Vancouver Christmas Market Take 3 - Food Extravaganza!

Happy holidays everyone!  I know it's been a while since my last post, but I figured that if your holidays were anything like mine, you'd be too busy eating to have the time to read about eating.  Speaking of the holidays, this next post might be considered a bit behind the times since the last day the Vancouver Christmas Market was open was Christmas Eve, but I had so much fun my last time there I couldn't resist including a post on it.  And, hopefully, it will help encourage everyone who didn't make it out this year to check it out next year!

My Aunt and Uncle were in town for a night last week, so I figured there was no better way to get in the Christmas spirit than for all of us to spend the evening at the Christmas Market.  We stopped at the infocenter on Robson between Hornby and Howe on our way there and, for the cost of a $2.50 Ritter Sport we received two free entry passes, two free carousel rides, and three $1 off coupons for a bratwurst...total value of $19!  I love that infocenter.  Then we were off to the market for some Christmas fun!  The pictures tell the rest of the story.

The last time I was at the market, the German beer complained that I was playing favourites with the Gluwhein, so I thought it was only fair to pay full attention to the German beer on this evening.  Me and my light German beer ($7).  Utterly delicious!

 

My Aunt's smokie complete with grilled onions and sauerkraut, mustard and ketchup.  ($7 with the $1 coupon).

My Uncle's bratwurst on a bun complete with grilled onions, sauerkraut, mustard and ketchup.  ($7 with the $1 coupon).  They both agreed that the bratwurst wasn't quite as flavourful as they had expected, so they liked the smokie better.

 



For dinner, I opted for a dish of Schupfnoodle from Das Deutsche Nudle Has.  This is a traditional German noodle, hand-shaped like worms and mixed with double-smoked prosciutto and sauerkraut.  This dish was like nothing I had ever tasted and I loved it!!!  I'd definitely recommend trying it.  It came to $8.50, tax in and it was the perfect amount for dinner. 

My Uncle's hot apple cider and the classic baked apple from Das Apfelhaus that we shared for dessert.  The classic baked apple came stuffed with walnuts, raisins, brown sugar and cinnamon and was topped with hot vanilla sauce.  This was yummy and a good way to round off dinner, but it was a shame that it was so chilly that night because the apple cooled off so quickly.  ($5.75, tax in).

Next, my Aunt and I fulfilled my Christmas market dream and headed for the carousel!  We were a little nervous that going post food and beer might not be a good idea, but we had a blast and my Uncle confirmed that my horse beat hers by the hair of a nose!  I didn't tell her, but I may have been wearing illegal spurs.

The perfect conclusion to my last Christmas Market experience was a maple taffy for $3.  It's made by cooking maple syrup until it's taffy consistency, wrapping it around a tongue depressor, and putting it on ice to keep its shape.  It was heaven on earth!!!  I can't even explain how happy it made me.  I know it's pure sugar, but when it's pure maple syrup it tastes so much better and for some reason there's absolutely no guilt factor.  I hope they have this again next year, because I'm already craving another one.

Watching the Phat Fabulous Swing band as I enjoyed my maple taffy.

 

http://vancouverchristmasmarket.com/

Dinner at the Vancouver Christmas Market

With the lack of rain this past Friday night, I couldn't resist heading back to the Christmas Market for another Gluwhein and to try out some of the food.  It was just as much fun as the first time, albeit a bit more busy.

Things to note: (1) Just a friendly reminder that the entire market is cash only.  So, I'd recommend stopping at the bank beforehand unless you want to pay the surcharge at the Christmas Market ATM.  (2) If it's on your way, you should stop off at the information booth on Robson between Howe and Hornby before you make your way to the market.  My market partner in crime did and got a free entry to the market for a $2 purchase ($5 value) along with two $1 coupons for the Black Forest Sausage Company and a free ride on the carousel!

Dinner!  Half of a bratwurst on a bun combined with half of a smokie on a bun, with fried onions and sauerkraut from the Black Forest Sausage Company.  ($8)  This was good but didn't blow me out of the water as much as I thought it would.  The onions and sauerkraut didn't have as much flavour as I was expecting.  I think that's partially because I'm used to pickled sauerkraut and I don't think this sauerkraut was pickled.  That being said, you can never go wrong with a sausage and I inhaled it in about 2 minutes flat.  We both agreed that we liked the smokie half more than the bratwurst half, probably because that's what we're used to eating.

Gluwhein round 2.  So yummy!  ($6)

http://vancouverchristmasmarket.com/

Vancouver Christmas Market

I headed to the Vancouver Christmas Market for a beverage after work last night and it was the perfect way to start the weekend.  Christmas music, a mug of hot gluwhein, tonnes of yummy food to peruse, amazing hand-made gifts, a carousel for the kids (or kids at heart)...how can you go wrong?  It's literally like stepping into a Christmas winter wonderland.  You can't help but smile from ear to ear.

I was a little disappointed when I saw the hurricane potato fry stand from the Richmond Night Market and a Cupcakes stand both there.  Took away from the Christmas Market theme a little bit, but with the plethora of wooden huts to look at, you can move past those quickly and forget that they even existed!

Things to note: (1) This year you only have to pay the $5 entry fee once, and then you can get a free re-entry fee online.  Brilliant!  I definitely plan on going back many times as a result.  So, make sure to hold on to the green card that they give you when you enter.  (2) If you want to partake in the yummy alcoholic beverages, which I highly recommend, make sure you get a wristband when you first get into the market.  (3) You don't have to buy your mugs this year.  You pay a $2 deposit and you can either keep your mug or return it and get your $2 back.  The return station is near the exit of the carousel.  (4) There is a little hut on Robson between Howe and Hornby that sells nuts and peppermint sticks and is an info booth for the Christmas Market.  Last time I went by there, I was given a free pass for the carousel.  So if you're feeling like a carousel ride, I'd stop by there before going to the Christmas Market.

I'll let the photos do the rest of the talking.  Whether you have or haven't been to the Christmas Market before, I highly recommend going this year.  It's just fabulous!

Why hello Vancouver Christmas Market!

The view of the market when you first come in.

Baked apples from Das Apfelhaus.  These looked utterly amazing!  I'm definitely going to have to try one this year.

This is another food item on my must-eat list this year: Schupfnudeln (German rolled noodles) from Das Deutsche Nudel Haus.  They looked and smelled delicious and the cooking process looked like an art form.

Mug of gluwhein...check!  Such yummy goodness.  $8 including the $2 deposit for the mug.

Belgian waffles and German waffles on a stick from Das Waffelhaus.  If you're going to get this, get the waffle on a stick.  I had one last year and not only was it delicious but it was so much fun to eat!

Maple taffy ($3/stick).  These are made strictly from maple syrup.  The maple syrup is cooked until it's taffy consistency and then is put on to a stick and iced to keep its shape.  Definitely a must try for me on one of my next visits!

The carousel.  So pretty and fun, all at once!



And you can't have a German Christmas market without Bratwurst, fried onions and sauerkraut!  I had one of these last year and it was hands-down the best Bratwurst I've ever had. 

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Now these pretzels look like someone actually made them by hand.  Definitely going to try one during a future visit.

This stand absolutely stole my heart.  It was dedicated to traditional German candy.  I tried the Christmas mulled wine candy and it was amazing!  It took you back to a day when people took pride in making candy and it wasn't just mass-produced.  I'd definitely stop by here if you're looking for a unique gift for that candy-lover in your life, or grab a bag and enjoy it during your meanders around the market.  1 bag - $4, 3 bags for $11.

 

And you can't have Christmas without spiced nuts and nut-based yummy goodness!  This stand is back by the Gluwhein stand and is definitely worth a perusal.

 

I highly recommend eating and trying everything in sight at the Christmas Market, just, whatever you do, don't eat the fruit!!!  It's actually soap. 

The other great thing about the Christmas Market is that there are so many people to meet.  I met this handsome fellow...he was a bit stiff...but amazing at cracking nuts!

 

There were plenty other vendors to explore from a soup stand, to the biggest chocolate fountain I've ever seen, to home-made Mediterranean jams, to clothing made from Alpaca wool.  So, get out there and start exploring!

 

http://vancouverchristmasmarket.com/