The highs and lows of Wisconsin weather can often leave locals itching for the return of warm days and sunshine. The Waukesha Winter Farmer’s Market has been bringing some of the joys of summer farmer’s markets into the colder months. Since early November, the Winter Farmer’s Market has been hosted indoors at Chef Pam’s Kitchen. Its large space allows for several vendors to set up shop so that they can sell handcrafted wares and locally sourced goods. The Waukesha Winter Farmer’s Market is held on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Multiple local sellers come fully stocked with everything from “Gluten Free Cookies, Jams, Toffee, Liquor Infused Custards, Chocolate Truffles, Keto Soups/Stews, and so much more”. Visitors are also invited to come hungry as there is a Food Court available for attendees. For guests aged 21 and up, the mimosa bar also helps make the Saturday morning experience all the more memorable.
Visitors can feel confident about buying products from the market because it creates a strong bond within the community. Many of the sellers at the market represent small businesses. The indoor setting allows for local artisans, craftspeople, bakers, farmers, and the like to continue producing and selling their merchandise throughout colder months. It is an exciting opportunity that draws the public together. Some of the goods available for purchase include sourdough bread and pastries, fresh produce, eggs, bakery items, maple syrup, honey, homemade soaps, pottery, frozen meats, knife-sharpening drop off services, caramel apples, freshly brewed hot coffee, hot Mexican cuisine, kettle corn, and micro greens. The wide variety of available items means that there is a little something for everybody.
The Waukesha Winter Farmer’s Market also allows attendees the chance to peek inside of Chef Pam’s Kitchen. Chef Pam is a retired Navy nurse who discovered her passion for cooking from her mother. Through opportunities living abroad, she honed her skills at a culinary school in Spain. She now operates Chef Pam’s Kitchen as a space which is home to four separate kitchen under one roof. Local artisans and chefs who are looking to rent out these kitchens can do so for a fee, allowing them the opportunity to expand their businesses. Chef Pam’s Kitchen also offers cooking classes which are open to the public. For a fee, guests have the chance to learn how to make a variety of different cuisines, ranging from southern comfort foods, to cookie decorating, to preparing sushi.
Details for the summer Waukesha Farmer’s Market have yet to be announced. Many locals are eagerly awaiting its return as a way for residents to shape from local vendors. For the past 20 years, the Summer Market has been held beside the beautiful Fox River. Even just the thought of summer farmers markets can help keep the January blues away.
