Dupont Circle FreshFarm Market - 20th St. & Massachusetts Avenue NW

[eatWashington]

This morning, one of my two co-managers sent out a great report of this past Sunday's market including a link to a blog kept by Chef Vinod of Indique. His demonstration was truly one of our best, as Reg noted, in terms of presentation since a gorgeous array of spices brightened up an overcast, drizzly day.

We scurried around to add cilantro, greenhouse tomatoes and all sorts of onions to the display. Next time we'll have to remember yogurt. Perhaps eggplant in all sorts of colors, patterns and shapes...

It's not always easy to get food to the farmers and all their hard-working assistants, but another thing that I was grateful for was the fact that two of the three dishes were vegan (gotta feed Heinz!) and the third, bhelpuri (my absolute favorite), vegetarian. Word of the street snack from Mumbai got out quickly and we were rushed.

Given the cult of local food, it's a pleasure to forgo fanaticism and be reminded of our debt to the rest of the world by stirring fragrant spices into something we pick up at the market.

Here's the link to the blog with pictures: Entry on May 19, 2008.

N.B. Donrockwell is linked on the left-hand margin.

Spent a fortune on produce this weekend at Dupont Circle Farmers Market. The strawberries were wonderful. I made Eton Mess (you make meringues, break them into large chunks then fold them into a cloud of whipped cream along with chunks of strawberries and a swirl of strawberry puree...). But the big disappointment was the asparagus. Much money but not much flavor. Didn't compare with anything freshly picked in France or England. Also, it didn't leave that amazing stench when you pee. Is somebody tinkering with asparagus to remove that smell and along with it removing the flavor?

[Anna Blume]

Heads Up for those of you asking about ways you begin to learn how to cook or who's a good caterer:

Oliver Friendly of Eat and Foods is Chef at Market from 11 to 12 tomorrow, May 25.

He is native, trained locally, and worked w Peter Smith and Barton Seaver. Makes his own bacon, pancetta, guanciale, sausage and salumi, Ferment Everything! Zora? Monavano? Makes cheddar, mozzarella, labne, yogurt and creme fraiche, too. Very into markets and local food as his web site attests. (Wonderful reports of each Sunday's market with lots of photos and recipes!!!)

Demonstration at 11:00: Baby BLT's with his own bacon, gazpacho and mini-strawberry shortcakes.

* * *

There will be pea shoots and garlic curls just to annoy Waitman. Virginia Lamb will be back and Buster's will bring softshell crabs. Check out Eco-Friendly to see if Bev's lambs got big enough to be spring and yours.

Spring Valley Farm should have even more strawberries than last week. Plus Heinz at Next Step (parking lot, everyone else in this paragraph is in the street). Maybe Emily at Black Rock Orchard, too, if she didn't run out today; she's close to Country Pleasures where you might wish to run first to see if the alpine strawberries are around. Then to your far left, those little potato nubbins (right?) from Jim at one Sunnyside, then to your far right, past Dave's wonderful pork chops (Cedarbrook) and the Blue Ridge butter and the flax seed bread at Atwater's (fabulous cubed in Lynne Rossetto Kasper's salads earlier in the month), find the Farm at Sunnyside to see about the white turnips, breakfast radishes and collards.

Turn around and if the peanut's ready for dessert, check out the chocolate pudding at Keswick.

I'll leave the rest up to you to explore after adding one final note about the magic bags of basil.

New Morning Farm sells the leaves washed and plucked from their stems. Didn't believe what I was told, but once when I was desperately in need and had no choice, I picked up a bag. Sure enough, as long as your home isn't grossly hot, the basil stays fresh and green, left out, all week. (I put a tiny square of dry paper towel in the zip-lock bag and put it on the window sill next to the A/C where a gap lets air directly inside.)

[CrescentFresh]

New Morning Farm sells the leaves washed and plucked from their stems. Didn't believe what I was told, but once when I was desperately in need and had no choice, I picked up a bag. Sure enough, as long as your home isn't grossly hot, the basil stays fresh and green, left out, all week. (I put a tiny square of dry paper towel in the zip-lock bag and put it on the window sill next to the A/C where a gap lets air directly inside.)

Until I started rooting and growing my own all throughout the summer (after purchasing one plant at the beginning of the season), those bags of basil were the (and probably still are) the best deal going for anyone looking to make pesto, which is already a snap, into something even easier to make. Take it home and store it in your food processor with garlic, pine nuts, parmesan and good olive oil.

[Al Dente]

Okay, screw working on my sales analysis reports, etc., I'm getting off my butt to head down to the market from the nether regions of Rockville.

See you there...

[zoramargolis]

Oliver Friendly of Eat and Foods is Chef at Market from 11 to 12 tomorrow, May 25.

<snip> Very into markets and local food as his web site attests. (Wonderful reports of each Sunday's market with lots of photos and recipes!!!)

Sorry I arrived and left early, and hadn't seen this post or Oliver's website. The blog is very attractive, but I hope that someone can tell him that the curled flower stalks of garlic plants are called scapes not scrapes; he used that word at least a dozen times on the blog --for some reason, I am being cranky and peckish about misstatements and misspellings lately.

I missed the Alpine strawbs at Country Pleasures, but got some tasty small ones from Quaker Valley, who were also selling apple wood chips, which is just about my favorite wood for smoking fish and poultry. Country Pleasures was also where I bought some big, fat purple asparagus. Other vendors had bunched skinny and fat asparagus together in the same bundles, but Country Pleasures knows better than to do that. Perhaps it is mere loyalty to a shared body size of abundant girth, but I think skinny asparagus are a waste of time and money. Eric, the skinny farmer-professor, agrees with me. (He wasn't there today, but we had a conversation about fat asparagus two weeks ago.)

I am so pleased that Everona Farms is selling their farmstead raw sheepmilk cheese at the Dupont Market--it is extremely good. Dr. Pat had a new aged cheese this week, called Blue Ridge, which is a camembert with blue. Wow. She is selling wedges from a wheel that bears the ridges from its mold-perfectly ripe and ready to eat. Absolutely delicious. I bought another piece of Stony Man, her aged pecorino-type cheese, which is fantastic on top of fava bean crostini. Also tasted her other new cheese, a baby swiss, and a cheese with barely perceptible amounts of vegetable ash.

For the second time this month, I have paid for something at Toigo, and neglected to take it with me after pocketing my change. Last time it was cucumbers, and this time it was tomato seconds. They replaced the cucumbers the following week, but teased me about it. I'm really going to get a razzing about this next week. This is your brain sans estrogen.

No spring lamb at Eco-Friendly--Bruce said that they hadn't had enough time to process any this week. He also said that Bev has been contacted by Le Bernardin, wanting to buy meat from him. Yikes, one of these days we'll have to prevail on Bev not to "get beyond his raisin'", or there'll be none left for us folks back home.

[DonRocks]

For the second time this month, I have paid for something at Toigo, and neglected to take it with me after pocketing my change. Last time it was cucumbers, and this time it was tomato seconds.

And I now have three grades of salsa for my pantry.

[zoramargolis]

And I now have three grades of salsa for my pantry.

Have you been stalking me at the market, Don? Probably not a bad idea if I keep being this forgetful

[DonRocks]

Have you been stalking me at the market, Don?

Yes. I was the guy dressed up like an asparagus.

[zoramargolis]

Yes. I was the guy dressed up like an asparagus.

Wild, of course!

[monavano]

I was there early too, in an effort to avoid any problems getting in or out of DC with Rolling Thunder (no problem-we even parked by the Mall and walked around for a spell). I picked up golden beats from New Morning Farm, garlic scapes (was told they are the same as garlic curls) at Next Step, eggs and Blue Suede Moo from Keswick and a couple Teryaki sticks from Cibola.

[Anna Blume]

Country Pleasures only had five containers of the alpine strawberries, but promises more in the weeks ahead.

Friendly was, indeed, and hard-working. Showed up at 9:30 and as soon as shoppers noticed food was being assembled, we kind of had to give up on the notion of a demo 1 1/2 hours later, especially when the bacon hit the pan. Ended up with strawberry-stained fingers and a stronger desire for a Global knife.

His mini-shortcakes were assembled by sautéing slices of brioche in butter, topping them with strawberries that were dabbed, in turn, with creme fraiche. He had mixed 60-year-old balsamic vinegar into the creme fraiche earlier, then picked up some lemon basil (from Endless Summer) to chiffonade and sprinkle on top before serving.

Al Dente did, indeed, make it. Loire Lover, too, I understand. Thanks for the info re the camembert, Z. I hear that Clear Spring Creamery will bring its camembert to market next week.

One of Cinda's things that Friendly raved about were these mustard greens called Osaka, I believe, but don't quote me. Purple and green, small and young at Gardner's Gourmet. Taste just like wasabi. Tempted just to stuff them raw in mouth as I cook dinner since they're great in salad, but think I just might smash potatoes, skins left on, and stir in buttermilk and melted butter before adding wilted greens.

So busy, I didn't get all my shopping done and had to pick up potatoes at the grocery store and sub a Vidalia for the spring onions I wanted.

Postscript: the mustard greens were good as planned, however, the spicy punch mellows, so salads or sandwiches (pulled pork, roast beef...) might be best. Was thinking last night that they'd be great sliced and added to stir-fried skirt or flank steak at the very end, just before plating, or used as a bed for steaks grilled outdoors.

[Al Dente]

I think I had about 100 strawberries today.

[Mark Slater]

I arrived late, but still was able to get my favorite jumbo lump crabcakes from Chris's market. The fat asparagus were gone already, but I picked up a single serving of decent morels for $20. That's a splurge I probably won't repeat.

[Anna Blume]

Heads Up: NEW AT MARKET/FARMS/THINGS TO COME

• Broccoli at Spring Valley which should have zucchini (golden & green) plus yellow summer squash.

• Tree & Leaf might also have their organic broccoli, though you all should try the chicory greens to prove you're not wusses. Raw leaves are tender like spinach vs. sturdy like dandelion greens.

• Smith Meadow had free-range chickens for the first time last week. This, too?

• The precious little alpine strawberries are back at Country Pleasures, so head there first. Strawberries at Toigo, fields of them at Spring Valley; Black Rock, maybe, Twin Springs...

• Buster's may have flounder. Softshells. Mobjack Bay clams.

• Clearspring Creamery: Garlic & Pepper Quark. Their camembert should return.

• At Eco-Friendly Bev is to Boy what Spring Lamb is to Wolf. Nice little poussins these past few weeks, though.

• Farmhouse Flowers and Plants: Peonies one more week; yellow marrow, Cup & Saucer, new.

• Wollam: Peonies 3 more weeks. Oriental lilies. Canterbury Bells & Cottage Marrow (all different colors vs. yellow).

• Keswick: Blue Suede Moo: aged 60 days. Experimenting w new cheesecake varieties.

• Next Step Produce: Italian dandelion greens continue. 8 kinds of lettuce in rows, including Rustica, Red Fire, Red Crissy and Boston.

• Quaker Valley: Crisp apples another 2 weeks. Their canned peaches are finishing up—great on the grill with pork chops from Cedarbrook.

• Mushroom Stand: Morels into June, but looks as if Penn Quarter's chanterelles will not make an appearance again until summer.

• New Morning; flowering chives and lots of herbs coming up.

• Gardner's Gourmet: The small purple-green Osaka mustard greens taste just like wasabi. Make a bed for steak grilled outdoors or toss with buttermilk dressing. Possibly last week of asparagus.

• Farm at Sunnyside should bring snap peas and maybe some field cucumbers.

N.B.: Virginia Lamb will not be at market this Sunday because the farmers' daughter is graduating from high school. Corey and Janet Childs are both very proud since she is dedicated to their enterprise and has definite plans to help it grow once she earns her undergraduate degree in Business.

Chef Demo at 11 AM: Dean Gold of Dino.

[Anna Blume]

Could anyone point me to where (if anywhere) I could find parking reasonably close such that I could bring along an infant? Thanks.

HEAR YE! HEAR YE!

The parking garage at 1666 Connecticut Avenue has agreed to open on Sundays, for a month-long trial run. If enough people park at the garage, they will continue to open on Sundays during market hours. The building is on the southwest corner of Connecticut and R Streets, NW. The entrance to the garage is on R Street, between Connecticut & 21st Streets, across from Teaism. There IS a fee to park in this garage, $5.00 first hour, $8.00 for entire market. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE [tell your friends] who come...to the market!! This will only work if people park there over the next month.

[synaesthesia]

I really liked the smoked bluefish empanada from the stall that always sell the crab cakes and gazpacho. And I forget which stall - had this delicious lemony-scented basil that my friend bought for making what is bound to be a very fragrant and delicious pesto. I don't think it was actual lemon basil, the leaves were a bit smaller and more narrow in proportion to usual basil.

[Heather]

Strawberries are incredible right now. I picked up a quart from Next Step that my children have mostly devoured, and flat from Toigo for jam this week along with 6 cases of tomatoes for breadsoda. I am doing my best to incorporate local products there, with limited success.

For home: mesclun with nasturtiums from Gardener's Gourmet, Atwater sourdough & almond cookies, the aforementioned quart of berries, and eggs from an undisclosed vendor (thank you Charles).

Mark Toigo says sour cherries in about 3 weeks, and they have a huge crop this year. I know what I'm doing the week of the 22nd.

[zoramargolis]

I couldn't quite pull the trigger on a 3/4 filled pint box of cute little chanterelles for $15. I can't shake the memory of the day Jonathan and I picked about 50 pounds of them in the Santa Monica Mountains. I gotta find me a place to pick them that's not too far away...

I did get some spring lamb from Bev--a little leg roast--and a couple of deep dark Berkshire pork rib chops. Should be some good eating. I missed the English peas at Farm at Sunnyside, but I got some alpine strawbs and some more fatso purple asparagus at Country Pleasures, and some sugar snaps and thumbnail-sized new potato nubbins at Spring Valley. This may be my last batch of rhubarb from New Morning, which is on the verge of wearing out its welcome for my family. What with a few more veggies, a small piece of Everona sheepmilk cheese, milk, a couple of Bonaparte brioches and Atwater breads, my food cooler was heavily laden and my wallet was significantly lighter. Those sparkling fresh, young spring veg are absolutely irresistible, though.

[hillvalley]

I really liked the smoked bluefish empanada from the stall that always sell the crab cakes and gazpacho. And I forget which stall - had this delicious lemony-scented basil that my friend bought for making what is bound to be a very fragrant and delicious pesto. I don't think it was actual lemon basil, the leaves were a bit smaller and more narrow in proportion to usual basil.

Was it The Farm at Sunnyside-next to Blue Ridge dairy, on the street side? It isn't lemon basil-it was something more fun. I'll find out the name.

I couldn't quite pull the trigger on a 3/4 filled pint box of cute little chanterelles for $15. I can't shake the memory of the day Jonathan and I picked about 50 pounds of them in the Santa Monica Mountains. I gotta find me a place to pick them that's not too far away...

Please tell me you have started on your book already.

I did get some spring lamb from Bev--a little leg roast--and a couple of deep dark Berkshire pork rib chops. Should be some good eating. I missed the English peas at Farm at Sunnyside, but I got some alpine strawbs and some more fatso purple asparagus at Country Pleasures, and some sugar snaps and thumbnail-sized new potato nubbins at Spring Valley. This may be my last batch of rhubarb from New Morning, which is on the verge of wearing out its welcome for my family. What with a few more veggies, a small piece of Everona sheepmilk cheese, milk, a couple of Bonaparte brioches and Atwater breads, my food cooler was heavily laden and my wallet was significantly lighter. Those sparkling fresh, young spring veg are absolutely irresistible, though.

Apparently people started lining up before the bell and were gone in 5 minutes. I got to taste a few and they were well worth the line.

We didn't get to market until 10:30 this morning and I was reminded of why it is worth getting up early on a Sunday. There were great waves of people throughout. The +1 bought treats, chocolate milk and strawberry sorbet, as we made our way along to entertain himself as I weaved in and out of the lines. Having someone to stand in line while I shopped made maneuvering the market so much easier.

Every herb I wanted was in, including cilantro, basil, and parsley. For me, summer has officially arrived because there will now be at least two different herbs at my disposal. Eggs from New Morning, broccoli from Tree and Leaf, sweet peas and cilantro from The Farm at Sunnyside and daikon from Next Step. It's been a long time since I left market this happy and with a bag this full.

[Anna Blume]

I ran into Charles and Zora, both picking up strawberries at Country Pleasures at the first bell.

I told the former about the English peas at Farm at Sunnyside and before he had the chance to walk there, they were gone.

Eli Cook at Spring Valley may have been the only other farmer w sugar snap peas today and F@S ran out all too quickly since they just started a CSA. Apparently, it's hard gauging how much to plant to accommodate markets and perhaps a larger than expected number of CSA subscribers.

There were sweet cherries at F@S, too, I just had to go with strawberries since there were so, so many. Given the drawn-out rainy cold spell, the strawberries that should have been coming out gradually are all coming out at once so there is a surfeit. Just about everybody was selling them. (FYI, I saw some sprouting along Reno the other day, the small ornamental type that got carried to the edge of the woods, but was too chicken to pick them to take home.)

N.B. There was probably lemon basil at Endless Summer: the folk with a yellow and green tent and hydroponic lettuces.

* * *

Only one person took advantage of the new parking option.

* * *

Much more to say, but I'll end with something worth noting that is relevant to those of you who visit markets in Arlington, Mount Pleasant, et al, too. Brooke Lea Foster contributed an absolutely wonderful article to this month's Washingtonian that features four local farming families: the Plancks of Wheatland; Zach Lester and Georgia O'Neal of Tree & Leaf (profiled earlier by Waitman); Eli & Misty Cook of Spring Valley and Rachel Bynum and Eric Plaksin of Waterpenny. I found Eli's story most compelling--though I don't want to ruin it for anyone. Truly engrossing, thoughtful and worth reading. I learned a lot.

[bookluvingbabe]

I wasn't planning to stop at the market this morning. But when a parking space opened up on CT just as I had dropped off a weekend houseguest to catch the NY bus.

I didn't bring a cooler so I did a very quick lap --baby brocolli for the little one and a blueberry scone for me. The strawberries looked good everywhere but I bought so many on Thursday that I didn't get any more. The lines were insanely long at Atwater and Bonaport.

I too need to start getting up earlier, bring a cooler and my +1 to stand in lines while I shop...

Jennifer

[hillvalley]

Was it The Farm at Sunnyside-next to Blue Ridge dairy, on the street side? It isn't lemon basil-it was something more fun. I'll find out the name.

It was fino verde basil.

[DameEdna]

The guy with the guitar today thought he was Joni Mitchell ...now the Dupont Market has an official busker (?). It adds something to the market experience.

Yes the strawberries were a little too watery. But good!

I was concerned about Salmonella on the tomatoes ... I asked The Person With the Answers

about this ...she said that our tomatoes were Amish! (?)

[Waitman]

Cherries!

[Heather]

Cherries!

Favas!

[chickenlover]

Favas!

Peas!

[Heather]

Peas!

I was dealing with business when the bell rang and so missed out on the peas. Maybe next week, or perhaps someone at Penn Quarter will have some. Now is the market time when it's really worth to go, and go early.

[Anna Blume]

I was dealing with business when the bell rang and so missed out on the peas. Maybe next week, or perhaps someone at Penn Quarter will have some. Now is the market time when it's really worth to go, and go early.

The sin of buying tomatoes before their season arrives?

The Farm @ Sunnyside were the ones selling both cherries and English peas. They also participate in the Penn Quarter Market.

* * *

Mea culpa: I've been urging folk to pick up alpine strawberries from Country Pleasures for several weeks now. Turns out those were a small variety of organic strawberry--wonderful for sure, but the genuine alpine strawberries just came to market for the first time yesterday.

Also worth noting besides the aforementioned items or the strawberry-colored heat rash you acquire from being outside yesterday for nine hours straight:

STREET MOVING NORTH:

Sunnyside (W. VA--1st truck on SW side of the street; aka The Smoking Farmers): Gai lan (Chinese broccoli; when mated with broccoli rabe, it becomes broccolini) and kohlrabi.

Country Pleasures was selling lavender and will bring some for another 3 weeks. Black Twig organic applesauce to sit beside pork chops from Cedarbrook. Yummy, thin cold sausages. (The guys at Cisco read Donrockwell according to a wonderful, regular volunteer from Donrockwell who returned to help yesterday. Do you think they're getting ideas for recipe development?)

Dolcezza: Lemon Lemon Basil joins Lemon Ricotta Cardamom and sells out first. (Note lack of either hyphen or the Oxford comma. Is this a food-name thing? Also see the business's web site. Stunning w props to the farms that supply them. Saw Rob, one of the owners, sporting a curly bun while carting away fields of strawberries.)

Smith Meadow: Lots of varieties of fresh pasta this week. If you miss the chickens Cibola once carried, do note that Eco-Friendly isn't the only one selling free-range chickens.

Virginia Lamb is back, this time with matriculated daughter. And chops.

Everona: Tapinade w sheep's milk cheese mixed in to spread on eggplant (yumm), toss with pasta, make a sandwich...

Spring Valley: Snow peas so happy to greet you their toes curl up.

PARKING LOT, STARTING NORTH:

Buster's: It's a hard life fishing on the Chesapeake, so pick up your soft shell crabs for a very good price! Live! Otherwise, prepped for the squeamish. If you're early, also check out the bucket nearby for a special, unexpected treat every now and again such as the couple's small supply of sour cherries.

New Morning: Spinach, pea tendrils with flowers. Their organic strawberries are here to accompany those of Next Step Produce and Country Pleasures. Also a font for snap peas. Golden beets--just through June, according to another farmer further south.

Tree & Leaf: Speaking of beets, you gotta see theirs, especially before the bell rings and they are all snatched. More costly than most, but my spectacular $5 bunch of Bull's Blood came with a fulsome bouquet of leaves splashed and saturated with red and long slender stalks. I intend to eat everything but the skins slipped off the roasted roots. When sliced raw, the beets have the same kind of alternating pattern of color one sees in Chioggia beets, except with deep, dark and lighter reds.

Next Step Produce: There is fennel in addition to the fava beans.

P.S. Did you know chickens lay more eggs during the winter than during the hot summer months?

[Al Dente]

P.S. Did you know chickens lay more eggs during the winter than during the hot summer months?

An egg laid yesterday or today would be freakin' hard boiled.

[Heather]

The sin of buying tomatoes before their season arrives?

Sorry, I don't have the luxury of ignoring what our customers want, and they want tomatoes. So, hothouse it is. I don't begrudge Mark Toigo the $$.

[Anna Blume]

Sorry, I don't have the luxury of ignoring what our customers want, and they want tomatoes. So, hothouse it is. I don't begrudge Mark Toigo the $$.

Indeed. Bread & circuses. And tomatoes.

[Al Dente]

You know what would be great? One of these vendors should start bringing in some really primo organic weed. I'm not asking for much, just 3 or 4 varieties of righteous ganj. Think of the boost in sales at the market-- especially with the baked goods!

Thank you for considering this modest proposal.

Regards,

Al Dented

[hillvalley]

Cherries!

Favas!

Peas!

I was dealing with business when the bell rang and so missed out on the peas. Maybe next week, or perhaps someone at Penn Quarter will have some. Now is the market time when it's really worth to go, and go early.

Sounds like we need to divide and conquer and have one person at each stand before the bell rings to get everything we want.

[bookluvingbabe]

I have traditionally been an early to the market person. Not quite the opening bell, but usually 9:30 at the latest.

Right now I am enjoying the soon to be waning days of BLBaby's morning nap and can't get to the market before noon.

Is it worth it to go so late? Would there be any cherries or strawberries left? Bread at Bonapart or Atwater?

Pondering...

[Anna Blume]

Right now I am enjoying the soon to be waning days of BLBaby's morning nap and can't get to the market before noon.

Is it worth it to go so late? Would there be any cherries or strawberries left? Bread at Bonapart or Atwater?

Pondering...

When I first discovered the market, I usually went some time close to the final hour and simply didn't know what I was missing. I was perfectly happy with what I brought home.

When new seasonal produce first arrives at the market, appearing under only or two tents, it sells out quickly. This Sunday, for example, raspberries vanished long before noon. Nectarines hung around a bit longer, but there were two orchards selling them; none were there at 12:30. Gone early, too, were the zucchini blossoms and sorrel (Farm @ Sunnyside!!!). The tenderest heads of lettuce were tucked away in their new homes.

Eggs also disappear, though at 12:53 I managed to pick up the number I wanted from someone who had only 1 & 1/2 dozen (at the same time another shopper got the rest); this was at New Morning where there were still a few heads of Romaine. The Creamery usually sells out the most popular items quickly, but on an incredibly busy day, they still had a few things around noon.

We're approaching a time of plenty now that we are officially enjoying summer. So, while you might be taking your chances on lemon-poppyseed muffins or baguettes, there will probably be plenty of things you have been craving. Toigo's sour cherries weren't ripe enough to bring yesterday, but once they're ready (very soon), coming from one of the larger farm & orchards, they should linger longer than those grown at smaller farms.

ETA: Last week, I remember Atwater still had a few loaves of its Sunflower-Flax bread around closing. This is a new favorite for me.

[edenman]

Toigo's sour cherries weren't ripe enough to bring yesterday, but once they're ready (very soon), coming from one of the larger farm & orchards, they should linger longer than those grown at smaller farms.

I grabbed the last three containers of sour cherries at 12:30ish from the guys on the street, south-side. Can't remember the name of the farm, but I look forward to trying them.

[Anna Blume]

I grabbed the last three containers of sour cherries at 12:30ish from the guys on the street, south-side. Can't remember the name of the farm, but I look forward to trying them.

I really went overboard, myself, since I love berry and stone-fruit season.

You probably got the Murano cherries from Eric at Country Pleasures; he's the guy with a great, thin summer (?) sausage and squat jars of delicious preserves, all organic. I love his fruit and he's a font of knowledge.

Next to him, moving north, Emily of Black Rock Orchard had tiny blueberries I had to pick up. Then, a little more north, Quaker Valley had raspberries.

Inside the parking lot, I managed to get Queen Ann cherries and an early type of nectarine from Twin Springs. Picked up the last supply of Tree & Leaf's organic sour cherries.

Folk who are into sour cherries, Rochelle, Heather, et al, please pipe up in the cooking thread and tell us what you're doing!

Dave of Cedarbrook sold me two beautiful pork loin chops and Mrs. B. told me there's a good recipe for a sour-cherry sauce to go with them on Epicurious.

[monavano]

I really went overboard, myself, since I love berry and stone-fruit season.

You probably got the Murano cherries from Eric at Country Pleasures; he's the guy with a great, thin summer (?) sausage and squat jars of delicious preserves, all organic. I love his fruit and he's a font of knowledge.

Next to him, moving north, Emily of Black Rock Orchard had tiny blueberries I had to pick up. Then, a little more north, Quaker Valley had raspberries.

Inside the parking lot, I managed to get Queen Ann cherries and an early type of nectarine from Twin Springs. Picked up the last supply of Tree & Leaf's organic sour cherries.

Folk who are into sour cherries, Rochelle, Heather, et al, please pipe up in the cooking thread and tell us what you're doing!

Dave of Cedarbrook sold me two beautiful pork loin chops and Mrs. B. told me there's a good recipe for a sour-cherry sauce to go with them on Epicurious.

I make a port reduction sauce to go with pork chops. You can use berries, or cherries. Basically, you pan sear your seasoned chops and remove them to a plate. Sautee sliced onion (about 1 medium to large) until caramelized. Increase the heat and deglaze the pan with port wine. Add you cherries or berries and a couple tablespoons of good cherry or berry jam. Add a bit of chicken stock and chopped fresh sage leaves and return the pork to the sauce. Allow pork to cook to desired temp.

Remove pork. Allow sauce to reduce while the pork rests Add salt and pepper, and finish with a bit of butter

A touch of balsamic is nice when you want to give the sauce a little punch of flavor.

[edenman]

You probably got the Murano cherries from Eric at Country Pleasures; he's the guy with a great, thin summer (?) sausage and squat jars of delicious preserves, all organic. I love his fruit and he's a font of knowledge.

These were labelled as Montmorency if that makes a difference.

[Anna Blume]

These were labelled as Montmorency if that makes a difference.

Biggest give-away: stored in clear plastic? Country Pleasures. Green paper container? I'm clueless.

[edenman]

Biggest give-away: stored in clear plastic? Country Pleasures. Green paper container? I'm clueless.

Clear plastic. We have a winner.

[hillvalley]

Early bird got the berry tomatoes at the Farm at Sunnyside They have also started carrying unusual herbs such as Lovage, pineapple sage, stevia, and fino basil.

Cherries, squash, and cucumbers were everywhere and raspberries have appeared, although they went fairly quickly. Tomatoes are starting to pop up at a number of stands including the Farm at Sunnyside, and Tree and Leaf. I spotted at least half a dozen different types of lettuce as well as standard summer herbs such as basil, oregano and dill.

And of course Clear Spring's chocolate milk. Damn that is good milk.

[Anna Blume]

I think that I shall never see

a tree as lovely as Heinz's calaloo.

[Heather]

I am also learning to spend more time at Penn Quarter (thanks Heather!)

You're welcome.

and my own local Mt Pleasant market where the lines are virtually non-existent except for Breadline but that comes and goes and they don't usually run out (although the stroller jam is not to be denied). There is no pleasure for me in going to the wall-to-wall people scene that I experienced at Courthouse and Dupont this weekend.

No more Dupont market for me after yesterday. It's become an unpleasant scene full of unpleasant people; the kind of people willing to push my kid out of the way when she lingers too long admiring the raspberries, and snatch the "perfect" basket out from in front of her.

So yeah, Penn Quarter, Mt. Pleasant, or Silver Spring.

[Pat]

No more Dupont market for me after yesterday. It's become an unpleasant scene full of unpleasant people; the kind of people willing to push my kid out of the way when she lingers too long admiring the raspberries, and snatch the "perfect" basket out from in front of her.

My neighbor will only go to Dupont Market in the winter because of this kind of thing--the crowds, the crowd behavior, etc.

[monavano]

My neighbor will only go to Dupont Market in the winter because of this kind of thing--the crowds, the crowd behavior, etc.

I haven't been to Dupont in a couple months. Basically, when the Fairfax County markets and Del Ray get going, I stay local. There are no mob scenes and the prices are significantly less. Now, the other markets don't hit the really "high notes" with vendors such as Cold Spring Creamery and Dr. Pat's artisinal cheeses-but for corn, tomatoes and berries, I'm like a pig in slop.

I do miss my favorite eggs and feta from Keswick, so I'm sure I'll be spending a Sunday morning there soon.

Heather-pushing your little one around? Ugh!

Say-did anyone spy Bourdain at the market? The rumor was that he planned a visit..

[qwertyy]

So yeah, Penn Quarter, Mt. Pleasant, or Silver Spring.

Don't forget the Saturday market at the corner of 18th and Columbia. It's small and doesn't have the bells and whistles of the others, but it's ridiculously closee to me and is convenient for picking up the basics. (Note: I haven't been there in over a year... Will try to get on it and report back!)

[Anna Blume]

Make way for duck eggs!

Tom is the really nice egg man who occupies little space immediately to the left of the gate that surrounds the parking lot at the market, directly behind Clear Spring Creamery. This past Sunday he just put up a sign anticipating the sale of duck eggs some time in the fall.

The ducklings just arrived and must bask under 90 degree-heat for weeks before moving on to the next stage of their lives. Balls of black fuzz with black beaks and little black webbed feet. Not exactly seasonal attire.

[zoramargolis]

I do miss my favorite eggs and feta from Keswick, so I'm sure I'll be spending a Sunday morning there soon.

Keswick hasn't had any eggs for weeks now--the chickens are apparently too exhausted by the heat. Hell, I wouldn't lay eggs in this weather either without air conditioning.

[youngfood]

My neighbor will only go to Dupont Market in the winter because of this kind of thing--the crowds, the crowd behavior, etc.

Never liked the crowds here, but had our first series of crowd behavior run-ins on Sunday. Whatever - last night's dinner was all market and wonderful:

Spicy Gazpacho (Ina Garten recipe): Heirloom Tomatoes (Tree & Leaf); Cucumbers (Toigo); Red Pepper, Onion & Garlic (Next Step)

Crabcakes (Chris's Marketplace)

Grilled Corn (New Morning Farm)

Salad of Mesclun mix with Arugula & Purslane (Gardener's Gourmet)

Grilled Peaches (Spring Valley)

I LOVE DUPONT MARKET!