Wheaton French Market Wheaton, IL

                             

I was pleasantly surprised as I crossed over the railroad tracks and caught site of the Wheaton French Market. It reminded me of the lovely Farmer’s Markets that we frequented in WA. I was especially excited because I had brought our 3 younger children with us…the older 2 were 4 & 5 years old while we were in WA…so they didn’t really remember the markets, and the baby was born in IL so she had never been to one. I like places that educate our children on all things food…where it REALLY comes from, different varieties of fruits & veggies, and the friendly banter that ensues as you shop the wares of the vendors.

I had collected a handful of business cards to plug the vendors here in the article..and they have appeared to walked off on their own. But, I remember many of them by name, so I’ll mention as many as I can recall. I believe in supporting local business when you can…and want to use the blessing of this site to help local food vendors.

The first thing you will notice at the French Market…the delicious aromas wafting through the air. You can buy freshly prepared food such as Thai food and grilled cheeseburgers…cooked while you wait! How wonderful is that? You can browse the aisles and grab a bite to eat before heading home. Convenient! The grilled burgers were for sale, for $5, from a company called “The MeatGoat Guys” and you can find them at www.themeatgoat.com. Interesting name, , and interesting products. They sell organic, grass-fed beef, chicken, and pork to the Chicagoland area. On their card, they mentioned delivery available if you live within 50 miles of Buffalo Grove. Visit their site for complete details…but a here is a quick summary:

Their meat is fresh, never frozen. The animals the meat comes from are treated and processed (slaughtered) humanely. Their cows are not “finished off” on feedlots…so they are NEVER fed corn. Organic meat means: no hormones, no antibiotics, no pesticides are used on the farm, and their feed is 100% organic. Good stuff and you can feel good about buying it. You can also buy whole cows & pigs, which is more economical, and can then freeze those portions for later use. The site lists prices and other details.

For something sweet, try Suzette’s Creperie, www.suzettescreperie.com. They are a French restaurant located in Wheaton, IL and we purchased a traditional, lemon-infused madeline cookie, a chocolate madeline with orange zest, and a chocolate croissant. I had heard how yummy chocolate croissants are…but had never try one. Boy, was I missing out! They are very rich, so I certainly couldn’t eat a whole on (which my hips would appreciate) , but you will experience decadence in every bit. Visit the restaurant and get the whole experience!

And, what would a Farmer’s Market be without face painting? A local girl scout troop was raising money to help the wildlife affected by the oil spill, so we had to stop and lend our support. Olivia chose a flower (painted on her arm) and Zachary chose a hockey stick and puck (on his arm, also). It was even cuter that the paintings were done by the girl in the girl scout troop so it was worth the time spent.

Of course, one of the main attractions was…the fresh produce! Many booths were from MI and had lovely offerings of lettuce, tomatoes, blueberries, melons, and other items. Enormous bouquets of flowers for around $10. There were also purses, jewelry, unique nightlights, and a wide variety of other items for sale.

On our way out, we stopped by the Hawaiian Lemonade Stand and, in exchange for our $4, we received a very large lemonade with freshly squeezed lemons and fresh strawberries in it. Delicious!

So, stop by and visit the Wheaton French Market. It runs from April 29-Oct. 28, and is held on Saturdays from 8am-2pm. You will find it on the corner of Main St. & Liberty. I didn’t see any directional signs as I was driving there, but it is right off the railroad tracks in downtown Wheaton, and if you GPS the intersection of Main & Liberty, it will take you right to it. Enjoy!