Guelph Farmers’ Market

by Pamela Cuthbert
June 23rd, 2009

Photo: courtesy of Image Ontario

Artisanale’s chef Yasser Qahawish favourite place to hunt for local food

This small city lies at the heart of Ontario’s agricultural belt, so it’s little surprise that the Guelph Farmers Market is a local gathering spot with its mix of foods and crafts. This year is the first harvest season for Artisanale’s chef Yasser Qahawish (519-821-3359; artisanale.ca), who recently moved from Toronto with his wife Allison Mitchell to open a new restaurant.

“This market is more of a social place,” he says. “It’s neat, with its craftspeople and foods from some very, very small farms.” Look for John and his wife, an older Italian couple whose zucchini flowers, Sicilian eggplants, basil and other herbs and “really amazing” tomatoes sell out. Cortland, Empire and Ida Red apples from Brantview Apples & Cider and stone fruits—cherries, plums, apricots—from Lilles Orchards are other favourites.

Open Saturdays year-round, 7 a.m. to noon.

guelphfarmersmarket.com