Come Be Part Of The Saturday Market

Ometepe Coffee Gulf Islands has existed as a volunteer organization for  28 years. And as happens with any organization things morph and change. Recently a number of key, long time volunteers have retired.  Ometepe Coffee is now actively welcoming new volunteers into the fold.  It's an opportunity to contribute both to the local community and the global community. We buy certified organic, shade grown coffee beans from a coop on Ometepe Island in Lake Nicaragua for better than fair trade prices. We then roast and sell the beans locally and serve coffee at Salt Spring's famous Saturday market and other events. The profits from these sales then return to Nicaragua and Guatemala to support projects such as potable water, Onile wood burning stoves, loans to Ometepe Island women who are starting businesses, education funds, and primary medical care.  So think of Ometepe as double fair trade! All monies are returned to projects in Central America.

This weekend will mark the second week of Ometepe's market presence where we serve appreciative coffee lovers their favourite drink. There are lots of reasons to become part of Ometepe Coffee. It is a lot of fun to be part of the market. If you love to chat and people watch, it couldn't be a more perfect venue. People from around the world (and island :) stop by for a cup of our beautiful brew. Market vendors are always in need of a little refreshment.  It makes for a lovely morning or afternoon to volunteer at one of the two market shifts of the day. It's an incredibly positive and stimulating social experience whether you spend the rest of your time working in a solitary environment or just love social interaction. Simply arrive, brew and sell coffee. It couldn't be easier. Set up and take down are handled by someone else.  You can enjoy the treats and wears of the market while you are there and know you are supporting a global initiative while you do that.

Please chat with someone at our market booth or contact us via our facebook page if you'd like to join our volunteer team or are curious about learning more.

Ometepe Coffee in Victora

If you love Ometepe coffee and live in Victoria your beans are not far away!  You can find our dark, medium and decaf organic beans at The Global Village Store at 527 Pandora Ave, on the north side of Market Square.  I know it's fun to come over to Salt Spring and find Ometepe at the Saturday market but we're not there in winter and I'm guessing you didn't buy enough beans to get you through 'til the market reopens in April.

And while you're there picking up your beans in this lovely little shop, you might just find some other fair trade goodies from around the world that strike your fancy.  Global Village is run completely by volunteers and stocks crafts from over 35 producers around the world.  Most of these are craft cooperatives, 90% of them women who have organized to sell traditional crafts.  In addition to our delicious coffee you will find greeting cards, scarves, hats, jewelry, decorative masks, toys and more.

Global Village is a great match for Ometepe Coffee as, just like Ometepe, it directly supports artisans and workers by paying fair trade prices for the goods you find in the shop.  Just like Ometepe, Global Village is run by volunteers.  It's a fun place to stop, have a chat with a volunteer and pick up the beans for your next cup of java.  We visited with a volunteer from Columbia and chatted about roasting coffee from her own plants in Columbia an mixing it with sugar scraped off a block and mixed with hot milk.  We hear that there are quite a few Ometepe fans that stop in for their beans on a regular basis. Why not become one of them.

Global Village is open 10-5 pm Monday - Saturday.

Rendezvous With A Delicious Secret Of Salt Spring

Salt Spring Island has a delicious secret tucked in a little cluster of shops off Upper Ganges Rd, just across from Harbour House Hotel.  And who doesn't love a secret, especially when it involves something delicious and authentic with a little old world charm?  When you step inside The Rendezvous French Patisserie, you will most likely feel like you have been teleported off to a small town in France.  The pastry cases are filled with delicious morsels like tart au citron and macaroons. Flaky croissants, canelle and lovely pastries with goat cheese and raisins are artfully displayed atop the counter. There is no shortage of goodies to tempt you.

You will be greeted by the friendly owners, Brigitte and Bruno who came from Bordeaux, France nine years ago. Brigitte began by selling her canelle and macarons at the Saturday market.  Now they are a mainstay of the food aisle at the Saturday market with burgeoning table goodies that are sought after by locals and visitors too. Five years ago they opened their little patisserie to make their baking available year round to an adoring audience.

And what do you need to go with these delicious treats?  Why coffee of course. Brigitte and Bruno offer Ometepe Coffee  by the cup in the Patisserie or for take out.  Beans are also available by the pound and half pound to take home.  There is a secret Rendezvous blend that you must try.  They have created it in response to their customers comments.

There are several lovely little tables where you can sit down and enjoy your morning coffee and croissant or your afternoon canelle and coffee. Rumour has it that Bruno and Aki (of Roly Poly Rice ball fame) sometimes play guitar on Wednesday morning from 10-12.

At any rate you must pop by #4 -126 Upper Ganges Rd between 9:00 - 4:30 Monday - Friday, to try one of Salt Spring's special treasures. It's a great place to take friends visiting the island. They will be surprised to discover a French patisserie of such amazing standards of excellence tucked away on this little island.

Feuillete with goat cheese and raisins

In case Brigitte is not busy enough whipping up all these incredible goodies she also runs the "I Love Salt Spring Island" facebook site to promote local culture and businesses.  You can also keep up with Rendezvous news on their own facebook site.

Amazing Espresso Drinks At Kizmit Galleria And Cafe

If you are on your way to Ruckle Park for a walk (or even if you're not) you must stop in at Kizmit Galleria & Cafe for (dare I say) one of the best espresso drinks on Salt Spring.  And of course Carola is using Ometepe dark roast to make these amazing drinks!  The first time we had an Americano here we had to ask what coffee she was using.  We were delighted to learn that it was Ometepe. She certainly knows her way around an espresso machine!

The atmosphere at Kizmit is charming and eclectic as if you've stepped into a friend's funky living room complete with couch and art on the wall and good company.  There are gluten free brownies from Laughing Daughter's Bakery and Kizmit's own goodies and soup too.

 There are cards, pottery and art from local artists to entice you.  If the weather is fine you can sit outside in the garden. It is a destination spot for islanders showing visitors the flavour of Salt Spring.  Visitors always feel they have experienced the secret Salt Spring when visiting Kizmit.

It's definitely on the tour route if you want to stop at Salt Spring Cheese, and visit the wonderful bakery at Salt Spring Bread on Forest Ridge Rd.

Kizmit's hours are Thursday - Sunday 11- 5pm and whenever else that the sign magically appears on the road.    Find Kizmit at 1431 Beaver Pt Rd.