viewfromaloft

MF Gourmet Opens at Grand Central Market

MF Gourmet, short for Meat Fish Gourmet, now has a stall at Grand Central Market.

During the summer, Chef Tyler James Cyre was delivering bakery goods to Perch and found a parking spot outside Grand Central Market. He quickly ducked in the open air marketplace to get change for the meter, and the bustle of the enivrons, he knew he found a place for his breads and his business, MF Gourmet. 

The European culinary bakery will now be a neighbor to the indigenous tortas and chinese food.  The soft opening is off and on, and may be as soon as Friday, Sept. 2.

But for certain, with Grand Central Market and The Patrón Spirits Company, MF Gourmet will have a big presence Thursday, Sept. 8, with Downtown LA’s Edible Artwalk. Local culinary artists will gather and socialize, even carve an ice block or two, to raise money for Friends of The FCI, a non-profit arm of The French Culinary Institute.

Downtown LA’s Edible Artwalk I  RSVPs by Sept. 6th are required. 21 + only  I Thursday, September 8 I 7pm to 11:30pm I 317 S Broadway

Photo by Helen Ly for viewfromaloft

Fall Debut for Historic Core Market on Spring

With a sign on a chain link fence and a Craig's List posting calling for vendors, the Spring Street Farmers Market is building early buzz for their September 11 debut.

Designed to feed the Historic Core masses, the market will be held on Sundays in the parking lot between the Spring Arcade building and Alexandria Hotel from 9am to 3pm.

The brunchable market also allows those unable to stock up on produce during the weekday the chance to join the farmer market frenzy that has hit downtown in the last few years.

The Spring Street Farmers Market is being put on by VCA Realty, says spokesperson April Paton.  “The same company that puts on ArtMART at the Alexandria Hotel during Art Walk."

Besides fresh produce, baked goods from Homeboy Bakery, BBQ by Catering Carlitos Way, the market will host live jazz performances and feature crafts, art and jewerly from local designers.

Without the built-in weekday lunch crowd downtown workers provide, and the area on the cusp of craft fatigue, a focus on produce and veggies may be the key for the market to become Sunday neighborhood habit.

Farmers and vendors have shown a lot of interest, assures Paton.  “Everyone we've spoken to is really excited about participating. We are still confirming with some. We plan to have a great turn out for the event."

It may be a temporary location since the parcel is up for development, but organizers are confident that will give them enough time to dig organic roots in the neighborhood.

Spring Street Farmers Market I Opens Sunday, September 11 I 9am to 3pm I Parking lot between Alexandria Hotel and Spring Street Arcade building I Vendors can inquire at springstfarmersmarket@gmail.com

Market of Distinction

LARABA president John Saslow sends word that the Arts District / Little Tokyo Farmers Market at City Hall garnered a Downtowners of Distinction Award for the Civic Center, giving the little market that could a chance at the gold ring–– L.A. Downtown News Downtown Project of the Year. 

The market is stationed under the massive trees of the of City Hall's South Lawn, making the civic center a small town one day a week with State, City, County, and Federal workers sharing public space and tables with jurors, LA Times staffers, Historic Core residents, and Little Tokyo regulars.

The whole family wins this week.

A lucky week: 8-year-old Samuel Cho outdid engineers and number crunchers at the Farmer's Market  at City Hall this afternoon by guessing the weight of a large pumpkin––just by looking at it.  After some discussion with his great aunt, Soon Kim, they came up with 190 pounds. They were just 7 ounces off.

Samuel's family were only a few blocks away when market manager Susan Hutchinson called to inform them they were the lucky winners.  When they returned to pick up the prize, it was discovered the family are  staying in Chinatown with Aunt Kim having voluntary evacuated their home in San Marcos due to the wildfires.  As Mom packed up the pumpkin in the back of the mini-van, she reported her husband just called and the house is safe. They will be returning home Saturday, with pumpkin in tow.

Above: Samuel Cho, pumpkin owner. Below: Farmers Market crew delivering pumpkin curbside.

South Lawn Weights and Measures

Roll the lovely parting gift back to the office: Downtown lunch-goers have until noon today to guess the weight of a large pumpkin that will be sitting on the south lawn of City Hall during the Farmers Market.  This civic center based accountant dropped in her guess last Thursday hoping to win, but wished to remain anonymous. The person who really should stay anonymous is the city engineer who last year estimated the weight of the big veggie as 37 pounds. Winner will be announced at 2 pm Thursday, October 25.  

Drums on the Hill

Bright October skies reflecting off Trinadad steel drums were brick side at the Bank of America Plaza Farmers' Market, where musician Clyde Williams was found mixing in with organic produce, public art sculptures, cooler air, and Bunker Hill lunch goers Friday afternoon.  With a 6th market just opening, downtown public space is getting used at a frequent clip as Chinatown, City Hall, the Fashion District, the Central Library, 7th + Fig, and BOA plaza are the chosen locations drawing out Downtowner's from traditional noon time bunkers, sometimes with music guiding them in. [Map of Downtown Farmers' Markets] 

More Market Talk

Market Watch: While that other market was getting ready, the City Hall Farmer's Market also had opening day fans. Vendors were busy and City Hall's south lawn had a "town square just off Main St" feel as residents and goverment working-types ate and shopped in the shade The City Hall Farmer's market will be held every Thursday from 10am to 2pm. Added observation but I don't know what it means. KABC and KCBS were interviewing Ralphs staff while the City Hall Farmers Market had KPCC radio.

Market Opening Day IV

NEW NAME & NEW LOCATION: The City Hall Farmer's Market opens Thursday, July 19th on the south lawn of City Hall. It will have the same 10am to 2pm time slot and the new site, under trees providing shade, will again feature fruits and veggies and a booked solid list of lunch vendors.The lunch crowd is now a few steps closer, and the Historic Core has a straight DASH line up Spring St. to the market, and then back down Main St.

Market on the March toward City Hall

The Arts District / Little Tokyo Farmers Market will have their final day in Weller Court tomorrow, Tuesday on July 10.  It will now be held at the South Lawn of City Hall on Thursdays starting July 19.  A grand opening with live music is planned for opening day, at 10am.

It's heard vendors selling prepared foods, fruits and veggies have already topped out the space available. Now there's a waiting list.

Take home some produce

I was the lucky winner last year, just ounces away from guessing the actual weight of a pumpkin like the one now on display at the Little Tokyo / Arts District Farmers Market. This year, you too can be the lucky winner. Guess the weight and take home a pumpkin so big it will take over a passenger seat. Put a face on it and drive in the carpool lane. Have enough pumpkin pie for a year. Place it on your desk at City Hall just to break the ice.

See Susan Hutchinson at the Farmers Market table for an entry form to guess the weight of Pumpkinzilla. The winner will be chosen at the end of the market next Tuesday.

Little Tokyo / Arts District Farmers, at Market Weller Court in Little Tokyo from 10am -2 pm