St Lawrence Market Toronto

Nothing to me is better than a fresh market, multiple vendors selling everything from fresh bread to marrow bones. My thoughts always go back to my youth, we were fortunate enough to be exposed to fresh farm produce, meat and dairy. My great uncles owned farms, hogs, beef, veal, chicken, turkeys, farm cream were never far from our table growing up. I experienced farm to table before someone invented it , this was healthy living as I knew it . My mother is a great gardener, fresh potatoes, strawberries, raspberries and ever vegetable imaginable that could be grown in Saskatchewan was grown in our backyard. I only experienced local markets until I was 18 as that’s all we had in Saskatoon . We went to Seattle after I graduated culinary school in the summer of 1983, and there it was ,Pike Place Market. This place was a amazing, the sights, sounds and smells all out of one location. After my first visit to Pikes Place, I was hooked on fresh Markets. After Pikes Place everywhere I would travel I would try and find the local market . Pikes Place Market in Seattle would always be the comparison of all my market visits.

Pike Place Market 2015

I have traveled all over Canada and the United States and the St Lawrence Market in Toronto is one of the top 2 in Canada, just behind the Jean Tallon in Montreal . I have not been to Granville Market in Vancouver, but I will be visiting it this September.

November 11th we were visiting our good friends, Angelo, Shannon who live in Vaughn Ontario, also with us on this trip to the market were friends Julie and Thorne from Halifax Nova Scotia and with my partner in crime Monica. I was pretty excited to see the Toronto food scene as I have heard so many positive things about it. Those who know me, know that good food excites me. As we got closer to the market, I anticipated what I would see, how busy it would be and where it ranks on markets I have been to. There was no disappointment as we entered the first part of the market, fresh produce and pastries all around. I bought the crew a round of Danishes, the pastry was light a flakey and the apple topping was fresh apples not a commercially purchases product and the sweet sugar glaze put this breakfast pastry over the top.

As it was Remembrance Day 2023 it was a perfect fall morning in Southern Ontario, the first part of the market was an outdoor tent. Root Vegetables lined the stalls, a full selection of local Apple and Pears. Local Mushrooms were in abundance, it was a great way to start the morning off. They had a lot of local bakeries selling fresh Bread, Danishes and other fine baked goods. This was just a small overflow section of the market, We spent a good 30 min in this section, looking at all the items and talking to the vendor, they were very friendly and helpful.

We now enter the main building, the St Lawrence Market has been open since 1803 over 220 years serving the locals of Toronto. This building is even busier than the overflow from across the street. the first thing I notice is the Bakery Items and Butcher Shops. Anything a foodie wanted or need was in this 2 story building.

• Selection of Fresh Pastries and Cakes

We continued through out the market, each shop something different to offer. The quality of the baked good were some of the best I have seen, There was a quaint little Patisserie shop with French Petit Fours. Macaroons and amazing Meringue Cookies. The attention to detail, these Pastry Chefs produce amazing products. I have never been to France, but I am sure this is what it must look and smell like.

• Amazing French Pastry Counter

The local butcher shops were out in full force, well over 1/2 dozen meat counters. Beef, Lamb, Veal , Pork, Chickens, Turkeys and full variety of Poultry all fresh and on display. One of the things that I liked is the butchers promoted local product. You knew where your food was coming from. Butchers were had cutting steaks, dry and wet aged beef were being sold. The prices were quite reasonable for fresh local product.

Fresh Ontario Beef

You can see the excellent marbling of the AAA Canadian Beef

Freshly Ground Beef and Marrow Bones

I was taking to the butcher at one of the stalls that had Japanese Wagu Beef; the beef is so marbled it will melt in your mouth once cooked for only a few seconds. This beef was imported from Japan and was the real thing. Not cheap but if you ever wanted to experience it, it was right there for purchase

• Japanese Wagu Beef, notice the marbling of the beef

Once we left the butcher shops, we stopped and had a break and just looked around, There was an Italian Deli stall to my right selling some great looking sandwiches. A cheese make with over 200 varieties of imported and domestic Cheese. Just so many varieties of everything, Brick Oven Pizza, meals to go a little bit of everything.

The aroma coming from this shop was incredible. I wished I wasn’t so full because a Chicken Parm Sandwich would have been ordered. but a Jamaican Patty and Sausage Roll got in the way.

A full on English Pie Shop that served a great Sausage Roll along with Jamaican favorite’s including Jerk Chicken and Jamaican Patties . And yes I had a Jamaican Pattie and a Sausage Roll,

The also had meals to go, a great convenient way to do dinner. Multiple Side Dishes, prices seems to be reasonable.

They even had a couple of Fish Mongers with a variety of Pacific and Atlantic Seafood. I got talking to one of these vendors and he told me the product comes in daily. Both fresh water and salt water species of fish, Shrimp, Lobster, Scallops and Oysters prices were very much in line with traditional grocery stores.

If you are local to Toronto and haven’t been here go visit it; You have a gem of a market. If you are from out of town spend a couple hours and enjoy. Have a Cappuccino and Biscotti , enjoy the smells or have a slice of pizza. I enjoyed this market, this place is in my top 5 of all markets that I have ever been to. The place is amazing and I cant wait to go back and visit this epic 220 year old market. Well done Toronto.