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To market, to market this Christmas

This Christmas pick up gifts, everything you need for the big day, and plenty of festive spirit at the Catalina Bay Farmers Market. Here’s a tempting list of goodies that we think will make you want to shop local this Christmas.

If you’re an eat-before-you-shop person, no doubt you’ll begin with a coffee from Local Hero – but then will you go sweet or savoury for that snack? You can have both at Frittelli, the Italian fritter stall ­– Mira’s Christmas special is a free cinnamon frittelli with each savoury one. Maybe some dumplings are more your thing, or a pastry from Gourmet Gannet, or something with smoked salmon or bacon from Hey Bagel (don’t forget your take-home delights from these stalls, too). If you’re vegetarian or vegan, head to Vege Pulse for a yummy plant-based snack.

Thus refreshed, it’s time to shop. Stock up on hand-made charcuterie from Salash Deli – maybe a couple of chorizo sausages as a gift for that hard-to-buy for foodie? Alpha Butchery also have a deep respect for every perfect piece of meat they produce – why not try something different for Christmas day and feast on a 21-day, dry-aged, grass-fed rib eye (order before December 6 as these are flying out the door).

The Oil Project are doing a Christmas gift box with a jar of NZ grown hemp hearts (de-shelled hemp seeds) and a jar of NZ hemp seed oil – a solid omega-3 nutrition boost for salads, smoothies and muesli. Earthbound Honey offer their gorgeous range of honeys, plus cosmetics, vinegars, and even care products for your hipster mate’s tattoos and beard. Hushwood Candles have an enormous array of essential oils, diffusers, bath products and of course candles: try ‘Rainforest’, ‘Clothesline’ or the Christmassy ‘Gingerbread’. And for friends-with-dogs you can’t go wrong with a Waggamuffin gift voucher.

Sweet treats are everyone’s favourite gift, and Chocolate Oasis will help you out with their handmade nougat and fudge: try Bailey’s Irish Crème, hokey pokey or extra-dark Belgian chocolate flavours. Then it’s time to pick up your produce – farm-fresh fruit and veg from Salty River Farm, free-range eggs from Good Eggs, flowers from ArtFleur and a stash of cheeses to die for from Whitestone.

And after all that shopping, it’ll be time for an extra treat from Lalele Organic Gelato before heading home.

This December, the markets are having a special Christmas shopping weekend, beginning with a twilight market on Thursday December 17 from 4.30pm-9pm, with food trucks, face painting, live music and a special guest appearance from Santa.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday the markets will be pumping from 8.30am-2pm every day, so pop down and stock up for the silly season. See you there!

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