For the last few years my Sunday mornings have consisted of waking up slow, coffee, bike rides, surf, and always the farmers market. The Sunday Farmers Market at the Newport Beach Pier is where you can find certified farmers rite next to the beach. Every Sunday from 9 am to 1 pm tents are set up with a variety of organic and farm fresh vegetables and fruits, eggs, honey, seasonal produce, nuts and flowers. There are also fun specialty items like small batch breads, Mediterranean dips, salsas, cold press juices, and tea blends.
There is so much to pick from. Each week I go I have some usual go-to’s where I stock up on essentials. There are three produce stands to shop from. Avocados, berries, celery, carrots, kale, Swiss chard, onions, and potatoes are some of the usual suspects that I grab. During the spring I always find asparagus here to make soup, and the strawberries in June are the juiciest ever.
One of my all time favorite vendors at the Sunday market is The Bake Shack. Here you can find fresh sourdough natural rise breads. My ultimate favorite is the Super Seeded Multigrain loaf or the Sprouted Quinoa loaf. My husband Blake needs a Jalapeno Cheddar baguette always! My favorite way to enjoy the bread is to cut a slice, lightly toast, olive oil, smashed avocado, salt, pepper, lemon, and broccoli sprouts. If I am feeling fancy I will even add a pasture-raised egg. Or if I am feeling sweet then I love spreading almond butter on a lightly toasted slice with added fresh fruit. There is a lot to pick from between salt/savory and simply sweet. The croissants are amazing to make egg sandwiches, and the baguettes are perfect when hosting a dinner party. Definitely give this spot a try. And get there early if you want anything specific, stuff runs out quick!
A new vendor this year is the Hook and Line booth. They are a Boat to Table family operation bringing line caught Alaskan salmon to the market. They also sell Wild Halibut and prawns as well. Hook and Line is apart of the Seafood Watch program. This program, developed by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, helps consumers and business choose seafood that’s fished or farmed in ways that support a healthy ocean now and for future generations. Just last week we made fish tacos with the halibut and it was amazing. We grilled the fish in a tin-foil boat marinated with olive oil, lime, salt, pepper, garlic, and topped with cilantro and thinly sliced onions. It was the perfect texture to leave out for people to make their own tacos. I will be for sure stocking up on fish from these guys!
I love how close we are to this special market and that we get to shop local every week. It’s such a great spot for a family outing and to support local farmers and vendors while being at the beach. Bring your reusable bags and shop local this Sunday. Hope to see you there!
