On Granville Island, there's a Farmer's Market the likes of which I've never seen. 
It's huge and features the most amazing selection of fruits, veggies, seafood, beef, cheese, pastries .. well, if you can put it in your mouth, it's there.
I love the way things are presented - for example, strawberries ...
... piled up in little mountains, each berry the size of your fist.
It is so tempting to reach out, grab the top one, and take a bite, just to experience the explosion in your mouth and that incredible taste. I couldn't see my way clear to buying a whole mountain of them, but if I were hosting a dinner party, I know just what I would make for dessert.
That said, I then walked past the raspberries ...
... and nearly had a foodgasm. We have raspberries in the garden at home, and I like to think of them as little cluster-bombs of flavour. A dish of French Vanilla ice cream with raspberries ladled on ...? Oh, yumm. Or one of those sugary Marianne tartlets with the centre filled with fresh raspberries, complete with a dollop of real whipped cream (my chef son-in-law taught me to add a squirt of vanilla extract while I'm whipping the cream. It really makes a difference ...).
Now, as I was walking through the market, I began to hear voices ...
As I walked by this baker, I could disinctly hear a soft voice calling out "Kelli ... oh, Kelli ... "
Then as I wandered along, I passed a fruit stand and heard a more gutteral voice (complete with a bow-chicka-bow-bow guitar riff) coughing out something along the lines of "Bucky, party of one ...
... or maybe that was "... party FOR one."
It was a beautiful day to wander around ... warm and sunny (again - I'd heard so much whining from West Coasters about how much it rains, but I've come to the conclusion they're just hard to please).
I'll leave you with a sign I saw on one of the stalls. The market is - for the most part - a kid-friendly place. But clearly some of the shopkeepers have a preference that children be in the company of their parents ...
On to Victoria tonight, and out on a boat tomorrow to see if we can find some Orcas. More to come ...
So THAT's what you did with all the puppies. ;) Fantastic photos, Nils! Thanks for the virtual tour!!
Posted by: shari | May 31, 2007 at 06:09 PM
Foodgasm, Nils, you're talking my kind of talk now.
As a former waitress I can totally sympathize with the "unsupervised children" thing.
Posted by: Squirl | May 31, 2007 at 08:56 PM
Granville Island Market is one of our favorite haunts when we go to Vancouver.Our daughter lived in North Van for six years. And you are right...the food presentation is amazing but I'll bet there is nothing there that can equal your garlic spread. I find I always spend much more money than I intended to.
Have a great trip. It's cold here on our gentle Island.
Posted by: Jean | May 31, 2007 at 09:02 PM
And I bet they've got a lov-a-ly bunch of cocoanuts. Perhaps to go with that last food picture. ;-)
Posted by: Ortizzle | May 31, 2007 at 09:05 PM
So did anyone happen to look at you funny when you were taking pics of that giant... uh, Bucky toy? ;)
Posted by: Laura | May 31, 2007 at 10:49 PM
Alright, as if "if you can put it in your mouth, it's there." wasn't enough to make my brain explode...then you go and out me as a squash fucker.
Alright, fine. It's true. I fuck the squash.
Just please, PLEASE don't tell anyone that I think of Don Knotts while I....
Oh, crap.
Posted by: Bucky Four-Eyes | May 31, 2007 at 11:07 PM
Oh how I love a farmer's market. Great photos. And I'm with you about the West Coast weather - why all the hatin' folks?
Posted by: kalki | May 31, 2007 at 11:36 PM
Bucky, you think of Don Knotts when you crap? Really, that's kind of personal, don't you think?
Ooooo... just look at all that chocolatey goodness... wow... I'll take five of those things just to the right of the things with strawberries on them.
And those raspberries... gorgeous! And that's saying something coming from someone who's favorite fruit is chocolate covered strawberries...
Oh good Lord... how did the carrot cake thingies get there? Those are WAY too close to the chocolate. They should be in the fruits and vegetables section...
Great... now I have to go raid my coworkers chocolate stash... I'm going to blame any weight I gain on you.
Posted by: CircusKelli | June 01, 2007 at 09:57 AM
Ha, I love that last sign about the unattended children. My mom has one in her beauty salon that says "Unattended Children will be sold as slaves".
Posted by: Missy | June 01, 2007 at 11:23 AM
I've never been to Vancouver but always wanted to visit. Your pictures are making me even more resolved to get there someday soon.
Posted by: TB | June 02, 2007 at 04:07 PM
Great pictures and I'm glad you're having a good time. Our Farmers' Markets are no where near as good as that one! Still, it's always fun to laugh at the rudely-shaped veg!
Posted by: platypus | June 05, 2007 at 04:10 PM
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm---tell me you ate one of those lucious strawberries....and those desserts....
good pics!
Posted by: Effie | June 06, 2007 at 05:28 PM
Me thinks Nils got lost in amongst all that fruit and chocolate... Nils?! Where are you, boy? Do we need to send in a search party? If you're buried under those treats, it may take a while to get to you, and I'll need some help. I could probably only eat about 2 layers of those goodies tops...
Posted by: CircusKelli | June 06, 2007 at 11:16 PM
i can't even tell you how jealous those photos made me! i love me a farmer's market & that one just looks amazing. now i want some berries and ice cream... thanks!
Posted by: candy | June 17, 2007 at 05:29 PM