97 replies to this topic

[monavano]

I got sour cherries from Twin Springs Fruit Farm this morning. They were $4/qt., 2@ $7.50.
Tiogo had them out when we were there after 11, although thier sign only read Sweet Cherries and Queen Anne's for $7/qt.. So, I asked how much thier sour cherries were, and they were also $7/qt. A full $3 more than across the way.

Also at Twin Berry I got garlic scapes (and now will wade through posts to see how best to use them) and apricots (a bit mealy).
Keswick Creamery Cheddar.

[hjshorter]

Thanks for the Twin Springs tip. The sour cherries kindly procured for me by Busboy did not measure enough for a batch of jam, so I'll be out looking again this week.

And unless I'm mistaken, which is always possible, I will have to wait until at least Thursday this week to get back to a market, unless anyone here knows of a Monday or Tuesday location.

[monavano]

Thanks for the Twin Springs tip.  The sour cherries kindly procured for me by Busboy did not measure enough for a batch of jam, so I'll be out looking again this week. 

And unless I'm mistaken, which is always possible, I will have to wait until at least Thursday this week to get back to a market, unless anyone here knows of a Monday or Tuesday location.

Twin Springs Fruit Farm is in Bethesda on Tuesday. Here's thier schedule:
http://www.twinsprin...market_sch.html

[bavila]

Peaches on Saturday, woohoo!!!!!!!!!!

[hjshorter]

Twin Springs Fruit Farm is in Bethesda on Tuesday. Here's thier schedule:
http://www.twinsprin...market_sch.html

Thank you!! I'll be heading over today.

Peaches on Saturday, woohoo!!!!!!!!!!

A few stands at the Dupont market had peaches. None knocked my socks off. I'm willing to wait a week or two for the good stuff. Same with the tomatoes.

[monavano]

Twin Springs Fruit Farm is in Bethesda on Tuesday. Here's thier schedule:
http://www.twinsprin...market_sch.html

Thank you!! I'll be heading over today.

Peaches on Saturday, woohoo!!!!!!!!!!

A few stands at the Dupont market had peaches. None knocked my socks off. I'm willing to wait a week or two for the good stuff. Same with the tomatoes.

I thought it was a bit too early for peaches too. And hot house tomatoes? I can buy those at Safeway for far less. Actually I buy campari tomatoes at Costco until I (hopefully, fingers crossed) can pick mine off the vine. In fact, my nearby Safeway has been stocking a small amount of hierlooms. Very good. Go figure.
When I was standing at Tiogo on Sunday, waiting to ask them the price of the sour cherries, a woman turns around to her husband holding up a plastic bag and with a look of total dismay says " I just spent $5!!". Two tomatoes and a cuke. It was precious.
I'm beginning to think of myself as a veteran of the markets, but remember back when I would just buy anything and think the EVERYTHING at the market is better. The key is: seasonal, seasonal and seasonal!
Sour cherries are going into a crisp for my guests tommorow. 4th of July with local cherries! Now THAT'S what it's all about.

[Robin Shuster]

Busboy asked me to tell you about new things at my markets.

Squash blossoms at Mt Pleasant, 14 & U on Saturday, Bloomiingdale on Sunday at First and R NW Sunnyside and Truck Patch will both have lots of squash blossoms. I like them fried by themselves, stuffed with mozzarella and anchovie and fried and stuffied with rice and chard and baked and then served with a tomato coulis.

Mountain View at 14 & U will have Moskovich Siberian Tomatoes, Stupice, Early Cascade, Sungold Cherry tomatoes, Early Girl for the early risers plus an interesting collection of summer squash including the Nicoise favorite: Trompette shaped like a serpent and the best squash for sauteeing because it concentrates its flavor rather than turn watery. I always use them for frittatas or omelets. They will also Princess La Ratte Fingerling Potatoes for steaming, boiling and potato salads. Everyone I know in Provence scours the markets for them and the firstokra.

Tree and Leaf will have Purple torpedo Onions which are called Simiane Onions in Provence and used just like shallots. Again, a personal favorite. Fingerling potatoes and newly dug red ones here 14 & U and Mount Pleasant.


Sunnyside will have organic pristine apples -- tart and crispy-- at all three markets

Kuhn will have Transparent apples for sauce -- Amish favorite -- at 14 & U

Tart Pie cherries at Reid at 14 & U and Bloomingdale, Quaker Valley at Mount Pleasant and 14 & U.

English peas continue at Reid and purple, green and wax beans at Mount Pleasant and Bloomingdale.

Jade beans at TRuck Patch at all three markets.

LOTS of raspberries.

Robin

[hjshorter]

Thanks Robin! It's getting tough to decide which market to go to these days.

[bavila]

Cantaloupes, honeydews, limas and blackberries were the new items I spotted in Annapolis today. Haven't seen any raspberries, but maybe I'm getting there too late.

As for pooh-poohing the early peaches, after the ridiculous winter we had, we should be praising the gods that there are ANY peaches to be had.

[hjshorter]

I picked up some this morning from one of the vendors at the Silver Spring market and they are getting pretty good this year. Only one vendor in SS had field tomatoes, so I'll be schlepping to Dupont tomorrow.

[Robin Shuster]

This weekend at Mount Pleasant, 14& U on Saturday and Bloomingdale on Sunday we will have

LOTS of tomatoes. Make Gazpacho.

Reid will have 30 different varieties of Heirlooms at MtP and Bloomingdale

Truck Patch (all 3 markets ) will have many kinds of heirlooms. He prunes them like a winemaker prunes his vines. I was talking to him about it today. He prunes off all the stalks and leaves from the bottom 18 inches of each plant both for air flow ( prevent mildew and disease) and because he believes that this increases the flow of the nutrients to the fruit rather than the lower stalks and leaves.

Mountain View at 14 & U has at least 25 varieties -- and interesting peppers because ATilla's parents are Hungarian. I picked up agood pale yellow Hungarian pepper last week.

Tree and Leaf adores their Rose heirlooms. Also try their Rose, Cherokee Purples, Striped Purple, Moskovitch ((a good early heirloom Siberian tomato), Green Zebras.

Sunnyside (alll 3 markets) is offering an amazing deal on tomatoes: mix and match basket of 8 pounds of heirlooms for 12 dollars; and for those who really want to can or make your own Bloody Mary Mix, a 30 pound case of non -heirlooms for 18 dollars.

Robert "the Potato Man" Audia will be at MtP with his unusual newly dug spuds.

Quaker Valley has Blair Yellow freestone, their personal favorite peach and Israeli melon (green flesh, perfumed and very sweet yellow watermelons.

Reid has Saturn/donut/flat/bagel peaches. I have been feasting on them all week.

So, lots of peaches, lots of nectarines, good blackberries, raspberries.

At least 12 varieties of summer squash -- look especially at Mountain View, Tree and Leaf, Truck Patch. cucumbers, Truck Patch's radishes, arugula, chard, braising greens

Torpedo onions -- cylindrical, reddish purple. Use like shallots. I can't cook without them any more.

Okra at Mountain View--it will go early

Eggplant starting.

Corn at Quaker Valley is small kernelled but sweet tasting.

Kuhn has 4 different early eating apples at 14 & U.

Lamb: I have to rave about the lamb from Bill and Joan Baker who come to Bloomingdale every other week because they are a small producer. They will be here this Sunday at Bloomingdale from 10-2pm. Young mild but very flavorful lamb. I ate their rib chops last night -- blew me away.

Robin

[hjshorter]

I picked up some of Toigo's corn at Penn Qtr yesterday. Wow, it is crazy good...very sweet but still tastes like corn. I see a batch of corn relish in our future.

[Tela T]

Busboy,

I'm interested in getting your cinnamon ice cream receipt - willing to share?

T

[Busboy]

Tela: I posted the recipe (such as it is) in this topic, along with some other excellent recipes.

[Robin Shuster]

This week at the Farmers' Markets:

My big news this week is that Breadline Bread comes to the Bloomingdale Farmers' Market.

Starting Sunday August 5th, Breadline will be the baker at the Bloomingdale Farmers market. The market is on First and R Streets NW right next to the Big Bear Cafe (EXCELLENT espresso, Beans ground for each cup just like in Italy!) 10-2.


And continuing from last week: Sunnyside will have their amazing bargain sale of both heirloom and Early Girl Tomatoes. Their mix and match basket of heirlooms ( Pile 'em as high as you can) i sonly 12 bucks, about a dollar a pound. The 30 pound case of Early Girls is only 18 dollars.
I have been making Gazpacho three times a week, canning and roasting.

The tomatoes are SO sweet this year from the drought( which is destroying the corn) you remember, oh, yes, tomatoes ARE fruits... wow.

Joan and Bill Baker will have their fabulous lamb this week -- they were NOT there last week, sorry.

Robin


Lots of peaches (including doughnut peaches,, nectarines, blackberries, early eating apples.

Truck Patch will be there with good pork and heirloom tomatoes as well as his greens and cantaloupes.

[pax]

I just want to thank you for continuing to update this thread. The Bethesda market is my "home" market but it is really nice to to see what's happening in other places and your lists of things have given me stuff to watch out for and try...torpedo onions! Who knew?



Thanks!

[Busboy]

I just want to thank you for continuing to update this thread. The Bethesda market is my "home" market but it is really nice to to see what's happening in other places and your lists of things have given me stuff to watch out for and try...torpedo onions! Who knew?



Thanks!

Garlic afficianados should know that the wool ladies at the Dupont Market had their rare and obscure bulbs for sale today. Well worth the somewhat breathtaking (for garlic) prices to have your own little taste test.

This usually only lasts a couple of weeks, so git on down!

[hjshorter]

Also worth the trip down - the ripe-to-bursting plums bought at Toigo this morning. I was going to make a tart, but won't have enough left after the kids are done with them.

[monavano]

Kingstowne farmers market was bustling yesterday. The peaches from Allenberg Orchard are fantastic, as are the many varieties of tomatoes. The prices can't be beat and are a whole bunch less than what you pay at Dupont. There was a line 20 deep for those peaches yesterday! Totally worth it.
I also got some pastries from Cenan's Bakery (Vienna) and highly recommend the coffee cake and any of the croissants. Here's the bounty:



Some of that corn will go into Ina Gartens cheddar corn chowder, and some will go into succotash with the shelled lima beans.

[lperry]

Mount Vernon on Tuesday had all the summer staples and the start of the fall. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, white and yellow peaches, and my favorite take of the day, baby sweet potatoes!

[monavano]

From Dupont market yesterday.



Am working my way through this bounty already!

[hjshorter]

Almost to beautiful to be real, monavano. Is that Toigo corn? I've been jonesing for some the whole time we've been in San Diego. We get back tomorrow night and Thursday I'll be heading straight for the Penn Qtr market.

(And I have that same platter. )

[monavano]

Almost to beautiful to be real, monavano.  Is that Toigo corn?  I've been jonesing for some the whole time we've been in San Diego.  We get back tomorrow night and Thursday I'll be heading straight for the Penn Qtr market. 

(And I have that same platter.  )

It is Toigo corn. It's yellow corn that is sublime. It was labeled as "miri", but I believe it is probably "mirai"(pronounced me-RYE) corn. It's a sweet corn, but actually tastes like corn, not just a burst of sugar in your mouth. It was .75 and ear, but worth every penny. I'm sticking with it until the season's done!
Have a safe journey home!

[lperry]

Mount Vernon again this morning. Interesting items included celery and rainbow chard from the "ecoganic" stand. Also seen were very nice looking zucchini blossoms at $3.25 a pint and the last of the blueberries for the season (at least according to the sign). The first winter squashes, acorn and butternut, showed up as well. I bought a big bag of fresh lima beans that I will shell later. I hated shelling them when I was a kid, but the utter loathing for the tons of beans that we had to pick, shell, wash, blanch, and freeze has somehow turned into nostalgia. I may put the beans with the chard and dress it with herbs and feta.

[Busboy]

Mount Vernon again this morning.  Interesting items included celery and rainbow chard from the "ecoganic" stand.  Also seen were very nice looking zucchini blossoms at $3.25 a pint and the last of the blueberries for the season (at least according to the sign).  The first winter squashes, acorn and butternut, showed up as well.  I bought a big bag of fresh lima beans that I will shell later.  I hated shelling them when I was a kid, but the utter loathing for the tons of beans that we had to pick, shell, wash, blanch, and freeze has somehow turned into nostalgia.  I may put the beans with the chard and dress it with herbs and feta.

I've started seeing phrases like "ecoganic" pop up at the markets around town. A quick chat with one of the farmers confirmed my suspicion: the paperwork and regulations required to claim the official "organic" label are so burdensome for small operations that they they grow organically but don't get certified and can't use the "O-word."

[monavano]

Mount Vernon again this morning.  Interesting items included celery and rainbow chard from the "ecoganic" stand.  Also seen were very nice looking zucchini blossoms at $3.25 a pint and the last of the blueberries for the season (at least according to the sign).  The first winter squashes, acorn and butternut, showed up as well.  I bought a big bag of fresh lima beans that I will shell later.  I hated shelling them when I was a kid, but the utter loathing for the tons of beans that we had to pick, shell, wash, blanch, and freeze has somehow turned into nostalgia.  I may put the beans with the chard and dress it with herbs and feta.

I've started seeing phrases like "ecoganic" pop up at the markets around town. A quick chat with one of the farmers confirmed my suspicion: the paperwork and regulations required to claim the official "organic" label are so burdensome small operations that they they grow organically but don't get certified and can't use the "O-word."

I got the feeling there's a lot of red tape too. I've seen vendors with signs saying that they grow organically, but are not certified.

[lperry]

^This particular vendor had a banner that indicated they were certified organic from the mid-nineties through 2003. I apologize for forgetting the name - I'm terrible about that.

[Busboy]

Probably the greatest bargain at the Dupont Market is the steamed crabs being sold for a buck a pop by the Crab Guy (Busters?) on the north (Q Street) side of the parking lot. They're small, but still, a buck a pop? That's like 1970s prices.

Probably the worst bargain is the damn haricot verts for sale at $6 a half pound by those West Virginians, also on the Q Street side, but on the street. Of course, these are the same folks who shamelessly charge four bucks for an insubstantial bundle of weeds -- excuse me, ramps -- every spring, so I guys they're uses to taking advantage of us city folk. And, of course, I can't keep myself from buying the damn things, they're that beautiful (I've been passing on the ramps, though).

Somewhere in West Virginia, a farmer's going to be drinking the good bourbon tonight, and thanking the Good Lord that he learned enough French to spell "haricot."

[monavano]

Probably the greatest bargain at the Dupont Market is the steamed crabs being sold for a buck a pop by the Crab Guy (Busters?) on the north (Q Street) side of the parking lot.  They're small, but still, a buck a pop?  That's like 1970s prices.

Probably the worst bargain is the damn haricot verts for sale at $6 a half pound by those West Virginians, also on the Q Street side, but on the street.  Of course, these are the same folks who shamelessly charge four bucks for an insubstantial bundle of weeds -- excuse me, ramps -- every spring, so I guys they're uses to taking advantage of us city folk.  And, of course, I can't keep myself from buying the damn things, they're that beautiful (I've been passing on the ramps, though). 

Somewhere in West Virginia, a farmer's going to be drinking the good bourbon tonight, and thanking the Good Lord that he learned enough French to spell "haricot."

Ha! But they do have good peaches. I passed over thier corn last week fortunately, and wound up getting this unbelievable Mirai corn from Toigo. It wasn't cheap, but it was wonderful.
Did you happen to see if Toigo was still selling corn? I was as Eastern Market yesterday, so am pretty much marketed out for the weekend.

[hjshorter]

Toigo had corn this morning. I also picked up a big bag of slightly bruised peaches for chutney, and a dozen eggs and a pound of bacon from Cibola. We probably needed more, but I can restock at Penn Qtr on Thursday.