Chow Down in Cowtown is an (almost!) weekly account of Calgary’s most awesome eats from Ceci n’est pas un food blog.

I love the Farmers’ Market – the vast array of local produce, the specialty meats and treats… best of all, it’s close to my house, but not for long! I can’t help but be a little choked to know that a little over a year from now, the Farmers’ Market will be moving away from its Currie Barracks home to the former Heritage Market site on Blackfoot Tr and 77 Ave SE. Although I’ll still be frequenting the Farmers’ Market, it never hurts to find out what nearby alternatives are available, and what better time to do so than when picking up the last few ingredients for Thanksgiving? Enter Sweetgrass.

Sweetgrass Market has been around for about a year and a half now, and is located in the relatively new community of West Springs. The market has struggled in the past as it is far for most Calgarians, but for people like me who *used* to live close to city limits and for the people who live to the *new* city limits, it’s a great location and surrounded by many other amenities. Like the Farmers’ Market, Sweetgrass is open year-round, and not just on weekends! The market is also home to vendors that some people may recognize from the Farmers’ Market, such as Simple Simon Pies, Valta Bison Farms, 2 Greek Gals, and The Candy Kid.

The produce selection at Sweetgrass Market is admittedly much smaller than that at the Farmers’ Market as there is only one produce vendor: Westside Produce. However, I found that having such a small selection of produce really helped to open my eyes as to what’s local – I was pleasantly surprised to find some Honeycrisp apples (which I haven’t had since I lived in Montreal), tiny, sweet carrots from southern AB, and the most darling little beets. There was non-local produce like strawberries and oranges, but they simply did not look fresh compared to everything else around them.

Next to Westside Produce is Viva Tea, with a shelf full of a dizzying array of teas, from the traditional Earl Grey and English Breakfast to green, white, rooibos and herbal teas. There were a selection of “healing” teas with effects like detox and relaxation, and a neat Winter Spice tea with pink peppercorns and dehydrated yogurt! I browsed around while sipping a free sample of the day’s special (Creamy Earl Grey) before finally settling on some genmaicha – Japanese green tea with roasted rice and popcorn.

Unfortunately my camera died after I snapped a quick photo of Westside Deli, but I also passed by a new local bakery with a tray full of breads and spreads to try, a wall of hot sauces, olive oils and vinegars outside of Homescape Interiors, and a handful of vendors with ready-made meals giving off enticing aromas, begging to be taken home.

I finally caved and stopped by Simple Simon Pies to pick up a pumpkin pie (my mom had insisted on buying a pie instead of making it from scratch, and my sister had managed to finish the original pie well before Thanksgiving). As is custom, the lady behind the counter gave me a sample that was warming beside all the others on the hot plate. Unlike the pie we had from Safeway, you can still taste the pumpkin over the spices and the filling wasn’t whipped until it was unrecognizable. The only qualm I had was I wish that there was a little more pastry! The crust on the side crumbled easily and the part lining the bottom was softened from the filling.

Although I’ll still head to the Farmers’ Market as long as it’s at the Currie Barracks and probably even after their move by virtue of the greater selection, I think Sweetgrass is a great alternative for local and handmade goods, especially since it’s open on weekdays and I can avoid the crowds… for now.

Sweetgrass Market
West Springs Village
873 85 St SW
Calgary AB T3H 0J5
(403) 240-2664
Open Wed-Fri 10 AM-7 PM, Sat-Sun 9 AM-5 PM. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.