I have been working on this post for quite some time (almost a year!) Not because I did not want to write about the West Side Market and give up my little secrets, but I knew this post would take so much time sifting through all my wonderful visits to decide what to share with all of you.
I love, love, love the West Side Market. http://www.westsidemarket.org/ It is located in the Ohio City area of Cleveland at the corner of West 25th Street and Lorain Ave. The market is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Parking is located in the back of the market for free or on the street. Upon arriving at the intersection, you cannot miss the 137 foot clock tower that stands at the front of the market.There are two times of day that I prefer to shop at the Market...before work on Wednesday or Friday or a little after lunch on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday. I do not go to the West Side Market on a Saturday. Well, I've gone there before on a Saturday, but I won't go willingly. It is a jam-packed zoo on Saturdays. Some people like that shopping experience...I don't. I prefer the early morning hours on Wednesday or Friday because there is a lot less people and the food that I want is available. Try going to one of the bakery stands at 3 p.m. on a Wednesday, you won't get the bread you want because it was sold out hours prior. Also, each vendor decides whether to open or not. A few of my favorite stands are not open on Mondays. When I go a little after lunch, I usually buy a gyro for lunch. More on that later.
After parking in the back, you enter the hallway of fruit, vegetable, herbs, flowers, and other items. If this is your first time, spend some time looking at all the stalls of what is offered. Some have better looking produce than others. Also, the prices near the front may be a tad bit higher than in the back for certain items. Watch out for pushy vendors. Know what you want and stick to your guns. I have found a few vendors that I trust and will go to religiously. That is another key, find vendors that you can trust. Get recommendations from friends, co-workers, or the internet. Here is a trick that you MUST follow. Pick your own fruit and vegetables. A few times I have been burned when I trusted a vendor to give me 10 apples and when I got home, they put their bruised and rotting apples in my bag. For shame! Also, do not assume because this is a market, that the produce is organic. Most likely it is not. Ask the vendors or look for signs. There is also a vendor on the hallway to the right when you first walk in who tries to stock mainly organic items. Sometimes, vendors will deal too. All you have to do is ask. But, I never ask. I don't like to. I feel like I get a good deal as opposed to the chain supermarket anyway. All in all, I get great produce at a fraction of what it cost at the supermarket. Now for the vendors I trust, Bacha Produce, hands down. Love them. They are nice, considerate, and never give me poor quality items. For fruits, I mainly go to Calabrese Produce. I pick my own stuff though. They are closer to the front, but I have been burned by a few other vendors that I find myself going back to them. The organic, local stand is The Basketeria. http://www.thebasketeria.com/ I like them. Just because I gave my favorites, does not mean you cannot find others. Of course I have not tried all the vendors and I do shop at others that I did not list here. Heed the warnings and you'll have a great time in the produce section. After going through the produce section, you may think that that is all there is. Why dear friend, that could not be farther from the truth. Head to one of the doors on the right hand side between vendor stands to enter the main Market.
Because of the amount of information, I'm splitting this post in two. I'll be posting about the inside of the Market soon.
