Love at First Bite

I have a new love- the Calgary Farmer's Market. I first discovered the Farmer's Market last summer. Since, I have visited weekly and have developed insatiable cravings for several of my favorite foods and items sold there. Browsing the aisles, picking up a few groceries, grabbing lunch or a coffee and people-watching has become a weekly ritual for our family.

While some of the prices may seem a bit higher than at your average chain supermarket, the quality cannot be beat, most everything is locally grown and made and you get to meet the growers, cooks, bakers and artists themselves. Adding a personal touch to the apples you buy, the hot dinner you pick up for your family or the knit wool hat for your child is something that no chain store can imitate. It may sound cliche, but it is almost as if you know your food or item was grown/made with tender loving care.

Here are a few of my personal favorites if you do happen to visit the Market:

1. Nature Babies- For organic and eco-minded mommas, this little shop sells a wonderful assortment of children and baby clothes, blankets, accessories, cloth diapers and other items made with organic cotton and natural fibers. They also sell Swaddlebees, one of the best one-size pocket diapers for cloth diapering mommas looking to add to their stash. These items are certainly not cheap but they have some beautiful, unique items that are sure to last for years to come.

2. Buttercream Bake Shoppe- These cupcakes are delish. While not light in calories or price, they are a great treat, a great hostess gift or a unique and tasty idea for birthdays or other special occasions. Personally, I like them a lot better than the Crave cupcakes and they are very similar in price. My personal favorite is the French Vanilla but the Chocolate Peanut Butter is a close second. Mmmm!

3. Dora Pomodora- This little booth located on the back wall of the market has been my salvation during pregnancy. Though there are many times when nothing else sounds good, their chicken and wild mushroom wraps are sure to please. If you're vegetarian or if mushrooms aren't your thing, worry not, they also have salmon salad, beef, regular chicken, falafel, breakfast and a whole other assortment of delicious wraps. The wraps are filled with a generous helping of the wonderful, tasty ingredients . Placed in the panini press and grilled to perfection, they seem like a small piece of heaven. Yes, they are $7.25 per wrap, but eating something (reasonably) healthy while satisfying a craving is priceless.

4. Pearson's Berry Farm- First, this little booth has the BEST samples of any of the vendors in the Market. Need a bite of muffin or a mini fruit tart? Just stop by for a free sample. Of course, as delicious as the baked goods are, it is almost a certainty that you will end up making a purchase. The homemade muffins are big, most and make a great and filling breakfast. At only $8 for 6 muffins, they are also one of the best deals at the Market. My favorite is the Mixed Muffins, which contain 3 Pumpkin Saskatoon Berry Muffins and 3 Morning Glory muffins. The apple pie is also amazing and, with their reasonable prices, you can buy an entire homemade pie for about the same price as what you would pay for a mass-produced supermarket pie.

5. Stock and Sauce Company- For your homemade soup or stock needs, this is the place to go. With everything from vegan chili to wonderful, creamy broccoli cheese soup (the best I've ever had), their soups are a dinnertime staple at our house. Add the fact that they have a program where you get a free soup after you buy a certain number and it makes it an even more appealing dinner choice!

6. 2 Greek Gals- Being married to a Greek, I have developed a love for Greek food, along with an appreciation for how difficult it is to prepare from scratch. The solution- 2 Greek Gals! Their home cooking is better than anything I could make (and probably better than anything most true Greek cooks could make!), the prices are reasonable and, to top it off, the Gals are SO nice! Their pita bread is soft and delicious, the tzatziki (Greek yogurt sauce) is perfect and the prepared lunches and dishes are fantastic. It definitely gets an A+ from this wife and also from my Greek husband!

7. Phil and Sebastian Coffee Company- It might not be as quick as Starbucks and you might not have quite as many choices on the menu but the flavor of their brews is second to none! Grabbing a coffee during your Farmer's Market experience can add the perfect touch to finish off your day!

So, if you're looking for a good place to spend a few hours (and a few dollars), the Calgary Farmer's Market may be the place for you! However, be forewarned, once you visit, you might be back a time or two!