Apartment 5

We're very fortunate to be surrounded by such amazing and stylish people at Le Marché St. George. Hunter is a testament to this fact, and we feel privileged to be among the handful of establishments in the city where you can find his superb hand-crafted footwear and accessories. His company, Apartment 5, makes all of their goods in Vancouver. Every item receives endless care throughout its creation, from hand-cutting and punching to stitching. Hunter prides himself on sourcing the best materials locally, south of the border, further into the Americas, Australia and Japan. Apartment 5's footwear is made to order, and bespoke needs can be accommodated. Next time you're in the shop we encourage you to consider this line of products. If you are in the market for a pair of moccasins or desert boots, his might be exactly what you're looking for.

More Information | apt-5.com & www.etsy.com/shop/apartmentfive

Monkey Toast

I was first introduced to Monkey Toast, a fruit-based and flavoursome snack, by Lola. She handed me one out of the the box she was eating from. I accepted the treat she offered graciously. It was a cute moment, and showed that she now understood, at least to some degree, the concept of sharing and camaraderie. I was pleasantly surprised after biting into the cracker, and I asked Janaki where she had found them; she said that they're a new product at Marché.

Monkey Toast are made with 100% organic whole wheat flour and organic cane sugar. They are also nut-free and dairy-free, attractive features as they can be a scrumptious and healthy option for children and even parents with allergies. I can personally attest to them being nice for grown-ups, having enjoyed them the first time, and I now look around for an open box whenever at the shop.

Monkey Toast are available at Marché in three flavours: Banana-blueberry, apple-cinnamon, and pumpkin-cranberry.

Week 3: Veggie Box Letter of Appreciation

Every now and then we hear from a happy customer. Mandy and Sienna passed along the following letter of appreciation that we felt was necessary to share with you. From the bottom of the hearts of everyone from our shop, thank you Corey for sharing your lovely story and kind words!

"Hello Sienna and Mandy,

Wednesdays have become the peak of my week. I look forward to smelling each of the vegetables that I put into my bag that I bring.

This week, I've been quite sick. I had a lot of trouble sleeping last night from my popping ears and sinuses, but when I got up this morning, my roommate reminded me it was Wednesday! Hurrah! He'd been composing music (when it's flowing, it's flowing!!) most of last night, so I told him I would go get it alone this week.

While he napped, I put on long johns, rubber boots, and my winter coat. It's only a few blocks to St. George but when you're feeling woozy, it seems far!

Once I got home, and while Matthew was still napping, I played with our new food. Check out the heart I made. I thought you might like it.

Thank you for organizing our food every week. So far, my favourites have been the apples from the first week's bag, and this week's carrots. YUM!"

Ham & Cheese Croissants

"We're selling ham and cheese croissants now!"

Janaki interrupted our conversation. I think she might have said some other stuff after, but frankly, my mind and grumbling stomach were fixated on the idea of Marché's latest offering.

"Is there any of them left?" I asked politely.

She said that it was doubtful, but we could go and check, and she was right, they sold out. At this point I could feel my heart start to crumble and my belly flush with an acute melancholy.

"That's okay. I can make you one. I have everything I need".  

I wondered if the sadness written across my face had anything to do with her kindness, but knowing Janaki, she probably didn't even notice. I'm a hard-to-read man, and she always treats her friends and colleagues with the utmost care and sincerity.

She cut into an large brick of aged cheddar, followed by ham. She sliced the croissant in half, layered one side with a healthy spread of artisanal mustard, placed the ham and cheese on top, then toasted it all up.

She returned, a few minutes later, with one of the most decadent treats I've ever had the pleasure of tasting from their kitchen. Lost in my hunger, I forgot to take a picture, but secretly, although I didn't know it at the time, it might have been my way of ensuring that she would make another one with the chance that it could also be mine.

I left Marché's grounds with another croissant in hand. Even after working with Marché for six months, I can still come across moments that enchant and surprise.

Thank you, Janaki.

Week 1: Welcome to the St. George Winter Veggie Box

I really have to applaud the hard work that Mandy and Sienna put into in their well-executed, inaugural Winter Veggie Box for Marché. They have gone above and beyond to source their products and turn each week into an informative and fun culinary experience. Below you will find some highlights from their weekly newsletter.

Week 1: Welcome to the St. George Winter Veggie Box
This week’s box features some hearty winter basics to begin stocking your pantry. You’ll find red onions, intriguing rose finn fingerling potatoes, empire apples and red beets, as well as our featured garlic sprouts and portabella mushrooms.

Featured Product: EATMORE Garlic Sprouts
This week we’ve chosen to include sprouts, since greens such as chard and kale cannot be currently sourced from BC or Washington through Discovery Organics. EATMORE SPROUTS is a family-owned, certified organic farm in the Comox Valley. The Wakeling family operates 3.75 acres near Courtenay, and offers numerous options including garlic sprouts.

Recipes
Sesame-Roasted Beets
Bright Pink Beet Hummus
Balsamic Portabella Mushroom Burgers

Estevan Tuna Co.

It amazes me when people take an ingredient or dish that I would usually associate with mediocre culinary experiences from my childhood, and then completely change the way I think about it. Such is the case with Estevan Tuna Co. This tuna is caught by hook and line, then sold by fishermen in Courtenay, British Columbia. I usually see Estevan products being sold at farmers' markets. Their booth is always swarming with people who are thrilled to get their hands on a local, sustainable, healthy and delicious product. I'm excited that we have this delectable albacore tuna in our shop, as I'm sure a lot of people won't have to wait until the next farmer's market to get some!

Photography & Discourse | Luis Valdizon

Lola's 2nd Birthday

I was about an hour late to Lola's birthday today, and didn't anticipate the tardiness would result in missing all of the festivities, but alas, it did. I missed everything, from the little ones running around in Dora the Explorer party hats to Lola blowing the candles on her beautiful heart-shaped cake made by Fabrice. By the time I arrived, Lola had fallen asleep, and the adults looked worn-out. Nevertheless, some happiness and peace was found in the aftermath. She looked precious when napping. Outside, I found Pascal working on her playhouse. It made me excited to have kids and build them things someday. My gift to Lola was Shel Silverstein's book of poems and illustrations, Where the Sidewalk Ends. I remember loving the book as a child, and hope that she will, too.

Photography & Discourse | Luis Valdizon

Menu Inspiration: Valentine's Breakfast in Bed

Although breakfast in bed may be a classic offering to your loved one on a day of celebration, I do believe that it's a simple gesture that is often overlooked. Simple doesn't mean lazy. Simple calls for impeccable execution. I love what Janaki has done here. Everything counts, from the elegant toasted coconut ricotta rosewater pancakes with agave syrup yogurt, complimented by Pok Pok Som pomegranate drinking vinegar and sparkling water spritzer, to the beautiful vintage serving plate and flower decoration. Whatever you do for your loved one, just remember to put some heart in it. Even if you don't end up using the style or food exactly as presented above, we hope that we've inspired you to go beyond the standard this Valentine's day.

Photography & Discourse | Luis Valdizon

Agave Syrup | $14.95
Birchwood Farms yogurt | $5.95
Birchwood Farms milk (2L) | $4.25
Eggs (one dozen) | $6.25
Flour (four cups) | $6.75
Baking Powder | $3.25
Butter | $5.25
Pok Pok Som drinking vinegar | $19.95
San Pellegrino sparkling water | $2.25

Noble Verjus

If there is a cook in your life, whether they're professional or not, and you can't think of something special to give them on Valentine's Day, Noble Verjus is perfect. Verjus is one of many top restaurants' culinary secrets. There are a number of people who believe that it's all in the sauce. Verjus is one of the many tools that acclaimed chefs around the world use to deliver their patrons world class sauces. On a literal level, Verjus translates to green juice. Technically, it is the juice of unripened grapes. Think of it as a subtle vinegar, which is fantastic to use for pan sauces or as a replacement for vinegar in homemade salad dressings. Truthfully, I've never tried a Noble product I haven't fallen in love with, and their Verjus is no exception.

Photography & Discourse | Luis Valdizon

Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies

Our pastry chef and baker Fabrice has made us some beautiful cookies to celebrate Valentine's day. What I love about them, apart from their delicious addictiveness, is that they're not only for lovers, they are also decorated with messages for mothers and friends. I think sometimes people, including myself, forget that Valentine's should be about celebrating love in general. Fabrice's messages were truly a reminder that this should not be the standard.

Price | $1.45
Photography & Discourse | Luis Valdizon