• 01Apr

    Praise for Veg Heaven’s Vegan Baked Goods

    Veg Heaven makes a variety of wonderful baked goods that seem way too good to be vegan (but are). This winter, Veg Heaven had a stand at the Dupont Circle farmer’s market; this stand was so popular that it sold out halfway through the market’s hours. Freshfarm (who runs the Dupont Circle farmer’s market) has decided not to approve Veg Heaven for the current season when what they should have done was approve this business and request that they bring enough product to make it (at least most of the way) through the market’s hours.

    One of the above images was taken at 8:30am and one just prior to 10am (market hours are 8:30am to 1:30pm); I bet you can tell which is which.

    Right now, you can find Veg Heaven’s products at the following farmer’s markets:

    Eastern Market Saturdays and Sundays from 8 to 4 pm

    Palisades Sundays from 9 to 1pm

    UDC Saturdays from 9 to 2 pm

    Cleveland Park Saturdays starting on May 13 from 9 to 1 pm

    -JAY

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  • 13May

    Some Of The Best Baked Goods We’ve Eaten Recently

    Some Of The Best Baked Goods We’ve Eaten Recently:

    Kyle Bailey and Tiffany MacIssac shared their GBD doughnuts at Graffiato’s May Industry Takeover Night. Some of my favorites were the Key Lime Curd Filled Brioche, Grapefruit Campari, Peanut Butter & Jelly, and Chocolate Creme Filled Brioche.

    My friend Patricia King owns a gluten free bakery in Easton, MD called Patisserie Patrice. She sent me two kinds of bread, a Strawberry Granola Bar, and a Snickerdoodle, all of which were gluten free and delicious. She did a great job with the textures on everything, especially the granola bar (which is addictive).

    A Bit More sells a wide variety of regular and gluten free baked goods at the Kingstowne Farmer’s Market (Fridays 4-7pm). Our favorite items (that contain gluten) are the Triple Chocolate Rocky and blueberry lemon scones, while our favorite gluten free items are the Glazed Pecans, Granola Bites, Pumpkin Spice Bread, and Brownies.

    Bonjour La Parisienne (which needs to update their website) also sells at the Kingstowne Farmer’s Market. Everything is “a unique recipe,” which means that he threw something random in it and that it somehow works. I did not try the Challah bread (which contains pumpkin puree), but the blueberry muffins (which I think either contain yogurt or sour cream) and the chocolate chip cookies are decadent and amazing. Seriously! I did not ask what the secret ingredient in the cookies are. Next time I’ll try the Cinnamon Buns.

    Edit: (5/17/2013) Maybe the guy from Bonjour La Parisienne was kidding last week about the pumpkin puree. Apparently pumpkin is not an ingredient in the challah.

    Edit: (5/26/13) Apparently, pumpkin IS the  secret ingredient in the challah but only one of the 2 Greek-accented guys who run the stand knew (and pumpkin is NOT mentioned in the ingredient list). They need to update the ingredient list before the one person in VA who is allergic to pumpkin buys a loaf. 

    -JAY

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    Permalink Filed under: Events, Restaurants, Stores Tags: , , , , 2 Comments
  • 27Jun

    Ballston Farmer’s Market will Open Thursday, June 28 (Tomorrow)

    Announcement from the Ballston BID:

    “The Farmer’s Market will take place Thursday, June 28 from 3pm to 7pm at Welburn Square in Ballston (the Ballston Circle) between North Stuart & North Taylor Streets, across from the Ballston Metro.

    In addition to the participating merchants, the Grand Opening will feature a celebrity chef from the Ballston restaurant Willow, who will conduct an outdoor cooking demonstration, as well as live music from the noted-Rockabilly band, Jumpin’ Jupiter.”

    The vendors are listed in the announcement.

    -JAY

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    Permalink Filed under: Events, Ingredients, Products Tags: , 1 Comment
  • 10May

    Tysons Corner Farmers Market Launched.

    In my inbox.

    -JAY

    —————————

    Chef Thomas Elder Launches Tysons Corner Farmers Market

    Produce and Lifestyle Vendors Announced

    McLean, VA (May 10, 2011)— Härth, Tysons Corner’s hottest new restaurant, is proud to announce the launch of a new Lifestyle & Farmers Market every Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. beginning May 14.  The market will be set up in the rear parking lot behind Hilton McLean Tysons Corner, rain or shine, through October 29.  Under the direction of Executive Chef Thomas Elder, and co-sponsored by INOVA and the McLean Chamber of Commerce, the market will showcase the region’s best and freshest produce, artisan food products, and local businesses focused on teaching guests how to incorporate farm fresh foods into home cooking.

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  • 13Sep

    Empanada Recipe Contest

    In my inbox.

    -JAY
    ————-

    CREATE THE DUPONT CIRCLE EMPANADA

    THE DUPONADA!

    Using ingredients from Dupont Circle’s FRESHFARM Market come up with an empanada that will represent our neighborhood!

    You may develop a recipe or simply list your preferred ingredients; please limit your recipe to four main ingredients per entry. Drop the recipe at Panas, 2029 P St. NW, or email your entry to order@panasgourmet.com, subject Duponada.

    The deadline for entries is September 24th . On Sunday October 3rd , a panel of distinguished food writer/bloggers will select the TOP THREE entries.

    During the week of Oct 4-8, the top three recipes will be served at Panas, Gourmet Empanadas, where customers will vote for their favorite.

    The winning recipe will be announced at Panas Gourmet Empanadas on Sunday, October 10. The Duponada will be added to the menu at Panas and proceeds from its sale will go to benefit the Dupont Circle Citizens Association.

    NAME:______________________________________________

    Email:_________________________________________________

    Phone:_________________________________________________

    THE RECIPE/MAIN INGREDIENTS I SUGGEST FOR THE DUPONADA ARE (limit 4):

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    Permalink Filed under: Events, Recipes, Restaurants Tags: , , , , , , No Comments
  • 17Jul

    Fertile Plains Ballston Farmer’s Market

    This market is Thursday evenings and has some good vendors including 3 meet vendors.

    I purchased some smoked pork chops ($8 a pound) and a 2 pound (beef) porterhouse ($11 a pound) a few weeks ago at Fertile Plains Custom Pork’s stand, and both were very good, but the steak stood out.  I grilled it and it was much more tender than any porterhouse I’ve had previously.

    He carries chicken, pork, ad beef and prepared foods (like soups), and also does markets in Reston, Herndon, Farfax City, and Braddock road.  His email is frtlplns@fronteirnet.net.

    Other stands to look out for are Baguette Republic, the blueberry vendor, the lamb vendor, Culinary Herb Farm (spices), and the several stands that sell produce.

    -JAY
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  • 20May

    Smith Meadows – The Lunch Truck

    Smith Meadows Grill is a Truck that cooks the meat from their farm (Smith Meadows Farm in Berryville, VA) with veggies from other Courthouse Farmer’s market vendors (like Toigo).  Look for them Saturdays at Courthouse. The halfsmoke and (especially) the relish were good, and the iced tea wasn’t sweet enough. I’ll try a burger and a cold ham biscuit next time.  Rashid (who runs the Grill) sent me the below email.

    -JAY

    ————–

    Jay,
    Thanks for coming by today for lunch.  After working alongside Forrest at markets for two years, I launched Smith Meadows Grill with Aminah (your quiet chef) in Arlington on Saturdays and Takoma Park on Sundays.  Our “halfsmokes” are Smith Meadows all-beef sweet italian sausages; our freshly-baked buns are whole wheat with unbleached white by Bon Matin Bakery in Berryville, VA.  We top them with our own green garlic pesto, grilled onions from market, and organic horseradish mustard.  Numma-numma, yeah?
    –
    Rashid (smithmeadowsgrill@gmail.com)
    Permalink Filed under: Etc Tags: , , , , No Comments

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