The State Street Farmers Market in Carlsbad Village is the perfect place to start your holiday shopping. Not only can you purchase artisanal food products and local specialties, but you can sample international hot food selections at the numerous food trucks.
The market is open on Wednesdays from 2:30 to 6 p.m. and is located at the intersection of Carlsbad Village Drive and State Street. Lots of street parking and free parking lots are available nearby.
CREATE YOUR OWN HOLIDAY BASKETS
I usually begin by bringing my own baskets with a list of my favorite relative’s or friend’s favorite foods. Be certain it will be big enough to handle all your goodies!
If I am on a mission to find a hostess gift that will be delivered within the week, I start to fill my basket with fresh-baked goods from Prager Bros. Artisan Bread, Le Rendez-Vous French Bakery, Chaupain Bakery and Island Girl Bakes, then add cheese from Daniel’s Artisanals, finishing with a few snacks from Jerky Brothers and Lentil Telepathy.
Finally, I would search the plentiful fruit and vegetable stands to add the finishing touches with fresh fruit and vegetables for salad or desert.
To complement a dinner basket to bring to a Christmas party, I might fill it with to-go offerings from La Pinsa Mia for calzones and pizza, Tamales Cocina for handmade tamales and Love, Dreams and Pie for a savory pie.
Finally, for those of my friends who love a sweet treat, I would gather desert treats from Grammy’s Granola, Carlsbad Cookie Company and Susie’s Sweet Fudge.
LOCAL COOKIES TO SEND FAR AND WIDE
We caught up with one of the vendors, Holli Chamberlain, from Carlsbad Cookie Company, and she described her mouth-watering selection of shortbread cookies.
“All of our cookies are made to order, from scratch with the finest local ingredients,” she says. “We have created the only stuffed shortbread cookie in the country, which includes Brown Butter Stuffed Pumpkin, Cranberry Shortbread with White Chocolate and Stuffed Gingerbread. Local residents can have their orders delivered in Carlsbad, and we ship anywhere in the United States. We also offer a Cookie of the Month Club to please all the cookie lovers on your holiday list.”
Check their website (carlsbadcookiecompany.com) or call for delivery options, 760-824-3030.
GRAMMY’S GRANOLA TURNS TWENTY
Janet Braver, CEO and head cook at Grammy’s Granola, has been involved in almost all of North County’s farmers markets for 20 years. She quit her secretarial job when she turned 50; she “just wanted to work outside, doing things I loved to do.”
So, she started making granola out of her kitchen in Encinitas two decades ago, and progressed to experimenting with specialty breads including banana chocolate chip, pumpkin and zucchini.
“My granola-making process takes six hours, making small batches to insure freshness. Everyone loves it so much, my customers send it to friends in other states!”
To order her granola, contact her at [email protected] or call 760-809-8892. She will be at the State Street Farmers Market each Wednesday for samples and product information.
FOOD TRUCKS TO END THE DAY
When you have exhausted yourself buying gourmet treats for your friends, take a break to sample international hot food freshly prepared by local food trucks including House of Bao, Masala Cottage, Rafikiz, Thai DD and Turkish Grill.
For more information on the State Street Farmers Market, visit carlsbad-village.com/events/farmers-market.
Jano Nightingale is a Master Gardener and teaches vegetable gardening at the Carlsbad Senior Center Community Garden. Contact her for further workshops at [email protected].
