Markt Artisan Deli: Local Nanaimo Food

Chef Zuvich Uses Vancouver Island Ingredients

Markt's Artisan Deli in The Boardwalk on Rutherford complex in the north end of Nanaimo, BC is owned by chef Ryan Zuvich who has just hosting weekly 3-course fixed-price dinners Thursday-Saturday, that feature an a la carte French Gastro-Pub style menu for $35 with a fine selection of wine pairings with each course for an additional $20.

The menu provides a selection of five starters, four mains, and four deserts, including a braised beef with roast mushrooms, pearl onions, carrots, mashed potatoes and gravy. Markt had hosted a monthly dinner series with 12-course wine pairings, but the demand for something smaller and more frequent suggested the recent format.

Markt's History

The deli was opened in January 2010 when Zuvich, after many years of experience in the restaurant industry in Vancouver, England, France and Germany, decided to start a business that combined his passion for food and his support for the local food movement.

Vancouver Island had many suppliers of high-quality meat, dairy, and vegetables and yet, despite Nanaimo's growing population, the city lacked merchants who sold local products.

Markt now produces a variety of fresh sausages, charcuterie, soups, stocks, sauces and vinaigrettes in-house and provides a range of locally-produced cheeses and specialty products. On top of these, Markt offers catering services for outside events.

Local Food Movements

As initiated by the hugely popular blog, book and movement the 100-Mile Diet, the philosophy of eating local works to economically support local farmers and small farms and to reduce our dependence on factory-style farming, which reduces the carbon footprint created by shipping food over long distances.

The benefits of eating local include more flavourful food, better health, and greater environmental awareness. The deli focuses strongly on the philosophy of the local food movement. Their motto, "Eat Local. Eat Better." says it all. Markt encourages its patrons to know where their food is coming from, and to feel confident in its quality.

These words are reflected in the use of ingredients from local farms and suppliers for all of their in-house creations, and by providing "superior products that are made ethically from start to finish."

Over the last two years Markt has consistently provided a wide range of quality local products that are as good as they taste.