The West Palm Beach GreenMarket is literally one of my favorite things to do on the weekend…read more Saturday 10/3 was opening day, the first market of the season. We're in a super El Niño and I'm expecting a lot of rain this year, but it only drizzled on and off and was totally fine to walk around. Just wear a poncho.
I was so impressed with last year's market that I couldn't wait to come back, and a lot of the same amazing vendors returned.
A couple did not, which was honestly the biggest disappointment of the day. Jason's plants are gone from that main plant spot on Clematis at the apex of the south and north lanes. He's part of the reason I go every week, since I love to stock up on plants and repot them in season when it's not too hot. He's doing Saturday sales at his farm in Loxahatchee, but I don't have a vehicle, so that's not an option. Someone else has his spot, probably a side booth vendor from last year. Their plants were great, but the prices are way different. Jason's ranged from $1 to $5, and this booth basically starts at $15. A little table had tiny snake plants and pothos at two for $15, which were great, but I could have gotten five for $15 with Jason. Oh well. At least I got to enjoy his plants and that fun part of the market for eight years. He will be sorely missed.
I also didn't see the dip people, who make all the spreads and dips like salmon cream cheese scallion, Bolognese, and chimichurris. Maybe they just couldn't make it to opening day? I hope so!
Favorites that were back and fully stocked: Ranchers Reserve even had their Wagyu sausage, $20 for a pack of four or five I think. They had it early last season and then not the rest of the year, so this was a nice treat.
We tried a honey vendor who does infused orange and ginger honeys. Of all the honey vendors, this table had the best deal: $20 a jar or buy two get one free. Three of us split three bottles for $40, so each came out to about $13. Best deal of the day, and they make a really good gift.
The mozzarella guy has been there year after year, but this time we talked and learned they make the buffalo and other mozzarella fresh the day before. I always thought this was more of a grocery type vendor, not a fresh one, so I was shocked. I got the buffalo mozzarella again and it was so soft and sweet and absolutely hit the spot. I'm sorry I stayed away for so many years. I didn't give it the credit it was due.
The Wisconsin cheese guy has the most unique of all the cheese people and some really yummy things, including ones he makes himself, like the triple layer blue cheese brie and the pistachio crusted soft cheese roll.
The gluten free sourdough lady's bread is so healthy. It has activated charcoal to help pull out toxins, but more than that, it was so hearty and tasty, honestly the best bread I've had in years and years. Every now and then I get a sourdough loaf at Plum Market or an organic baguette at Trader Joe's and it never hits the spot. This bread hit the spot. If I'm going to do bread, this is it. I rarely eat it, but this was a treat. I thought she said the loaves were $16 and they were $23, a huge difference, but I sliced it up, froze more than half, and will enjoy the rest this weekend.
Palm Beach Salt Company's local flaky salt really is a must for every dish too!!
As always, I stopped at Independent Seafood for the freshest goods. I skipped the fish dip since I still have some frozen from last June, but got both the tuna and salmon poke for Sunday lunch poke bowls and probably into the week.
Another favorite is Okeechobee Farms, Steven and his girl. As I had hoped, they had raw A2 Guernsey cow cream, and I was thrilled. Around 10:30 only two glass jars were left, and I scored the last one as someone else grabbed the other. They also have raw milk, raw cheeses, really special bone broth, beef, chicken & pork, and prepared foods like chili con carne, butter chicken, and a chicken tortilla mixture, usually $15 each, with the highest quality ingredients. One of the pricier vendors, but the quality is second to none, and where else can you get raw cream? This time it was so creamy it was solid like ice cream. That only happens in a certain season, which is NOW!
Parking is always easy. We always use the Quadrille and Clematis garage because it's easier to get in and out. Flagler and Clematis has much more congestion and traffic. It's free from 8 to 1 for the market. We usually arrive at 8, but this time it was 9:30, and what a difference: level four instead of level two.
Walking around and seeing all the people and dogs was a treat as usual. Old favorites were there: the spice guy, the pickle guy, the pikliz hot honey girl, the jade bonsai guy, the underwater photographer, the aquaponics lettuce/veg people, and so much more. It's going to be another great season. I can't wait to go back.
