey people. You can get fresh pasta, fresh pierogies, goat meat, Russian pastries, and locally roasted coffee beans in that shed. Also a lot of fish. One thing that's not easy to get at the market: parking. I parked on Railroad Street, usually, but never in the lots. Back to the food: Much of what is offered is local. Talk to the dairy people from Meadow Creek Farm. The apples may come from Wayne County, just to the east of Rochester. The pineapples and lemons are not so local. There are Mennonite baked goods, probably from near Penn Yan. These are found across from the spice truck, which always packs a Christian message (maybe a Bible verse? I forget) in with your spices. Naturally, these are both a few stalls away from incense and socks.
posted by knile at 7:07 AM on February 1, 2011 [4 favorites]
There's an extensive entry on the RocWiki site, a Facebook fan group, and hundreds of photos on Flickr. (I admit, I retagged my photos just now to include that tag as opposed to just 'publicmarket', which is ambiguous.) The official site is here.
I'll tell you what I like about the Rochester Public Market: empanadas from Juan and Maria's (I once flew them, on ice, from Rochester to LGA then drove them to southern New Jersey), coffee from Boulder, cheese from "the cheese shop", running into people like Gerry who always takes your picture, and a quick trip to Rohrbach's for a growler of fresh beer. I used to buy a $5 bouquet of flowers from a guy named Russell who was in one of the "sheds" (enclosed buildings, as opposed to the stands in the open air stalls). He was across from the honey people. You can get fresh pasta, fresh pierogies, goat meat, Russian pastries, and locally roasted coffee beans in that shed. Also a lot of fish. One thing that's not easy to get at the market: parking. I parked on Railroad Street, usually, but never in the lots. Back to the food: Much of what is offered is local. Talk to the dairy people from Meadow Creek Farm. The apples may come from Wayne County, just to the east of Rochester. The pineapples and lemons are not so local. There are Mennonite baked goods, probably from near Penn Yan. These are found across from the spice truck, which always packs a Christian message (maybe a Bible verse? I forget) in with your spices. Naturally, these are both a few stalls away from incense and socks.
posted by knile at 7:07 AM on February 1, 2011 [4 favorites]
Cincinnati's contribution is Findlay Market. The market is located in the city's Over the Rhine neighborhood which is famous for its 19th century Italianate architecture. The market itself has many knowledgeable butchers and cheesemongers. One fairly unique thing is that there is a stall run by an ex-pat Belgian who sells authentic Liege waffles.
posted by mmascolino at 7:09 AM on February 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by mmascolino at 7:09 AM on February 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
It's not a traditional under-one-roof market, but if you're in D.C. don't miss Capital City Market. The sandwiches at A. Litteri alone are worth visiting for.
posted by ryanshepard at 7:10 AM on February 1, 2011
posted by ryanshepard at 7:10 AM on February 1, 2011
The White Rock Local Market allows local farmers, beekeepers, crafters, knitters and artists to sell their wares every other Saturday in-season. Because of its success last year, they've now got a very popular second location JUST to sell handmade breakfast tacos and other goodies daily in addition to the original location, good2go, which is surprisingly in a "green" gas station (all snacks are organic and/or local, handmade, and the station is family-owned). In addition, the White Rock Market is near a popular lake, which is beautiful scenery for running, sailing, biking, or blading, and regularly hosts charity runs and also boasts a dog park.
If you came to Dallas for a visit, I'd try to time it to coincide with one of these market Saturdays and a visit to the State Fair of Texas in the fall - September or October - and visit the downtown Farmer's market as well. There's a wealth of bizarre food and culture on hand when the timing is right (and the weather!).
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 7:10 AM on February 1, 2011
If you came to Dallas for a visit, I'd try to time it to coincide with one of these market Saturdays and a visit to the State Fair of Texas in the fall - September or October - and visit the downtown Farmer's market as well. There's a wealth of bizarre food and culture on hand when the timing is right (and the weather!).
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 7:10 AM on February 1, 2011
Lately I almost exclusively shop at the local Market. that being Broadway Market with all of London's hipsters. but then London is awash with Markets servicing different socio-economic groups.
I often think about how very very different the crowds are at Ridley Rd market against Broadway Market in Hackney E8. probably 1-2 km apart and such polar opposites.
And then there are the Touristy markets, say Portobello Rd in the West, Borough Market in the South (thurs, fri, sat) the insanity of the Brick Lane Sunday market which is a mixup of all diffferent groups. the Petticoat Lane markets during the week. the Antique market on Thursdays at Spitalfields.
So if you like Markets I can definitely recommend spending a weekend or two in London UK.
posted by mary8nne at 7:13 AM on February 1, 2011
I often think about how very very different the crowds are at Ridley Rd market against Broadway Market in Hackney E8. probably 1-2 km apart and such polar opposites.
And then there are the Touristy markets, say Portobello Rd in the West, Borough Market in the South (thurs, fri, sat) the insanity of the Brick Lane Sunday market which is a mixup of all diffferent groups. the Petticoat Lane markets during the week. the Antique market on Thursdays at Spitalfields.
So if you like Markets I can definitely recommend spending a weekend or two in London UK.
posted by mary8nne at 7:13 AM on February 1, 2011
Essex Market in New York City is one of the last of it's kind, and has started to include higher end shops, without devolving into a tourist trap. The various farmer's market in the city, especially the Union Square market, are among the best I've seen anywhere. The only farmer's market that I've been to that is better is the one in Portland, OR.
posted by soy_renfield at 7:22 AM on February 1, 2011
posted by soy_renfield at 7:22 AM on February 1, 2011
Brixton Market [map] in London is pretty awesome, and one of a dying breed of old skool London food markets. It is also the site of Electric Avenue, which is what Eddy Grant named the song after. If you so choose, you can spend your Brixton Pound at Brixton Market and help the local economy.
If you're a foodie and don't want to buy any of the fish, meat or exotic fruit and veg you can still eat at Rosie's Deli or have London's best pizza at Franco Manca.
Nonetheless, despite this the local council are still doing their best to make life difficult for traders.
posted by MuffinMan at 7:25 AM on February 1, 2011
If you're a foodie and don't want to buy any of the fish, meat or exotic fruit and veg you can still eat at Rosie's Deli or have London's best pizza at Franco Manca.
Nonetheless, despite this the local council are still doing their best to make life difficult for traders.
posted by MuffinMan at 7:25 AM on February 1, 2011
Detroit Eastern Market is a fun place to visit, especially for the small vendors, such as the guy who was selling home-bottled olive oil from his farm in Lebanon, or the lady selling macarons baked in her home kitchen (no longer at the Eastern Market, though).
posted by needled at 7:29 AM on February 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by needled at 7:29 AM on February 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
I was visiting Los Angeles and a dear friend who lives there suggested we eat at the Farmer's Market. I was a little skeptical since she's one who could certainly subsist on a few foraged salad greens, but she's a dear friend and I'd rather have a tiny bite with her and cave in to room service pizza later than miss a night out with her.
Boy was I ever wrong. The LA Farmer's Market is amazing. We got pitchers of beer, countless tacos and wandered around. I was sorely disappointed that we only had two hours before the place closed for the night.
posted by advicepig at 7:40 AM on February 1, 2011
Boy was I ever wrong. The LA Farmer's Market is amazing. We got pitchers of beer, countless tacos and wandered around. I was sorely disappointed that we only had two hours before the place closed for the night.
posted by advicepig at 7:40 AM on February 1, 2011
And if you're taking a long trip, the Hilo Farmer's Market is amazing.
posted by MrMoonPie at 7:43 AM on February 1, 2011
posted by MrMoonPie at 7:43 AM on February 1, 2011
Seconding knile's suggestion of the Rochester Public Market, which was voted America's Favorite Public Market this year. Yes to Juan and Maria's - if you friend them ("Fans of Juan and Maria's Empanada Stop") on Facebook before you visit, they'll send you offers for special deals. Adding that the pierogies you get should be from The Pierogie Guy's stand in the shed, and that you should stop in at Rohrbach's for a free tasting even if you don't want a growler. You also have quite a few options for fresh, local meats and cheeses. Buy all the Mennonite whoopie pies you think you could ever eat, then be surprised at how fast you eat them. Get fresh fruits and veggies from the surrounding counties (Ontario County is pretty well represented, too). Since you'll still be there for lunch, plan to stop over near Java's at the Market - next door is a new place with authentic and delicious pastrami sandwiches the size of your face.
And yeah, Wegmans is the best.
posted by SeedStitch at 7:50 AM on February 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
And yeah, Wegmans is the best.
posted by SeedStitch at 7:50 AM on February 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
Paris is a great city for public markets. If you read French, there's a map and list on the Paris website. Some of these are permanent covered markets (Enfants Rouges, Saint-Quentin); others are street markets that stretch on for blocks on the 2 or 3 days per week that they're open.
The Halles de Lyon, in France's second city, are wonderful. Lyon is known for its cuisine, and the Halles are home to upscale fruit and vegetable vendors, butchers, cheesemongers, fishmongers, bakeries, etc. as well as several small restaurants. Lyon has a list of public markets in English.
posted by brianogilvie at 7:56 AM on February 1, 2011
The Halles de Lyon, in France's second city, are wonderful. Lyon is known for its cuisine, and the Halles are home to upscale fruit and vegetable vendors, butchers, cheesemongers, fishmongers, bakeries, etc. as well as several small restaurants. Lyon has a list of public markets in English.
posted by brianogilvie at 7:56 AM on February 1, 2011
The LA Farmer's Market is amazing.
Two tips therein:
A BLT at Kokomo's and/or a donut from Bob's.
posted by Rash at 8:09 AM on February 1, 2011
Two tips therein:
A BLT at Kokomo's and/or a donut from Bob's.
posted by Rash at 8:09 AM on February 1, 2011
These are not year-round market districts, but in the Finger Lakes area (upstate NY):
- Ithaca, NY, has a Farmers' Market April-Dec in a very nice large outdoor pavilion on the Cayuga Lake waterfront on weekends, and May-Oct on Tues/Thurs in a small park in the downtown area. Fruit/vegetables, crafts, food vendors, live music.
- Penn Yan, NY, has a large multi-building market called The Windmill open I believe mid-April through December. Pretty large operation with vendors selling fruit/veg, baked goods, meat, crafts, household items, food.
- Syracuse, NY, has a Regional Farmers' Market open Saturdays year-round and a couple other days a week during the warmer months. Both fruit/veg and meat vendors, and last time I was there quite a bit of flea-market type stuff in one or two of the buildings as well.
posted by aught at 8:11 AM on February 1, 2011
- Ithaca, NY, has a Farmers' Market April-Dec in a very nice large outdoor pavilion on the Cayuga Lake waterfront on weekends, and May-Oct on Tues/Thurs in a small park in the downtown area. Fruit/vegetables, crafts, food vendors, live music.
- Penn Yan, NY, has a large multi-building market called The Windmill open I believe mid-April through December. Pretty large operation with vendors selling fruit/veg, baked goods, meat, crafts, household items, food.
- Syracuse, NY, has a Regional Farmers' Market open Saturdays year-round and a couple other days a week during the warmer months. Both fruit/veg and meat vendors, and last time I was there quite a bit of flea-market type stuff in one or two of the buildings as well.
posted by aught at 8:11 AM on February 1, 2011
Nthing the Rochester public market. I usually don't go in the winter (because it's freezing here), but we try and go every Saturday all spring/summer/fall. It's the best.
Also, there's the South Wedge farmer's market. They're much smaller and only open from 4-8 pm on Thursdays, but you might as well check them out if you're here anyways.
And Wegmans. YUP.
posted by thsmchnekllsfascists at 8:19 AM on February 1, 2011
Also, there's the South Wedge farmer's market. They're much smaller and only open from 4-8 pm on Thursdays, but you might as well check them out if you're here anyways.
And Wegmans. YUP.
posted by thsmchnekllsfascists at 8:19 AM on February 1, 2011
The Davis Farmer's Market was voted the best in the U.S., or so I hear. I'm a fan of the Towani farm stand. Jeff and Annie of Good Humus have been working for years to create an easement so that their farm (and others) will always be an organic farm. "One Farm at a Time," I think the project is called. The booths I recommend will, of course, typically vary by season, but if you pass through Davis, I can give you a tour.
Come on a Wednesday in the summer, there are thousands of people there.
posted by aniola at 8:23 AM on February 1, 2011
Come on a Wednesday in the summer, there are thousands of people there.
posted by aniola at 8:23 AM on February 1, 2011
Ithaca, NY, has a Farmers' Market April-Dec in a very nice large outdoor pavilion on the Cayuga Lake waterfront on weekends, and May-Oct on Tues/Thurs in a small park in the downtown area. Fruit/vegetables, crafts, food vendors, live music.
I should probably have mentioned that in the heart of Ithaca's downtown is a pedestrian mall area called The Commons with restaurants, clothing shops, craft stores, and bars. Though something it is missing that many "market districts" have is a food store (there is a nice co-op food store a couple blocks away however, in the same building as the fabled vegetarian restaurant Moosewood and a nice independent bookstore.)
posted by aught at 8:23 AM on February 1, 2011
I should probably have mentioned that in the heart of Ithaca's downtown is a pedestrian mall area called The Commons with restaurants, clothing shops, craft stores, and bars. Though something it is missing that many "market districts" have is a food store (there is a nice co-op food store a couple blocks away however, in the same building as the fabled vegetarian restaurant Moosewood and a nice independent bookstore.)
posted by aught at 8:23 AM on February 1, 2011
Nthing Rochester---won America's Favorite Farm Market 2010. And does a good job of serving lower income families.
posted by vitabellosi at 8:24 AM on February 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by vitabellosi at 8:24 AM on February 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
Seconding London's Borough Market and adding Greenwich Market. It's mostly arts and crafts but the food stalls...oh, the food stalls. Amazing.
posted by cooker girl at 9:07 AM on February 1, 2011
posted by cooker girl at 9:07 AM on February 1, 2011
Seattle:
Pike Place Market, mentioned above, as a tourist attraction, is pretty awesome. Ok produce, awesome fresh seafood. Great restaurants. Really, though it's the fact that it's a cool old multilevel wooden building right on the waterfront filled with independent shops and stalls, busking etc, all done in a fairly non-cheesy way.
But really, the market we all go to here is the Ballard Farmers Market. Like everything here, way better in the summer, but operates year round. Jam packed with canvas bag toting, NPR listening college professors. Very tasty overpriced produce. Lots of good busking. We are always sure to run into people we know there.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 9:12 AM on February 1, 2011
Pike Place Market, mentioned above, as a tourist attraction, is pretty awesome. Ok produce, awesome fresh seafood. Great restaurants. Really, though it's the fact that it's a cool old multilevel wooden building right on the waterfront filled with independent shops and stalls, busking etc, all done in a fairly non-cheesy way.
But really, the market we all go to here is the Ballard Farmers Market. Like everything here, way better in the summer, but operates year round. Jam packed with canvas bag toting, NPR listening college professors. Very tasty overpriced produce. Lots of good busking. We are always sure to run into people we know there.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 9:12 AM on February 1, 2011
On a roadtrip last year we spent a little time in St. John, New Brunswick, and there is a market that we happened upon.
We spent some time talking to an interesting fellow who made pottery from the red clay that is abundant in the area.
Recommended if you are in the area.
posted by o0dano0o at 9:37 AM on February 1, 2011
We spent some time talking to an interesting fellow who made pottery from the red clay that is abundant in the area.
Recommended if you are in the area.
posted by o0dano0o at 9:37 AM on February 1, 2011
Atlanta has the historical (but much smaller) Sweet Auburn Curb Market, which is not actually curbside per se, but indoors. It's incubated some great little food startups, including the delicious Grindhouse Burgers, who I've mentioned previously on the green. The actual produce is not the draw here, so much as the random food vendors. Atlanta also (finally) has a nascent food cart & truck scene, which began holding Urban Picnic events each Friday at the SACM in 2010. Here's an article on the market from December, and here's their website, which has some more information on the history of the place.
posted by deludingmyself at 10:17 AM on February 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by deludingmyself at 10:17 AM on February 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
Atlanta also has the fabulous Dekalb Farmers Market. While not a farmers' market at all, it's an amazing market just the same, full of international foods, fresh and prepared. Best damned coffee I've ever had.
posted by MrMoonPie at 10:35 AM on February 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by MrMoonPie at 10:35 AM on February 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
Thirding the markets of Montreal. I love them all for different reasons.
Being a former Atlanta resident, the Morningside Market in Va-Hi is also neat. Small, though.
posted by Kitteh at 12:01 PM on February 1, 2011
Being a former Atlanta resident, the Morningside Market in Va-Hi is also neat. Small, though.
posted by Kitteh at 12:01 PM on February 1, 2011
The LA Farmer's Market is amazing.
Two tips therein:
A BLT at Kokomo's and/or a donut from Bob's.
I'm very sorry to report that Kokomo's is no longer at the LA Farmer's Market. Their BLT is still amazing, but it (and the restaurant) have moved about half a mile down the street.
posted by bluejayway at 12:26 PM on February 1, 2011
Two tips therein:
A BLT at Kokomo's and/or a donut from Bob's.
I'm very sorry to report that Kokomo's is no longer at the LA Farmer's Market. Their BLT is still amazing, but it (and the restaurant) have moved about half a mile down the street.
posted by bluejayway at 12:26 PM on February 1, 2011
Olympia Farmer's Market! (April - December) Lots of local farmers, a food court of sorts, performance space, artsy-craftsy stuff. I love carrots and garlic from the farmer's market. :) And what seems like the biggest draw: Stewart's Meats; there's almost always a line.
When I lived in Tacoma, I loved going to the Tacoma Farmer's Market. (May - October) It sets up in the middle of a block of downtown; I used to work right adjacent, which made for some delicious lunches.
And there's the Portland (OR) Saturday Market -- crafts, not produce, but still fun. (March - December)
(I too have been to the Rochester farmer's market, while in town for a conference, and enjoyed it. Very busy, even in October. Had a delicious apple.)
posted by epersonae at 2:30 PM on February 1, 2011
When I lived in Tacoma, I loved going to the Tacoma Farmer's Market. (May - October) It sets up in the middle of a block of downtown; I used to work right adjacent, which made for some delicious lunches.
And there's the Portland (OR) Saturday Market -- crafts, not produce, but still fun. (March - December)
(I too have been to the Rochester farmer's market, while in town for a conference, and enjoyed it. Very busy, even in October. Had a delicious apple.)
posted by epersonae at 2:30 PM on February 1, 2011
The Soulard Market in St. Louis claims to be the oldest market west of the Mississippi. We shopped there when I was a kid. You can get just about anything. A sampling: a live duck, pigs toes, flowers, cast iron pot, spices, mini doughnuts (freshly fried), towers of oranges, boxes of bananas, hot tamales.
The Public Market in Milwaukee is interesting. There is great fish stand and really nice butcher. There is also a pretty nice wine shop. It has no where near (not even on the same scale) as much culture as the Soulard Market.
posted by sulaine at 3:02 PM on February 1, 2011
The Public Market in Milwaukee is interesting. There is great fish stand and really nice butcher. There is also a pretty nice wine shop. It has no where near (not even on the same scale) as much culture as the Soulard Market.
posted by sulaine at 3:02 PM on February 1, 2011
Montreal's already been raved about, but not in so much detail. Jean-Talon is really the ultimate outdoor market. Among the pluses: several Middle Eastern bazaar type stores with lots of olives, olive oils, nuts, dried fruit, rahat lakoum, Italian groceries in the market and nearby with every kind of pasta, cold cut, antipasti you can imagine – oh and the bakeries and the bread – the best cold cuts in the city at Les Cochons Tout Ronds and the best selection of spices I've ever seen at Olive et Épices – two fantastic cheese shops, a health food store, two great places for espresso and coffee by the pound, a good bulk store, smoked salmon, chocolate... and all this without mentioning the produce! Even in winter there's plenty of imported stuff, but come here in mid to late summer and you will swoon at the mass quantity and sheer variety of the fruit and the salad greens and the fresh veg and the baskets of Roma tomatoes being bought by old nonnas to make sauce with. And then there's the ice cream place and the butcher shop where you can get little bison and duck sausages off the grill on a stick, for a dollar. And I haven't described half of its charms yet.
posted by zadcat at 7:25 PM on February 1, 2011
posted by zadcat at 7:25 PM on February 1, 2011
The St. Jacobs Market, just north of Waterloo, Ontario, is worth visiting. It's quite the tourist and regional attraction - the crowds can be crazy on warm summer Saturdays, but it's also open Thursdays, and Tuesday in the summer. It's a two-story wooden main building with food below and crafts above, an enormous (seasonal) outdoor grid of produce stalls and some random non-food ones, a separate "flea market" building that has more food stalls, and a livestock market. The market has many local Mennonite vendors selling produce and prepared foods, of which summer sausage (in cloth wrap) is a definite local specialty. The Fritter Company has apple fritters to die for - it's worth the wait (and there usually is one), and you get to see the fritter assembly line.
posted by parudox at 8:53 PM on February 1, 2011
posted by parudox at 8:53 PM on February 1, 2011
There are tons of markets in London and it depends on what you enjoy. My favorite, Chapel St. Market, is off most tourist radars but features super cheap produce along with a few odd stalls of seafood etc. At least, this was the case 5 years ago; no doubt things may have changed. Borough Market is great if you like spending around 3 times as much as you would in Whole Foods (for food which is, admittedly, at least 3 times better than what you'd get in Whole Foods) but hate being indoors. In other words, it's crazy expensive, which is fine, but not what I feel markets should be about, really.
In dear and near Philadelphia, my favorite farmer's market is probably the one in Clark Park. It's not the largest but the people there are somehow friendlier and the neighborhood vibe, overall, is excellent.
Oh! A close second is the oldest farmer's market in the U.S. supposedly, the ironically named New Market (more commonly called Headhouse Market) is the oldest continuously run markets in the nation. The people there are very friendly. The prices there are around average for farmer's markets these days, which is to say, around the same prices or slightly more than you'd pay in a grocery store. I find this pretty frustrating but it's still the best way to get really good food and at least you know where it's coming from.
On Saturdays there's a microscopically small farmer's market at The Piazza. The four stands I saw (granted, it was winter, turnout may be greater in the summer) all had excellent products: one baked goods stand, one meat/dairy farmer with crazy cheap prices for raw goat's milk ($2/pint, $3/quart), a lady selling eggs (and possibly other stuff; I only cared about the eggs) and a vegetable stand selling truly beautiful vegetables.
Cairo, particularly Islamic Cairo, is essentially a continuous maze of markets. If any MeFite makes it out there, please MeMail me as I'd love to a) offer advice and b) get updates on what's happening there. And of course in writing this it's completely slipped my mind that in light of the recent turmoil shopping is probably down, to say the least. However, given that Egyptians buy literally everything from markets (including buying liquid detergent and steel wool by the kilo), they won't be closed for long.
posted by Deathalicious at 11:50 PM on February 1, 2011
In dear and near Philadelphia, my favorite farmer's market is probably the one in Clark Park. It's not the largest but the people there are somehow friendlier and the neighborhood vibe, overall, is excellent.
Oh! A close second is the oldest farmer's market in the U.S. supposedly, the ironically named New Market (more commonly called Headhouse Market) is the oldest continuously run markets in the nation. The people there are very friendly. The prices there are around average for farmer's markets these days, which is to say, around the same prices or slightly more than you'd pay in a grocery store. I find this pretty frustrating but it's still the best way to get really good food and at least you know where it's coming from.
On Saturdays there's a microscopically small farmer's market at The Piazza. The four stands I saw (granted, it was winter, turnout may be greater in the summer) all had excellent products: one baked goods stand, one meat/dairy farmer with crazy cheap prices for raw goat's milk ($2/pint, $3/quart), a lady selling eggs (and possibly other stuff; I only cared about the eggs) and a vegetable stand selling truly beautiful vegetables.
Cairo, particularly Islamic Cairo, is essentially a continuous maze of markets. If any MeFite makes it out there, please MeMail me as I'd love to a) offer advice and b) get updates on what's happening there. And of course in writing this it's completely slipped my mind that in light of the recent turmoil shopping is probably down, to say the least. However, given that Egyptians buy literally everything from markets (including buying liquid detergent and steel wool by the kilo), they won't be closed for long.
posted by Deathalicious at 11:50 PM on February 1, 2011
Have you gone to the other farmer's markets around Pittsburgh? They're closed for the winter, but I went to the downtown ones frequently when I worked there. I don't remember where all of them were or when they are, but I know there was a tiny one in the front of the city-county building, and one in Market Square. There should also be a bigger one in front of the Home Depot in East Liberty.
posted by that girl at 12:01 AM on February 2, 2011
posted by that girl at 12:01 AM on February 2, 2011
I don't live in Chicago, but several years ago during a visit we went to the Maxwell St Market. It's every Sunday, I think (even in the winter, I have heard, though we were there in the late spring). Got some great Mexican street food from vendors (huaraches and tacos, don't forget to ask for cilantro and hot sauce), as well as fresh vegetables and Mexican spices and peppers. There was also a lot of flea-markety stuff that was interesting to look at but which we didn't buy; for example, I recall many stands had cheap tube socks for some reason (in addition to the expected t-shirts, souvenirs, car accessories, hardware & tools, and CDs & DVDs).
posted by aught at 6:44 AM on February 2, 2011
posted by aught at 6:44 AM on February 2, 2011
And if we're talking foreign street markets as well as U.S. ones, I'll mention both the world-famous Grand (Covered) Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı) and the Egyptian Spice Market ("Mısır Çarşısı") both in the old part of Istanbul, since I was there last fall. We actually liked the Egyptian Market a lot more, since we were interested in buying tea, spices, and good olives. Caveat: practice your skills beforehand at politely but firmly declining invitations from vendors, particularly if you're obviously a non-Turk - the Grand Bazaar can get very annoying with people wanting you to buy their carpets, fabrics, leather goods, and jewelry, and they're very persistent particularly if you're gawking visibly at everything and uncertain which alleyway to go down next, as most tourists are. It's worth knowing how to firmly say "No" in Turkish ("Hayır, efendim" seemed to work for me, accompanied by the Turkish raising of eyebrows in disapproval) and in general steeling yourself from responding to all their entreaties, which was hard at first but got easier with practice.
posted by aught at 7:06 AM on February 2, 2011
posted by aught at 7:06 AM on February 2, 2011
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posted by MrMoonPie at 6:38 AM on February 1, 2011 [3 favorites]