Harvest Cafe

«Expert chef,» huh? Expert at what, exactly?
I ordered breakfast there today. The menu description told me it would come with fruit. Now, when one sees fruit listed as an item to be served with a breakfast meal, one expects to be served a small bowl or a cup of fruit. In short, a side of fruit.
What I was served at Harvest Café was less than the amount of fruit that other breakfast places use as garnish, which garnish is normally served without being listed as one of the items that come with the breakfast meals on offer. Seriously, I was served two very thin slivers of pear and an equally thin, small sliver of apple. When called on it, I was begrudgingly given another seven or eight thin slivers of pear. In total, I’d be surprised if I got much more than the equivalent of a third of a pear. Diners who didn’t complain got significantly less. All in all, this betrays an ambivalence about good customer service.
Additionally, the jam that I got for my toast wasn’t spreadable. It had the consistency of some candies a little bit softer than jujubes. Keeping it behind the counter and near sources of heat appears to have caused it to cook and harden. Good bacon aside, there is little to recommend this place to anyone other than the crunchy set or those who go gaga for farmers’ markets.
Edited to add –
It seems that I’m not the only person to have chronicled the fruit scam:

My market Saturday’s have become infinitely better. There’s a lot to say about the new and revamped café at the Old Strathcona Farmers’ market. Run by expert chef Brittany Watt, this café uses well over 80% of local produce many of which are right from the very market it lies in. For those who remember the unfortunate state of affairs with this concession stand, they’ll be relieved to know that standards have gone up. Whether it’s a Treestone French toast which employs bread from Treestone Bakery or Gold Forest Whole-​wheat pancakes that uses pancake flour milled fresh by Gold Forest Mills, the deliciousness of local produce fresh from the market and right in your mouth is simply terrific.
The menu is made simple (mind you, Smokey Valley mountain tomme cheese still is kinda fancy) and affordable to match the needs of its clientele. Their most expensive breakfast item is probably the skillet or the omelette and that costs $ 7.50. Lunch remains under $ 10 and has delicious options from entrée sized quinoa salad, to a bison burger and also Ruth’s pierogies, again fresh from the market. Although the food is fine as hell, don’t expect fine dining service! It’s a concession stand and stays true to the nature of market food. Simple, unfancy, yet deliciously prepared and nearly 100% local! (i’m guessing the non-​local ingredients would be stuff like packets of tomato ketchup).
The chef also runs local produce dinners within the market premises every now and then. They are usually on off-​market days and are possibly a great way to get all local and gritty with others in Edmonton. I’m glad to see these changes to the OSFM and hope for more!