A long time ago I had heard about this farmer's market but I was never able to check it out. Then I…read morehad to visit Miami Children's Hospital on a Wednesday and walked into this market by accident. It's impossible to miss it. They set up right at the entrance of the hospital, and you have to walk by them to enter the premises.
The first time I saw them, they seemed to be only a few vendors. I picked up a couple of baked good, spoke to some guy making popcorn, looked around quickly because I didn't really give them much credit. I thought they were just a "farmer's market" (with quotation marks) at the entrance of a hospital. How clever!, I thought.
Then, I got home, opened my box of baked goods, took a bite and dropped on my knees after doing an Elvis Presley style leg shuffle. I couldn't believe how good the stuff was. I had picked up an "apple filled brioche" covered in almonds, and a pack of brownies. The stuff was really, really good. After finishing the snacks, I started obsessing about when to go next.
I was luckily required to go again, on a Wednesday again, because that's how the Good Lord works (in mysterious ways), and I was able to satisfy my curiosity. I got there and immediately went to the baking lady, she comes from Ft. Lauderdale, and this time I got some brownies, croissants, and an apple tart. Satisfied, I then proceeded to walk around, with a tight grip on my shopping bag.
Who was there? Well, an empanada lady who specifies her empanadas are Argentinian style empanadas, a ceviche lady who serves a lot of other dishes and juices, a quinoa guy who serves quinoa stews and sells quinoa, a Jamaican guy serving roti burritos and other Jamaican stuff, a popcorn man selling stuff that tastes like Fruit Loops cereal, two stands serving gyro meat and meals and Greek salad, and people selling sweets, candies, smoothies, nuts, soaps, oils, etc.
Surprisingly enough, there was only one person selling vegetables. His produce is the usual array of vegetables, something you would normally find at a supermarket. He does have some oversized oranges that look delicious. But truly, the king/queen of the farmer's market are the people with the baked goods. I mean, who gives you a side of chocolate ganache to put on your brownies?
I think that this farmer's market is organized as a way to thank, or reward, the staff from the hospital. It is nice to go to a farmer's market for lunch. Of course, patients benefit implicitly, as well as neighbors, office workers, and gluttons like myself. That's my go to breakfast spot on Wednesdays, and I love it.
The Miami Children's Hospital Farmer's Market is only open on Wednesdays, from 9 am to 4 pm. Parking is free at the hospital's parking lot.
Send me a note if you think those baking goods are on point. Enjoy!