What to Eat & Drink at the 10th Annual Vancouver Christmas Market

Photo Credit: Tara Lee

Today marks the opening of the Vancouver Christmas Market, which is celebrating a decade of bringing food, drink, entertainment, and craft gift items to the city during the holiday season. The market runs until December 24, 2019.

The German market has tons of gourmet treats for you to enjoy, with many new delectable items worth sampling:

Photo Credit: Tara Lee

East Van Roasters Kaffee & Schnappsl Haus is new to the Vancouver Christmas Market this year. This local social enterprise aids women reentering the workforce through the PHS Community Services Society. They are serving all sorts of beverages to keep you warm, like single origin (Dominican Republic) hot chocolate, holiday blend coffee (Ethiopia, Sumatra, Peru), egg nog, and spiked drinks, like Santa Baileys (a combo of Bailey’s Irish Cream and hot coffee). Baked goodies like gingerbread brownies are sold.

Photo Credit: Tara Lee

It’s not Christmas until you’ve tried the Turkey Haus, also new to the market. The booth is serving JD Farms’ local smoked turkey legs, which are non-GMO, grain-fed, and antibiotic-free. The meat has incredibly flavour from the smoking process.

Smoked turkey leg (with raclette cheese from Cheese Me Raclette vendor); Photo Credit: Tara Lee

Always popular is Cheese Me Raclette, where you can wait in anticipation for melted cheese scraped from the wheel, served over items like potatoes and pickles. Especially on a cold day, it’s divine.

Photo Credit: Tara Lee

Mr. Hotcakes serves flaky pancakes stuffed with cinnamon and brown sugar. The pancake comes with either whipped cream or ice cream, the latter option creating the perfect hot/cold holiday treat.

Photo Credit: Tara Lee

Taste the Wild not only sells packaged wild mushroom products, but also serves a bowl of velvety cream of wild mushroom soup. On their menu, you’ll find truffle grilled cheese, huckleberry pie, and nettle tea.

Photo Credit: Tara Lee

Two Sweet Elves is definitely going to be a crowd favourite. This new vendor stand, run by Two Sweet Guys, specializes in Dutch mini pancakes (poffertjes) and Danish pancake balls (aebleskiver). You can choose from a variety of sweet drizzles (e.g. Nutella, condensed milk), and toppings (e.g. marshmallows, M&Ms, coconut, fresh strawberries, peanuts). Served with whipped cream, they won’t be on your plate for long.

Photo Credit: Tara Lee

For a hearty meal at the market, head to Das Gulasch Haus, for a stick-to-your-ribs bowl of Austrian gulasch. There are two options, both served in a bread bowl: a tender beef version with potatoes, and a vegan one with carrots and potatoes. Both are flavoured with Hungarian paprika. Grab a spoon and dig in!

Photo Credit: Tara Lee

The WunderBAR can be booked for hour-long seatings for the ultimate VIP experience. There, you can enjoy charcuterie platters (vegan option available), as well as desserts, like rich German black forest cake. Christmas cocktails, hot Jägertee, and non-alcoholic beverages are available.

Photo Credit: Tara Lee

Transylvanian Chimney Cakes will be back this year, with their well-loved conical sweet. In addition, Transylvanian Traditions Bakery will be offering a new treat: lángos (flatbread) with sweet or savoury toppings.

The market has plenty of gourmet items for purchase, either to enjoy at home or to give as gifts to your loved ones during the holidays. Damiani Fine Foods is a new vendor, which stocks Italian food products, such as balsamic vinegars and pasta sauces. Other food-related vendors include Candy Meister (e.g. mulled wine candies) and Mulling Spice Haus.

And, it goes without saying, that you need to have a mug of glühwein (hot-spiced mulled wine) as you wander and take in the many sights and activites at the Vancouver Christmas Market.