Blog

Supporting Local This March

March 13, 2025

Hey hey! 👋 March is in full swing, March Break is here, and the weather is finally warming up! ☀️🌿 There’s no better time to explore the Market! We’ve got kid-friendly fun, delicious eats, and plenty of unique finds, so why not indulge in a little retail therapy while supporting local businesses?

With spring just around the corner, now is the perfect time to shop fresh, shop local, and discover something new. From handcrafted goods to farm-fresh ingredients, our vendors bring the best to our community. So come by, grab a bite, soak up the sunshine, and make the most of the break! 💛

Keep reading to see what’s happening this week! 👇

SUPPORT LOCAL!

From handcrafted chocolates 🍫 and artisan cheeses 🧀 to locally roasted coffee ☕ and fresh market produce 🍊, the Market is home to an incredible lineup of Canadian businesses that bring you quality, flavour, and craftsmanship like no other! ✨ Whether you’re picking up your grocery staples, treating yourself to a gourmet snack, or searching for that perfect gift, every purchase made here directly supports hardworking local vendors and helps keep Canada’s small business community thriving.

By choosing to shop local, you’re not just getting fresh, high-quality products, you’re also making a difference in the lives of the passionate entrepreneurs who pour their hearts into everything they create. So next time you visit the Market, take a moment to explore, try something new, and savour the best of local! 🛍❤️

THE PIPING KETTLE

Nothing brings people together quite like a warm, comforting bowl of soup! 🍲💛 At The Piping Kettle, Barbara and her team take pride in crafting fresh, homemade soups daily, using locally sourced ingredients to ensure every spoonful is packed with flavour and quality you can taste.

But for Barbara, shopping local is about more than just delicious food, it’s about supporting the community, keeping jobs local, and building meaningful connections with the people who make this city thrive. 🏡✨ Every purchase at The Piping Kettle helps sustain small businesses, local farmers, and artisans, creating a ripple effect that benefits everyone!

So next time you’re at the Market, stop by The Piping Kettle, grab a bowl of fresh, local goodness, and experience the warmth of a business that truly cares. 🥄🧡

SAMPLING SUNDAY

This Sampling Sunday, we’re bringing you pure joy in every bite with handcrafted donuts from Happiness Café! 💕 Known for their passion for creating moments of joy through sweets, Happiness Café is sharing two irresistible flavours: Raspberry White Chocolate and Triple Chocolate.

These treats are made with love, featuring the perfect balance of rich, decadent chocolate and sweet, fruity goodness. Whether you’re a chocolate lover or a fan of fruity flavours, there’s a donut with your name on it!

Stop by at 12 PM to grab a sample and taste the happiness for yourself, first come, first served! 🍩💖

Winter Indoor Farmers Market

Our Winter Indoor Farmers’ Market is back upstairs in the Mezzanine! Running Saturdays, 9am to 1pm, come buy your fresh, local food directly from your growers and producers to taste the Market experience! We can’t wait to see you there!

Attending Vendors

Saturday Live Music

Join us upstairs in the Mezzanine for some local live music!

Saturday, March 15

  • 9am to 11am – Travis Beatty
  • 11am to 1pm – Ryan Naismith

Saturday, March 22

  • 9am to 11am – Willem Cowan
  • 11am to 1pm – Lucy Morgan

Saturday, March 29

  • 9am to 11am – Sasha Wideman
  • 11am to 1pm – Sam Hornby

Saturday Cooking Demo

This Saturday, our cooking demonstration in the Market Kitchen is hosted by Justin Mellott where he will demonstrates how to pickle various items!

Registration is now required for all classes and will open on the second Thursday prior to the event date (i.e. registration opens today for Jaime’s Cheese, Beef & Mushroom Burgers class next Saturday, March 22nd) Click here to register –> https://forms.gle/y7LUMAzR7jYYtJdX9

SATURDAY DEMO SCHEDULE

  • Saturday, March 15 | Justin Mellott – Pickling
    • registration closed – full
  • Saturday, March 22 | Jaime Pena – Cheese, Beef & Mushroom Burgers
  • Saturday, March 29 | Nancy Salamanca – Chicken Pot Pies
    • (registration opens on March 20th @ 11:00am)
  • Saturday, April 5 | Polina Shadman – TBD
    • (registration opens on March 27th @ 11:00am)
  • Saturday, April 12 | Kimi Abdullah – Miso Marvelous
    • (registration opens on April 3rd @ 11:00am)
  • Saturday, April 19 | Nancy Salamanca – TBD
    • (registration opens on April 10th @ 11:00am)
  • Saturday, April 26 | Jaime Pena – TBD
    • (registration opens on April 17th @ 11:00am)

Multicultural Spring Market

Join us at the Multicultural Spring Market happening this Saturday, March 15 (2PM–6PM) and Sunday, March 16 (11AM–4PM) upstairs in the Mezzanine!

✨ Handmade crafts and artwork
🍴 International foods and treats
🌍 Culturally inspired goods and treasures
🎁 Unique gifts for all ages

Let’s make this spring market an unforgettable celebration of culture and creativity! 🌟

Sourdough Workshop for Beginners

Learn to bake beautiful, homemade sourdough bread with confidence. No experience needed! Click here to register for the March 27th class!

If you’re someone who’s ever struggled to learn sourdough baking on your own, only to feel frustrated and give up; or maybe you’re completely new to the world of baking and eager to learn the art of sourdough from scratch, my two-hour, in-person sourdough workshop is for you, regardless of your baking experience!

I started baking sourdough during a very chaotic time in my life, and it quickly became my escape. Even through the trial and error of learning the sourdough process there was something so calming and therapeutic about it.

Over time I was able to keep my starter alive (raise your hand if you killed a few starters in the beginning 😆), explore and play with different recipes and now I absolutely love helping others discover this same joy—plus, there’s nothing better than the smell of fresh bread filling your home!

What’s included:

  • A fully hands-on experience with demos for every stage of the sourdough bread
    making process from mixing to shaping and scoring!

  • All the tools and ingredients needed to prep your own dough throughout our time together.

  • A guide book to take home to reference what is talked about in class.

  • Leave with dough that you’ve prepped to bake the next day.

You also go home with:

  • LIVE starter that we ‘feed’ during the workshop so you know exactly what to do!

  • Basic beginner tools,

  • My exclusive e-book (via email post workshop)

  • PLUS access to a private Facebook group just for workshop attendees—so the connection and learning continue

Plus, you’ll enjoy a relaxed atmosphere filled with snacks, laughs, and the camaraderie of learning alongside others. This workshop isn’t just about bread—it’s about finding a new self-care hobby you’ll absolutely love.

Join us at Covent Garden Market and discover the joy of sourdough baking!

Click here to register!

Macaron Workshop

Get ready to embark on learning the basic tips & tricks of baking French macarons professionally just in time for Mothers Day.

  • Session 1 – April 27 10am-12:30pm
  • Session 2 – April 27 1pm-3:30pm

What you will learn:

  • What makes macarons so finicky
  • Methods of baking
  • Colours to use
  • Macronage
  • Filling Techniques

What you will get:

  • 2-hour hands-on baking macaron
  • Recipe and ingredients to bake
  • Macarons you bake to take home

What you need to bring:

  • Bring an apron
  • Container to take home your bakes

To register, click here or email Polina at nostalgiacafe9@gmail.com or text 519-614-0273

Hours
Parking