ShoeBoxOven

ShoeBoxOven - without seeming overly obsequious, I would like to add that whether steak or fried chicken is the entree of choice, your coconut cake is a picture perfect end to a meal at RTC. And I don't normally like coconut cake...

DK, I dont like coconut cake either. If it wasn't for RTC I would never had starting baking cakes in the first place. So I am glad you, like me, have come to enjoy the coconut cake.

Fried Chicken—real fried chicken—is a dish I've only trusted my Mother and Grandmother to do. Being of a southern and west Indies origin, I am skilled at frying fish, but have never been able to master my southern roots fried chicken skill. I have the burn marks and my Mother's disapproval to prove it.

I've had fried chicken that was earnest in proving itself with thick crusty skins or abundant and insistent flavors. They were not fried chicken. They were not the fowl I remember being pulled from my family's black skillet. The kind of chicken that is made with flour, a few seasonings and tossed in a brown paper bag and fried to a crispness that is somehow light and greaseless. The white meat juicy and right. And (what is missed most in recipes), an aroma that is seductive and commanding.

Last night, with my two good friends, I enjoyed the best yard bird I've had since leaving North Carolina at 18. I've waited for over a year to eat at RTC and it was worth it. Though I bake for ShoeBox Oven in the RTC's kitchen at night after the crew is gone and the lights are off, I've never really been able to know what kind of personality the restaurant evoked during dining hours. Fried chicken, peach bellinis, high jazz, the lights of the AFI theater, and the energetic buzz of night time downtown Silver Spring, made this a meal I will always appreciate. It was a generous night.

Knowing how dedicated Landrum and his team work, made it even more special for me.

Thank you so much for everything Michael.

Your post swells my wanderlust for Portugal and Brazil. Their language—the sounds and pronunciations—is something I'd like to eat.

I agree with the host. Coming from Cleveland where great fish "sammiches" and po boys can be found easily, there is nothing like a good fish "sammich." It may be a sandwich, but by the time you eat it, your mouth has loosened up to the ecstasy that is a "sammich."

Arlington Courthouse Farmers Market

Saturday, June 30 from 8am to Noon

pastries and savories underneath the ShoeBox Oven canopy

This Week

Sausage and Feta HandPies

Coconut and Citrus Bread Pudding

Torta Della Nonna Tarts

Matcha TeaCookies

Mandarin TeaCookies

Chelsea Buns

BlackBerry Lassi Smoothie

Amor and Samurai Chocolate

Canelé

Rustic Potato Boule

Chevre and Herb Quiche

White Cheddar and Bacon

Biscuit Timbales

at the Arlington Courthouse Farmers Market

At the intersection of N. Courthouse Rd. and N. 14th St.

A small mention of ShoeBox Oven in this Sunday's New York Times magazine.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/24/magazine...consumed-t.html?

If you are looking to pick up a few sundries and pastries for breakfast this Saturday,

come by the ShoeBox Oven canopy at the Arlington Farmer's Market

Saturday, June 23 at the Arlington Farmer's Market (8am to Noon):

Chelsea Buns

Chevre and Herb Quiches

Oeuf Cocotte "chick egg" tarts

Viennese Rolls

Polenta Timbales

White Cheddar, Herb and Bacon Timbales

Fig and Toasted Sesame Jam

Strawberry and Lavendar Jam

Blackberry and Orange Jam

Japanese Sesame and Catupiry Pão de queijos

Amor and Samurai Chocolate

White Chocolate Crunch

Chocolate Pound Cakes

Madeleines

Orange ShortBread Cookies

and more depending on what else the oven can bake between now and Saturday morning. Hope you can come by for breakfast. Jammies and fuzzy slippers accepted.

If you are looking to pick up a few sundries and pastries for breakfast this Saturday,

come by the ShoeBox Oven canopy at the Arlington Farmer's Market

Saturday, June 23 at the Arlington Farmer's Market (8am to Noon):

Chelsea Buns

Chevre and Herb Quiches

Oeuf Cocotte "chick egg" tarts

Viennese Rolls

Polenta Timbales

White Cheddar, Herb and Bacon Timbales

Fig and Toasted Sesame Jam

Strawberry and Lavendar Jam

Blackberry and Orange Jam

Japanese Sesame and Catupiry Pão de queijos

Amor and Samurai Chocolate

White Chocolate Crunch

Chocolate Pound Cakes

Madeleines

and more depending on what else the oven can bake between now and Saturday morning. Hope you can come by for breakfast. Jammies and fuzzy slippers accepted.

If it is any consolation...

I assist the Agraria pastry chef (in a small learning capacity) and soon their will be ShoeBox Oven favorites at the bar. End your meal with some cookies and milk or nibble on some White Chocolate Crunch with your booze.

Inevitable sticky weather before us, stroll down to the waterfront, pass by the tourists, walk into Agraria's open cascading doors, have a drink, enjoy the breeze and relax.

Walking by the Marvelous Market next to Eastern Market this afternoon, I noticed something on their outside sign about Shoebox Oven products. It was super busy there, so there wasn't an opportunity to inquire inside about what that meant. I looked around and didn't see anything, but it was fairly late in the day. Whatever items there might have been were gone, or I may have missed them.

Does anyone know more about this? I'd love the opportunity to pick up some baked goods from Shoebox Oven.

Hey Pat,

Marvelous Market (all eight) are carrying Champagne Chocolate, White Chocolate Crunch and the s'Mores. There was a special gift basket for Father's Day too.

kb

I just learned that Share our Strength is using the FreshFarm Market at Dupont Circle this Sunday to participate in The Great American Bake Sale which is meant to address childhood hunger. (I will refrain from commentary, but The Food Network is a co-sponsor.)

I wish I had known about this earlier since it might have been a prime opportunity to introduce at least one DR professional and her wares directly to some of the Board members of the hosting farmers market.

The campaign has just begun and ends on the last day of August. Does anyone here know more details?

(Since I'll be putting in a couple of hours this weekend, I'll report back later if I think it might be of interest.)

I hope to have a few of my wares through this event too. I hope the powers that be at Dupont will try them and maybe invite me into their fold. But if not, I am still very glad to be able to participate in the Great American Bake Sale--good butter for a good cause.

kb

Happy Birthday cupid girl. Birthdays are the best. And if you are anything like me, your birthday is fête that is celebrated for at least 3 months after the fact.

Thank you pals. I'm glad you liked the story. I'm snowed in today and away from my oven. Found out the hard way yesterday that my car does not like snow. But I'm celebrating VDay nonetheless. I hope you all keeping warm and sweet on this slushy and lovely Valentines day.

Thank you NCPinDC!

Wish Amazon.com was an investor. But not so. One can actually buy straight from www.shoeboxoven.com. And on the site there are some of ShoeBox Oven's favorites (some from Amazon, others from artists the Oven likes).

If we can only get her assistant Steve to agree on musical taste--and to keep him away from the ladies--hopefully you won't have to look too far.

Ha! I doubt anyone can keep go-go from my GodBrother. As far as the ladies, I think he is under your tutelage...uh-oh.

I did that a while back but don't think I have received an update. Anyone else?

Hey, I send them out every week. But if your email has marked my address as spam or if you have a hotmail account, then the emails are blocked.

Here is this week's email blast here

Last Saturday I bought two boxes of "Amor and the Samurai" from Shoebox at the Courthouse market. My first visit to Shoebox. These are cakes made with Mexican chocolate and Japanese chilis. Outrageously good. I served them with a side of Dolcezza gelato, coconut and dulce de leche flavor. Outrageously good cubed.

Sadly, there was no sign of Shoebox at Courthouse this morning. The no-show is worse because I was talking up her baked goods to people all week and I don't know if there are others who are going to go today.

I am so sorry I missed you and your friends Saturday. I sent out an email blast to let everyone know I'd be at Clarendon Day. We were invited at the last minute and had to rearrange our schedule to miss the farmer's market so to attend Clarendon Day. We will be back at the farmer's market next week.

Just to clarify (and so you don't go hunting for ShoeBox up and down the Avenue), Krishna and her goodies will be set up inside Cheesetique (2403 Mt. Vernon Ave.). The shop is right in the middle of the show, so you won't miss a thing! We're really excited to have ShoeBox on-site this year! 10 AM - 6 PM.

We will actually be at Cheesetique and have a stand on Mt Vernon.

At Cheesetique we will be doing samples of the paos and the champagne chocolate.

And we will have a stand on Mt. Vernon (corner of Windsor Ave and Mt Vernon Ave) serving up all types of pastries and savories...including Amor and the Samurai hot chocolate and Heirloom Pies.

The Heirloom Pies had been on hiatus because of the humid hot weather and its affect on the meringue. But the big top, buxom pie is back and it is sure to please.

I have to be in DC between 8:30 am and 9 am on Saturday morning. If I'm getting up that early, I might as well be at Arlington right at 8 since I haven't been to a decent market since the move.

Why bother if there will be no goodies from Shoebox????

bookluvingbabe, we will be at Art on the Avenue all day (10am to 6pm) with PLENTY to select from. We hope to see you there.

man! that bombomCarmelo sounds good. Any updates on possible retail space or visits to other farmer's markets??

Cheesetique carries some ShoeBox Oven pastries and goodies. Since the farmer's markets are slowing down for the cooler months, ShoeBox Oven is looking to expand into other boutiques like Cheesetique. Hopefully next year more farmer's markets will consider ShoeBox Oven. So far the Del Ray market has invited us to their 2007 market. And We will be at the Arlington market for as long as they will have us.

if you are in the neighborhood, come by the Arlington Farmer's Market on Saturday. ShoeBox Oven will also have a selection of Cheesetique paos. otherwise, stroll down Mt. Vernon and right into Cheesetique for some great cheeses, paos and champagne chocolate.

you can also get shirataki at whole foods (duke st) in the dairy section.

Oo.. sweet! What time are ya'll setting up?

Market opens at 8am. And hopefully, we will be ready by 8am. The last few weeks have been hectic as we are hauling tents, product and tables in our two small cars and transporting items from a storage unit. It is rough, but we hope to be in a van soon! Thank you to all of those who have been patient and waited while we set up. Come early as we have limited amount of free Cheesetique samples. Though we will soon be offering Cheesetique paos for sale at the market and at the Cheesetique store.

We will be selling our chourico/cheddar and habanero/cheddar pao de queijo this Saturday.

I wish that I could agree with you on this, but no matter how long I warmed them they did not improve. The warmth helped improve the palatability of the dough, but the cheese still had the consistency of rubber. I do look forward to trying other items from Shoebox, these just did not work for me.

"consistency of rubber." yikes! that would not work for me either. perhaps a rogue dozen of paos made its way into your bag? all kidding aside, that is not a good or typical shoebox oven experience. i am sincerely sorry you had that experience and i hope we have a chance to change your mind with jill's fantastic cheesetique selections.

Pao de Queijos are Brazilian cheese breads made from manioc (polviho or tapioca) starch. They are traditionally eaten in the morning, warm with cappucino. ShoeBox Oven has taken this rustic, cheesy and gluten-free snack a bit further by adding different fillings to the bread making it an anytime amuse bouche, meal or snack.

I have found convection ovens to work very well for my cakes. They cook even and fast (and for the most part) dont fall/cave in the middle. Nice and even baking for pies without browning out the pastry. And they bake fast of course.

But dont use convections for macarons (all of you pros know this already). There will be no frilly feet, they will dry out and the tops will surely crack.