Such is the case with Wheaton's French Market. Located along the train tracks in the heart of the downtown area, the market brings together local farmers, bakers, coffee vendors, cheese salesfolk, and more booths for knickknacks than you could shake a fist at. The market isn't really close to where I live, but I go there anyway (often with my aunt, sister, parents, etc.) just because I love it.
It is crowded. Do not be surprised if you show up and find you hardly have enough room to turn around. Patience is the key. And hydration. Especially if it's hot outside like it was today.
Regulars at the market have earned little nicknames from my aunt. There's the pickle guy, the olive lady that sells the awesome pita bread, the pesto guy, the donut guys, and the Sisters (some French nuns from a local parish that sell fantastic pastries).
Today's trip focused on the donut guys and the fine vendors of 'I Have a Bean' coffee. Last time we went to the market, the donut guys weren't there, and we were very upset.
Now, you may be saying, 'Donuts? Oh, there's a Dunkin right down the street. What do I need donut guys for?' Well, I'm gonna tell you! Read this next part twice if you have to. THESE ARE NOTHING LIKE THE DONUTS YOU GET FROM DUNKIN. THEY ARE SO MUCH BETTER.
The donuts they sell at the market are made fresh. At the market. Seriously? Seriously. I know! They literally have a donut-making machine that fries the cake donuts right there outside. You can get the donuts plain or with cinnamon-sugar or powdered sugar (we got cinnamon-sugar because they're delicious...plus, it's just a little too easy to choke on a powdered sugar donut. Don't believe me? I don't mess around, friend). They're small enough (and fresh enough and delicious enough) that you will have no qualms about having two. And I did. Hey, I spent all day yesterday wandering around the city in bad walking shoes. I've earned a treat. (Look at that gorgeous thing! Thanks for the photo, Auntie! Makes that snack look even tastier.)
We decided to wash down our crispy-cakey donuts with some iced coffee. Now, there's a Starbucks just across the train tracks, and I love me a Caramel Macchiato on any given day. But there's also a vendor that sells iced coffee at the market itself. Speaking as one whose feet are still aching from yesterday, the closer coffee seemed like the better coffee.
'I Have a Bean' sells coffee in cups sized about the same as a grande, for those of you familiar with barista-speak. They literally hand you a cup with nothing in it but ice and coffee. If you want cream, they'll leave room, but you're putting it in yourself.
I've never really been one for a non-flavored iced coffee, and I generally only like coffees with espresso in them (unless the coffee is hot). But this coffee left me pleasantly surprised. It was strong enough that it didn't get watered down by the ice, and it wasn't bitter at all. Do I dare say perfect? Not yet. It's hard to judge when I know for a fact that I was super-thirsty. Bottled water would have seemed perfect at the moment. But I would definitely get it again in a heartbeat.
Other highlights of the day included some fresh-popped kettlecorn (the vendor's there every week, and it's way better than microwaveable) and some amazing-smelling peaches from a farm downstate.
The fact that we had already purchased our sweets for the day kept us from the French nuns' booth. But their apple tarts are incredible. They are the first pastries I have ever eaten where I've enjoyed the crust just as much as I've enjoyed the filling. The apples are sliced extremely thin, and there's just a little bit of a caramel-like sauce between the fruit and the crust, the flavor of which I can only really liken to a cookie. It's well-sweetened but not too sweet, and to me always seems to taste a bit of almond.
They always have palmier cookies, chocolate croissants to satisfy your sweet tooth, and plain croissants that are buttery and flaky, just the way I like them. If you're lucky, they'll have seasonal fruit tarts. I've had one before with fresh blackberries. The fruit sits atop a silky custard, and is covered with a light gel (meant usually to keep the fruit from looking dull, but it really adds to the overall effect). Proceeds from the sale of the pastries go to charity.
If you're lucky enough to be there when the "guitar girl" is playing, take a moment and listen. I can't believe I don't remember her name. She's got a great voice and plays the guitar beautifully. And if I remember correctly, she sells CD's. Unfortunately we missed her today; she was on a lunch break when we got there.
I can't wait for my next opportunity to go to the market. Maybe I'll get some ingredients for a new AF recipe. But for now, I'll just dream of those donuts...
~AF
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