dcaCRL

The Farm at Sunnyside wouldn't be far, they're in Rappahannock County. Mount Vernon Farm, which hosted Cathal Armstrong's solstice dinner, is also on the way to Luray.

Both Red Apron and Meat Crafters were at Crystal City this week. No Cherry Glen though, and I'd been counting on goat cheese for a picnic dinner. Had to fill up on Meat Crafters' samples for our protein instead.

Many of the restaurants now have their menus linked on the restaurant week website. Zola's four-cheese fusili was quite a hit at the kick-off Saturday at Eastern Market. Firefly's menu isn't posted for some reason, but here's what they're serving:

FYI - Cookie/Gourmet's Kids' Restaurant Week is coming to DC this year, with special prix fixe menus from 5-7pm at more than a dozen local restaurants. Kids under 12 pay their age and a portion of proceeds go to Miriam's Kitchen and Eastern Market's restoration. (Those who hate dining with kids may want to consult the list to see which restaurants to avoid next week, at least before 7pm.)

Mango Mike's owners are opening a new place (supposedly bbq?) in that former gas station/now construction site next to the Dairy Godmother. I guess they're participating to generate some buzz/goodwill in the new neighborhood.

The Upper King Street Fresh Farmers Market reopened yesterday. Got in before the monsoon and was pleased to see quite a few more vendors than last year -- particularly excited to see Cibola Farms has joined. Breadline, Vera's Bakery, Maribeth's Bakery, Tom the Cheese Guy (of Del Ray & West End), Shlagel, Bigg Riggs, and a new favorite, Long Hollow Ecological Farms. Photos here.

I don't know what the delay is at the markets, but you can find Red Apron in the deli case at Planet Wine (next to Evening Star in Del Ray) or on the panini served at Buzz. (Yum.) I was glad to see Bigg Riggs at Crystal City -- one more place to see them without having to go to Old Town. (They'll also be at the Upper King Street Market in Alexandria but it doesn't open till June.)

The On the Gourmet truck, which appears at the Great Falls & Alexandria West End markets, has soft shells (cleaned & frozen) for $6/ea. Got myself some for mother's day, they were excellent. (Just dredged in Old Bay-seasoned flour and sauteed in butter.)

We ventured to opening day in spite of the downpour, and were pleased to see more than a few other folks doing the same. Strawberries here (and at Del Ray) this week. Quite a few new vendors this year, including Wisteria Gardens with pea shoots, salad greens & homemade hummus and salsas, and J-Wen dairy. I have a more extensive report on the blog, but hope to see many more people there as the weather (I hope!) improves this spring.

The West End market re-opens next Sunday, May 3rd! It's open 9am-1pm. New vendors this year include Wisteria Gardens micro-greens, honey, coffee, and North Gate vineyard - though the city won't allow sampling of the wine, you'll only be able to purchase it by the bottle. So pick one up, some fresh bread, Westmoreland berries and Tom's goat cheese and you have an instant picnic in the park. This has really grown into the best market in Alexandria, in my opinion (sorry Del Ray!), and Julie & Susan the market managers are going all out to promote it this year. You can read more about opening day here.

Three Way Farm returned last weekend with a limited stock of asparagus that sold out quickly - promised much more this weekend and strawberries likely next week!

Toigo had the bourbon peaches at Del Ray last weekend, would assume they have them at all their markets.

In honor of Earth Day today, ArugulaFiles and I are co-hosting "Blog for the Bay" to rally District area foodies in support of the Chesapeake Bay and our beloved blue crabs. We welcome other local bloggers to participate - or just stop by and sign the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's petition to the EPA. Round-ups are on FoodieTots & ArugulaFiles. (Apologize for the self-promotion, but it's for a good cause!)

FYI - Del Ray's market officially reopens tomorrow! Mr. Biggs has already been back with greenhouse grown tomatoes, and the standard potatoes and greens. Can't wait for asparagus and rhubarb to arrive ...

For anyone still on the fence about signing up for a CSA this year, it was mentioned on the milk thread but South Mountain Creamery is going to begin offering fruit & veggies for delivery along with their milk and other products. It sounds like a good option for anyone who's not up for the commitment of a regular CSA.

One thing to look for is whether the farm has a cooperative arrangement with other farmers. Our CSA, Potomac Vegetable Farms, supplements their offerings with those from three other farms on weeks when their own harvest is light. It helps ensure more consistent quantities and adds a little extra variety too. (Always appreciated when leafy green fatigue starts to set in!)

Ask Eco-Friendly at Courthouse/Dupont. You may have to special order, though, but (former) chef at Mio reported that's where he got them earlier this year.

Uptown Bakers has joined the market, with some wonderful looking artisan breads.

Maribeth's Bakery (well-known from Old Town's Saturday market) joined the market last week. Dan at D&S sold out of peaches early and said they have one, maybe two weeks left. Though the weekend's rain may have changed that.

I like the "as available" disclaimer in the press release. I was wondering how they would come up with vendors this late in the season, but they have a few good produce options with Bigg Riggs and D&S Farms. Greenstone Fields was new to me, with beautiful flowers and tomatoes from a neighbor's farm as theirs aren't quite ripe yet. A nice little stop and it's nice to have so close to home, but I do hope they can beef it up with some other vendors!

I don't know what part of MD you're coming from, but the McLean market is Friday mornings, 8.30-12.30. It's pretty good, and has the Middleburg Creamery ice cream truck. And it's just a few minutes from Clemyjontri Park for the baby.

We asked about those and were told they were just a more flavorful variety than the typical green ones. I didn't get them either as I had a bag full of green tomatillos from the Friday market at home. Hopefully they'll have them again next week!

We've been buying from South Mountain for almost a year now. Definitely check out their other products. Their ground turkey is great, and the butter is so good I may have eaten it by the spoonful the first time we got it... And, they have family festivals on the farm in the spring and fall. (I wrote about the spring one here.)

Assume you are already listed on LocalHarvest.org? You can also register at www.FarmFoody.org. With the kid's activities, you can reach parents on sites like Our Kids and A Parent in Silver Spring. Sounds like a fun market. Will definitely check it out if we ever find ourselves up that way!

Thanks Anna for the reminder today! Loved the soup, but the toddler claimed my agua fresca. I bought the blossoms from Sand Hill too and cooked them tonight following Oyamel's other recipe, stuffed with goat cheese. Yum. I did notice, though, that Black Rock's blueberries were twice what I paid in Alexandria Sunday - yikes!