by Hally Joseph, Staff Writer
Dekalb Farmers Market is located at at 3000 E. Ponce De Leon Ave. in Decatur, a blocky rectangular building presiding over a bustling parking lot. Advertised as a world market, the farmers market attracts people of all nationalities, backgrounds and tastes to its 140,000 square-foot space. The gem of Atlanta foodies, restaurateurs and health nuts alike, the market is open seven days a week. While it is merely busy on weekdays, on weekends it reaches IKEA levels of packed. Only the people-watching rivals the amazing selection of food and drink: What are they buying? Where did she get that and how do I prepare it? How will their dinner table look tonight compared to mine? Wait, is this even my cart?
Walking in, the Dekalb Farmers Market is a spectacle: you’re encapsulated in cold air, the smell of fish (live fish!) floods your nose, people rush by carrying armloads of strange flowers and the crashing traffic of the shopping carts matches that of rush hour on I-85. For a first-timer, the market can be overwhelming, but use the guide below to explore and you’ll be on your way to mastering Atlanta’s fresh food mecca in no time.
Wear a sweater. Siberian temperatures greet you when you walk through the glass doors of the farmers market. These temperatures keep the fresh meat, seafood, produce and hundreds of shoppers cool. Particularly during the summertime when you’re in shorts and short sleeves, plan on bringing a sweater to keep from shivering through your shopping experience. We’re talking seriously cold.
Dine in. When you enter the building, turn left and you will find the eat-in restaurant. Pile your plate with a huge array of fresh vegetables, breads and meats. There is standard buffet fare here like fried chicken, but also surprising new tastes like samosas and butternut squash lasagna. Your plate is weighed for a total cost, and you can take your food to go or eat in the dining room.
Peruse the cheeses. The Dekalb Farmer’s Market is a one-stop shop for dinner parties, particularly when it comes to wine and cheese. There are more than 400 different varieties of cheese, ranging from the most basic cheddar to put on your hamburgers to speckled, veined and colorful cheeses imported from England, Uruguay, Switzerland, among many other countries. Divvied up by nationality, you can explore the cheeses of the world in convenient sections. I recommend visiting the England section to get the Red Dragon or the red wine goat cheese.
Get a cheap and surprising bottle of wine. At the right side of the building, after you’ve passed aisle upon aisle of pastas and spices, is the sectioned-off alcohol department. The farmers market sells unusual labels from all over the world, with many bottles of wine for as cheap as $7 -10. The real plus of their wine and beer department? Reviews for all the drinks are printed beneath them so you know what you’re buying and what critics are saying. For the summertime, try a refreshing vinho verde (green wine); pretty blue bottles of Casal Garcia are only $6.99.
Before you leave, stop by the pastry counter. When your cart is filled with strange produce you’re not sure how to cook, clear tubs of spices, muffins and marbled breads and you’re about to leave the market, you’ll see the pastry counter waving near the exit. As all pastry counters wave, it beckons you with slices of cakes, thick brownies and intricate tarts. This part of your food experience never leaves the building: order a miniature fruit tart that comes loaded with blueberries, kiwi and strawberries and enjoy this last hurrah before heading back out into the blazing Atlanta heat with your cartful of delicious loot.
