Dandelion Chocolates

Product Spotlight: Nibs

Posted on by Mission Community Market in Blog, Dandelion Chocolates, Vendors | Leave a comment

Nibs are pieces of dried raw cacao, which is chocolate in its simplest form, and before it’s mixed in with sugar, cocoa butter and milk. This means that when you eat a nib, you might be surprised by its bitter taste, its nothing like the taste of chocolate that we all know and crave. Eating chocolate in nib form, however, does have its benefits.

Eating chocolate makes us feel good, this is because it releases neurotransmitters like serotonin and phenylethylamine in our bodies that promote feelings of well being, love and can even make us focus more. This therefore also means that cacao can lower blood pressure! Cacao is rich in minerals like Zinc, Copper and Manganese, and it has more antioxidants than red wine or green tea. When eaten in nib form, the antioxidants in Cacao can dissolve plaque build-up in the arteries for those suffering from heart disease. Eating chocolate bars with added sugars, fats and dairy dilutes the benefits of cacao so if you enjoy chocolate or are looking to try a new super-food, nibble on nibs!

Dandelion Chocolate, based in the Dogpatch, comes to the Mission Community Market every week. Their representative Cynthia, loves to educate the public on all matters chocolate. She can talk to you about the process of making chocolate and most importantly, she has samples for you to try! To learn more about the benefits of nibs, go here. Otherwise, come try some nibs at the market this week and stay tuned for a recipe featuring nibs very soon!

Bold Italic: “MCM is Back”

Posted on by Mission Community Market in 4505 Meats, Blog, Dandelion Chocolates, Little City Gardens, Press, Smokin Pottery | Leave a comment

Hello friends,

Marion Anthonisen from Bold Italic came to our Opening Day this past week. Check out what she had to say. See you this Thursday!

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Recognize this stretch of Bartlett? It’s between 21st and 22nd, right by the old Giant Value. Maybe you’ve seen the awesome mural featuring two enormous, majestic seals. The rest of the block’s a little run-down, but lately it’s been perking up, thanks to the Mission Community Market, which just kicked off a new season yesterday.

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Executive Director Jeremy Shaw, the city planning department, the Neighborhood Parks Council, businesses like La Cocina, 18 Reasons, and oodles of other collaborators have big plans for this space, and from the looks of the market’s opening day, they’re right on track.

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It’s currently the only market where you’ll be able to buy goods from Little City Gardens, a one-acre farm in SF (yep, a whole acre of farmland within the city limits!). These awesome ladies are making waves in the world of urban food production, they created the city’s very first CSA program, and they’ve got an impressive 25-part salad mix for you to try.

Edible flowers! Note the salad mix testimonials under the basket. One of my favorites: “Like a little garden in your bowl.”

Oranges

Hey, more delicious food from an awesome local producer. I was into the pomelos.

Chichuron-wind

4505 chicharrones blowin’ in the wind. We missed the worst of last night’s storm, but the vendor tents still got some pretty healthy gusts of air. Jeremy reminded me this won’t be a concern when the stalls are made permanent (told you they had big plans for this market).

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Sampled some nutty, delicious cocoa nibs straight from the bean, courtesy of Dandelion Chocolate, who will be opening a storefront on Valencia in a few months.

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Jewelry and a really cute baby from Sebastopol.

Ceramics

Handmade ceramics from Smokin’ Pottery.

Bubbles

And bubbles! Toys and games (don’t miss the stack of hula hoops back there) were courtesy of Urban Sprouts, who’ll be doing healthy cooking demos at future markets. Bilingual nutrition education and healthy food incentives play a big part in the grand MCM plan. And there’s live music, too.

This market is gonna blow up. Check it out this season on Thursdays from 4-8 p.m.

All photos by Marion Anthonisen

Only 2 More Markets in 2011 – Get Your Gift Boxes!

Posted on by Jeremy in Arizmendi Bakery, Blog, Dandelion Chocolates, Emmy’s, Rubber Ducky Soap | Leave a comment
Get your MCM Gift Boxes w/ Dandelion Chocolate Madgascar Bars, Arizmendi: Mission granola, Rubber Ducky Soap Co., and Emmy’s Pickles and Jams ! Plus Casa Bonampak flowers and Mystic World Press storybook! All for $30. Order now mcm@missioncommunitymarket.org to pick up this Thursday or Next.

Final Day! Buy Local and Support Your Community Marketplace

Posted on by Jeremy in Arizmendi Bakery, Blog, Dandelion Chocolates, Emmy’s, Rubber Ducky Soap, Smokin Pottery, Zia Designs | Leave a comment

Final 2011 MCM is here!

Order an MCM Gift Box, with a fun assortment from the vendors below, including Dandelion Chocolate Madgascar Bars, Arizmendi: Mission granola, Rubber Ducky Soap Co., and Emmy’s Pickles and Jams! Plus Casa Bonampak flowers and Mystic World Press storybook! All for $30. Order now mcm@missioncommunitymarket.org or at today’s market! 

Or find your own unique combination of gifts from the vendors below:

Dandelion Chocolatehttp://www.dandelionchocolate.com/
Amazing bean-to-bar chocolate. Selectively sourced, carefully crafted, locally-made. 

Emmy’s Pickles and Jams – http://emmyspicklesandjams.com/
The perfectly delectable gift, savory, sweet or both! MCM fruit jammed and veggies pickled by Emmy and Jonah!

Envie Naturals – http://www.envienaturals.com/
Natural beauty products, including lotions, body oils, sprays and bath salts for all skin types

 
Georgie Girl Designshttp://georgiegirldesign.com
Independent designer Georgia Dwyer brings her entire set up of jewelry – metal, leather earrings, glass, stone and beads – as well as woven winter wear – scarves, gloves and hats!

 

Mystic World Presshttp://mysticworldpress.com/
Amazing hand-crafted books telling magical stories

Rubber Ducky Soap Co. – www.rubberduckysoap.com
Organic soaps, limp balms, mists and body oils from locally-sourced, natural ingredients.

Smokin Potteryhttp://smokinpottery.wordpress.com/
Downright amazing locally-made pottery by Jeff May. Great vases for flowers, perfect accompaniment to salts and spices at MCM, great bowls for fruit and more!

Whistle Works
One-of-a-kind hand-made ceramic whistles! Super fun designs! Great for a variety of whistling needs.

Zia Designshttp://ziadesigns.net/
Artist-owned designer company honoring latino and indigenous designs on T-shirts, hoodies and tanks. Hand-printed in SF. Designs are the bomb!

Holiday Gift box from Local Biz

Posted on by Jeremy in Arizmendi Bakery, Blog, Dandelion Chocolates, Emmy’s, Rubber Ducky Soap | Leave a comment

Just in time for the holidays…introducing our Winter-season gift boxes! Each box is loaded with treats from vendors at the market. This box features fragrant soap from Rubber Ducky Soap Co, delectable chocolate from Dandelion, organic pickles or jam from Emmy’s Pickles and Jams, baked treats from Arizmendi Bakery, and colorful paper flowers from Casa Bonampak. All of this can be yours for $30! Boxes will be available to purchase at the holiday markets December 1, 8 and 15th.

Or pre-order right now at mcm@missioncommunitymarket.org

You too can look this good with boxes.