Condado is a beach lover’s paradise, with miles and miles of sandy beach. And in the center of it all lies Ventana al Mar, meaning “window to the sea”, an open-air plaza surrounded by the beach on one side, and chic boutique stores, grand hotels and some of the hottest restaurants in town on the other.
Every first Sunday of each month, the breezy Ventana del Mar square turns into an outdoor market display. The Urban Market (Mercado Urbano in Spanish) takes over this casual park with an array of artisanal products. Over 50 local merchants from all over Puerto Rico gather under big tents and sell their home-made, home-grown and organic products. Everything from cheeses, organic vegetables and fruits, soaps, spices, fresh meats and sofrito, a special blend of herbs and spices used in many traditional Puerto Rican dishes, can be found at this bona fide farmers market. At Mercado Urbano you can sample products before you buy and the person who actually made or grew the product will be there to answer any questions you might have. Every product is locally made and grown so you’ll be supporting the local economy when you buy any of these products!
The next Mercado Urbano will be happening on April 3rd, so after you’ve learned (and sampled) a few new recipes at the Saborea Puerto Rico Culinary Festival head down to the Mercado Urbano to buy the fresh produce you’ll need to put your culinary skills to the test. For more information, visit http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=200229352163. Click here to see how to get to Mercado Urbano.