One of my favorite things to do anywhere is visit Farmers’ markets, and the Farmers’ market at the Ferry Building Marketplace in San Francisco is one of the best!
This Saturday, many food bloggers who I consider friends, even if I haven’t met all of them, are meeting in San Francisco for BlogHer Food 2009. BlogHer Food 2009 was announced after I’d made all my travel arrangements for BlogHer 2009 in Chicago (darn you all!) but I don’t regret going to Chicago in any way. I just regret not being able to participate in this weekend, too!
I still have yet to meet in person Helen, Anita, Nicole or Matt, and see David in the US, or re-live my spooning moment with Ree, Elise and Jaden this summer (I am missing your party Saturday, too!), and I would love to see all the food bloggers I got to finally meet this summer again!
So I’m sad I can’t be there. But for those of you that will be, I hope you carve out a little slice of your Saturday morning to stop by the Ferry Building Marketplace and Farmers’ Market, even for 30 minutes! Taxi it there and back!
The Ferry Building and the Farmers’ Market are actually two separate things – the first is a permanent structure with restaurants and stores inside, and the farmers’ market is an additional, large presence of booths and stands that happens a few times a week (Tuesday: 10am–2pm, Thursday: 10 am – 2pm, Saturday: 8am-2pm).
In case you can’t go to the Ferry Building, here are some photos to let you see what you’re missing. Note that one of my favorite things I don’t have a photo of: chilaquiles from Primavera – I was too busy eating them!
I love seeing different species of vegetables and fruit that I don’t often see in Italy: how could you resist something so colorful?
Eggplants I think are one of my favorite things to photograph. I love the gradients on these
Lobster mushrooms cost almost as much as regular lobsters! There are so many varieties I never see in Italy.
I like to do what I call “flower spotting” – herbs and bouquets of flowers that catch your eye as people brush by you. It seems like everyone grants themselves a present on Saturday.
There are lots of flower sellers in the farmers’ market
Roast chickens and pork that really remind me of Italy.
Look at the line – it’s not for Sur La Table, but the chickens!
I love heirloom tomatoes and the different look they can give to any plate.
Okra never looked so good!
If you need something sweet, there are plenty of options, like pastries from Miette. Though I have to be honest, I’m not impressed with their macarons, I think mine are better! If you have a suggestion where to get good macarons in San Francisco, leave it in the comments!
Even the bell peppers are multicolored
Often things are pre-bundled together so you can get just the amount you need and run out quickly.
If you’re lucky, you’ll run into some locals, as evidenced by my good friend here and his T-shirt: I got my Burrito in San Francisco! Isn’t that the truth! Get a burrito, or a dozen, while you’re in SF.
Great photos! Yes, I do wish you were coming too. Next summer for sure though? Hope so!
Fantastic photos, does remind me of markets in France and Italy. :-)
I love the photo of the dude with the lavender in his backpack. Very California!
oh we MISSED YOU!!!!!
I’m living in Italy… but I’m from San Francisco originally. So this makes me miss San Francisco. And wow — purple peppers!!!
great photos… I love the markets in italy and this looks like so much fun!
Wonderful photos!
This is one of my favorite places in SF-whenever we visit we have lunch here on Saturdays.
You were missed, Sara!
Aw….you guys are making me feel loved (and more sad I wasn’t there) – any plans for BlogHer Food 2010? Should I skip BlogHer NYC?
love love looooove this post!! i’m originally from CA (the south though unfortunately), am currently in germany, but have lived in italy before and will again next year…so i LOVE good food and frequent farmers’ markets when i get the chance…so naturally whenever im in SF I make a point to go to the Ferry Building…its a foodie’s paradise!! it, along with the Santa Monica farmers market, is probably the best market I’ve ever been to in the states…though props to Hollywood, and the DuPont Circle and Penn Quarter ones in DC. anyways keep up the good work!!
do you know where your friend got his ‘i got my burrito” t-shirt!? i LOVE it. and would like one of my own but can’t find anything on the web.
Wow…considering we Brits are rather snooty towards American cuisine (all fast food outlets and saturated fat!) that is one amazing Farmers Market. We have one in my locality once a month and although there is some excellent produce, nothing like the diversity and range on display here. Mind you, the climate in the SW United States is somewhat better than the NW coast of England!