Buzz Blog

Every Saturday, Pioneer Park hosts the Downtown Farmers Market and every Saturday I come across more and more reasons to restock my fridge with quality local goods! Since there's no shortage of interesting and creative vendors, every week I attempt to highlight a few of my favorite finds! So, here's this week's picks...

Proof Pawsitive
When I stopped at this vendor and heard owner, Hallie Matern explain the process of each individual treat, I literally did a spit take. I did not spit because I was in any way grossed out, but because I was so amazed at how insane these dog treats are. Proof Positive provides the absolute best of what nature has to offer for your pets. I mean this statement mostly because I think their products really attract to the wolves and lions hidden in each of our dogs and cats. One of their standout canine confections is their natural elk antler sheds found in the mountains of Idaho. My dogs used to drag these sheds home regularly and even knowing how much they loved them, I threw them out because they were filthy, smelly and usually covered with something green. These antlers are clean enough to eat yourself. They also have meat chews, which are available raw or smoked with other options considering pet type or size. It's clear that Hallie takes pride in the creation of each treat. A nice spread of feline treats are also available! Take a look at proofpawsitive.com to order some for your best friend. 


Van Kwartel: Flavor Science
The Van Kwartel booth is always a bit intimidating for me each week and I admit I had yet to try it before now. I can not handle spicy and I am a complete baby when it comes to pepper seeds. There are six marinade and sauce blends and each of them features a very striking color. I tried a dip of each on tortilla chips and I have to say that they are bursting with flavor. The Jerk Marinade, one of my favorites, had some great sweetness to it and a close second was the Green Pepper sauce, which was the perfect amount of hot. There was only one sauce that I could just not handle, The Ghost Fire Pepper Sauce. The name of it almost burns to say and tasting it is even tougher. Luckily, they did have a salsa-like product called Sofrito to cool down my mouth. I had never tried Sofrito but it was definitely my favorite dip/sauce because it was  fresh, chunky, and soothing. I did not try any of the spice blends or rubs, but there are 16 flavors available.  "Our offerings are designed to add a modern twist on those traditions and allow you to explore the complex of a cultural legacy, " said the owner. Van Kwartel sells their "Flavor Science" at many state Farmers Markets other than downtown like Park Silly and Sugar House Farmers Market. They also have a website that you can order some science from day or night.



The Soap Lady
These bath products are more than soap, they're practically entertainment. The soaps are all designed with fun, candy arrangements that almost look like fossilized Fruit Roll-Ups or Hubba Bubba Bubble Tape. But the best thing about these soaps, is they are chopped fresh off a larger block right in front of you. When looking at these squares of beautiful cleanliness you can't stop yourself from asking, "What is in there? Are those actual lemons and rose petals?" Yes. they are. The Soap Lady is creating fragrance the natural way and is proud of it! So aside from their enticing appearance, the smells are superb. Rosemary Mint, and Pineapple mist were some of my favorite soaps but the fun doesn't stop at soap bars. There are a variety of bath salts and what is known as "On a Roll Soap," which you roll out like a parchment and cut up as you use it. I had to be dragged away from this booth. I only got to smell around 13 scents, which was hardly enough. Their website features their scents and options available at the Downtown Farmers Market every Saturday. 

Grandma Sandino’s Sicilian Sauce
This vendor knows how to draw you in with a simple selling point, "Do you love garlic? Stop here!" Why, yes I do and thank you. This sauce goes on everything, which I know because I repeatedly asked for more tomatoes, bread, and greens, which compliment it wonderfully. The sauce is not too oily and balances its taste, which is just strong enough of a garlic herb flavor without drowning the food. My garlic adventure was assisted by a handy step-by step recipe brochure, and a lovely attendant who was extremely polite to me, even though wouldn't stop sampling. Their only sauce, Grandma Sandino's Sicilian Sauce, is handcrafted, gluten free, vegan and kosher! But,  the best thing about this delicious sauce is it's versatility. It can be used as a grilling marinade, as a salad dressing, a dipping sauce and it even can be used for sauteing veggies. The name Grandma Sandino's is a perfect name because opening that brochure was like having my own granny handing me her recipe book and explaining how to complete each meal perfectly. Visit their website for more information and purchasing options. 







 Ruby Snap
It's about to get real. These cookies are the best cookies in Salt Lake City. I'm even going to use the word enchanting to describe them. The texture is what really made these baked goods, (or baked greats in my opinion) number one. Each cookie is soft, moist and warm as if they just came straight out of the oven. Perhaps, it was the hot day that warmed them but either way, it worked in their favor. I tried three cookies; The Lilly, The Suzie, and The Memphis. The Lilly was glazed and filled with lemon heads for a fun crunchy surprise throughout the gooey center! The Suzie, was made with vanilla cookie dough, filled with cherries and dressed with chocolate and pretty pink sprinkles. The Memphis is a limited-time-only lemon cookie that a has fresh raspberry on top and sprinkled with sugar. These cookies are sweet without tasting artificial and crafted so well that they're almost too pretty to eat. The cookies are named after 50's pin-up girls, so not only are they delicious, they're making cookies sexy! Ruby Snap tempts their customers with their clever slogan, "You know you want my cookies." You bet I do! Work it, girls! Visit their location at 770 S. 300 West. Check out Ruby Snap's website for more information are where these cookies are sold.