Saturday mornings in Maple Valley are made for gentle beginnings, for a leisurely start to the day.
Visitors to the Maple Valley Farmers Market will find a wide array of breakfast treats available. EJ’s Catering offers breakfast frittatas with vegetables, bacon and cheese; fresh fruit cups; biscuits; and strawberry lemonade, all prepared by local Maple Valley chef Eric Elmer, who utilizes locally grown, organic, natural, and freshly- prepared comfort foods. His beautiful displays are certain to woo new customers, according to Laise-Jonas.
Another breakfast option is The Daily Bagel, operated by local husband and wife team Mark and Laureen Dunning of Enumclaw. The Dunnings began selling at other farmers’ markets in 2009, and added Maple Valley as a venue during the 2010 season.
The Daily Bagel’s morning menu consists of a variety of fresh baked bagels with options including cream cheese, turkey and cranberry, fresh blueberries, or smoked salmon, as well as coffee.
Also new to the Market this year is George’s Bakery, owned by Joe McKeown and Kathleen Stohesberry, who have a storefront in North Bend and who began to sell at farmers’ markets two years ago. Their breakfast delights include plate-sized fresh donuts, and a wide variety of pastries such as cinnamon disks, almond tarts, fruit tarts, Danish rolls, bran muffins, pan dowdy and coffee cake.
The most local breakfast establishment of all is Mama Rizzo’s Biscotti and More: It’s a true family affair that includes parents Loretta and Jules Gommi, along with adult children Lorraine, Julie, and Michael at the booth. An assortment of biscotti, coffee cake and mini dessert bread loaves, as well as a cup of coffee is available.
Market manager Victoria Laise Jonas said, “All of these vendors are local business owners. They signed up for the entire 17-week season and have not missed a Saturday. “
While the breakfast treats fill the stomach and set a happy glow upon the day, the Market offers even more. Saturday, Aug. 28 is the Fresh Fruit Pie Bake-Off, a competition open to youth (ages 17 and under), adults (ages 18-49), and seniors (50 and over). Each participant may submit one completely homemade pie in a disposable tin. The filling must be fresh fruit only, no tarts, crisps, creams, meringues, pumpkins, or custards, etc., will be accepted. Pies, accompanied by the recipe, may be submitted between 9:30 and 11:45, and judging will begin at noon. Specific rules are available at
Prizes range from $25 Market Bucks (first place in each division) to $5 in Market Bucks (third place in each division).
Additionally, 13-year-old singer and soloist Tori Whitten from Enumclaw, who has performed for the past two years at venues including Maple Valley Days, Puyallup Meeker Days, Enumclaw Street Fairs, and Stars & Stripes Celebrations, will entertain at the Market from 11:15-12:15. Whitten went to Nashville this summer and was given several original songs, which she performed at the King County Fair. While her play list consists of a variety of musical genres, she’ll perform country and pop on Saturday.
As always, the non-profit booths will be filled at the Market and offering information to interested visitors. This week’s non-profits are the Covington Cancer Support Group and The Screening Shop, a Sweet Pea Sponsor of the Market. Sponsorship information for the Market can be found at
With more than vendors, the freshest of produce, jewelry and artistic creations, honey, jam, marinated vegetables, hot sauce, lavender products, dairy products, organic meat, the Market offers more than can even be sampled in a season. And, with only six Saturdays remaining, time is running out to partake of and enjoy even a portion of the offerings.
The Market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday through Oct. 9 at Rock Creek Elementary School.
