Farmer's Markets!!!!!

Since moving to the Bay Area, I have attended seven different farmer's markets. Almost every neighborhood has one, and they all have different highlights. 

Grand Ave.: In addition to being the closest one to me, this is a really great farmer's market. I always treat myself to something at each farmers market, and at this one I had a delicious Belgian waffle (really did remind me of those I had in Belgium), a pretzel croissant (yes, as good as it sounds) and a German pretzel covered with cheese (I think crunchy edges of baked cheese is some of the most delicious food ever). Of course they have lots of vegetables--super fresh carrots, chard, kale (yes, Dad, kale!), broccoli etc. Also strawberries and at least one kind of dates. 

North Berkeley: I love buying fresh lettuce at farmers markets, especially because you can get just enough for a few small salads, if that's what you want, then come back next week. Another highlight here was the yogurt.

South Berkeley: This one really impressed me. For a weekday market, they have a pretty incredible selection including a date stand with more than five types of dates, a fresh cheese place that makes deals if you buy a couple of packages, vegetarian Mexican food, great hearty bread, interesting apple varieties as well as lots of fresh veggies, nuts and fruit. Out of loyalty to Riverside, I feel like I should say the oranges I bought here couldn’t compare, but they were pretty good. =)

***Note: I figured out why the South Berkeley market is so good—many of the same vendors as the Berkeley Downtown market. Bought some delicious handmade corn tortillas for enchiladas, and the seller explained that I need to heat them up before adding the contents so they don’t break! Made chips with the leftovers—yum!

Sausalito: After a weekend retreat in Stinson Beach, I came back by way of Sausalito. This wasn’t a great market in terms of selection or prices, but it was a pretty setting, at a park along the bay. The baklava I tried here (lots of pistachios and honey) was quite good, and I bought a cilantro chutney from a seller who kept giving me more and more pieces of bread with various spreads to try.

Jack London Square: This is in downtown Oakland, right by where the ferry to San Francisco picks up. Its still a pretty edgy neighborhood (at least compared to small-town Arizona) but does have a great fruit selection at good prices. There was a “pop-up” pasta shop one day I was there (they rent the space just for the day) that I bought as gifts. This is also where I found the flavored almonds I brought home for the holidays.

Another one of my favorites is the Montclair Sunday market. Montclair is this adorable European-type town in Piedmont (expensive neighborhood in hills above Oakland). The downtown is very compact, and full of interesting shops. I first attended a Christmas market here and they had carolers, cookie give aways and lots of festive atmosphere. This is convenient to my church, and also has a Safeway grocery store nearby, so I often pick up groceries before or after church, and then go home to cook! Some of my favorites here: German bread, fresh mushrooms, plum butter, Indian samosas, almonds and walnuts, eggs and nice fresh flowers.

There are many more to visit, but one on my short list is the San Francisco Saturday market, which I have heard is quite large and somewhat like Washington D.C.’s Eastern Market.