Shaw Girl

Have you tried this website?

http://www.commercialkitchenforrent.com/

We've looked on that site religiously for six months as well. Thanks for the suggestion though!

Have you checked out Open Kitchen? I have not used it, nor do I know anyone who used it, but you may find it a fit. Good luck.

Yeah we did. Unfortunately after all of their fees and deposits and their hourly rates, it's too expensive for a small start up to afford. We're trying to do this with our own money and without investors. I know Open Kitchen is trying to fill a niche but it's not an affordable one.

Hello!

My business partner and I are looking looking for a commercial kitchen we can rent for about 15 hours per week (mostly in the evenings or anytime on Friday) for our start up baking business. Our hope is to sell at farmers markets and online but we're having a lot of difficulty finding a commercial kitchen space. Just when we thought we found a perfect solution in a local church's kitchen, DCRA informed us we had to use a kitchen whose certificate of occupancy specifically says commercial kitchen. Well that negates any church, school or community center (which, mind you, a LOT of people suggested we try). To say this is frustrating is an understatement, as we've been looking for an affordable kitchen in the DC area for almost a year. If anyone knows of a space, please, please, please share that information with me. You'll be rewarded with tasty treats!

Thanks so much!

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm going to contact Sunnyside and see if I can come for a visit during my mini-vacay!

Wifey and I will be in DC next week for much needed R&R and will be staying at a hotel between Dupont and Logan Circles. I plan on packing picnic lunches and such while we are there. Are there any good local markets in that area? What about the rest of the downtown, mall, and capitol areas?

Thanks!!

Dan

The Penn Quarter Farmers market is located in Downtown DC - 8th Street NW between D and E Streets NW - and it's a great little market! It runs from 3 pm to 7 pm in the afternoon.

I'm going on vacation at the end of July to a cabin near Luray Caverns. We're staying for four days and I was wondering if there was a farm nearby that I could visit. I prefer it to be a farm that sells produce at a farmers market in the DC metro area. If anyone knows of one, can you pass the info along? Thanks!

Has anyone ever used a meat grinder to grind their own meat for hamburgers? I ran across an article in the New York Times this morning touting how to make the best burger at home. One of the tips was to grind your own meat, using brisket. I was wondering if others have done this, was it worth the extra effort and most importantly, which cut of beef did you use? I plan to try this over the long 4th of July weekend!

Robin Shuster sent out an email yesterday letting everyone know both 14th & U and Bloomingdale will be open this weekend! I'm so psyched! I have a long weekend to experiment with local foods!

Even though it seems a bit self promoting to point it out, I have a food blog also. The focus of it has shifted to local food in the last few months as I've become more involved in the local food movement. I don't focus solely on local food, but I do strongly support it and plan to do so more as I shift away from writing about farmers markets for other sites.

www.adventuresinshaw.com

Will the market be open this Saturday, since it's 4th of July? I'm debating between hitting up 14th and U or Falls Church Farmers Market and it really depends on which one is open.

Does anybody know if the market will be open this Saturday, since it's 4th of July?

I was wondering if any of you guys are attending the Virginia Farmland Solstice Supper hosted by Vermillion Restaurant this upcoming Saturday? I'm going and I thought if any other Don Rockwell frequenters would be going, it would be a great chance to meet up! I know technically this is an event, but I figured people who go to farmers markets a lot (like me) may be going to this event. It would be nice to know others who plan to attend (even if I only know you through the boards here).

Rebbie's e-mail from Mt. Pleasant Mkt says Richfield should have them.

And if for whatever reason you can't find any at Mount Pleasant, Garner's Produce at 14th & U is also supposed to have them (and it's not too far from Mount Pleasant).

2 years ago, I stocked up on fresh corn on the cob and froze it in vacuum-sealed bags. I can tell you that freezing is not kind to corn. My sense is that flash-frozen corn from the supermarket is better out of season. If I did freeze fresh corn again, I'd take it off the cobb, because it's really not the same as when you cook it right out of the field in summer. Have you had better luck or a better method with corn?

Inspired by Stefano's beautifully simple tomato sauces at the 14th St. market, I am determined to overcome my fear of canning and make tomato sauce (and maybe even jams, *gulp*) this year.

I read up somewhere that the best way to freeze fresh corn is to blanch it first. I'll have to find the link and send it along to you.

I'm going to try my hand at tomato sauce and strawberry jam this year too! Hopefully my attempts will be successful enough to blog about!

Great resource! Thanks so much!

I would like to freeze the fantastic shelled English peas now available at farmers markets. Can you simply place uncooked peas in a freezer bag or should you blanch them first? If blanching is required, about how long should I blanch them for? My plan is to preserve as many peas and fresh corn on the cob as possible to use in the Fall and Winter! Thanks!

I would like to freeze the fantastic shelled English peas now available at farmers markets. Can you simply place uncooked peas in a freezer bag or should you blanch them first? If blanching is required, about how long should I blanch them for? My plan is to preserve as many peas and fresh corn on the cob as possible to use in the Fall and Winter! Thanks!

There were peas (shelled) at West End Farmers Market last week. I'm heading down there now...come, join!

I think I'll try out West End next Sunday, but thanks for reminding me about it! I finally found peas though! They had them at Bloomingdale this morning!

There should be shell peas at Bloomingdale on Sunday 10-2 as well. See Garner. Perhaps SnowBear as well...

Thanks for the tip! We're going to head out there tomorrow morning!

Shell peas at the Penn Quarter market today! Mmmmm...

Wow! Will there really be shell peas at Penn Quarter today? I work right near there and get off in ten minutes!

I just received the latest newsletter for the 14th & U Farmers Market and there will be shelled English peas this Saturday! They warned, however, to come early. Unfortunately, I cannot make it this Saturday because I'm doing my first tandem skydive that morning. But I'm excited to know a vendor at 14th & U sells them (and already shelled)!

Thanks for the tips! I had read on a few local food blogs about peas being in season now, so I was curious as to where they were getting them. I know strawberries are popping up everywhere now. Last week I saw them at Bloomingdale, 14th & U and Foggy Bottom Farmers Markets.

Does anyone know of a farm vendor selling peas at farmers markets this season? I'd love to get my hands on some fresh peas but haven't come across any yet. Thanks!

The BLB Family is very happy with the market this week. The toddler is happily downing his first bowl of gazpacho of the year from Chris' Crabcakes--90% of which he ate with a spoon and didn't get more than a few drops on his shirt (where did my baby go??) Actually in the time it took me to write that sentence he has moved on to his second bowl which he is dipping his pepperjack cheese into...

I spent all my cash at Red Apron and also picked up some cheese at Cowgirl so the grownups are going to have a picnic after the little guy goes to bed.

Thinking of hitting McLean tomorrow morning if the weather is nice so the toddler can get a market fix of his own.

So is Red Apron now at the Penn Quarter Farmers Market? I didn't go last week, so I wasn't sure if they finally showed up.

Looks like a nice addition to the farmers' market roster - especially with vendors like MeatCrafters and Red Apron Butcher Shop on the list (among many other nice choices).

I went this evening after work and sadly there was no MeatCrafters or Red Apron Butcher Shop. This is the second farmers market in the DC area that has touted the addition of Red Apron and then not deliver. I was really looking forward to picking up some of his prosciutto for a homemade grilled pizza too.