#5: The Hillcrest Farmer's Market

Farmer's Market #3

It was our bikes first outing in San Diego and our first time at our closest farmer's market... such a solid Sunday afternoon. We picked up fresh corn, teas, lentils, wild rice, Pesto Bitchin' Sauce, mint, dragons tongue snap beans (SO good), peppers, an assortment of mushrooms, fresh orange juice, AND joined Suzie's Farm's CSA!!! (#76- Join a CSA, so more about that soon.) 

We <3 the Hillcrest Farmers Market. 

#5: Little Italy's Mercato

Sunset Magazine recently hosted a "food fight" between Northern California and Southern California. (Check it out here.) They compared the many aspects of food in each area- new ideas, locality, markets, booze, diversity, etc. This hit home for me- being a LA native and having lived in the Bay Area for four years- I was torn between which I thought was the best. Although Northern California has Alice Waters, Southern California won the food fight! (Stoked... especially since I'm living in So Cal again.)

Within a week of living here, I've noticed that the craft food and slow food movements Northern California sometimes claims as their own are also in full force here in San Diego. Two small examples 1.)- The Linkery (these guys have vegan options and the BEST sangria). Their food is locally grown, and the restaurant has great connections with the farmers. Oh, and it's also delicious. 2.) There are a TON of farmers markets every week in the many neighborhoods of San Diego. We might be able to complete all 20 on our list within our new city.

This past Saturday, Nick and I made it to our first San Diego farmers market- Little Italy's Mercato, which I also found out about through Sunset. Date Street was lined with over 100 booths and it quickly became my new favorite farmers market... I could see the ocean, there were two great bands playing on opposite ends of the market, there were vegan treats, fresh zucchini flowers, succulents for sale, and a green smoothie booth.

The Mercato's end, over looking the ocean :)

Mmm... greens.

We also found our future CSA. ( #76!) Suzie's Organic Farm at the Mercato. Their booth was awesome.... my favorites- they have legumes and squash blossoms, and their farm is just about 15 minutes away from our neighborhood. 

Our purchases at the Mercato:

my green smoothie, and vegan chocolate and butterscotch brownie, 

Nick's citrus cranberry scone, and goat's cheese, our zucchini flowers, micro greens, and dates.

Not in the photo: Mango, chili popsicle.  

Dates for our vegan date shakes... find the recipe here: www.vegalicioustee.blogspot.com

If you're in the area, I highly recommend Little Italy's Mercato, just be prepared to search for parking for a while. A lot of our favorite vendors at the Mercato told us that they also have booths at our neighborhood's FM, so we're planning on biking to that one this weekend. But- I'm sure we'll be back in Little Italy very soon for some good eats. 

Mangia Bene!!!
- T

#5: Go to Farmer's Markets in 20 different cities

Farmers Market #1: 
Sunday, July 3rd 
Long Beach, California
Alamitos Bay Marina (Marina &2nd St.)

I love my home town's market because it is in our marina and includes a huge arts and crafts section. Here, Nick and I enjoyed sampling the local, seasonal produce- a lot of berries, plums, apricots, peaches, etcetera, the live music and a delicious fresh "very berry" scone from a local baker.  We purchased eggs from a local farm, locally produced vegan body lotion made from Bolivian cocoa, a bundle of fresh lavender, and a gorgeous bouquet of irises and mexican bush sage grown in Oxnard. And of course, it isn't a trip to the farmers market without some fresh (pomegranate) apple juice.

Thanks for reading :) Love, Theresa