Today I went to the Farmer’s Holiday Market at the Croatian Cultural Centre in East Van. Since it was beginning to snow lightly outside, I was thankful the market was held indoors. And was it ever packed! I took the pictures when we first arrived and within 30 minutes the place was jammed full of people in the aisles browsing through local artisan crafts and specialty foods. With live music setting the festive mood, you could spend well over an hour browsing, noshing, drinking. While it was less fresh-food driven, unlike the regular farmers’ markets in the spring, summer and fall, today’s event was a showcase of baked goods, spices, soaps, oils, fresh flowers and wreaths, chocolates, plus a variety of kilned and knitted gift items, jewelry, etc. I picked up some mulling spice (with which I made mulled wine this afternoon – YUM), fig compote, white truffle oil, and other wonderful treats.
I was also excited to see that Say See Bon had a booth there (albeit a shockingly modest one) – one of my readers had recommended that I try their French macarons as I’m currently on the hunt for the best macaron in Vancouver. I met and spoke with the owner Charlene Tessier (that’s the great thing about Farmers’ Markets, you actually get to talk to the person who grows/makes your food) and while they currently only have a few flavours, I’m hoping they’ll explore others because they’re quite delicious! What stood out was the matcha-flavoured macaron, which was very unique. I’ve got a few more places to try out, but Say See Bon’s macarons were indeed fresh, with a nice, thin smooth exterior shell and a good consistency in the bite where the shell remains relatively intact instead of crumbling everywhere. And the paste inside was not too sweet and very flavourful. Thanks to today’s experience, it erased that horrid memory of the so-called ‘macaron’ from Granville Island’s patisserie.
