Check out the newest stalls at the Ottawa Farmers' Market

Ottawa Travel Guide

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Tuesday, 14 August 2012 17:50

A great way to enjoy the outdoors while staying at Ottawa accommodations is to hit up the farmers' market, where local bakers, farmers and craftspeople set up shop to highlight the best goods in the Canadian capital. From beer-infused bagels and handmade samosas to organic soaps and lovely pottery, the Ottawa Farmers' Market has just about everything travellers could want in an outdoor shopping experience.

Brewing her way to success

Ashley Perley used to work at the Art Is In Bakery, and using the skills she gained as an apprentice under Kevin Mathieson, has recently opened her own bread making factory: Brewgels. Combining her love for hoppy ales with her artisan baking knowledge, Perley creates truly unique flavours with each batch of bagels that rolls out of her shop. In an exclusive interview with Ottawa Magazine, Perley discusses why she decided to merge two of her favourite hobbies into one.

"Some of my flavours stem from traditional bagel flavours, like cinnamon raisin, sesame and 12 grain," she told the news source. "However, I tried to incorporate additional flavours by selecting interesting beers with complementing flavours...It's about coming up with an idea, testing it out and only keeping the ones that really excite me!"

As a burgeoning entrepreneur, Perley's business has already seen success thanks to the farmers' market crowd. Bagel lovers who travel through Canada won't want to miss their chance to try one of her deliciously chewy baked goods, including the dark ale everything, black brew rye and caraway or oatmeal stout.

Expect the unexpected

While the Ottawa Farmers' Market features many more typical stands like produce vendors, there are a number of other unique sellers like Perley who have made a name for themselves in the capital city. Elk Ranch is one such vendor, which specializes in elk products ranging from fresh and cured meats to velvety textiles and even antler crafts.

For a taste of Ottawa's sweeter side, visitors should find Karumba, where they can cool off during the warm summer months with a frozen popsicle made from only natural ingredients. The minds behind this charming little stand use local and organic ingredients whenever possible, ensuring that all of their patrons can eat their goods with minimal guilt.