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March 5th Market Day

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Join us for lunch on Belmont Street this Saturday from 11am to 3pm. We’ve got two savoury food trucks including Nellie’s Vietnamese Cuisine and Cheeses Crust!

Anne from Anne’s Gallery wanted to pass on a message to you that her beloved “Awesome Apricot Chutney” is BACK this week!

The Roland Kaulfuss Music Stage will be featuring Timothy Lambert. Timothy brings his soulful saxophone grooves to the market this week.

Make sure to stop by and say hello to our community guests The Music Box.

Driving to the market? FREE PARKING is available at Westminster Centre, directly across the street from Belmont Street. If you are taking transit the #106 bus stops at 5th avenue and 6th street. Coming from the Quay? Take River Market’s brand new FREE DUC shuttle from the Quay straight to our location.

A list of our vendors for March 5th can be found below. Please check out Facebook Page or Twitter for any last minute cancellations or updates.

Produce

  • Bose & Sons Family Farm – Potatoes
  • Greendale Herb & Vine – Greens, frozen tomatoes (beefsteak, heirloom) Honey, Nuts (hazelnuts), Muesli, Infused Vinegars, Goat’s and Cow’s Cheese, Popcorn Kernels, Herbal Teas, Dried Lavender.
  • Ossome Acres – Winter squash, Kale, kalettes, Brussel sprouts, Micro greens, Spinach, Herbs, Hand milled soap, Walnuts
  • Snowy Mountain Acres – Apples, pears, dried fruits
  • Nutrigreens – microgreens packed full of nutrients
  • Your Wildest Foods – foraged mushrooms, dried teas and fresh mushrooms

Meat and Fish

  • Rockweld Farm — BC frozen chicken and chicken products including eggs, dog and cat food
  • Local Beef & Eggs
  • Wild West Coast Seafoods –  flash frozen fillets of Rock Sole, Petrale Sole, Rockfish, Ling Cod, Pacific Cod, Sablefish, Chinook/Spring Salmon, Coho Salmon, Sidestripe Shrimp, Halibut, Albacore Tuna Loin.
  • Wheelhouse Seafoods –  Seafood pasta, crab cakes and frozen fish

Eat and Drink On Site 

  • Cheese Crust – delicious gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches
  • Nellie’s Vietnamese Cuisine – Vietnamese home cooking
  • Eastern European Slavic Rolls – hot ready to eat pastry with delicious fillings
  • Gary’s Kettlecorn – kettlecorn

Bread and Baking

  • A Bread Affair — artisan breads
  • Blackberry Hill — squares, cinnamon buns, strudel, and old-fashioned yummies like crisp rice squares
  • Delish Gluten Free — gluten-free bread, scones, muffins, brownies and cookies
  • Sweet Thea Cake Company — tarts, pies, cookies and cakes
  • Feeding Change – raw foods cakes and squares
  • Sable Shortbread – hand made shortbread that melts in your mouth
  • Samaya Delights – tasty baklava made by Tamara

Delectable Treats and Prepared Yummies

  • Anne’s Gallery – Jams jellies marmalades, chutney
  • BobAli – tasty dips and hummus spreads
  • Old Country Perogi – frozen perogies with gluten free & vegan options
  • The Raw Guy – kale chips, macaroons, crackers and raw treats
  • Chocolat Naturel – delicious hand made fair trade chocolate bars
  • Lilise Applesauce – organic home made applesauce from local fruit
  • Muy Rico – salsas, tortilla chips, mole sauces and mayonnaise
  • Real Meals – prepared frozen foods for healthy meals at home
  • Bubble Bombs – fun bubble bombs add a burst of flavour
  • Chanthorn Orchids & Thai Sauces – yummy thai sauces
  • Rain City Juicery – fresh cold pressed juices and hot apple cider

Bath & Body Care

  • Mediterra Soap – soaps and body lotions

Jewelry 

  • Ildiko Jewelry – handforged sterling silver jewelry
  • Bits & Keys – adorable upcycled jewelry items

Liquor

  • Dragon Mist Distillery – locally made vodka and gin

Local Artisans and Crafters

  • Anne’s Gallery —  traditional Aran and designer knitwear
  • Quality Oak – hand crafted quality cutting boards

Cooking Up Kalettes

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Post written by contributor Katie Bartel

Okay, so let’s be honest here for a second shall we. I am not a master of the kitchen, not even close. Before my husband, I lived on omelettes and grilled cheese sandwiches. But that’s not to say the kitchen doesn’t fascinate me. I grew up with parents who both are fantastic in the cooking realm, I have always been drawn to recipe magazines, and when on maternity leave a few years ago, after being gifted a subscription to Cook’s Country by my pops, I embarked on a 12-month challenge that had me trying my hand in the savoury world once a month. And you know what, I totally I didn’t poison us! Quite the feat. Still, though, unless it’s a birthday, or some other special sort of event, it is rare that I am the one with chef’s apron on in our house.

Well folks, that is about to change.

A new challenge has been steeping in my brain for about a month now – and it’s all about the fresh, local, awesomeness of the Royal City Farmers Market. Every market day, I have committed to seeking out the strangest, unique, most oddball ingredient I can find, and working a recipe from it.

First up: kalettes.

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Have you heard of kalettes? I hadn’t, not until I showed up at Ossome Acres’ booth on the morning of Feb. 6 and saw these little puffs of purple-greens. Hey, what are those, I asked. Why, kalettes of course – the love child of kale and Brussels sprouts. W’oh! Who knew?

Although the brainchild of this hybrid was developed 15 years ago in Europe, it wasn’t debuted until 2010 and only hit North American soil two years ago. And still, you’d be hard pressed to find it in grocery stores, said Noella Oss of Ossome Acres, a Chilliwack farm that prides itself on standing out with its crops. “I’m pretty sure we’re the only ones growing it out here.”

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A mix of nutty and sweet, chewy and crunchy, these guys are good raw, roasted, blanched and steamed, said Oss. They’re huge in fibre; it doesn’t take much to fill a belly. In fact, one $4 bag got us five meals worth.

And the flavour, “is so nice and sweet right now because of the snow and frost,” said Oss. “They’re full of concentrated sugars.”

So, how did I use them?

I threw a few rosettes into a kitchen sink soup, lightly roasted a bunch on the barbecue with sea salt oil and balsamic vinegar, (I think they may even be better than kale chips!) and put together this sweet and salty salad from www.kalettes.com – they EVEN have their own website!

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Happy kalettes eating my friends.

Recipe: Kalettes Salad with Apples and Bacon

Ingredients:
5 oz Kalettes
1/8 c. apple cider vinegar
1/4 tsp. salt, divided
1/8 c. extra virgin olive oil
pepper
1 apple, cored and sliced
2 slices bacon
1 onion, sliced

Directions:
1. Slice stem end from Kalettes, allowing some leaves to fall loose and leaving centre leaves intact. In salad bowl, add Kalettes and drizzle with vinegar. Sprinkle with 1/8 tsp. salt and toss to coat. Set aside for 10 minutes.

2. In a skillet over medium, add 2 slices of bacon. Cook until brown and slightly crunchy. Remove bacon from pan, leaving grease, and drain on paper towel. Add sliced onion to pan and sauté over medium high until carmelized, about 10-15 minutes. When bacon is cool, crumble into small pieces.

3. In a measuring cup, add extra virgin olive oil, 1/8 tsp. salt, and pepper to taste. Shake or stir to combine dressing. Add the sliced apple, bacon and onions to bowl with Kalettes. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat.

February 20th Market Day

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Applesblog

We are getting ready for this Saturday where we will be setting up shop once again on Belmont Street! Come and join us for delicious food and artisan goods.

Want to have a say in our market? Come to our AGM on Sunday February 28th from 3pm to 5pm at the Network Hub in River Market. Guest speaker Emily Wight will be talking about her Well Fed/Flat Broke cookbook and answering your questions on eating in season and on a budget. For more information and to register for our AGM visit our Eventbrite page.

The Roland Kaulfuss Music Stage will be featuring Barry Wilson. Barry loves to perform for people as that is the main reason why he plays music.

Make sure to stop by and say hello to our community guests The Music Box.

Driving to the market? FREE PARKING is available at Westminster Centre, directly across the street from Belmont Street. If you are taking transit the #106 bus stops at 5th avenue and 6th street. Coming from the Quay? Take River Market’s brand new FREE DUC shuttle from the Quay straight to our location.

A list of our vendors for February 20th can be found below. Please check out Facebook Page or Twitter for any last minute cancellations or updates.

Produce

  • Bose & Sons Family Farm – Potatoes
  • Greendale Herb & Vine – Greens, frozen tomatoes (beefsteak, heirloom) Honey, Nuts (hazelnuts), Muesli, Infused Vinegars, Goat’s and Cow’s Cheese, Popcorn Kernels, Herbal Teas, Dried Lavender.
  • Ossome Acres – Winter squash, Kale, kalettes, Brussel sprouts, Micro greens, Spinach, Herbs, Hand milled soap, Walnuts
  • Snowy Mountain Acres – Apples, carrots, pears, dried fruits
  • Nutrigreens – microgreens packed full of nutrients
  • Your Wildest Foods – foraged mushrooms, dried teas and fresh mushrooms

Meat and Fish

  • Rockweld Farm — BC frozen chicken and chicken products including eggs, dog and cat food
  • Local Beef & Eggs
  • Wild West Coast Seafoods –  flash frozen fillets of Rock Sole, Petrale Sole, Rockfish, Ling Cod, Pacific Cod, Sablefish, Chinook/Spring Salmon, Coho Salmon, Sidestripe Shrimp, Halibut, Albacore Tuna Loin.
  • Wheelhouse Seafoods –  Seafood pasta, crab cakes and frozen fish

Eat and Drink On Site 

  • Cest Si Bon – Gourmet French meals cooked to perfection
  • Big Red’s Poutine – hand cut fries drizzled in gravy with cheese curds
  • Mollie’s Minis – tasty mini donuts
  • Gary’s Kettlecorn – kettlecorn

Bread and Baking

  • A Bread Affair — artisan breads
  • Blackberry Hill — squares, cinnamon buns, strudel, and old-fashioned yummies like crisp rice squares
  • Delish Gluten Free — gluten-free bread, scones, muffins, brownies and cookies
  • Sweet Thea Cake Company — tarts, pies, cookies and cakes
  • Simply Scones – hand made scones that will transport you back to England
  • Half Pint Pies – frozen hand pies to bake at home
  • Marie’s Guilt Free Bakery – Caters to Vegan, Reduced Sugar, Gluten Free and Egg Free diet restrictions
  • Peace by Piece Bakery – delectable desserts

Delectable Treats and Prepared Yummies

  • Jam Shack Preservery – Jams & jellies
  • BobAli – tasty dips and hummus spreads
  • Old Country Perogi – frozen perogies with gluten free & vegan options
  • The Raw Guy – kale chips, macaroons, crackers and raw treats
  • Lilise Applesauce – organic home made applesauce from local fruit
  • Muy Rico – salsas, tortilla chips, mole sauces and mayonnaise
  • Chanthorn Orchids & Thai Sauces – yummy thai sauces
  • Seedibles – all natural ground super seed products to add a nutritional boost to your meals
  • Rain City Juicery – fresh cold pressed juices and hot apple cider
  • Bubble Bombs Specialty Foods – juice bombs to accompany drinks
  • Simply Delish Soup & Salad – dry soup and salad mixes to make at home
  • Vegan Pudding & Co – delicious gourmet dairy free puddings

Jewelry 

  • Ildiko Jewelry – handforged sterling silver jewelry
  • Lighten Up Jewels – hand crafted jewelry made by Holly

Local Artisans and Crafters

  • New World Felting – new age hand made new fibre designs

Feeding Change: Changing the world one organic bite at a time

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macaroon

Written by RCFM Contributor Katie Bartel

The moment her teeth sinks into the soft fudge of the dark chocolate macaroon in her hand, nothing else in the world matters.

“It’s ecstasy,” says Mia Takhar. “It’s fudgy. It’s dark chocolate. It’s so delicious, so addictive – you can’t just have one.”

Good thing, it’s healthy.

Health is the premise behind Feeding Change, the Community Contribution Company Takhar joined last summer as pastry chef and farmers’ market vendor.

The Vancouver-based company produces 100 per cent organic, pure, nutrient-rich, dense food that’s been sourced from their origins – nothing processed. Its goal is to reconnect people with real food.

With the prevalence of obesity in North America, and the alarming growth around such diseases as type-2 diabetes, heart disease, cancers, and food allergies, a change in the way people think about their food is in order, says Takhar.

Feeding Change is a Community Contribution Company, a business model that links entrepreneurs with social change. That means, under provincial guidelines, the company has committed to giving 60 per cent of its profits to social causes.

Being food-based, it’s natural Feeding Change sought to feed children whose families have financial challenges in providing nutritious meals. Every school day, Feeding Change delivers a hearty source of breakfast goods to Lord Kelvin elementary in New Westminster – including organic fruit smoothies, a fruit salad bowl, and those aforementioned delectable macaroons.

From January to June last year, it served 7,620 children. Break that down, 8,001 macaroons; 8,763 smoothies; and 9,144 fruit salads were consumed.

“We are giving them a source of energy, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants so their brains can function properly,” says Takhar, noting their macaroons have the equivalent of antioxidants found in two cups of blueberries. “The more [bad] food we put in our bodies, the more it affects our brains, organs, blood levels, the way we think.”

By starting with children, and by having a strong presence at farmers’ markets, Feeding Change intends to change the world one organic bite at a time.

“We’re here to lead by example,” says Takhar. “It comes down to people, education and priorities. It’s pretty amazing what you can do with whole food.”

Feeding Change will be at the Feb. 6 Royal City Farmers Market and, in addition to those macaroons, will be featuring such items as chickpea miso, coconut meat, spiced pumpkin seeds, chocolate ganache, coconut cream pie, and cheesecake by the slice.

For more information, visit the website www.feedingchange.me

February 6th Market Day

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eggs

Love is in the air as we approach Valentine’s Day in New Westminster. Will you be getting something special for your loved ones? There’s plenty to be had at RCFM this Saturday with produce from the farmers, sweet treats from our bakers and gorgeous hand made products from our artisan crafters.

Here is a little taste of the unique products we offer:

  • Your Wildest Foods – Wild Nettle and Wild Northwest Blend on special for $6
  • Lilise Applesauce – Sweet/Spicy applesauce is made with organic apples, fresh organic ginger, combined with delicate cinnamon and organic peppercorns $6 or $10 a jar
  • Rockweld Farms – Super Bowl wing special Buy 2 packages – Get 1 pkg FREE! (of equal or lesser value)

The Roland Kaulfuss Music Stage will be featuring Steve DeCoste. Steve plays a range of Acadian music, country and contemporary light rock, Canadiana /Americana.

Make sure to stop by and say hello to our community guests The Music Box.

Driving to the market? FREE PARKING is available at Westminster Centre, directly across the street from Belmont Street. If you are taking transit the #106 bus stops at 5th avenue and 6th street. Coming from the Quay? Take River Market’s brand new FREE DUC shuttle from the Quay straight to our location.

A list of our vendors for February 6th can be found below. Please check out Facebook Page or Twitter for any last minute cancellations or updates.

Produce

  • Bose & Sons Family Farm – Potatoes
  • Greendale Herb & Vine – Greens, frozen tomatoes (beefsteak, heirloom) Honey, Nuts (hazelnuts), Muesli, Infused Vinegars, Goat’s and Cow’s Cheese, Popcorn Kernels, Herbal Teas, Dried Lavender.
  • Ossome Acres – Winter squash, Kale, kalettes, Brussel sprouts, Micro greens, Spinach, Herbs, Hand milled soap, Walnuts
  • Snowy Mountain Acres – Apples, pears, dried fruits
  • Nutrigreens – microgreens packed full of nutrients
  • Your Wildest Foods – foraged mushrooms, dried teas and fresh mushrooms

Meat and Fish

  • Rockweld Farm — BC frozen chicken and chicken products including eggs, dog and cat food
  • Local Beef & Eggs
  • Wild West Coast Seafoods –  flash frozen fillets of Rock Sole, Petrale Sole, Rockfish, Ling Cod, Pacific Cod, Sablefish, Chinook/Spring Salmon, Coho Salmon, Sidestripe Shrimp, Halibut, Albacore Tuna Loin.
  • Wheelhouse Seafoods –  Seafood pasta, crab cakes and frozen fish

Eat and Drink On Site 

  • Cheese Crust – delicious gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches
  • Old Country Perogi – hot perogies perfect for a winters day
  • Eastern European Slavic Rolls – hot ready to eat pastry with delicious fillings
  • Gary’s Kettlecorn – kettlecorn

Bread and Baking

  • A Bread Affair — artisan breads
  • Blackberry Hill — squares, cinnamon buns, strudel, and old-fashioned yummies like crisp rice squares
  • Delish Gluten Free — gluten-free bread, scones, muffins, brownies and cookies
  • Sweet Thea Cake Company — tarts, pies, cookies and cakes
  • Feeding Change – raw foods cakes and squares
  • Sable Shortbread – hand made shortbread that melts in your mouth
  • Half Pint Pies – frozen hand pies to bake at home

Delectable Treats and Prepared Yummies

  • Anne’s Gallery – Jams jellies marmalades, chutney
  • BobAli – tasty dips and hummus spreads
  • Old Country Perogi – frozen perogies with gluten free & vegan options
  • The Raw Guy – kale chips, macaroons, crackers and raw treats
  • Lilise Applesauce – organic home made applesauce from local fruit
  • Muy Rico – salsas, tortilla chips, mole sauces and mayonnaise
  • Real Meals – prepared frozen foods for healthy meals at home
  • The Salt Dispensary – salted caramels, smoked salts and pepper mixes
  • Chanthorn Orchids & Thai Sauces – yummy thai sauces
  • Rain City Juicery – fresh cold pressed juices and hot apple cider

Bath & Body Care

  • Mediterra Soap – soaps and body lotions

Jewelry 

Liquor

  • Dragon Mist Distillery – locally made vodka and gin

Local Artisans and Crafters

  • Anne’s Gallery —  traditional Aran and designer knitwear
  • Quality Oak – hand crafted quality cutting boards
  • New World Felting – new age hand made new fibre designs

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