Eating Our Way Through Victoria – To Market, To Market!

Hi Folks:

In our last several ‘Food‘ posts we’ve discussed our adventures at several of Victoria’s restaurants, from the humble coffee shop to the Bengal Lounge at the Fairmont Empress Hotel.  There are still many more fine dining establishments to visit, but it’s summertime and in summer one’s thoughts turn to picnics and backyard barbecues.  There are quite a number of markets that pop up in the Greater Victoria area (from Sidney to Sooke), on up the island to Duncan, Nanaimo and points north and also out into the Gulf Islands, but since we live in this ‘City of Gardens’ we’ll refine our discussion to the ones down here in the south (at least for this post… 😉 ).  We haven’t been to all of the markets here yet, but virtually all of them share one common theme: one must make it, bake it or grow it in order to sell it.  Eating local food is definitely a ‘green’ choice, but there’s a different feel, a different energy to local markets.  One connects directly with those who are providing their wares, and each bunch of carrots, each loaf of bread and each link of sausages have a history.  There’s also a more direct sense of community, and we appreciate that.

So, starting from the north and working south and west, here are at least some of the markets you can discover for yourself.  If you know of others, please feel free to leave us a comment below!

Sidney
Sidney Summer Market
Thursdays, 5:00-8:30 p.m.
Beacon Ave

Saanich
North Saanich Farm Market
Saturdays, 9:30-12:30
St Johns United Church
West Saanich Road

Peninsula Country Market
Saturdays, 9:00-1:00
Saanich Fairgrounds
1528 Stelly’s Cross Road

Victoria
The Island Chefs Collaborative Bastion Square Farm Market
Thursdays & Fridays, 10:00-
Bastion Square

James Bay Community Market
Saturdays, 9:00-3:00
corner of Menzies and Superior Streets

Moss St. Community Market
Saturdays, 10:00-2:00
Sir James Douglas School
corner of Moss Street and Fairfield Road

Esquimalt
Esquimalt Community Market
Wednesdays, 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Esquimalt Town Square

Colwood
Colwood Farmer’s Market
Wednesdays, 4:00-7:00 p.m.
Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre
1767 Island Highway (near the library)

Langford
Goldstream Station Market
Saturdays, 10:00-2:00
Bryn Maur Road

Metchosin
Metchosin Farmers’ Market
Sundays, 11:00-2:00
Metchosin Municipal Grounds
4450 Happy Valley Road

Sooke
Sooke Country Market
Saturdays, 10:00-2:00
Otter Point Rd across from Eustace

Now go out and enjoy!

Hugs,
M&M

P.S. Coming up July 10 and 11, 2010 is the Organic Islands Festival, billed as “Canada’s Largest Outdoor Green Festival”. See you there!!

P.S. II, the sequel: You can read more of our Food posts and restaurant reviews here.

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