Shop for crowd pleasing favorites this Saturday

It is hard to believe we have less than a month before school resumes in Nassau County. Don't worry, there is still plenty of time to enjoy your summer. Summer is a great time to plan backyard parties, beach outings and game night with friends, and the Wildlight and Fernandina Beach Market Places are amazing places to shop for those crowd-pleasing supplies. One market is in East Nassau, and the other is in Central Nassau County, so you can find one located conveniently to you.

Both markets are home to some wonderful vendors such as Red Flag Spicy Foods. This is a line of exquisite hot sauces created by chef Jason Adams. They have several flavor choices to sample. For a mild sauce I would recommend the rum soaked Black 13. This is a mixture of cherries, pears, Birdseye chilies and Scotch bonnets that come together for a sweet, yet fiery, mild sauce. A favorite medium heat would include the Fusebox sauce. This is a sweet, albeit warm, blend of orange, chocolate, tequila and habanero. If you'd rather set your lips on fire, ask Momma Jane, Jason's mother, for a sample of the chef's, Not Dead Yet. You may notice his flavors skip from medium to extremely hot; there is no in-between. This sticky-sweet blend of brown sugar and honey, migratory coconuts, fresh garlic, potent Peri Peri Chilis and chocolate Moruga scorpion peppers is just hot enough to remind you, "You're not dead, yet." Both markets are also home to the King of All Guacamole booth. This popular vendor drives up from Fort Myers in Southwest Florida bringing pineapple, tomato, and tomatillo salsas. They have delicious ceviche, and the guacamole is so fresh, it is whipped up in front of you right in the markets. Another popular vendor found at both markets in Ferras Bakery. Sold only at farmers markets, these Eastern European inspired baked goods range from breads, pastries, cookies, and brownies, to savory stuffed stromboli and spanikopita.

Located at 123 Tinker Street, the Wildlight Market Place is in Yulee, Fla., just east of I-95. This market is a farmers and an arts market with seasonal produce, beef and pork, freshly baked goods and live music by Dylan Bailey. You will find dog treats and accessories, watercolor and acrylic paintings, amazing woodworking, apparel, quilts, beadwork, soaps, candles, fine and whimsical jewelry, and more.

The Amelia Island market is located in historic, downtown Fernandina Beach, on N. Seventh St. There are nearly 35 booths of food vendors, an all-natural soap vendor and a soy wax candle vendor. There are several vendors selling plants. From herbs and flowering baskets, to terrariums, and landscaping and patio plants, Jaxma Orchids also returns this week with deep knowledge of orchid care and an amazing variety of colorful plants. You will find produce, shrimp, salmon, beef, chicken, pork, duck, eggs, mushrooms, cheese straws, jams and jellies, flavored salts, dip mixes, sauces, dressings, and several prepared dishes from African Love Kitchen, chef Bill Thompson, chef Ce'tia, and traditional Chicago pizza from born and raised, transplanted Chicagoans, Bruce and Hillary. Hillary's Chicago Pizza was a pandemic creation. Moving to Florida pre-pandemic to take care of her ailing father, Hillary Lake started an event planning and catering company to support herself while caring for her dad. Leaving her husband and kids in Chicago, her husband, Bruce, would fly to Florida to visit with Hillary's favorite Chicago pizza in hand. Along came the pandemic and there were no more events, and no one was flying to Florida bringing her pizza. This down time let her experiment with recipes and pizza pans, and they rest, as they say, is history. They now offer their pizzas in traditional, thin, or gluten-free crusts at their St. Augustine location, and three Saturdays a month you can pick up this hearty pie at the Fernandina Beach Market Place. 

Fernandina's music this week will be performed by the Alley Cats. These three young women have a classic rock playlist that will leave you pleasantly surprised. The Wildlight Market Place and the Fernandina Beach Market Place are both open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. Your well behaved, leashed pets can join you at either market, just remember a sunny summer day can leave the asphalt too hot for their paws. I'd recommend a stroller, or perhaps shop early for the cooler temperatures. Both markets can be found online or on Facebook.