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RCFM at Summerfest July 17th 4-8PM at Grimston Park

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Photo by Graham Ballantyne

We are taking the show on the road this season! You’ll see a mini version of RCFM at a few different community events, with a small and rotating selection of vendors as well as our info booth serving up their regular wonderful goodies. Our first event is Summerfest this Saturday July 17th from 4pm – 8pm at Grimston Park.

Summerfest is a new community festival celebrating a very unique park in the West End of New Westminster. The special day will feature free activities for the whole family,  food vendors, community tables, crafts, and information, as well as th grand opening of the brand new playground. The wading pool will also be open all day as well. At 9:30PM, festival organizers will be showing the classic “E.T: The Extra Terrestrial” on a giant outdoor screen and encourages people to bring blankets and enjoy a picnic in the park. RCFM vendors will be on hand as well (please note, there is no ATM at the park) to pick up hot foods, produce, smokies, crafts and hand crafted breads.

RCFM vendors participating in this mini market are:

As well, fan favourite Allyson Grant, our talented face painter, and market musicians Ross Werlick, steel guitarist; Chris Messytone, accordion; and Ron Ulrich, classic guitar will be there (among others).

For more info about Summerfest or a map to the park, check out Tenth to the Fraser.

Stay tuned for information about our next mini market.

A Delight to the Senses

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What's On

On July 1st I had my very first visit to Royal City Famers Market. While the weather was less than ideal for Canada Day festivities, I was very surprised to see a fantastic turn-out at the market. As I walked towards the action I could see vendors setting up shop for the day. There is a certain frenetic energy at the beginning of market day while everyone seems to get their stand set up like a well-oiled machine. I turned on my camera to snap some photos of all the action as the smell of savoury beer brats stirred a rumble in my stomach.

Beer Brats

There were many items to light-up the senses. The dixie-land jazz trio, Razzmajazz, played in the background while shoppers tasted items from various vendors. Although I am a vegetarian, I was enticed by the scent of Bison dogs on the grill from Maluma Health Foods and almost succumbed to the decadent, yet lean meat. There were samplings of delicious dips and spreads from Con Amore and tastings of various types of hummus from Bean Boy Creations – I especially enjoyed the smoky chipotle flavour.  I also wandered over to A Bread Affair’s stand and drooled over the selection of delicious organic artisan breads.

A Bread Affair

Everyone milled around the market with a smile on their face despite the mild rainy drizzle and dark ominous clouds looming above their heads. Some people stopped by Harmony Works Chair Massages to get the kinks worked out of their trouble spots, while I watched and wished I brought more cash so I could indulge in such a holistic treat. There were also plenty of activities for those young at heart, including a scavenger hunt and kid’s fishing derby.

The market is definitely a treat to the senses. The smell of fresh food being grilled on the BBQ, the sound of local bands playing in the background, the sight of all the brightly coloured produce and floral arrangements, the feel of hand-made soaps and textiles and the taste of all the delicious samples create a wonderfully inexpensive outdoor activity. I really enjoyed my first visit to Royal City Farmers Market and look forward to spending my summer being inspired by this weekly gem of a place.

Finishing Set Up


Lets Talk Eggplant

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Sometimes I look at eggplants and think, what on earth can I do with this thing in the kitchen?! While the oblong and purple squash-like creature may look cumbersome to cook or eat, it is actually used in a variety ways. You can grill it, bake it, chop it, puree it and even kabob it. I love to use eggplant as a meat alternative when making lasagna and even the pickiest of eaters can’t taste the difference.

Did you know that eggplants are actually part of the Nightshade family and are related to the potato and tomato? Because of this it was thought of as poisonous and unedible for many years. It is native to far Eastern countries such as Sri Lanka, India, Bangledesh, Nepal and Pakistan. It is not a vegetable but actually a fruit and is botanically classified as a berry. They can vary in appearance with some varieties being small and round (as used in a lot of Thai cuisine) or oblong like a cucumber/squash.

In keeping with the dip theme I had in the previous post, I have a simple and delicious recipe for Baba Ganoush. This is an Arabic dish using mashed eggplants with various seasonings. The most popular way to prep the eggplant is to roast it on the BBQ and bake in the oven to give a smokey flavour and soft pulp. The eggplant is what gives this delicious dip its unique taste.

Remember that when you store eggplant keep it away from other veggies and fruit as it emits ethylene gas which will spoil other produce in your fridge.

Ingredients

Ingredients:

– 3 medium eggplants
– ¼ cup of tahini (roasted sesame paste)
– 1 ¼ tsp of course salt
– 3 tbsp of freshly squeezed lemon juice
– 3 cloves garlic, peeled and mashed
– 1/8 tsp of chili powder
– 1 tbsp of olive oil
– a half bunch of picked flat-leaf parsley or cilantro leaves

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375F (190C).

2. Prick each eggplant a few times, then char the outside of the eggplants by placing them directly on the flame of a gas burner and as the skin chars, turn them until the eggplants are uniformly-charred on the outside. (If you don’t have a gas stove, you can char them under the broiler. If not, skip to the next step.)

3. Place the eggplants on a baking sheet and roast in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes, until they’re completely soft; you should be able to easily poke a paring knife into them and meet no resistance.

4. Remove from oven and let cool.

5. Split the eggplant and scrape out the pulp. Puree the pulp in a blender or food processor with the other ingredients until smooth.

6. Taste, and season with additional salt and lemon juice, if necessary.

Be sure to chill this dip for a few hours before serving. I suggest pairing this dip with some delicious artisan bread from A Bread Affair.

July 15th – Ingredients

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This week there are over 40 vendors for you to choose from to pick up amazing ingredients to blend together in a masterpiece of yummy. Produce, fish, meats, breads, sweets, dips, spreads, pasta, dairy, cheese, produce… oh wait? Did we say produce?

If cooking’s not your game- although we prefer the term “food mixologist” because not everything needs to be cooked – then consider the market for a tasty fresh hot snack! Try craft-beer infused smokies from Beer Brats (the Red Racer is a winner), unbelievably tasty bison dogs from Maluma Bison (we recommend the Brie smokie), or delectable hot vegetarian samosas served with a fantastic homemade tamarind chutney from Copeland Foods. If you’re headed down after dinner, come for dessert! Choose traditional baked sweets from Blackberry Hill (our pick: the date squares) or try gluten free baked yummies from Eat It Up – including fresh made GF pies both in mini and regular sizes.

Pair your food finds with one of a kind crafts and artisan products made locally by your neighbours. Don’t miss the Art in the Park open air art gallery and bring a blanket for some down time communing with Mother Nature in gorgeous Tipperary Park.

As always, parking is available for bicycles at a rack at the south end of the market, and for cars on Royal, Queens, and in the City Hall parking lot after 4:30. We offer free drinking water – the nicest tap water this side of heaven – and kids’ activities.

Here’s the fresh sheet for this week:

Entertainment:

Community Group:

Vendors This Week : (not all vendors come to every market, so check this list if you’re looking for someone special – they are arranged categorically. Want a complete listing of all the vendors, even the ones not here this week? Here it is!)

Eat On Site

  • Beer Brats – Beer. Brats. Brilliant.
  • Copeland Foods – hot vegetarian samosas, and frozen meat pies and frozen ready-to-eat dinners
  • Gogo Java – Coffee, tea, smoothies, juice, and other liquids
  • Maluma Health Foods – Bison hot dogs, bison smokies, bison chili and bison ribs and take home packages too!

Produce

Dairy

Meat & Fish

Bread & Baking

Delectable Treats

Local Crafters

Gardening

FYI: Home Grown Photo Contest

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Home Grown is having a contest for people who enjoy snapping photos around their local farmers markets. Next time you head to Royal City Farmers Market be sure to have you camera in tow as your picture could be selected to win some fantastic prizes.

Photo by Jamila Ali

The Home Grown!Photography Contest offers a grand prize of $500 worth of Vancouver Farmers Market token that can be redeemed with all merchants at all Vancouver Farmers Market locations. The winning photograph will also be displayed at the “Home Grown” exhibition, opening August 2010 at the Museum of Vancouver. You will also receive 2 tickets to the opening of the Home Grown Exhibition Opening Party. The winner will be announced July 20th.

Four runner’s up will receive Farm Folk / City Folk 2011 calendar and one year free FF/CF membership.

For more information on rules and prizes please visit this page.

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Land Acknowledgement

Our market is grateful to operate on the unceded land of the Qayqayt, Kwikwetlem, and other Halkomelem speaking Peoples. We acknowledge that colonialism has made invisible their histories and connections to the land. We acknowledge the incredible gift this land is to our market and BC Agriculture. We commit to the ongoing work of decolonization and allyship.