Find Me: At the Calabasas Farmers Market
If it’s Saturday morning during the cross country season, this is where you’ll find me, bright and early.
A favorite weekend location, the Calabasas farmers market has been the place to shop and socialize for years. Located in Old Town this is THE place to get your grocery shopping done for the week ahead. The prices can be competitive at times and the produce is gorgeous, fragrant, and local. It isn’t a huge market, but to me that’s part of the appeal. There doesn’t seem to be much turnover with the vendors which gives this a true feeling of community when you go from stall to stall.
You’ll see many of the same familiar faces selling their wonderful bounties weekend after weekend, recognize the shoppers that arrive with their bags, toting their carts behind them. And if these pictures aren’t enough to inspire you to take to the kitchen, perhaps you’ll find a draw in some other aspects of the market. In recent years flowers, wine, and breakfasts have become part of the norm. There are even a few jewelry and baked goods vendors (and if you know me you’ll know I’ll never turn down a buttery, flaky croissant.)
My Saturday habit is as routine as the market itself. It always begins with grabbing a coffee from 10 Speed Coffee , a local coffee shop dedicated to the cycling community. Since I tend to arrive while set-up is ongoing it gives me time to walk around. With each sip my brain wakes up a little more and from there I take my time to go stall to stall, enjoying little samples, letting the food inspire thoughts of meals for the week ahead. Often I’ll walk away with freshly baked loaves of bread, some veggies ready for roasting, berries for snacks, flowers to fill our home.
But before I leave breakfast from one of the local food vendors is a must. Crepes are a special treat, and so are the sandwiches, but sometimes you need something spicy, filled with local, harvested flavors. A chorizo scramble with organic red-potatoes was a bit heavier than I’m used to but y’all, it was ridiculously good and the friendliness of those behind the skillets is as welcoming as the aromas coming from their booths.
My favorite find last weekend were these gorgeous carrots. I know in Southern California we’re forever away from any true autumnal weather, but seeing these vibrant root vegetables brought to mind the scent of roasted chicken with onions, lemons, and potatoes mingling with thyme. It’s not what I made with them. Warm as it is it wasn’t going to happen, but what I did prepare...Well, you’re going to have to wait for another blog entry this week but trust me, it was delicious.
And child approved.
So if you’re new to the area, visiting, or even if you’re a life-long resident, go out today, or any Saturday rain or shine from 8am-1pm. Parking can be crazy so it’s better to get their earlier. The Calabasas farmers market is open year round and always filled to the brim with amazing food options that are sure to make all your meals healthier. Prettier. Better. Take the good food and vibes home with you and share the bounty with your family and friends. They’ll thank you for it.
