97 replies to this topic

[hjshorter]

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.

I brought six of the little guys home for Scott. They're small, but very sweet and such a bargain.

[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."

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.

Not to brag or anything, but if you'd come to the crab cake t, you could have partied with the man himself -- and the inimitable Vas -- and wandered out with a dozen ears or so . As it is, I'm giving it away at my office today (after having made corn relish and set aside sufficient earage for my own personal use).

[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.

Not to brag or anything, but if you'd come to the crab cake t, you could have partied with the man himself -- and the inimitable Vas -- and wandered out with a dozen ears or so . As it is, I'm giving it away at my office today (after having made corn relish and set aside sufficient earage for my own personal use).

You're right! But, my very kind neighbor brought me fresh Lancaster County corn yesterday. 8 ears! I already have my second batch of cheddar corn chowder in the freezer (that will be great in cold weather) and made succotash on Sat.
Corn relish sounds like a good idea for some of my ears....

[bavila]

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.

Not to brag or anything, but if you'd come to the crab cake t, you could have partied with the man himself -- and the inimitable Vas -- and wandered out with a dozen ears or so . As it is, I'm giving it away at my office today (after having made corn relish and set aside sufficient earage for my own personal use).

You were holding out on me Charles. I saw no corn anywhere on Sunday. Much less did I walk out with a dozen ears for my delightful children.

Edited by bavila, 31 August 2007 - 06:45 PM.

[monavano]

Del Ray market in Alexandria was hopping yesterday morning. What a gorgeous day. Here's the take from Sat. that we'll be working on all week. That big ol' green tomato is getting fried in a few minutes and will be topped with tomato sauce (a la Marcella Hazan) and fresh mozzarella.
The corn is more Mirai from Toigo. Get it before it's gone!

Edited by monavano, 02 September 2007 - 03:08 PM.

[Beto]

I thought that I'd add in here that there are plans to establish a farmer's market in Olney. Here is a link with more information.

We are planning to be there, selling our fresh-roasted coffee.

[hjshorter]

Apparently everyone is back from vacation because Dupont was crazy this morning. I scored tomatoes ("on sale" for $3 a pound ), more Mirai corn, wax and green beans destined for 3 bean salad, and box of beautiful little okra pods from Tree & Leaf. And a couple of ham hocks from Cedarbrook Farms, in the (probably vain) hope that the weather will break enough to make a pot of beans this week.

[hjshorter]

and a box of beautiful little okra pods from Tree & Leaf

Gawd, that was the best okra I've ever had. We soaked it in buttermilk, rolled it in cornmeal and fried it. Delicious with some coarse salt and hot sauce, and not at all slimy.

[Busboy]

Random Notes:

Anybody else see the irony in the masses trawling the local farmers markets with their free Whole Foods bags slung over their shoulder?

Speaking of trawling, it's not uncommon to see the local chefs shopping at the markets, especially DuPont. I've bumped into Ris LaCost (between gigs, but late of 1789 and early of, we hope, a new place soon), Nora Pouillon (Restaurant Nora, Asia Nora), Carol Greenwood (Bucks, Comet; and -- despite her media rep -- very friendly) Tony Conte (Oval Room) and I'm sure others I didn't recognize. But lately there's been a new trend of chefs strolling through, camera-ready in their whites and hounds tooth with lithe arm candy, not chatting up the vendors or loading tomatoes but just...I don't know, doing a little PR? It's even more blatant at Penn Quarter, where the last couple chefs I saw wandering through paid not a whit of attention to the food itself. Are the chefs looking for a photo op? Are the markets requesting drop-bys just to further their cred?

I still don't know why Buster doesn't sell out his steamed crabs by 9:30 every week.

Bought a pair of Polyface pork chops and a brace of poussins (boring sidenote: I first learned what a poussin was during this memorable exchange) (it's a young, unsexed (!) chicken) for $3.2 million or something like that. I'd rejected a pair of pork chops a couple of weeks ago as being too dear even for me, but they's since haunted my dreams. Pictures and a full report when I finally decide whether to cook them or to frame them.

[hjshorter]

Anybody else see the irony in the masses trawling the local farmers markets with their free Whole Foods bags slung over their shoulder?

I noticed that too. Those bags are $1 each at the Silver Spring Whole Foods.

Bought a pair of Polyface pork chops and a brace of poussins (boring sidenote: I first learned what a poussin was during this memorable exchange) (it's a young, unsexed (!) chicken) for $3.2 million or something like that.  I'd rejected a pair of pork chops a couple of weeks ago as being too dear even for me, but they's since haunted my dreams.  Pictures and a full report when I finally decide whether to cook them or to frame them.

I have four defrosting in my fridge right now. Total cost $18. But, they are damned good pork chops, and will be lovely with corn bread and sauteed chard tonight.

Edited by hjshorter, 10 September 2007 - 08:39 AM.

[monavano]

The chef's strolling around..hmmm. Maybe to get a little note in the Dish column??
I did pick up one of the WF bags at Dupont a while ago. They were giving them out for free and I thought "Eh, what the heck". I kept it in my car until I lost it. They don't hold near enough anyway, especially during corn season
No local markets for me this week. I'm vacationing in Cape May NJ and being a geek foodie, brought along a nice aged balsamico, garden basil and evoo (along with other staples) in anticipation of making a caprese salad with Jersey tomatoes. Delish and much better the field tomatoes I got last week at Del Ray.
I'm not sure there is even such a variety of tomato as "Jersey", it's just what we called them growing up.
Also from the roadside stand: white corn, nectarines and huge peeled pole beans.

[Pontormo]

Anybody else see the irony in the masses trawling the local farmers markets with their free [sic] Whole Foods bags slung over their shoulder?

Used to think irony was at play. However, the folk who shop at outdoor markets favor WFM as their supermarket, anyway. I had a long conversation once with a 66-year old woman who looks like a former Olympic medalist more than a decade younger and usually shows up at the market in spandex shorts in the summer to better reveal the tautness of every muscle in half her limbs. Her justification for buying organic apples from New Zealand at Whole Foods in the fall is worthy of a new book by Deborah Tanner.

WFM may be exploting the situation as a marketing ploy, but in a city like D.C. promotional campaigns sometimes have a spark of sincere ideological principle behind them. FreshFarm Markets have long depended on corporate as well as individual patrons and partners. While the restitution of the supermarket chain's old backdoor policy has yet to happen thanks to the mediating role FFM plays in bringing farmers, shoppers and WFM together, there are more and more overt signs of mutual back-scratching these days.

You must have missed the times WFM filled in at Chef Demos. Given my opinion of most prepared foods at WFM and the growth of that product line at the expense of a wide variety of raw ingredients, I find this phenomenon even more deserving of commentary.*

As far as yesterday's market is concerned, the information tables were packed w Whole Food's literature since the company will donate a set percentage of the dollars spent at their store in Georgetown to the FreshFarm Market today (Sept. 10).

Speaking of trawling, it's not uncommon to see the local chefs shopping at the markets, especially DuPont.  I've bumped into Ris LaCost (between gigs, but late of 1789 and early of, we hope, a new place soon), Nora Pouillon (Restaurant Nora, Asia Nora), Carol Greenwood (Bucks, Comet; and -- despite her media rep -- very friendly) Tony Conte (Oval Room) and I'm sure others I didn't recognize.  But lately there's been a new trend of chefs strolling through, camera-ready in their whites and hounds tooth with lithe arm candy,  not chatting up the vendors or loading tomatoes but just...I don't know, doing a little PR?  It's even more blatant at Penn Quarter, where the last couple chefs I saw wandering through paid not a whit of attention to the food itself.  Are the chefs looking for a photo op?  Are the markets requesting drop-bys just to further their cred?

I want to know more about the eye candy. Nora's one of the founders of the market. Ris sometimes works for Toiga (and shops at Whole Foods); she used to show up at the market w her truck back in the days of 1789. Etc. As for pubic appearances and PR, that's basically why there are Chef at the Market demos. Kolumbia's Jamie S. signed up practically every month when I began volunteering at Dupont. Brought a stack of business cards and menus when he'd tear in after a grueling Saturday night and talk up his restaurant at the same time that he'd demonstrate how the public might use the fresh produce available at the market.

*Somewhat related: When Jaleo's team decided to show shoppers just how easy it is to whip up gazpacho, that no cooking is involved, and how wonderful tomatoes are during the height of the growing season, the public snatched up copies of recipes and nodded vigorously when the merits of certain sherries and olive oils were discussed. As I was passing out samples, more than one shopper said, "So where can I buy this?" "I mean ready-made."

[Busboy]

The chef's strolling around..hmmm. Maybe to get a little note in the Dish column??
I did pick up one of the WF bags at Dupont a while ago. They were giving them out for free and I thought "Eh, what the heck". I kept it in my car until I lost it. They don't hold near enough anyway, especially during corn season
No local markets for me this week. I'm vacationing in Cape May NJ and being a geek foodie, brought along a nice aged balsamico, garden basil  and evoo (along with other staples) in anticipation of making a caprese salad with Jersey tomatoes. Delish and much better the field tomatoes I got last week at Del Ray.
I'm not sure there is even such a variety of tomato as "Jersey", it's just what we called them growing up.
Also from the roadside stand: white corn, nectarines and huge peeled pole beans.

It is The Garden State! Apparently tomatoes are something of a specialty -- there are huge canning operations not far up the coast from where you are now. Have fun!

I want to know more about the eye candy. Nora's one of the founders of the market. Ris sometimes works for Toiga (and shops at Whole Foods); she used to show up at the market w her truck back in the days of 1789. Etc. As for pubic appearances and PR, that's basically why there are Chef at the Market demos. Kolumbia's Jamie S. signed up practically every month when I began volunteering at Dupont.

Not talking about Ris et al or the chefs who show up to demo (I suspect all those I mentioned by name of actually shopping). Rather, it seems that it's become hip just to be seen walking through the market (perhaps with photog in tow?).

[hjshorter]

I want to know more about the eye candy. Nora's one of the founders of the market. Ris sometimes works for Toiga (and shops at Whole Foods); she used to show up at the market w her truck back in the days of 1789. Etc. As for pubic appearances and PR, that's basically why there are Chef at the Market demos. Kolumbia's Jamie S. signed up practically every month when I began volunteering at Dupont.

Not talking about Ris et al or the chefs who show up to demo (I suspect all those I mentioned by name of actually shopping). Rather, it seems that it's become hip just to be seen walking through the market (perhaps with photog in tow?).

It's hip to be seasonal, y'know. Is this going on at any of the VA markets, or just downtown? I've noticed it most at Penn Qtr.

Pontormo, that gazpacho story is sad, but IMO, not unexpected.

[bavila]

Polyface meats are totally worth the money. They deliver once a month or so to Naptown, and I am currently jonesing for their bacon and their turkeys (which all burnt up in a freak accident earlier this year).

I can't say I've seen chefs at the Annapolis FM (which by the way hosts ONLY goods from Anne Arundel County -- talk about really local). But I do see JJ Minetola (Metropolitan) at Whole Foods occasionally -- definitely shopping.

As for the bags, I am one of those carrying about a WF or TJ's reusable bag to try to reduce excess baggage. You may have read (click) about pending legislation in Annapolis to ban plastic bags in retail operations. And the WF here has gotten rid of (most of) them voluntarily. I think the bags you see at the FM are just part of the reduce-reuse-recycle zeitgeist.

[Busboy]

A correction: the gilded pork chops are not from Polyface but from Emerald Family Farms, " a consortium of small family and young farmers," who are acolytes Joe Salatin and Polyface and sold through the same distributor, Eco-Friendly, but are not formally intertwined.

Just for the heck of it I wandered into the Safeway on the walk to work and found a family pack of pork chops running $1.99 a pound, about a fifth of the nine-and-change (the label was smudged) EFF gets for its chops.



Factor in the the copious fat and bone and the actual pork ends up costing about what you'd pay for a dry-aged strip steak and, for left-thinking skeptics like myself that draws all the questions about whether saving the world and the family farm through "ethical family farming and raising pasture-fed animals" is really just a hobby for the rich and the true believers and an excuse to feel a little smug regarding the unenlightened who -- merely because they are feeding families on limited means -- are eating those inferior and possibly immoral pork chops the Safeway sells.

But jeez, what a pork chop. It could have been the martini or I might have just got lucky and hit the seasoning and cooking just right, but chances are it was the pork itself and that finger of fat that circles the loin like a cholesterol Beltway and it was -- to my mind -- the best piece of pork I ever put in my mouth, bar none, and the best leftovers the next day, as well. The stuff melted, melted away leaving a roast-fat and pure pork taste that I can still summon today and which may well drive me back to fling more money in their direction on Sunday.

For them as cares, the preparation was hardly gourmet: we dusted the chops with salt, pepper, ground coriander, chili powder and garlic powder and then grilled them until they were a pale pink. On the side: fresh corn a la phaelon56 (Toigo corn, can't find p5's technique, maybe my wife will remind me) canned black beans my wife had pimped with fresh garlic and "torpedo" onions (Tree and Leaf) and fresh heirlooms (T&L again) tossed with olive oil and diced avocado (Bestway Mercado Latino ). The pork was so rich a sauce would have been superfluous, but heaping the beans and the tomatoes onto the meat worked quite well (as everyone who's ever eaten Latin American food can tell you).

I can sense more angst coming on.

[monavano]

Great summation of my feelings too.

"Factor in the the copious fat and bone and the actual pork ends up costing about what you'd pay for a dry-aged strip steak and, for left-thinking skeptics like myself that draws all the questions about whether saving the world and the family farm through "ethical family farming and raising pasture-fed animals" is really just a hobby for the rich and the true believers and an excuse to feel a little smug regarding the unenlightened who -- merely because they are feeding families on limited means -- are eating those inferior and possibly immoral pork chops the Safeway sells."

My freezer contains meats from Costco, Harris Teeter, Safeway and EFF etc.
It is indeed a treat to eat the products we pay a premium for. I feel fortunate that I can access them at will (but not all the time).

[monavano]

At Kingstowne, these little beauties looked too good to pass up. Got the last of the peaches from Allenberg Orchards as well.
Cenan's Bakery:

Edited by monavano, 15 September 2007 - 06:01 AM.

[Pontormo]

But lately there's been a new trend of chefs strolling through, camera-ready in their whites

Spotted my first this morning just as I was leaving....

[monavano]

But lately there's been a new trend of chefs strolling through, camera-ready in their whites

Spotted my first this morning just as I was leaving....

And who might that be???

[Pontormo]

But lately there's been a new trend of chefs strolling through, camera-ready in their whites

Spotted my first this morning just as I was leaving....

And who might that be???

No one I recognized--which isn't saying much. There were nonetheless other chefs, regulars, in their civies. Truly a glorious day.

* * *
Cf. the thread on Dorie Greenspan's latest book (Baking...) for a terrific, quick cake requiring Italian prune plums, best the day after it's made. Think the recipe is called Dimpled Plum Cake; there are photos in the thread, including a beautiful one by Chufi.

[monavano]

At Kingstown Market yesterday: honeycrisp and empire apples, tomato seconds and peach preserves. Oh, and a pint of ice cream too!

[Busboy]

Tree and Leaf had some high quality haricot verts today at Mt. Pleasant, possibly worth hunting them down tomorrow in Dupont.

[monavano]

I did a rare second farm market visit this week, to Del Ray. Got nectarines and pears from Toigo. No mirai corn .
From a vendor whose farm is near Culpepper, I got a healthy bunch of kale which went into a caldo verde. Gotta watch how much you eat.....fiber
Cheddar and horseradish chevre from Apple Tree Goat Dairy (the mediteranean herb chevre is fantastic)
Apple cider from D&S farm, Charlotte Hall, Md.

And, of course.......a chicken saltena.




Anyone know for sure which farms sell tomatoes in bulk?? (for sauce).

[bavila]

Anyone know for sure which farms sell tomatoes in bulk?? (for sauce).

My experience has been that most farmers will sell bushels of seconds or rejects but you have to ask for them -- they aren't generally on display.

[monavano]

Anyone know for sure which farms sell tomatoes in bulk?? (for sauce).

My experience has been that most farmers will sell bushels of seconds or rejects but you have to ask for them -- they aren't generally on display.

I think I'll give Allenberg Orchards a call to see if they'll sell me a bushel on Friday. I made basic tomato sauce (ala Marcella Hazan) that has me thinking I should really stock up and knock out a big batch so I can enjoy them over the winter.
This morning I got a bit sad while enjoying my breakfast. It's a long winter without fresh tomatoes. At least I can get campari tomatoes at Costco.

[lperry]

Mount Vernon this morning was looking like fall. Lots of apples - the typical varieties along with some Staymans and Empires, greens - mustard, collards, arugula, chard, oak leaf lettuce (be still my heart), sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, winter squashes, okra and on and on. It was the last of the peaches, but here are still some tomatoes and peppers coming in. The pears are beginning to come in as well. I bought red Bartletts and Devoes. I've never heard of Devoe pears, but they looked and smelled fantastic, so I had to buy them.

-L

[monavano]

At Kingstowne I picked up:
a dozen ears of corn for $3.50
field tomatoes (no bulk or seconds tho)
ice cream from Middleburg
zucchini and squash
apple cider

At a truly bustling Old Town Market today:
Lapsang Souchong tea, because I want to cook with it
Sweets from Maribeth's Bakery (pic)
shitake mushrooms

[Robin Shuster]

Highlights of this weekend's 14& U and Bloomingdale Farmers Market October 6 and 7th

Both markets:

VERY tiny Okra at Truck Patch and Kuhn. I sauteed them in onions and tomatoes last week. So tender that they did not need to have their stems trimmed at all.

Breadline ciabatta, focaccia as well as their muffins, scones, cookies, baguettes, ficelles and breads

14& U: Saturday 9-1 at 14th and U Streets

Young Leeks, PUrple top turnips with young greens, Mountain View's peppers (Attila is from a Hungarian family and his peppers are superb. I am very partial to their tomatoes as well.


Bloomingdale Farmers Market Sunday October 7th 10-2 First and R Streets NW

We have a new baker, Nanbon, who specializes in bread pudding and sweet potato pies. The bread pudding is Aisha's GREAT GRand mother's recipe and the Sweet Potato Pie is Aisha's Great Aunt's. The bread pudding is wonderful -- very light and custardy, almost like a souffle. I have not yet tasted the Sweet Potato Pie.

We will also have New Asbury Farm Lamb from Loudon County. Meadow raised and very very tender and flavorful.

Plus Breadline baguettes, ficelle, focaccia, ciabatta, muffins, scones, cookies.

Lots of Reid's antique and modern apples.

[hjshorter]

VERY tiny Okra at Truck Patch and Kuhn.  I sauteed them in onions and tomatoes last week.  So tender that they did not need to have their stems trimmed at all. 

Emma picked out a basket of tiny okra yesterday from the Truck Patch stand at the Mt. P market, and insisted on paying for it out of her allowance. It is heavenly fried in a light as air cornmeal batter (add egg whites beaten to soft peak), and indeed did not require any trimming.

Edited by hjshorter, 07 October 2007 - 05:10 PM.