Strawberry Festival at St. Lawrence Market Tomorrow

Is there anything more lovely than  a strawberry in season? I think not. 

If you're like-minded, head down to St. Lawrence Market tomorrow for the annual Strawberry Festival.
The market is so crowded lately -- as it should be -- that it's hard to believe it was so underused at one time there was talk of getting rid of it.
Anyway, here's the scoop from the City of Toronto:
"St. Lawrence Market in Toronto is celebrating the launch of the local berry season with its annual Strawberry Festival on Saturday, June 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

St. Lawrence Market merchant Yianni's will be serving strawberry waffles, followed by sample offerings of strawberry shortcake and custard tarts from merchant Eve's Temptations.

The market will also welcome back jam-maker Bumpercrop, which will be giving away strawberries with mascarpone cheese. The festival would not be complete without chocolate-covered strawberries, which will be supplied by North Market farmer Moyer Farms.

Visitors will be treated to a visit from celebrity chef David Adjey, who will be cooking in the Miele Gallery at the Market Kitchen. He will make his own strawberry-inspired recipe. Visitors will have a chance to meet Adjey, who will have copies of his book, Deconstructing the Dish.

The Miele Gallery at the Market Kitchen is located on the west mezzanine of the South Market, 93 Front St. E.

A full schedule of events is available at http://www.stlawrencemarket.com."
Enjoy!
Vanessa

St. Lawrence Market Lauded by National Geographic

It's not in our area, and Kensington is closer, but I'll always have a gooey spot in my heart for St. Lawrence Market.

I have fond childhood memories of slipping out of bed early on a Saturday and going there with my father to soak up the sounds, sights and smells.

The market struggled to survive a few decades ago and I will be forever grateful that it didn't become one of Toronto's many sad stories of razing and rebuilding.

When I go to St. Lawrence Market these days, it invariably is packed, packed, packed. No doubt the many new condo dwellers in the area have bumped up its pool of customers.

And there are exciting new plans for the north market; promises to be stunning.

So, I'm a big fan, but even I was taken aback to discover that National Geographic's Food Journeys of a Lifetime lists it as Number One in street markets internationally, ranking it higher than Santiago, Chile's Mercado Central and New York's Union Square Greenmarket.

Wow-ah.
Cheers,

Vanessa

Market Gallery Exhibition

I have a soft spot for St. Lawrence Market and The Market Gallery. I wish there were more places like them throughout the city and I'm grateful they haven't been torn down, like so many of Toronto's beautiful buildings.
But I digress... there's a new display opening at The Market Gallery soon. As always, admission is free. Here are the details:
"Savour Toronto's and St. Lawrence Market's food history at The Market Gallery
For over 200 years, St. Lawrence Market has been an inspiring food and shopping destination. The Market Gallery exhibition, "Meet Me at the Market", on display from October 22, through to February 25, 2012, reveals the history of this iconic Toronto market through photographs, documents, maps and artefacts.
Visitors will be able to compare and discover what was for sale and where it came from. They will find out that in the 19th century the public could buy bear meat, wild swan and deer with the antlers still attached and that the first market on Front Street was a fish market selling salmon caught with spears by candle light.
The exhibit will review how food production has changed in the city by touching on market gardening, Victory Gardens during two world wars, and local community garden projects. Recent efforts by government and community groups to re-connect neighbourhoods to affordable and sustainable food sources has reflected the public's heightened awareness of how they interact with, and are affected by, their food.
The historic evolution of the food system from the perspectives of growing, production, distribution and consumption, as well as the role of consumer choices and influences will also be explored. From buying local or imported delicacies to growing food at home, Toronto has had many food choices due to its fertile land and its location as a transportation centre. This exhibition will show how St. Lawrence Market has kept urban consumers connected to local producers while food production has become a global operation.
Gallery hours are Tuesday to Friday (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Saturday (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Closed Sunday, Monday and holidays."
Cheers,
Vanessa

Corn Roast at St. Lawrence Market Next Saturday

It's not in our neighbourhood and Kensington is closer, but I still have to go to St. Lawrence Market once in awhile.
I used to go in the wee, wee hours with my Dad when I was quite wee myself and it has a special place in my heart.
It's so vital and bustling now, no-doubt bolstered by the business from condo dwellers, that it's hard to believe there ever was talk of closing it.

I just learned that next weekend -- August 7th -- the market hosts an Annual Corn Roast from 11 am to 3 pm.

Imagine the sights and smells during that! And the corn is free. Here's the scoop from the official news release:

"Come visit the St. Lawrence Market on August 7, for the Annual Corn Roast. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. the Market will be offering complimentary hot roasted corn on the cob. Enjoy special discounts from selected vendors and see a display of a miniature farm with live animals by Uncle Jorge, a farmer at the Saturday Market.

Enter a free raffle to win one of 10 St. Lawrence Market Gift Certificates worth $200, until August 7. Tickets are available at any vendor in the South Market and on Saturdays in the North Market. Winners will be announced on August 14, 11 a.m. at the Market Kitchen."
Enjoy!

Vanessa