Key Biscayne Farmers Market: Ready-to-eat

Khaled Al-Qaisi hands out samples of his Mediterranean delights at the Key Biscayne Farmers Market (Nancy Beth Jackson/Key News)

The Key Biscayne Farmers Market transforms the community church green into an open-air food court every Saturday from 9 a.m-2 p.m. It’s a convivial spot where as many 40 vendors will fill you with copious samples and their personal histories, but expect more world market and ready-to-eat than fresh-out-of-Homestead.

Here is a sampling of what you might find on any given Saturday:

Laura and Victor’s Fruits and Vegetables

Offering the more traditional farmers market fare, the cornerstone produce stall comes to market week after week with artistically arranged fruits and vegetables from down south. There’s also chopped salsa and fruit.

Mediterranean Delight

Khaled Al-Qaisi will hand out samples of hummus, babaganoush, labne faster than you can swallow them. He has expanded his selection in recent years but covers all the basics like grape leaves, tabouleh, kibbeh, falafel, pita, baklava, dates and olives. 

Brewing Life Kombucha

Another longtime regular is Daniel Seaburg of Brewing Life Kombucha. He and his partner Erika Acosta started brewing Kombucha in Miami-Dade in 2017 and now offer a whole line of “booch brews” filled with anti-inflammatory and anti-aging probiotics, enzymes and vitamins. 

Wholly Smokes BBQ

“If you’re looking, you ain’t cookin’. It ain’t barbecue, if there ain’t no smoke” is the Wholly Smokes BBQ motto. At the entrance to the market, Bradley Cadet serves up real Miami barbecue including sell-out brisket and pulled pork, sold by the half pound, pound or as a meal with a two-side choice of baked beans, mac and cheese, roasted corn or coleslaw.

Mr. C Dim Sum

Kids after soccer practice make a beeline for Mr. C’s chicken and shrimp dumplings. Mr. and Mrs. Ng, originally from Hong Kong, also offer steamed pork buns, spring rolls, siu mai, fried wontons and a dim sum sampler. At the end of the Saturday market, everything is “gone, gone, gone,” says Mrs. Ng. 

#truJerk

Chef Kion Creary, a 2000 MAST Academy graduate, grills up authentic Caribbean BBQ on the spot at the entrance to the market. It’s a family business, using recipes from Jamaica, handed down from his father and those before him. Mom and daughter also work along side. On the menu: Jerk chicken or pork with a choice of fried plantains, homemade cornbread or jerk coleslaw. 

Verace Pizza

Chef Denis Verace makes it clear that the authentic pizza that comes out of his mobile brick oven is thin and crispy and true to his Padua roots in northern Italy. His selection of wood-fired pies include traditional margheritas or pepperoni, gourmet cotto e funghi and truffle prestige, as well as vegan options. Verace can also deliver a pizza party to your home. 

Samosa Mama 

Some like it hot, and that includes Samosa Mama, that specializes in fresh chutney, dips and authentic Indian curry. Not for the faint-hearted but with a loyal fan base, Samosa Mama serves up the real stuff when it comes to dal palak, lentil curry and naan. You can always take it down a notch with yogurt. 

Chef Joe’s Gourmet Bakery

A farmer’s market favorite, Chef Joe started his baking business as Executive Chef for the PGA Players Club. Now retired, the Navy submarine vet is busier than ever baking banana breads, coffee cakes and cookies out of a 2,000-square-foot kitchen in Boca Raton. 

Lily’s Blazin’ Guacamole and Salsas

There’s always a lot of activity at Lily’s where “everything is made with love.” Not only does the stand offer guacamole, salsas and giant bags of tortilla chips to go but also tacos and quesadillas that can be filled with carne asada, barbacoa, carnitas or fajitas, depending on availability. There is usually a table set up to eat them on the spot.

Among the regulars and newcomers, also look for Haydee’s tres and cuatro leches, infused Cretan honeys and jams from Pleasure Gourmet, Yesi’s fresh juices and smoothies, the Miralmonte paella truck, Ciao Bella breads imported from Montreal and fresh baked goods from Miami Shores-based Baguette Plus.