The Houndstooth Gourmet

The skies opened opened up this weekend, and it’s still raining! Fortunately, it didn’t deter people from going to the markets. The Del Ray market held its full compliment of vendors including Three Way Farm, whose tables were repleat with strawberries, asparagus, rainbow chard and baby arugula. I bought a quart of strawberries, a large bunch of rainbow chard, and baby arugula.

Asparagus is still in season, and a farmer from Culpepper, VA had beautiful, thin-stalked bundles for $2 a bunch. And, I’m still digging spring onions which I found for $1.25 a bundle.

You know what I’m not digging? A $.50 hike in the price of a saltena at Marcela’s Bakery stand. Not that they aren’t worth it, because they are all that and then some. But, so far this season, there are no napkins, no forks and dammit, no firey green jalapeno sauce. What up with that?

A gentlman in front of me asked for the sauce and was told that they will have some next week. We’ll see. At least my saltenas were put in a plastic container. It came in handy right after my purchase, when a bucket of water rolled off the edge of the canopy onto my head and right down my neck!

On Sunday morning, Frank and I got to the Dupont market just before the bell rang. I wanted to be sure I could ge my favorite eggs from Keswick Creamery, along with a feta sampler-a terrific bargain at $5. Speaking of cheese, Everona Dairy debuted at the market. Everona produces artisinal sheep’s milk cheese from their dairy in Virginia’s Piedmont region, where the climate and terroir is perfect for cheese making.

Owner, Dr. Pat Elliott, was on hand to give out samples and answer questions. All of the cheeses looked beautiful, but alas, I had spent my lot and will have to wait until next week to purchase some Everona cheese to enjoy at home. I’m looking forward to filling you in on my purchase!

Surprisingly, Spring Valley Farm from W. VA had ramps, along with New Morning Farm, where I purchased a bunch for $3. It’s been interesting to see how the ramps grow (and become stronger in flavor and scent) larger over the month or so that they’ve been available. New Morning also had long, firm stalks of rhubarb which I purchased at $3.60 a pound. I’m going to combine the rhubarb with strawberries to make a dessert, and use the rest to make a compote which I will pair with pork loin.

So, I have lots of wonderful fruit and produce to work with this week. Stay tuned for recipes and photos!

Until the next At The Market, eat and buy local when you can, and enjoy the photos.

Tags: District of Columbia, Alexandria, farmers markets by Ramona
No Comments »

Sunday, the Alexandria West End Farmers Market opened for its second season. The market was started last year by market master, Julie Bryant. Bryant is the former owner of Cameron Perks. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with Alexandria’s West End, Cameron Station is a large living community consisting of condos, townhomes and a few single homes. It is beautifully lined with trees and dotted with public sitting and gathering areas. Ben Brenman Park, in the back of the development, is home to the market on Saturday mornings, rain or shine, from 9-1, May-Oct.

I met Bryant at the market yesterday as she was checking in with the market vendors. She informed me that there are 26 vendors scheduled to be at the market this year, which is about a 30% increase over last year’s 15 vendors. She feels that the market has a nice variety of food and art, but would like to see more organic meats offered.

Fortunately, Sunday morning was glorious, if a bit windy. The market appeared to be about 75% full with vendors including juried artists, flowers, herbs, produce, eggs, pastries, cheese and canned goods. I saw several vendors from the Saturday markets in Alexandria City and Del Ray.

Tom the cheese guy was there. He is also at Del Ray. I picked up some Gorgonzola cheese to pair with some of the strawberries I purchased which came from Westmoreland County, VA.

J&W farm also had magnificent strawberries, along with fresh, vibrant greens. I picked up generous bundles of cilantro, parsely, bok choy, spinach, rainbow chard and spring onions. For under $12!

Tanya, of Tanya’s Soul Cakes had pretty pink-topped cupcakes for $1.75. Raspberry buttercream-topped vanilla and chocolate cupcakes were delicious.

Hilldale Farms had Fluvanna Farm Fresh brown eggs. I picked up a dozen pullet eggs, which are eggs from chickens just several months old. I was told that while they are on the small side, the yolk to whites ratio is better than in the larger eggs from older chickens. I’ll report back to  you when I start to crack them.

Fluvanna Farm will also have organic chickens in about two weeks. I hope they are reasonably prices because I would love to try one.

Until the next At The Market, eat and buy local when you can.

Tags: Alexandria, farmers markets by Ramona
4 Comments »

The Alexandria City market was full of vendors and patrons on Saturday morning (Flickr photo set here). When the weather warms, this market really comes alive and I can say, it’s growing on me. Yes, corn and tomatoes are not in season here. Oranges? Never. But they are at the market, and folks love them. Heck, I regret not picking up a bunch of Silver Queen corn from South Carolina. At least I can ask the market vendor directly about where it comes from, and how fresh it is.

Maybe it’s all those dogs around the perimeter of the market, or parents bringing their small kids. It’s a great example to set. Or, the man playing children’s songs on his saxophone. Like a Pied Piper, they are drawn to him.

Where the Alexandria market shines is the vendors who make or raise their own products. There are bakers, canned goods, local honey, jams, and sauces.

Babe in the Woods carries humanly raised heritage pork, and their prices are quite good.

Emine (EM-in-ay), a delightful woman with a large straw hat, has a stand towards the back of the market. She hand makes baklava of all varieties. From sweet to savory, and traditional to imaginative and delicious.

I picked up two pieces from Emine yesterday-an apricot filled, and a curried cabbage with jasmine rice and raisins. Both were terrific, with a slight edge going to the cabbage stuffed baklava. I’m a sucker for a savory breakfast!

Frank picked up a ham, cheese and green onion biscuit from Maribeth’s Bakery. If you find yourself at the Alexandria market, head over to the technicolor umbrellas and tye-dyed shirts. That’s Maribeth’s and she makes delectable breads, scones and biscuits. Real suthun’ biscuits.

I also bought a package of cooked country ham from Calhoun’s Country Hams. This ham was sliced thin-almost shaved. I used it in a salad with endive, shaved Parmesan, pears, and toasted walnuts with evoo and fresh cracked black pepper. This dish was inspired by Patrick O’Connell, at the Inn At Little Washington. His recipe ran in the Washington Post a couple of weeks ago. Here’s the link.

Give it a try-the combination of flavors and textures is terrific.

Until the next At The Market, eat and buy local when you can.

Tags: Alexandria, farmers markets by Ramona
1 Comment »

I visited Let’s Meat on the Avenue one week after the new butcher shop opened.  Arriving a bit later than planned on a Saturday morning, I found Zena, who works at the butchery, busy behind the counter serving customers who filled the small storefront space formerly occupied by Cheesetique. “We  ran out of products the first Saturday we were open, and had to close early” Zena wrote to me in an email. “We plan to increase our inventory so this doesn’t happen next weekend”, she continued.

Said crowds were keeping owner Steve Gatwick busy behind the scenes, cutting meats and restocking the large deli case in front. Gatwick, currently a Del Ray resident, came to the States by way of Australia and Great Britain. Gatward hopes to make his European-style butcher shop the neighborhood place to go for hormone and chemical free meat, cut to order. By the way, if you don’t see what you want in Gatward’s counter-just ask and he’ll see what he can do for you.

Among the products that Gatward carries are cuts of lamb and beef, chicken, nitrate free bacon, Wurst and Amish sausages. Large smoked dog bones sitting on a table in the front window seemed to mesmerize dogs and owners alike. Condiment, rubs and sauces are also sold.

On my visit, I picked up a couple of Amish sausages. I cooked a sage sausage as soon as we got home. Frank and I enjoyed it with yam hash browns and a farm fresh poached egg. Country sausage was milder and made even more delicious when I drizzled a little maple syrup over it. I would recomment both, and further endorse the Amish sausage with this photo:

If you would like to see how this dish is made, see my blog on Don Rockwell here.

Let’s Meat on the Avenue opens at 8 on Saturdays to catch the farmers market crowd just steps away. Be sure to go early to get the best selection-Gatward’s store is very popular already.

Let’s Meat on the Avenue
2403 Mount Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301

Tags: butcher, Alexandria by Ramona
No Comments »

This week, Frank and I attended a Farm To Fork dinner held at Vermillion. Vermillion is part of the Neighborhood Restaurant Group, who has joined with Fresh Farm Markets to do dining events focused on local foods and providers (written about previously on The Houndstooth Gourmet). Each dinner brings farmers and diners together for an opportunity to learn about the farmers, their food, and their work.

For a detailed account of our wonderful dinner, go to Don Rockwell and read my blog.

Tags: restaurant, Alexandria by Ramona
2 Comments »