I love road trips and day trips, but the best ones of all are those that involve FOOD!!!!! I just get soo excited and giddy finding secret spots, import foods or great bakeries. This weekend we took a drive out to a favourite spot of mine called Coombs Old Country Market. If you are ever on Vancouver Island and are traveling to Tofino this is a must stop along the way. Weekends are packed with parents and wee kids checking out the goats, they are famous for their goats grazing away on the roof. The ever expanding grounds now includes an oriental furniture market, a garden market, an expanded produce market, an ice cream joint (which seemed to be very popular this weekend even thought it was only 10 degrees out!) and the most important spot: the import food/bakery/art supply/kids toy/restaurant building. This is where I loose myself.
Now usually I like to go on my own, I enjoy lingering, reading ingredient lists, standing in front of shelves and just admiring. I don't like being rushed, especially when we are talking food. I was without that luxury this weekend, mind you it probably was for the better since I left the place minus $90.
Okay so we were having friends over for dinner so I did go a little crazy, sorry we ate half of the stuff I bought so no pics.
My purchases, starting with baked goods included an awesome roasted garlic and green onion sour dough baguette stuffed with garlic, then I had to get a plain sour dough baguette, and a few pink peppercorn and swiss cheese buns which were so fragrant and floral, and lastly a sweet apple spice swirl bread, that was breakfast!!! Yummy.
Next stop was the import cheese section, crazy choices but I limited myself this time to the Guinness cheddar from Ireland. I'm Irish so of course I had to try it, and boy was it ever smooth. I then headed to the deli section, this being the west coast there is a mass array of salmon, you name it, they have smoked, candied, jerky and in every flavour. I tried the plain and chile flake jerky both were popular.
Lastly I could have spent all day sorting through the pantry items. They have a variety of British and Dutch candy, juices from all over the world, every dry pasta from Italy, jams, local honey, endless selection of olive oil and balsamic.
I had to stock up on my favourite salt, Maldon which is flaked sea salt. Brush some garlic oil on your next pizza crust, a sprinkle of Maldon and you will go to heaven. I was introduced to a balsamic glaze at work and finally picked it up for myself, you can find this in most grocery stores. It is a balsamic dressing made from grape juice, balsamic vinegar, sugar and starch. Awesome on sandwiches or tossed with roasted veggies or even as a dessert with strawberries. I had to stock up on more real maple syrup, never the artificial stuff please! This stuff is pricey on the west coast, for a half litre I paid the same price I would for 2 litres from the Mennonites in Ontario. Luckily my parents have a supply waiting for me in their freezer, until then I must use sparingly...okay that's such a lie I can never use just a wee bit!!
My last purchase was one out of pure excitement and interest, a lemon effervescent drink from Italy! Add a couple of spoonfuls to water for a refreshing effervescent drink, yes please!! Turns out it wasn't as exciting as I thought; sodium bicarbonate, sugar and lemon nothing special. But it is fun to pop in your mouth and let it fizz away just like the candy you got as a kid!
Well I think I might go and enjoy some of my finds before they disappear on me. This spring, get out there and do some exploring you never know what you'll come home with.
