VanFoodies.com

I cannot believe Christmas is only a couple weeks away! I, for one, was shocked by how quickly the year flew by and was not prepared for Christmas at all. Luckily, many Christmas festivities have popped up across Lower Mainland to help getting into a festive mood.

Of course, the iconic Vancouver Christmas Market has returned for its 10th year. I still remember when it was back at Queen Elizabeth Plaza and how much it’s grown since. Same as the last few years, the Christmas Market can be found at the Jack Poole Plaza. I was invited to its media event and have returned a couple of times since. Here are some food and shopping suggestions for you.

Food

Obviously there are some must-haves at the Christmas Market but they have new vendors this year too. Here are some highlights.

Mulled Wine

You can’t go to the Christmas Market without a cup of mulled wine (Gluhwein) to warm your cockles.

Every year the market releases a different collectible mug and for its 10th year they have this white frosted mug. It’s so pretty! I have a collection of almost all their mugs over the years and this year’s is definitely my favourite.

By the way, if you are not sold on the idea of hot, spiced red wine, order the Feuerzangenbowle, which is mulled wine with rum-infused sugar. The rum flavour and sweetness from the sugar will definitely get you into this holiday drink.

Turkey Leg

New this year is the smoked turkey leg. You have the option for regular or jumbo and we totally went for the jumbo size even though it’s a few bucks more. It looked dry at first glance but only because it’s smoked. We had asked for BBQ and herb sauce drizzled on top. Inside was moist and meat was very flavourful. Totally worth the extra bucks for the meat!

Raclette

Stinky cheese anyone? Bubbly hot cheese scraped off the wheel over some potatoes. This pungent raclette cheese is a must-have at the market.

Chimney Cake

Tried it for the first time several years ago at the food truck festival in New West and really liked it. The dough has a hint of orange in it and it’s so much fun peeling off pieces of the wound-up chimney cake.

Mushroom Soup

One of the few things I look forward to every year at the market. It’s creamy, earthy from the wild mushrooms, and it totally warms you up on a chilly night.

Pretzels

This, is probably one of the best pretzels I’ve ever had. Soft and chewy and it’s brushed with butter and sprinkled with salt. It’s so good I finished it rather quickly.

Dutch Mini Pancakes

Also new this year are these cute little Dutch mini pancakes Poffertjes. Nice and fluffy and you can choose from various toppings and sauces.

Shopping

Buying Christmas presents for the important someone(s)? Here are some suggestions.

Lights

Many people know I’m fascinated by lights so I was totally drawn to this store where you can build your own right here. Each pack comes with 20 pieces and you can mix and match from different colours and patterns. Apparently it comes with a manual on how to build it.

Saving the Environment

There are a few stalls where you can items either made from recycled materials or will help you reduce the use of disposables. You will find reusable straws, beewax wraps, lunch bags made with recycled materials, etc.

Ornaments

Are you always on the lookout for a new ornament? This is the perfect place. In addition to the famous ornament shop Kathe Wohlfahrt Shop from Germany, some other vendors also carry ornaments made of wood, glass, even linen.

Gift for Foodies

Of course, don’t forget the foodies in your life. You will find charcuterie, candies, mustards and pickles, sauces, chocolates, macarons and more at the market. They even have a dedicated aisle for foodie gifts.

Clothing

Lastly, if you are looking for clothes, you will find fun socks, hoodies with cute print, alpaca scarves, etc. There will be something for everyone.

Photo Spots

The Vancouver Christmas Market also has a lot of photo spots. Don’t forget to snap a picture through the Lover’s Lane, walk-in Christmas Tree, the Pyramid, carousel, Santa’s sleigh, the #VanChristmas frame, the giant 10th anniversary mug, and more.

WunderBAR

For the second year, you can purchase additional admission to the hideaway bar. The reserved seating includes a cocktail, charcuterie board or dessert, and a Fast Season Pass for the rest of the season.

Final Thoughts

Remember to visit the Vancouver Christmas Market before Dec 24. They are running different promotions such as Date Nights and $10 Tuesdays. Online tickets are also cheaper and you can upgrade to a Season Pass or even a Fast Pass to skip the line.