saltspring island: the saturday market

The Saturday Market on Saltspring Island is LEGENDARY as far as markets go. I won't sully it with words but let these photos do the talking. Check out this Farmer's Market Eye Candy. Hopefully this will be enough to get you through the winter of no. farmers. markets.

Queen Anne Farmers Market

The Queen Anne Farmers Market finally opened today! I've been looking forward to this since we moved to the neighborhood. It's small, but nice and there are lots of food booth options for Thursday night meals.
Tonight, I dined on spinach and fresh mozzarella and feta on a buckwheat crepe from Anita's Crepes.



I also bought the most ENORMOUS bouquet. Iris, poppies, salal, peony, and lupine. 

And a bunch of little flowers I couldn't identify.

It made three arrangements.

 The lines at this piggy truck, Maximus Minimus, were the longest. I think I'll try it next week.

Thirty-One

As I hinted in my last post, we went on an overnight getaway to celebrate the start of my 32nd year. My one requirement for commemorating this occasion was to use my passport. Given little time and funds, our options were limited. So we hopped in the car and went to...Vancouver!

B booked us a room downtown at the Listel Hotel. When we arrived he mentioned we were celebrating my birthday—and they upgraded us to a suite! But, before we could start on our weekend adventures we had to eat. I selected a very busy sushi restaurant as my birthday lunch of choice.

The menu was pretty overwhelming. Page after page that looked like this:


But we narrowed it down and I ordered some veggie sushi and a couple pieces of salmon. Have you ever had fried yam and avocado rolls? Yum!



B opted for the Unagi Ramen. It looked exactly like the photo in the menu.


Later when we returned to the hotel room, they had sent up a dessert and a birthday card for me. Classy!

Sustained by sushi, we rented bikes and biked around Stanley Park. This was the best part of the whole weekend.

No, we did not rent this tandem bike. That would be dangerous for all involved, including bystanders.

After biking, we were hungry again (no surprise there) and headed out for my birthday dinner at Cardero's on the Waterfront.

This was hands down the BEST table I have ever had at a restaurant. Sure, we dined outside in the rain, but it was covered and right under a heater so we were toasty warm.  The view, and the company, were perfect.

The food was decent, nothing to compare with the view, and my photos didn't turn out great. But I had spinach and roasted beet salad and fish tacos and B had fish chowder and a salmon sandwich. All followed by a slice of delicious white chocolate cheesecake that (surprise!) had three candles in it.

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The next morning, I was further impressed with our hotel when they delivered complimentary fresh French press coffee and cream to our door upon our request.

And when the valet brought the car around he left us a peanut butter cookie surprise for our drive home.

But we weren't ready to go home yet. As if all the fun we had on Saturday wasn't enough, we celebrated more on Sunday. Starting, of course, with brunch. At Milestone's Bar and Grill.

Raspberry Mimosa? Yes please.

California Omelet for Me.

Shrimp Benedict for B.

We walked off brunch in Stanley Park before visiting the Sea Otters, Pacific White-Sided Dolphins, Belugas, Jelly Fish, and Two-Toed Sloth at the Vancouver Aquarium.

By this point we were exhausted but I really wanted to stop at Granville Island, one of the best public markets in the world (in my honest opinion), to ogle the fruits, vegetables, and head cheese.

Best thing I've ever discovered under a bridge: Granville Island.

Dragon Fruit—I first tasted this seedy deliciousness in Vietnam.

Rambutan—a spiny friend of the Lychee.

Mmmmmm....cheeeeeese.

This counter was remarkably busy considering their product.

Look at these exquisite chocolates!

Had to have a little snack before hitting the road.

All-in-all, a birthday weekend to go down in history. What is your best birthday memory?

Peaches, Okra, and Red Eggplant

I've been loving the Alexandria Farmer's Market this summer. On the two occasions I've gotten up early enough to get there. It starts at 6 and ends by 10. But let's face it 10 is just way to early for me to be expected to be out of the house on a Saturday morning.

Look at these amazing yummy peaches! My favorite summer food.

I loved the presentation of these yellow squash and okra. I didn't buy the okra though, I'm just not that Southern yet. It's so slimy!
Tubers of all kinds! Have you ever seen a red eggplant? That's what the sign claims those red items are in the center of the photo... but I'm suspicious.

At the corner of Summer and Winter Streets

We spent three great days last weekend hiking, driving, tasting cider, and scarfing ice cream in Northern Vermont for some peak season leaf peeping. We saw leaves, cows, and covered bridges and even saw a famous Vermonter—Jerry from Ben and Jerry's. Yes THE Jerry.

It's always a sign of a good place when I threaten to intentionally miss my flight and not return to DC—although these days it doesn't take much to make me threaten that. We were fortunate enough to get the last room at the Inn—the Green Mountain Inn. It was charming and everyone was so nice.

I ♥ Vermont.