where to — farmers market
nature's candy™ ny's ramp season trendy melons + cream top coffee
b and i like to hypothesize if we were action figures, what our catch phrases be, and apparently mine is “nature’s candy.” which to be fair, i do mutter often, while inhaling samples of toothpick-ed chunks of fruit (aka nature’s candy™) at my farmers market weekly.
i’ve always had an appreciation for farmers markets — i mean the upcoming ramp season in new york is a whole nother ball game... but it wasn’t until moving to la, that i realized how essential they are to la’s food community and restaurant scene. i started going to hollywood fm sunday mornings religiously, but now i’ve been more hyper-local where i can walk, so my go-to is echo park on friday afternoons, walking around the lake to get there. each market has a different feel, kind of channeling its neighborhood aesthetic. should you find yourself on the westside on a wednesday morning (worth the drive), you’ll see all your favorite restaurants’ chefs getting their produce at the iconic santa monica fm.
whatever produce the farmers market purveyors are slinging is also a clear indicator of what’s in season right now. we’re just about out of winter citrus (cara cara!) and gearing up towards my absolute favorite season: stone fruit! followed closely by summer’s cherries and tomatoes, with kabocha and persimmon dropping just in time for the holidays. the flowers at the farmers market are even seasonal: my absolute favorite ranunculus (kind of alien-y in the best way possible) are just getting started, and my other go-to: droopy tulips are having their moment.
only in la, is the farmers market a place to see and be seen. i’ve seen a few celeb sightings at hollywood fm over the years. there are activations and brand pop-ups like sweetgreen ripple fry launch also at hollywood fm. some restaurants even got their start at the farmers market: bub & grandma’s (still selling out at hollywood fm!). there’s purveyors with cult followings like weister family farms’ trending melons.
if you want to vicariously (+ virtually) live through the la farmers market scene, follow along with sasha at santa monica wednesdays and sam (loves the market) to see what’s in season.
where to — farmers market:
echo park fm - friday afternoon
silverlake fm - saturday morning + tuesday afternoon
hollywood fm - sunday morning
atwater fm - sunday morning
santa monica fm - (westside!) wednesday + saturday morning
which vendors to hit up:
out of thin air - sourdough + pastries — get the gochujang sourdough
rick’s seasonal produce - exactly like the name: seasonal (+ very fresh) produce
brothers products - all the dips — their vegan pesto is perfect
dave’s gourmet korean - korean condiments and snacks
patty farms and/or pork & flowers - affordable bouquets of flowers
delmy’s pupusas - pupusas — with vegan options!
balo - balo’s kombucha + shrubs, formerly known as sunset cultures
+ really anywhere that gives you a little sample of nature’s candy™, and you know you must have more
bring your own reusable bag (your finest merch tote or baggu) + some cash, though most accept apple pay
la openings + happenings:
santa canela - highland park’s best new pastries coming from the loreto team, who does no wrong in my book
stagger coffee - not thaaat new, but new enough: in ktown, known for their viral double matcha (matcha with matcha cream top), paired with clark street pastries
must order:
ripple fries sweetgreen with garlic aioli
expertly made espresso martini al fresco at sqirl
out of thin air pastries to go with your vienna coffee (now available with vegan cream top!) at picnic coffee (best in the game right now)
the miles andrew open face bagel (vegan, till you rightfully add a soft boiled egg and anchovy) + fm citrus olive oil cake at mustard’s bagels
oyster shooter at queen st is the only kind of shot i want nowadays
breakfast burrito at just what i kneaded now has vegan or farmers market egg options, wrapped in a quite literally perfect, warm tortilla (and i’m a real tortilla snob)
anyone else crave thai food every sunday eve watching the white lotus, or just me…
now playing:
la femme à la peau bleue by vendredi sur mer
i know no french but love a french bop
sidenote, i’m starting to take a few shifts here and there at kamp in silverlake, learning more about natural wine, so come visit me when i’m working next and we’ll pick out your next bottle(s!) and snacks to go with
heading to the new hotel wren in 29 palms, and will report back on how the desert’s doing <3
