Out & About #324 | Hamilton Farmer's Market + Relay Coffee

At times of deep contemplation, there is a higher probability of my execution of the idea in question than its dismissal. Delays are seriously not my style, which means I tend to act as soon as possible upon receipt of new information.

My latest visit to Ark + Anchor had instilled exciting news in me: their highly coveted Cheese and Herb Croissants were available at another Hamilton location, specifically de la terre's stall at the Hamilton Farmer's Market.

It's safe to say that my initial visit in the fall hadn't left me in awe at their offerings (especially not pokeh anyway). I learned to manouever through Jackson Square more efficiently this time, instead of taking the route that curved around the building towards the York street entrance. Upon strolling in, I noticed that some unfamiliar stalls had been added to the repertoire, some had switched locations, and some unfortunate ones had disappeared. 

The market is now home to (a larger version of) Nam Nom Banh Mi, a spot that serves amusingly-named Vietnamese sandwiches (and Thai Iced Tea!!) and a vegan and gluten bakery named Marci's. Henry Brown's Ice Cream has moved to the upper floor near the York entrance, while pokeh has, surprisingly enough, expanded and is now diagonally across from Cake & Loaf.

For the purposes of this trip, I was on a mission to obtain de la terre's bakery goods and a healthy dose of caffeine to fuel me for the remainder of the day.

​It was had only been noon when I entered the premises, but much to my dismay, the Cheese and Herb Croissants had long been sold out. While my mind had been set on reliving the luscious layers of the savoury specimen, I wasn't about to surrender a perfectly good opportunity to try out other options that I hadn't tasted at Ark + Anchor. A Pain au Chocolat and Maple Coconut Cookie were picked up instead. My total came up to $4.50, with the croissant being twenty-five cents (+ tax) less than the cozy cafe at King and Queen.

Both were stuffed in a brown paper bag and handed to me in the absence of a smile. No plastic bags were provided either, but the items were transported home safely thanks to an extra grocery bag I had stashed in my backpack.

​The Pain au Chocolat was significantly larger than the ones occassionally spotted in Starbucks' refrigerated display case. Undergoing a re-toasting process rendered an oozing chocolatey centre and flakiness was unmistakable. It was promptly demolished with glee alongside a glass of cold milk, making for a heavenly late breakfast.

As before, the Maple Coconut Cookie was a proper combination of chewy coconut shreds and cookie dough, walking the edge of buttery soft and satisfyingly crunchy.

​Cake & Loaf's excessively rich creations had left an unpalatable impression on my household when I had purchased their seasonal fall items, so it was in my best interest to skip out on the Easter-themed confectioneries this time around. A fellow K-pop fangirl that I had bumped into on the trip there, however, had different thoughts on their carby pizza rolls and extravagant-looking cookie sandwich lined with Cadbury Mini Eggs.
She was also overjoyed seeing that it was one of the few establishments that accepted alternate payment methods in addition to cash.

​Relay Coffee Roasters, a compact cafe stall in close proximity to the interior Jackson Square entrance, was my last stop of the day. Under the barista's recommendation, I opted for a Latte with a small dose of locally-sourced maple syrup.

My order was brewed immediately then processed swiftly via Square. The result was a smooth, comforting drink that provided an instant energy boost as well as warmth. The slightly fallen foaminess was my only regret as I sipped away at its invigorating deliciousness.

​And for those with more sensitive diets than I, non-dairy/lactose-free options such as soy, almond, and coconut milk are also stocked in abundance.

In addition to a comprehensive list of caffeinated beverages and brief selection of baked goods, Relay also carried a variety of brewing equipment and packaged bags of whole beans.

​Frankly speaking, my second visit to the Hamilton Farmer's Market was much more pleasant than the first. Perhaps it's the novelty of an unplanned but surprisingly satisfying experience, or maybe it's embracing a familiar environment in a more efficient manner. Regardless, I'm glad I took the time to explore the indoor retail space again, even if it was originally just an excuse to grab coffee. (Next time it'll be for the Thai Iced Tea!)
I'd also recommend others in the downtown Hamilton area to tour it as well - just beware: many of the stalls in the Farmer's Market are cash only.

​On the way back, a demure storefront baring nothing else but "JNGS" caught my attention. At first I thought it was a recently-opened cafe that neither I nor my espresso-loving friend had heard of, but discovered it was the current outpost of the James North General Store after relocating from the spot immediately adjacent to Chocolat on James.