UpMarket: The Lunch Edit Opens in Yorkville Village

Toronto’s chicest neighbourhood is hosting a weekly market on Wednesdays this summer, and giving visitors a chance to try some tasty treats too! UpMarket: The Lunch Edit launched on June 12, 2018 and is running until August 29, 2018 in The Lane at Yorkville Village. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekly, and introduces a carefully selected group of vendors, artisans, and delicious drinks to enjoy while shopping for yourself, or a special friend!

The Lane at Yorkville village is located at 136 Yorkville Ave, and is quite the space for the UpMarket. It’s beautifully shaded from the sun, and has lovely scattered seating for guests to sit and enjoy a cocktail or two. I would recommend trying Kinsip’s refreshing Lavender Gin & Tonic, or their delicious whiskey sour, both would be ideal for any sunny summer afternoon in Toronto. The whiskey sour has a deep sweet note which makes it feel like an indulgent dessert, and made it my personal favourite.

For the official launch party, guests were treated to freshly baked pastries and pies courtesy of Gouter by RA, from Pastry Chef Rodney Alleguede. The vegetable quiche was light and flakey, made with quality ingredients that allowed for the fresh flavours to come through. Their main store on Bathurst Street also offers ice cream and chocolates inspired by traditional French cuisine.

There were also tasty sandwiches from Phancy Food & Catering, who presented a twist on the classic grilled cheese: pimento cheese, smokey ketchup, mojito slaw, and dill pickle. The bread was light and toasted to perfection, and paired perfectly with the minty Mojito slaw that cut through the heavier flavours. This meant that every bite was enjoyed anew. We tried it with the deep fried Pickle Supreme!

Guests were also treated to decadent guilt-free desserts thanks to Kelly’s Bake Shoppe! Their team focuses on gluten-free, vegan, peanut, egg, and dairy free treats. Their chocolate cake square came with a bite of fudge brownie, drizzled with caramel sauce that was shockingly good! They’re absolutely worth checking out at the UpMarket, or keeping in mind if you need some treats for a party as they do pre-orders.

One of the treats that took me by surprise was Laine & Lola’s PonPon artisan cookies. Not only are they beautiful, making them ideal for any addition to a gift, but they’re also delicious! I was expecting a firmly baked cookie, but instead was treated to a crumbly, and delicately sweet mouthful.

UpMarket: The Lunch Edit is not only a great place to stop by and treat yourself, but also to prepare for any BBQ or summer dinner hosting you have to do. I noted two fantastic sauces for grilling: Damien’s Gourmet Hot Sauces in Lima Zulu (think zesty lime with a vibrant punch of heat), and Prince Edward County’s County Fare sugar free Barbeque sauce!

There’s so much to check out at the UpMarket: Lunch Edit, but here are just some of my favourite vendors offering unique and handmade items:

KB The Label makes jewelry with clean lines and spring inspired aesthetics. Their rings are gorgeous, but I adored her stackable selection with their intricate patterns and designs.

Very odd recommendation but Williams Sonoma let guests sample their 25 year aged Balsamic Vinegar, and it is officially going on my Christmas shopping list for all my foodie friends. This is so viscous and flavourful, that it almost resembles a syrup. I can only imagine how delicious this would be drizzled over vanilla ice cream with strawberries.

OKAYOK (pronounced “okay okay”) offers tees and clothing accessories that’ll please any artistic soul – or that really picky graphic designer friend you have a hard time shopping for. I loved the colour series of shirts that each focus shade names for corresponding colours.

Leaves of Trees is a luxury skincare from Toronto that focuses on all natural ingredients. Their soaps smell absolutely divine, but also leave your skin feeling fantastic. Check out their all-natural brightening face masks that uses fruit enzymes instead of harsh chemicals, or their beard care and shaving kit.

In all honesty, the market has something for every shopper. Whether you’re the pre-crastinator who has already made a Christmas shopping list, or just looking to treat yourself this summer, make sure to stop by Yorkville’s UpMarket. Let us know when you stop by and tell us what some of your favourite vendors are, and how much you loved the whiskey sour!