Vacations Blog

Berries at the Chesterton European Market

I visited my friend Heather over the 4th of July weekend. She advised me that flying Southwest Airlines from Phoenix to Chicago Midway would be easier, cheaper, and less crowded than flying into nearby Chicago O’Hare. I was more than willing to follow her advice, and was ecstatic to leave the 110 degree weather in Arizona for the MUCH preferred high 60’s/low 70’s Northwest Indiana was currently enjoying.

I saw a lot of the area while I was there, including a trip to downtown Chicago and Wrigley Field, but for this entry I wanted to focus on what I’m missing the most about Indiana (other than my friend, of course).

The Chesterton European Market.

The Chesterton European Market has made an annual appearance in the town square of historic downtown Chesterton since 2003. Each Saturday from the end of May to the end of October, folks come from miles around to while away the hours among the 150+ vendors, who offer a dizzying array breads and pastries, cheeses, plants, farm-fresh produce, meats, spices, books, clothing, live music, and much more.

Pastries offered at the Chesterton European Market

My friend purposefully took me in the early morning so we could enjoy the particularly delicious crepes that one vendor offers. Watching the crepe-making process, I stood in awe as the man deftly wielded his ladle and smoothed the crepe into a circular form with a handled dowel. Some internal timer prompted him to flip the crepe, after which he added the requested ingredients (ham and cheese, fruits, chocolate, Nutella, powdered sugar… I had strawberry banana), folded the crepe in half, then folded it in thirds and slid it into a cone-like sleeve for serving.

The Crepe Guy, makin' the crepes.

The whole process took about five minutes and he made it seem deceptively simple. I’m sure if I tried it myself I’d have made a hopeless mess of it all.

My strawberry banana crepe

Heather and I settled at a picnic table to enjoy our crepes (and yes, they are every bit as good as they look), then wandered among the vendor stalls, stopping often to pet the many dogs that accompanied the patrons. My greenery-starved senses drank in the park’s atmosphere – overhanging oaks and maples shading the green grass of the park and the white tents of the vendors. A guitarist entertained small children with rounds of “Old McDonald” and “Three Blind Mice”.

The Chesterton European Market

Giant rounds of cheese were sampled from at the Wisconsin Cheese vendor’s stall. Pallets of beefsteak tomatoes, Southern Indiana corn, red raspberries, blueberries, cherries, onions, cucumbers, cantaloupes, potatoes, and freshly grown herbs were ooh’d and ahh’d over. I bought myself a pint of raspberries (which were practically gone by the time we got home), a few cucumbers, and a giant beefsteak tomato, which I sliced up and consumed later that evening seasoned with some celery salt and pepper.

Produce at the Chesterton European Market

One stall sold home-made dip mixes, and we bought four. Another stall offered home-made nut butters – almond, cashew, and walnut. Many stalls offered delicious looking artisan breads and fresh pastries, with accompanying coffee drinks. We perused the clothing and jewelry, arts and crafts. Everything was festively and patriotically decorated for the 4th of July.

The market is well organized, with foods and crafts and produce occupying their own corners. The family and pet friendly Chesterton European Market is free to all patrons, with plenty of nearby parking. It is open every Saturday from late May to late October, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. It is located on the corner of Broadway and Third Street, next to Thomas Centennial Park; two miles south of Lake Michigan at the Indiana Dunes and easily accessible from Interstate 94 to exit 26A or the 80/90 Toll road to exit 31.