Whenever you find yourself in a new town, city or rural community, there are many experiences you can take in to get a sense of that location’s cultural and culinary identity. At the top of that list for us would be visiting a local food market, especially in spring and summer!
A staple of the London, Ontario food scene for generations, Covent Garden Market is much more than a landmark and business hub. Quite simply, it is the cultural heart of the city, celebrating London’s rich diversity and taste of place through its extensive offerings like farm-fresh organic food, award-winning meats and a wide variety of ethnic cuisine from more than 40 restaurants and merchants – not to mention the largest selection of cheese in Southern Ontario.
Of course, none of this is news to the locals, so whether it’s your first (or next) visit to London, here are a few recommendations as you eat your way through Covent Garden Market.
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PASTRY CULTURE
Using ethically sourced ingredients and following century old recipes, Pastry Culture delights the masses with authentic French flavours. Here you’ll find French fare classics like brioche, baguettes and tarts, but trust us: you’ll want to try their premium pastries like the sticky, crispy Canelé de Bordeaux. And then you’ll want to buy more to take home.
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KLEIBER’S DELICATESSEN
Serving up homemade schnitzels, sausages, sandwiches and more, Kleiber’s Deli is home to some of the best perogies in the region (a contentious issue to be sure, but you’ll know as soon as you bite into one). The best food always stands the test of time, and Kleiber’s Deli has over 70 years of experience serving up tasty Central European cuisine in the market.
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THAI DELIGHT
Basic life rule: never pass up an opportunity to eat great Thai food. Thai Delight is locally known for their super fresh (and super yummy) salad rolls with peanut sauce, as well as other popular Southeast Asian dishes that have a serious umami factor – like their spicy Tom Yum soup. Don’t forget the crispy coconut cookies for dessert!
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CHEROS HOUSE OF PUPUSAS
What’s a pupusa, you say? For starters, it’s the national dish of El Salvador, and it’s all kinds of delicious. A thick griddle cake or flatbread typically made with cornmeal or rice flour, a pupusa is stuffed with a variety of savoury ingredients like meat, cheese, refried beans and more, before being baked to perfection in a little pocket of happiness. This is Salvadoran street food at its best, and Cheros House of Pupusas is where you want to try one.
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THE ICE CREAM BOWL
After a busy day of tasting all the goodies at Covent Garden Market, the best way to rewards yourself is with…more goodies. At The Ice Cream Bowl, all of their real ice cream and gelato is made by hand (with love) by owner Tristin Morningstar. Whether you’re indulging in frozen treats or enjoying some of their sweet fudge or freshly spun cotton candy, you’ll have a snack that makes your stomach happy AND looks great on Instagram. Win-win!
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While this is just a small sample of some of the amazing food experiences available at Covent Garden Market, we couldn’t finish this list without mentioning the indoor daily Farmer’s Market (open seven days a week!) and traditional outdoor Farmer’s Market that takes place every Thursday (May-October) and Saturday (May-December) in the Market Square. This is where you’ll find the freshest locally-grown food, direct from the farmers, growers and producers of Southwestern Ontario, who are always happy to share their passion with the rest of us.
We hope you’ll enjoy the vast choice of food-focused options, offering a taste of London’s “Local Flavour.” Check out some of these amazing locations and stories from the region and plan a visit soon!
