I can't imagine any party without bread staples.  But just bread?  Try gougéres, with gruyere cheese and chives.  Silverglades, since 1922, serves a remarkable selection of domestic and imported cheeses, all with impressive service and excellent advice on caring for your cheese.  I was able to buy my mozzarella a full week in advance, knowing it would be fresh, based on their recommendation.  Goat cheese (roll slices in sesame, fennel, curry and chives for a magnificent presentation and flavour) and Parmesan (for Parmesan Twists) also came from Silverglades.  This place is packed on Saturdays, so I recommend a Sunday visit if you want to peruse and ask lots of questions about the new cheeses you're sure to discover.

No party would be complete without savoury food and rich flavours of herbs.  During the summer growing season, check out local farmers and vendors in the outdoor market.  I snagged chives, mint, cilantro, and rosemary, but the selection doesn't stop there.  Greens such as swiss chard are also available in abundance.  I usually visit Saturday mornings and farmers have picked or cut the veggies and herbs Friday night or Saturday morning, and the freshness is unparalleled. And don't forget fresh cut flowers; a health bouquet of lisianthum and Queen Ann's Lace is usually about $8 and with a little flower food, lasts up to two weeks!

When I need dried herbs or other exotic spices, like pimentón, a smoky Spanish paprika for a cured salmon recipe, I always visit the Colonel at Herbs and Spice and Everything Nice.  He's always contributing to my spice cupboard and generates some amazing ideas and recipes!  One of my favourite purchases is fleur de sel, a unique salt that blossoms only twice a year in France, when weather conditions are just right.  It's a finishing salt and adds just the right amount of savour to a filet that I'm likely to buy from Charles Bare. 

If something a little spicy is what you're looking for, I vouch for the Mexican chorizo from Kroeger and Sons who carry a vast array of sausages from brats, mets, Italian, linguiça and even a chicken basil sausage!  But, Mergez meatballs and Tandoori chicken were on my menu and so, ground beef and chicken were also purchased from Charles Bare.  I recommend talking to the butchers at the Market to find out when their deliveries take place; this ensures the freshest meats when you're planning a party or just dinner.  I also recommend using the slightly less lean meats for more flavour, but who's to trust a skinny cook?!

My very super-secret recipe for a Stepf-tini involves a certain amount of ginger, which I always find at Madison's, along with Madisono's gelato.  If you go to Madison's to buy their amazing gelato in a variety of yummy flavours, plan to make it your last stop during your Findlay Market trip...it melts fast!  Madison's also carries fresh herbs when the outdoor market is closed for the season, which are often provided by Amish and Mennonite farms.  The Stepf-tini calls for a wee bit of honey, and of course it has to be local honey...check the outdoor market.  And if you have allergies, a teaspoon a day of local honey can help your immune system learn what allergens to fight...another reason to support local business!

Who's it for?
Hosts and hostesses alike, or just the local cook who likes the freshest ingredients and a wide variety of foods with personal attention and service.  Vendors love to be asked questions!

How much?
A tough question as there's so much to list, but Findlay Market vendors price their goods very reasonably.  I find that prices are generally below supermarket prices, and the bustling open air market atmosphere is thrown in for free.

Where is it?
The official address is 1801 Race Street, 45202, but it resides in the block bordered by Elm, Findlay, and Race Streets.

Yummers Rating
You can't go wrong with the quality and selection here...the finished product is up to you of course...but I rate Findlay Market a perfect 5.