Exploring the Little Italy Mercato

[dropcap]F[/dropcap]armer’s markets help support local farmers and small business and help us consumers “cut out the middleman” to get the freshest and highest quality ingredients without breaking the bank. Each day of the week, you can typically find a farmer’s market in a different neighborhood somewhere in San Diego county.

On Saturdays, Little Italy draws in hundreds of San Diegans to their farmer’s market. Venders offer everything from organic produce to handcrafted jewelry to delicious fresh squeezed juices.

My friends and I decided to spend the morning exploring the Little Italy Mercato. The market was bustling with people of all ages, babies and plenty of little furry friends.

We were instantly greeted with the smells of burning sage, fresh cut flowers and salty ocean air.

Blue skies in Little Italy

Walking through the Little Italy Mercato

Say CHEESE!

Locally produced olive oil

Organic olives, olive oil and agave

Don't panic! It's organic! — Don’t panic! It’s organic!

Snagging some samples

Organic toffee peanut butter? Don't twist my arm — Organic toffee peanut butter? Don’t twist my arm

Salty Sisters sea salt candy

Toffee with dark chocolate and almonds

Fresh cut flowers

We're suckers for Gerbera daisies — We’re suckers for Gerbera daisies

More cheese. Can you sense my weakness?

Local produce

Fresh herbs

Wouldn't be a farmer's market without some sage! — Wouldn’t be a farmer’s market without some sage!

Street performers

Sweet smelling body butter

Taking a break to moisturize

Almond based dip, Bitchin' Sauce. Best stuff ever! — Almond based dip, Bitchin’ Sauce. Best stuff ever!

Stay bitchin' San Diego! — Stay bitchin’ San Diego!

A little farmer's market humor — A little farmer’s market humor

Cheesecake in a cup!

Foodie heaven! — Key Lime Cheesecake heaven!

Check out the Little Italy Mercato website for more details!

Do you have a favorite farmer’s market?

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Anni

Some really, really pretty pictures.
And talk about CHEESE!
Food pictures really can be so beautiful to look at.

February 11, 2014 at 8:53 pm · Reply

Kiersten Rich

Life is better with cheese 😉

February 18, 2014 at 7:34 pm · Reply

Beautiful pictures, I love farmer’s markets and Italy and France have the best in Europe.
Very interesting and beautiful blog, came here from “The expert vagabond’s” website and will return to read more for sure.

August 27, 2014 at 4:20 am · Reply

Kiersten Rich

Thanks Claudia! Love Matt’s blog!

August 27, 2014 at 12:01 pm · Reply

Instagram

Pinching myself ❄️
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Did anyone else catch the dusting of snow in the Cotswolds?! I couldn’t believe my eyes!

We had a week of perfect sunny weather with only one afternoon of rain (also so unexpected for November!) and, on my last morning in Bibury, I woke up to this incredible scene!
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#cotswolds #winter #snow #fairytale

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Pinching myself ❄️
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Did anyone else catch the dusting of snow in the Cotswolds?! I couldn’t believe my eyes!

We had a week of perfect sunny weather with only one afternoon of rain (also so unexpected for November!) and, on my last morning in Bibury, I woke up to this incredible scene!
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#cotswolds #winter #snow #fairytale

Welcome to day 8 and the finale of my Autumn New England Road Trip (with a toddler) series autumn 🍂🍁 🚗

Be sure to save this post for all the best Boston has to offer!
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
After a leisurely breakfast and 2 hour drive from @trappfamilylodge, we concluded our 10-day road trip with a couple of days in the historic town of Boston—staying at the @fsboston!

This hotel treats kids like royalty, with lots of luxury for adults too (full review coming soon)!

If you find yourself visiting Boston in the Fall with a little one, here are some must-sees:

- @bostonducktours
- @museumofscience
- @campstores x Bluey (ending soon)
- Public Garden
- Beacon Hill
- Tadpole Playground
- @bplboston
- Childrens Wharf Harborwalk
- @bostonteapartyships
- @rosekennedygreenway
- Commonwealth Avenue Mall
- Esplanade Playground
- Charles River Esplanade

And for the foodies, you know I got you covered!

- @tattebakery
- @saltiegirl
- @faneuilhallmarketplace
- @maproom_lounge
- @bovasbakery
- @bostonpublicmarket
- @parishcafe
- Quincy Market
- Legal Sea Foods - Burlington Mall

After traveling around New Hampshire and Vermont, it was nice to get a glimpse of this bustling and historic city.

If you’ve made it this far, thanks for joining us on our epic autumn road trip! Be sure to follow along for more adventures! There’s plenty of tips and tricks to come this Fall season!
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
@meetbostonusa @visitma
#visitmassachusetts #boston #newengland #fallroadtrip

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Welcome to day 8 and the finale of my Autumn New England Road Trip (with a toddler) series autumn 🍂🍁 🚗

Be sure to save this post for all the best Boston has to offer!
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
After a leisurely breakfast and 2 hour drive from @trappfamilylodge, we concluded our 10-day road trip with a couple of days in the historic town of Boston—staying at the @fsboston!

This hotel treats kids like royalty, with lots of luxury for adults too (full review coming soon)!

If you find yourself visiting Boston in the Fall with a little one, here are some must-sees:

- @bostonducktours
- @museumofscience
- @campstores x Bluey (ending soon)
- Public Garden
- Beacon Hill
- Tadpole Playground
- @bplboston
- Childrens Wharf Harborwalk
- @bostonteapartyships
- @rosekennedygreenway
- Commonwealth Avenue Mall
- Esplanade Playground
- Charles River Esplanade

And for the foodies, you know I got you covered!

- @tattebakery
- @saltiegirl
- @faneuilhallmarketplace
- @maproom_lounge
- @bovasbakery
- @bostonpublicmarket
- @parishcafe
- Quincy Market
- Legal Sea Foods - Burlington Mall

After traveling around New Hampshire and Vermont, it was nice to get a glimpse of this bustling and historic city.

If you’ve made it this far, thanks for joining us on our epic autumn road trip! Be sure to follow along for more adventures! There’s plenty of tips and tricks to come this Fall season!
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
@meetbostonusa @visitma
#visitmassachusetts #boston #newengland #fallroadtrip

🎶 The hills are alive with the sound of music 🎶
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Love the Sound of Music? What if I told you that you can visit the real Von Trapp family’s lodge from the famed musical starring Julie Andrews in the quiet town of Stowe, Vermont?

Day 7 of my Autumn New England Road Trip (with a toddler) started the day by driving through Smuggler’s Notch—it’s a short and super windy drive through a mountain pass that’s seriously beautiful.

Helpful Tip: Get started on the drive as easy as possible. Traffic is notorious during foliage season so we hit the road at 7am and had it to ourselves!

We then spent the entire day exploring nature trails and hanging with animals at @trappfamilylodge, an Austrian-inspired mountain lodge with 300 acres of farmland in the middle of Stowe.

The Von Trapps, made famous from the movie The Sound of Music, fled Austria during WWII and ultimately landed in Stowe, VT where their hospitality lives on today. Did you know the Sound of Music is one of the top 10 highest-grossing films of all time??

Had we had a little more time, we also would have added:

🥾 Moss Glen Falls
⛪️ Stowe Community Church
🍻 @alch3mistb33r
☕️ @blackcapvermont
🥞 @butlers_pantry_stowe

We did manage to catch a glimpse of the famed Stowe Community Church from afar, but any closer meant fighting traffic and huge crowds.

Come back for day 8 and the final video of the series as we explore the beautiful and family-friendly parts of Boston!
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
@vermonttourism @visitnew_england
#vermont #newenglandroadtrip #stowevermont

732 11

🎶 The hills are alive with the sound of music 🎶
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Love the Sound of Music? What if I told you that you can visit the real Von Trapp family’s lodge from the famed musical starring Julie Andrews in the quiet town of Stowe, Vermont?

Day 7 of my Autumn New England Road Trip (with a toddler) started the day by driving through Smuggler’s Notch—it’s a short and super windy drive through a mountain pass that’s seriously beautiful.

Helpful Tip: Get started on the drive as easy as possible. Traffic is notorious during foliage season so we hit the road at 7am and had it to ourselves!

We then spent the entire day exploring nature trails and hanging with animals at @trappfamilylodge, an Austrian-inspired mountain lodge with 300 acres of farmland in the middle of Stowe.

The Von Trapps, made famous from the movie The Sound of Music, fled Austria during WWII and ultimately landed in Stowe, VT where their hospitality lives on today. Did you know the Sound of Music is one of the top 10 highest-grossing films of all time??

Had we had a little more time, we also would have added:

🥾 Moss Glen Falls
⛪️ Stowe Community Church
🍻 @alch3mistb33r
☕️ @blackcapvermont
🥞 @butlers_pantry_stowe

We did manage to catch a glimpse of the famed Stowe Community Church from afar, but any closer meant fighting traffic and huge crowds.

Come back for day 8 and the final video of the series as we explore the beautiful and family-friendly parts of Boston!
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
@vermonttourism @visitnew_england
#vermont #newenglandroadtrip #stowevermont

Arguably the MOST “autumnal” day of the trip: 🍎 🍂 🍩
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Welcome back to my Autumn New England Road Trip (with a toddler) series! We’re over halfway through our road trip on Day 6 and this was the perfect day of all things autumn.

After a slow morning leaving @woodstock.inn, we were on our way to the famous town of Stowe, Vermont!

I had originally created a jam-packed itinerary, but traveling with a toddler can definitely call for some readjusting and going with the flow. We made 2 of the stops I had planned:

🍎🌳 Hunger Mountain Orchard
🍎🍩 @coldhollowcidermillvt

If we had a little more time, a lot of people add the 🍦 @benandjerrys factory tour on this day.

We ended our day by checking into the @trappfamilylodge —owned by the real family from the Sound of Music where we enjoyed the lodge and property before dinner and bedtime.

Be sure to come back for Day 7 with more on this amazing property and all the furry friends that live here!
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
@vermonttourism @visitnew_england
#vermont #newenglandroadtrip #stowevermont

576 22

Arguably the MOST “autumnal” day of the trip: 🍎 🍂 🍩
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Welcome back to my Autumn New England Road Trip (with a toddler) series! We’re over halfway through our road trip on Day 6 and this was the perfect day of all things autumn.

After a slow morning leaving @woodstock.inn, we were on our way to the famous town of Stowe, Vermont!

I had originally created a jam-packed itinerary, but traveling with a toddler can definitely call for some readjusting and going with the flow. We made 2 of the stops I had planned:

🍎🌳 Hunger Mountain Orchard
🍎🍩 @coldhollowcidermillvt

If we had a little more time, a lot of people add the 🍦 @benandjerrys factory tour on this day.

We ended our day by checking into the @trappfamilylodge —owned by the real family from the Sound of Music where we enjoyed the lodge and property before dinner and bedtime.

Be sure to come back for Day 7 with more on this amazing property and all the furry friends that live here!
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
@vermonttourism @visitnew_england
#vermont #newenglandroadtrip #stowevermont

Fall fashion is my favorite! What about you? 🍁
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My recent trip to New England was the perfect opportunity to pack my @meet.nex bags with some cute new styles perfect for any trip!

Nex luggage is super high-quality and will hold up on any adventure. Their Million Mile Care program is also one-of-a-kind. You can trade in your used luggage towards credit for new luggage!

I get so much use out of the Nex crossbody and backpack in Lanikai Amber—they’re my go-to for camera gear and toddler essentials. And you can style them with just about every outfit!
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Click my link in bio for my luggage and favorite fall styles! #ad

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Fall fashion is my favorite! What about you? 🍁
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
My recent trip to New England was the perfect opportunity to pack my @meet.nex bags with some cute new styles perfect for any trip!

Nex luggage is super high-quality and will hold up on any adventure. Their Million Mile Care program is also one-of-a-kind. You can trade in your used luggage towards credit for new luggage!

I get so much use out of the Nex crossbody and backpack in Lanikai Amber—they’re my go-to for camera gear and toddler essentials. And you can style them with just about every outfit!
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Click my link in bio for my luggage and favorite fall styles! #ad