Husband and I spend time in the Muskoka Lakes region of northern Ontario every summer. One of our favorite, most-anticipated things to do in Muskoka (something that I look forward to with baited breath ALL YEAR, honestly) is going to the Gravenhurst Farmers Market. It's one of the best Farmers Markets I have *ever* stumbled on, and my hands-down favorite vendor is Tam Nguyen at Saigon Soul Food.
The Saigon Soul Food stand is phenomenal. Tam (along with her husband, parents, and sons) runs the stand like a well-oiled-machine, cooking up her Vietnamese delights, offering samples, and selling her products like gangbusters. You can purchase spring rolls, petit pies, sticky rice, satay all to eat right away at the market; or you can buy her delicious products frozen to heat up and serve at home. We usually make a lunch of her sticky rice and her wonderful shrimp or tofu garden rolls. Most of the food Tam creates is vegan and/or gluten free!
Husband and I *love* her spring rolls and her curry puffs. We usually buy half a dozen boxes of her frozen apps to take home to the cabin -- the bonus is that (as well as in the oven) you can cook those bad boys on the grill! We also adore her homemade Asian sauces, too, and always stock up with enough jars to last us the entire year! Her garlic plum blows any duck sauce clear out of the water, and the spicy garlic plum packs a wonderful heat and fire that complements whatever it garnishes. Her peanut satay sauce is insanely good, too.
If you live in Hamilton (or even St. Catherine's or Mississagua), you're lucky enough to be able to visit the Saigon Soul Food storefront whenever your heart desires. It's open 10 - 5 during the week, and I understand you can order lunches/meals there, or buy her products to take home. I might move to Hamilton in the very near future... read more