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Thank you for coming back; this is our eleventh installment of Vendor Highlights, where we dive in and explore a different vendor each week, allowing you to learn more about them and discover their story and some hidden gems. Today, we would like you to have a glimpse at the story behind The Chocolate Factory:

The Chocolate Factory, a local haven for exquisite chocolate creations, pours its heart and soul into crafting daily joys, ensuring top-notch quality for its beloved customers. Now, let’s uncover the captivating story interwoven with each chocolate.

It all began when Ron and Pat craved a fresh adventure and embarked on a new journey. Drawing upon their previous business understanding, they sensed the time was right for something new. In 1986, fate smiled at them as they discovered the perfect location in St. Mary’s. The allure of chocolate ignited their entrepreneurial spirit, leading them to establish a business dedicated solely to this sweet passion.

Their initial location marked the birth of the sweet empire. With unwavering dedication, they cultivated a loyal clientele; all the while, Ron skillfully managed both his original job and this newfound chocolate venture. In 1990, their undeniable success called for growth. The natural choice was the bustling heart of Downtown London, nestled within the Covent Garden Market.

The Chocolate Factory, with its timeless allure, continues to captivate a faithful following. Ron says he remembers when parents would bring their children to come and enjoy some chocolate, to now, those children return as adults, still seeking the array of treats they offer.

For Ron, this journey is an indulgence in more ways than one. He confesses that a piece of chocolate is his daily ritual, a testament to his deep-seated passion for this business. About seven years ago, the torch was passed down to their daughter, Liz. While the dynamic duo still graces us with their presence occasionally, Liz now steers the Chocolate Factory’s ship.

Vendor highlights are all about shining a spotlight on the heart and soul of each vendor and learning more about the who, the what and the why around their story. If you’ve enjoyed this journey, join us again next week for another vendor and a new highlight as we continue celebrating the outstanding contributors that make our Market a genuinely magical place.

We are super excited to start up our Market Loyalty Card program this Monday! When you spend a minimum of $10 at any participating indoor vendor locations, you will receive a sticker, once your card is full, you will receive a $25 CGM Gift Card. One sticker per transaction. Once cards are ready to be redeemed, you can be bring it to the Office (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm).

You can get your Loyalty Card at any of the participating vendors or in the Market office starting Monday. The card itself is the size of a business card to easily fit into your wallet. I hope you’re as excited as we are for Monday!!

If you’re seeking a seasonal role with limited hours, we have the perfect opportunity for you during our festive four-week “Holly Jolly” Market, held on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. We’re looking for individuals to delight our customers with steaming cups of hot chocolate.

We value enthusiasm, a positive attitude, and a commitment to the entire four-week duration. If this exciting opportunity piques your interest, please contact us. Feel free to reach out via email: e_tuljak@coventmarket.com

This is the list, folks! See who you can find at the Outdoor Farmers’ Market this Saturday, October 12th from 8AM to 1PM on the Rotary Square. Click on their names to find information on pre-orders and to learn more about their farms and businesses! 

• Dave’s Beef & Lamb; beef and lamb products
• Den Besten Trout Farm; smoked rainbow trout, sausage rolls and fresh eggs
• Carver’s Natural Farms; chicken products, and fresh eggs
• Blanbrook Bison Farm; bison products
• Janssens Farm Fresh Produce; fresh produce
• Greystead Gardens; fresh produce, preserves
• Our Fields, fresh produce, preserves, honey
• Sungold Market Garden, fresh produce, honey
• Joyce Farms; fresh strawberries
• Wandering Bee Flowers, fresh cut flowers
• La Houlette de Vie; fresh baked organic naturally fermented bread
• The Whole Grain Hearth; fresh baked sour dough bread & pastries
• Pastry Culture; fresh bread, cinnamon rolls, tarts
• Helm Baked; gluten free baked goods
• Morsels, vegetarian savoury baked goods
• The Dough Joe Bakery; gourmet cookies
• Polina’s Nostalgic Treats; traditional Persian treats
• JBogal Foods; homemade frozen pierogies 
• Pillitteri Estates Winery; VQA Ontario Wines
• Harvest Moon Trading Co.; preserves, granola, mustards, and more
• Proper Heathen Hot Sauce, quintessential hot sauces
• London Sandwich Co.; handcrafted gourmet breakfast sandwiches
• The Brisket Man; hardwood smoked brisket & pulled pork
• Skilled Accents, sustainable handmade products
• Paradigm Spirits; whiskey, vodka, ready to drink cans, bitters
• London Brewing Co-Operative; organic craft beer
• Jumping Ovens, gourmet beef, chicken & vegetable pot pies
• Mia’s Paws; high-quality pet products made with hand selected raw, organic and natural ingredients

We are entering the third week of The 519Pledge For Socks & your donations are creating change in our community!🧦

Consider donating a new pair of socks to @519pursuit this Saturday, outside at the Farmers Market 8–1 💛

Winter happens fast and can happen overnight. For friends facing homelessness and extreme poverty, there is little to no time to prepare. Survival is at the front lines of day-to-day living and we are hoping to keep people warm. Starting the day with a clean/fresh pair of socks can re-energize and support one’s overall health and comfort. With the weather fluctuating and environmental factors changing all the time, friends facing homelessness and extreme poverty can be found in damp, cold, or sometimes very wet socks. We want to change this! We want to make sure no toes go cold this winter!

Paris Monroe will be performing outside on the Rotary Square this Saturday from 8:30am to 10:30am.

Tyrone Traher II, known professionally as Paris Monroe, is a Canadian singer-songwriter from London, Ontario. Traher began developing the concept of Paris Monroe in January of 2021. The purpose of Paris Monroe is to create self-aware and relentlessly honest music that captures the entire spectrum of the human experience.

Connor will be performing outside on the Rotary Square this Saturday from 11am to 1pm.

Connor Morand is an award-winning alternative pop singer-songwriter from London, Ontario. His crossover blend of contemporary pop with influences of hip hop and indie rock consistently push the boundaries of anything traditional and familiar. Connor’s combination of soaring vocal melodies and smooth guitar playing make for entertaining and lively shows in performances all around the world.

This Saturday, join us in the market kitchen for our cooking class hosted by Kimi Abdullah. Kimi will be demonstrating how to make two Fall Soups; Ukrainian Mushroom and French Potage.

From now until November 11th, we will be taking sock donations for the 519Pledge for Socks. Please help our community and consider making a donation!

SATURDAY DEMO SCHEDULE

• Saturday, October 14 | Kimi Abdullah – Fall Soups; Ukrainian Mushroom and French Potage
• Saturday, October 21 | Ankita Vaidya – Old British Curry
• Saturday, October 28 | Hannah Howey – Decorating; Pumpkin Spice Cake

Doors open at 10:40am, class starts at 11am. No registration is required. First come, first served.

We’ve got TWO more Multicultural Sundays at the Market is happening – October 15th and 22nd! There will be live music, food vendors and artisan vendors showcasing different cultures from around the world! You won’t want to miss out on all the delicious eats and dancing on rotary square!

Food Vendors

• Alla’s Pierogies
• La Paraillada
• La Burreria
• Tamrind Candy “Monrito”

Artisan Vendors

• Matico Arte Manual
• Zee Store
• Beautiful by Romana
• Bubbles Create
• Rola
• Navashri Arts

David will be performing outside on the Rotary Square this Sunday from 11am to 1pm.

Born in Nicaragua, David went to H.B. Beal where he joined the Jazz Band and other musical groups. At the same time, his participation in church musical groups gave him the practice hours needed to solidify his musical upbringing. After graduating from university, David worked as an English instructor in South Korea where he played in an original rock band named Taste of Dynomite and latin-infused music with Aqui Band. Upon his return to London, David formed Los Synco Latin Band in 2008. In the years since, David has continued to work on his song writing abilities while performing in various venues in and around London.

DJ Wickham will be performing outside on the Rotary Square this Sunday from 1:30pm to 3:30pm.

DJ Wickham officially started his DJ career as part of the Caribbean Students’ Organization (CSO) at Western University. He went on to merge his Bajan roots with the Kenyan roots of DELO, to co-found an Afro-Caribbean Entertainment company called Vybekingz Entertainment in London, ON. From there, DJ Wickham developed himself into a versatile DJ, spinning at signature events in London such as Afrik, Unity Jam, Sunfest Afterparty and more. His musical style is open format and includes Soca, Dancehall, Latin, Afrobeat, R&B, Hip-Hop and more. For more information about DJ Wickham visit https://djwickhammusic.contactin.bio.

Daubian will be performing outside on the Rotary Square this Sunday from 4pm to 6pm.

Daubian Oliveira performs latin jazz, bossa nova, samba and carnival music from Brazil. He has recently recorded an original track “Em Olinda,” which appears on the album “Latin Roots of London” with the Simple Reflections for Artists Collective.

Next Thursday, October 19th Atlohsa will be set up inside the Talbot Street entrance for their Winter Clothing Drive. Help their Housing Outreach Team care for our community by providing for basic needs. They are looking for blankets, coats, boots, gloves and much more!

Should you not be able to make it to the Market on Thursday, October 19th please feel free to drop items off this Saturday outside the Market Kitchen from 10:30am to 11am or Tuesday to Wednesday at our Market office from 9am to 5pm.

A Broadway cabaret of the monstrous, maniacal & macabre. Come have a drink and let our chorus of creatures entertain you with music from Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera, Rocky Horror, Beetlejuice, Evil Dead, Six, South Park – and many more! Spotlighting the hidden gems of musical theatre, this sinister soiree is truly unlike any Broadway cabaret you’ve seen before.

Dates: Oct 19-22, 2023

• October 19 – 7:30 pm
• October 20 – 7:30 pm
• October 21 – 1:30 pm
• October 21 – 7:30 pm
• October 22 – 1:30 pm

Location: The Auburn Stage at the Grand Theatre (471 Richmond St., London, Ontario)

More info: https://www.mtplondon.ca/thebeautyunderneath

Ticket link: https://grandtheatre.com/event/beauty-underneath

The 10th LMCA Gala will take place on Sunday, Nov 26th. Doors open at 5pm. Dinner is served at 6pm.

Enjoy delicious Filipino food and watch amazing Filipino folk-dances and Tagalog songs.

Our guest speaker is Ms. Eunju Yi, the Executive Director of the London Arts Council.

Scholarships to high-school students will be given during the event. Our scholarship fund is supported by King’s University College, WILL Employment Solutions, Siskinds the law firm, Rotary Club and the Salvadorian community.

Net proceeds from the event go towards the scholarship fund.

To buy tickets to the event, please send an e-mail to lmcalondon@gmail.com