Every Dog Has its Market Day Thanks to Chase Your Tail Bakery
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Thursday, August 11th, 2011
Until you look closely, you might think you’ve stumbled upon a gourmet cookie business. Out of the corner of your eye, the array of baked treats, attractively presented on round platters, beckons.
(Image: Johnisha M. Levi/Northern Virginia Magazine)
But then, there are some telltale signs. You’ll notice the paw prints and the word “tail” on the white banner behind the table. As you look even more closely, you’ll note the bone shape of some of those honey-colored treats. And then it will dawn on you. “Oh, it’s a pet bakery!” you’ll say, somewhat embarrassed.
Maria Rambo of Chase Your Tail Bakery (Image: Johnisha M. Levi/Northern Virginia Magazine)
As Maria Rambo humorously explains, this realization hasn’t stopped some farmers market customers from asking if the bakery’s treats are still suitable for human consumption. Her diplomatic answer? While the ingredients are human grade, they can’t be legally sold for owner consumption.
Deb Matthews is the “Proprietress and Top Dog” of Chase Your Tail Bakery, which is in its sixth year. While the bakery primarily caters to canines, it also offers some feline options. Rambo lends an extra hand at the Vienna Farmers market, while Deb sells at Falls Church, and Chey Larson at Leesburg—all Saturday markets.
Turns out NoVa farmers markets are even for the four-legged! Indeed, it is a lucky dog whose owner shops for his or her treats at Chase Your Tail. The bakery produces everything from Cheesy Cheddar Bites and Peanut Butter Bones to Honey Buns and Veggie Toads (made with peas and carrots).
Honey Buns (Image: Johnisha M. Levi/Northern Virginia Magazine)
One thing that is striking about the Chase Your Tail table is the compassion that marks these transactions. These are more like patient-doctor consultations, as conscientious pet owners profile their four-legged friends for Maria, so that she can recommend the most suitable treat.
In the short time I spent with Maria, she expertly (and sympathetically) fielded questions about Gracie, an Australian Shepherd with a sensitive stomach; a feline suffering with cancer; and a 9-month-old Shih Tzu puppy. (Recommendation for the latter: tender Carrot Cheese Muffins, Puppy Pretzels that shatter easily into smaller pieces, and the ever-popular Cheesy Cheddar Bites). And then there was the market regular she consoled upon hearing that the woman’s pet rat—her only rodent customer—had recently suffered a fatal stroke! I confess to finding it fascinating, and I don’t even have a pet!
Maria's Sidekick, 12-year old Moe (Image: Johnisha M. Levi/Northern Virginia Magazine)
In addition to Maria’s treasure trove of knowledge, Chase Your Tail keeps nutritional information on hand for inquisitive pet owners. All the baked treats are analyzed in a lab, so that fat, protein, calories and the like are tabulated just like on grocery food labels.
Can’t make it on Saturdays to the Falls Church, Vienna, or Leesburg markets, but want to procure some of these gourmet treats for your prized pet? Visit the storefront or call, fax, or email your order.
Chase Your Tail Bakery
305-A East Market Street
Leesburg, VA 20176
(703) 771-3019
(888) 541-5400
-Johnisha M. Levi
August 7-13 is Virginia Farmer’s Market Week!
Northern Virginia’s Farmers Markets and Hours
Annandale Farmers Market • 6621 Columbia Pike, Annandale – Thu, 8-noon
Arlington Farmers Market • N. 14th St. & N. Courthouse Road, Arlington – Sat, 8-noon
Ashburn Farmers Market • 44036 Pipeline Plaza, Ashburn – Sat, 8-noon
Ballston Farmers Market • N. Stuart St. & N. Ninth St. – Thu, 3-7 p.m.
Brambleton Farmers Market • 22875 Brambleton Plaza, Ashburn – Sun, 9-1 p.m.
Burke Farmers Market • 5671 Roberts Parkway, Burke – Sat, 8-noon
Cascades Farmers Market • 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling – Sun, 9-1 p.m.
Clarendon Farmers Market• 3100 Wilson Blvd., Arlington – Wed, 3-7 p.m.
Columbia Pike Farmers Market • S. Walter Reed Drive & Columbia Pike – Sun, 9-1 p.m.
Community Farmers Market • West & Main Streets (Sat), North St. & Old Lee Highway (Sun), Fairfax – Sat: 8-1 p.m.; Sun: 10-2 p.m.
Crystal City Farmers Market • Crystal Square Arcade between S. 18th and 20th Streets – Tue, 3-7 p.m.
Culpeper Farmers Market • E. Davis & Commerce Streets – Sat, 7:30-noon
Dale City Farmers Market • Dale Blvd. & Minnieville Road, Dale City – Sun, 8-1 p.m.
Del Ray Farmers’ Market • E. Oxford & Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria – Sat, 8-noon
Fairfax Farmers Market • 3720 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax – Tue, 8-noon
Falls Church Farmers Market • 300 Park Ave., Falls Church – Sat, 8-noon
Fredericksburg Farmers Market• George and Prince Edward Streets, Fredericksburg – Mon-Sat, 7-6 p.m.; Sun, 12:30-4 p.m.
Frying Pan Farmers Market • 2709 West Ox Road, Herndon – Wed, 8-12:30 p.m.
Great Falls Farmers Market • 750 Walker Road, Great Falls – Sat, 9-1 p.m.
Haymarket Farmers Market • 1500 Washington St., Haymarket – Sat, 8-2 p.m.
Herndon Farmers Market • Lynn and Station Streets, Herndon – Thu, 8-noon
Kingstowne Farmers Market • Kingstowne Center & Kingstowne Blvd., Franconia – Fri, 4-7 p.m.
Leesburg Farmers Market • 20 Catoctin Circle S.E., Leesburg – Sat, 8-noon
Lorton Farmers Market • 8990 Lorton Station Blvd., Lorton – Sun, 9-1 p.m.
McLean Farmers Market • 1659 Chain Bridge Road, McLean – Fri, 8-noon
Middleburg Farmers Market • 300 W. Washington St., Middleburg – Sat, 8-noon
Mount Vernon Farmers Market • 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane, Alexandria – Tue, 8-noon
Nokesville Farmers Market • 13005 Fitzwater Drive, Nokesville – Sat, 8-noon
Oakton Farmers Market • 3200 Jermantown Road, Oakton – Wed, 8-noon
Old Town Alexandria Farmers Market • 301 King St., Alexandria – Sat, 5:30-11 a.m.
Old Town Manassas Farmers Market • 9201 Center St., Manassas – Thu, 7-1 p.m.; Sat, 7:30-2:30 p.m.
Nokesville Farmers Market • 13005 Fitzwater Drive, Nokesville – Sat, 8-noon
Purcellville Farmers Market• 751 E. Main St., Purcellville – Sat, 8-noon
Reston Farmers Market • 11400 Washington Plaza W., Reston – Sat, 8-noon
Smart Markets – Centreville • 5875 Trinity Parkway, Centreville – Fri, 3:30-6:30 p.m.
Smart Markets – Fairfax Corner • Grand Commons Ave., Fairfax – Tue, 3:30-6:30 p.m.
Smart Markets – Gainesville • 13297 Gateway Center Drive, Gainesville – Sun, 10:30-1:30 p.m.
Smart Markets – Herndon • 460 Elden St., Herndon – Thu, 3:30-6:30 p.m.
Smart Markets – Oakton • 2854 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton – Sat, 10-2 p.m.
Smart Markets – Reston • 11890 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston – Wed, 3:30-6:30 p.m.
Upper King Street Farmers Market • 1806 King St., Alexandria – Wed, 3-7 p.m.
Vienna Farmers Market • 131 Church St. N.E., Vienna – Sat, 8-noon
Wakefield Farmers Market • 8100 Braddock Road, Annandale – Wed, 2-6 p.m.
Warrenton Farmers Market • Branch Drive and Warrenton Village Center (Wed), S. Fifth & Lee Streets (Sat) – Wed, 7-1 p.m.; Sat, 7-noon
West End Farmers Market • 4800 Brenman Park Drive, Alexandria – Sun, 9-1 p.m.
Or click here for our full list of local farmers markets
Crop Rapport: Vienna’s Market is Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Thursday, August 11th, 2011
Marcia Gallagher (Image: Johnisha M. Levi/Northern Virginia Magazine)
Vienna’s Farmers Market is both for the kids, and the young at heart. The Optimist Club of Greater Washington has run this Saturday market for the past five years, and in accordance with its mission to sunnily serve the youth of Greater Vienna, it succeeds in making this space a true family affair.
This past market day was a first Saturday of the month, which market co-managers and husband and wife team Sarah Brady and Dave Lanphear always celebrate with a special kid-centered event. When I arrived, I found an orderly queue of parents with adorable, stroller-bound tots in tow, along with a good crowd of 4-to-7-year-olds either eagerly vying for the attention of volunteer balloon artist Marcia Gallagher or “fishing” for toys out of a kiddie pool.
This month’s event was a combination Hawaiian Luau and limbo contest. Lanphear kept tabs on miniature limbo dancers as Sarah Brady effused encouragement over the small but determined hula novices.
Limbo! (Image: Johnisha M. Levi/Northern Virginia Magazine)
I asked Brady what had inspired the Luau and Limbo event, the first of its kind hosted by the market. She told me it was triggered by listening to the Joni Mitchell tune, “Big Yellow Taxi.”
Brady was struck by the irony of the times. Whereas the paved parking lot was once the enemy, now you can find more and more lots in the area filled with farmers during market days. She also wanted to bring some cheer during the “dog days of summer” and in the midst of a recession. “People can’t get away for vacation, so we’ll have a vacation in the middle of the parking lot!”
Hula Lessons (Image: Johnisha M. Levi/Northern Virginia Magazine)
And speaking of children . . . one of the regular Vienna market vendors brought to mind a nursery rhyme. It isn’t just little girls who are “made of sugar and spice and everything nice.” Following the enticing perfume of cinnamon sugar, I discovered The Swiss Bakery, where I met Chris Panther and her young assistant Emily Dunston.
Chris Panther and Emily Dunston (Image:Johnisha M. Levi/ Northern Virginia Magazine)
The Swiss Bakery, owned by pastry chefs Reto (who is Swiss) and Laurie Weber, is located in both Burke and Springfield Virginia. Because Laurie Weber previously worked as a chef in New York, where she had easy access to farmers markets with the best fresh fruits and vegetables, it was important for her that the bakery have a presence at local markets. The Swiss Bakery has sold at the Vienna market for the last three years; and the Lorton market for almost as long.
Panther says that the hardy whole grain breads move just as well as the breakfast pastries. Her regulars will sometimes surprise her by switching up their orders, but usually she can predict what they are looking for any given day.
Right now, you will find peaches and blueberries in the seasonal rotation, as well as zucchini (in the form of zucchini walnut muffins); in the fall, the emphasis will switch to one of Virginia’s finest, the apple. Before peach season ends, treat yourself to a peach kuchen, which Chris perfectly describes as akin to a buttery “lemon pound cake” nestling fresh peach slices, its surface lightly kissed by powdered sugar.
Peach Kuchen (Image: Johnisha M. Levi/Northern Virginia Magazine)
My husband opted to break bread for the day with the “Health (Nut) Roll” (an apt choice–he’s my (health) nut, but I love him). A whole wheat roll with confetti of dried cranberries, raisins, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, nuts, and pearl sugar, the health roll is a big seller and ultimately a more nutritionally satisfying option than a donut or a muffin. Since I, on the other hand, have no qualms about starting the day off less responsibly, I selected an almond croissant. Round in shape like a danish, this buttery pastry’s center cradled a layer of almond paste, garnished with sliced almonds and a generous coating of powdered sugar.
Almond Croissant (Image: Johnisha M. Levi/Northern Virginia Magazine)
Visit the Swiss Bakery for its full selection of pastries, cakes, breads, as well as select imported items like chocolate, coffee, tea, condiments, and Bavarian pretzels (the latter burly-sized knot of a bread is also available at the Vienna market).
The Swiss Bakery
Ravensworth Shopping Center
5224 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22151
(703) 321-3670
Burke Town Plaza
9536 Old Keene Mill Road
Burke, VA 22015
(703) 569-3670
For more information on the Optimist Club of Greater Vienna’s upcoming program and events, including the September 24 Walk for Growing Hope & Family Fun Day, a pediatric cancer fundraiser, click here.
-Johnisha M. Levi
August 7-13 is Virginia Farmer’s Market Week!
Northern Virginia’s Farmers Markets and Hours
Annandale Farmers Market • 6621 Columbia Pike, Annandale – Thu, 8-noon
Arlington Farmers Market • N. 14th St. & N. Courthouse Road, Arlington – Sat, 8-noon
Ashburn Farmers Market • 44036 Pipeline Plaza, Ashburn – Sat, 8-noon
Ballston Farmers Market • N. Stuart St. & N. Ninth St. – Thu, 3-7 p.m.
Brambleton Farmers Market • 22875 Brambleton Plaza, Ashburn – Sun, 9-1 p.m.
Burke Farmers Market • 5671 Roberts Parkway, Burke – Sat, 8-noon
Cascades Farmers Market • 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling – Sun, 9-1 p.m.
Clarendon Farmers Market• 3100 Wilson Blvd., Arlington – Wed, 3-7 p.m.
Columbia Pike Farmers Market • S. Walter Reed Drive & Columbia Pike – Sun, 9-1 p.m.
Community Farmers Market • West & Main Streets (Sat), North St. & Old Lee Highway (Sun), Fairfax – Sat: 8-1 p.m.; Sun: 10-2 p.m.
Crystal City Farmers Market • Crystal Square Arcade between S. 18th and 20th Streets – Tue, 3-7 p.m.
Culpeper Farmers Market • E. Davis & Commerce Streets – Sat, 7:30-noon
Dale City Farmers Market • Dale Blvd. & Minnieville Road, Dale City – Sun, 8-1 p.m.
Del Ray Farmers’ Market • E. Oxford & Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria – Sat, 8-noon
Fairfax Farmers Market • 3720 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax – Tue, 8-noon
Falls Church Farmers Market • 300 Park Ave., Falls Church – Sat, 8-noon
Fredericksburg Farmers Market• George and Prince Edward Streets, Fredericksburg – Mon-Sat, 7-6 p.m.; Sun, 12:30-4 p.m.
Frying Pan Farmers Market • 2709 West Ox Road, Herndon – Wed, 8-12:30 p.m.
Great Falls Farmers Market • 750 Walker Road, Great Falls – Sat, 9-1 p.m.
Haymarket Farmers Market • 1500 Washington St., Haymarket – Sat, 8-2 p.m.
Herndon Farmers Market • Lynn and Station Streets, Herndon – Thu, 8-noon
Kingstowne Farmers Market • Kingstowne Center & Kingstowne Blvd., Franconia – Fri, 4-7 p.m.
Leesburg Farmers Market • 20 Catoctin Circle S.E., Leesburg – Sat, 8-noon
Lorton Farmers Market • 8990 Lorton Station Blvd., Lorton – Sun, 9-1 p.m.
McLean Farmers Market • 1659 Chain Bridge Road, McLean – Fri, 8-noon
Middleburg Farmers Market • 300 W. Washington St., Middleburg – Sat, 8-noon
Mount Vernon Farmers Market • 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane, Alexandria – Tue, 8-noon
Nokesville Farmers Market • 13005 Fitzwater Drive, Nokesville – Sat, 8-noon
Oakton Farmers Market • 3200 Jermantown Road, Oakton – Wed, 8-noon
Old Town Alexandria Farmers Market • 301 King St., Alexandria – Sat, 5:30-11 a.m.
Old Town Manassas Farmers Market • 9201 Center St., Manassas – Thu, 7-1 p.m.; Sat, 7:30-2:30 p.m.
Nokesville Farmers Market • 13005 Fitzwater Drive, Nokesville – Sat, 8-noon
Purcellville Farmers Market• 751 E. Main St., Purcellville – Sat, 8-noon
Reston Farmers Market • 11400 Washington Plaza W., Reston – Sat, 8-noon
Smart Markets – Centreville • 5875 Trinity Parkway, Centreville – Fri, 3:30-6:30 p.m.
Smart Markets – Fairfax Corner • Grand Commons Ave., Fairfax – Tue, 3:30-6:30 p.m.
Smart Markets – Gainesville • 13297 Gateway Center Drive, Gainesville – Sun, 10:30-1:30 p.m.
Smart Markets – Herndon • 460 Elden St., Herndon – Thu, 3:30-6:30 p.m.
Smart Markets – Oakton • 2854 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton – Sat, 10-2 p.m.
Smart Markets – Reston • 11890 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston – Wed, 3:30-6:30 p.m.
Upper King Street Farmers Market • 1806 King St., Alexandria – Wed, 3-7 p.m.
Vienna Farmers Market • 131 Church St. N.E., Vienna – Sat, 8-noon
Wakefield Farmers Market • 8100 Braddock Road, Annandale – Wed, 2-6 p.m.
Warrenton Farmers Market • Branch Drive and Warrenton Village Center (Wed), S. Fifth & Lee Streets (Sat) – Wed, 7-1 p.m.; Sat, 7-noon
West End Farmers Market • 4800 Brenman Park Drive, Alexandria – Sun, 9-1 p.m.
Or click here for our full list of local farmers markets
Posted by Warren Rojas / Wednesday, August 10th, 2011
The Vintage Restaurant Group–the trade name of restaurateur Anthony Cavallo’s burgeoning hospitality empire–has officially pulled the plug on their seafood-centric experiment, Catch 52.
“We have discovered over the past few months that the seafood desired by our community was just as easily executed at Vintage 51, our ‘sister’ restaurant, located right next door,” V51 general manager Ty Allison said of the recent consolidation. According to Allison, V51 has already absorbed C52′s most popular menu items–beer battered fish and chips, calamari, fish tacos, snow crab legs–with more (oysters on the half shell) soon to follow.
“We will be relinquishing the lease,” Allison said of C52′s now-twice abandoned pad (if memory serves, a chain Italian joint failed there previously).
–Warren
Freeze Jag: Plush Gelato & Coffee
Posted by Warren Rojas / Wednesday, August 10th, 2011
August is historically the steamiest, stickiest, sweatiest month of the year–brilliant move, Founding Fathers, building the nation’s capital on a swamp–in these parts. We’ve tracked down 31 frozen treats (one a day for the rest of this month) to provide you with some temporary, and often insanely delicious, relief.
The place: Plush Gelato & Coffee – 175 Maple Ave. E., Vienna; 703-938-2655; www.plushgelato.com
The prescription: gelato affogato. Perhaps I’m too literal. But when a retailer plugs both wake up juice and Italian confections into their business name, I have to assume they want me to try them together. Plush is only too happy to oblige with its affogato–a dual tempered pick-me-up featuring your choice of homemade gelatos inundated with a steaming shot of made-to-order espresso. The piping hot coffee quickly burrows through the hyper dense dairy balls, carving grooves into which the robust liquid will ultimately while also speeding the general dissolution of the extra rich ice cream. Fight as you might to scoop every last bit of frozen bliss into your mouth before the coffee has its way with it, you will ultimately be left with an addictively sweet latte.
I’m partial to the white chocolate cherry (creamy and tart) and mint (so very fresh) gelatos. But I could just as easily see myself slurping a double shot bolstered by blood orange, toasted almond, Vietnamese coffee (boasting an impressive 10 espresso shots per batch), roasted banana, gianduja, tiramisu, dulce de leche or lemon tart scoops. “Sometimes, we also have bourbon [gelato],” the attendant informed me with a devilish grin.
Buddy, you may have just resolved all of my eating/drinking needs.
–Warren
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Keep tabs on the month long Freeze Jag trek here.
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, August 10th, 2011
A lot of people love sushi, and almost everyone is familiar with the “California Roll.” Most places charge $5 for this simple roll, so why not save some money by making it at home?
You will need:
- Sushi rice
- Powered sushi flavoring
- Roasted seaweed, specifically for sushi
- Imitation crab meat
- Sliced avocado
- Sushi mat
(You can find all of these at your local international grocery store such as H Mart or Lotte, but I just added links to Amazon just in case you had trouble finding any of the items.)
Left - Roasted seaweed
Right - Imitation crab meat (about $4 for a whole pack)
Step one Cook two cups of sushi rice with a rice cooker (if you don’t have one, here are directions on how to boil rice). Afterward, allow the rice to cool before mixing in the sushi powder. I normally add the powder to taste, but I believe there are instructions on the back of the package.
Step two (I normally cut the seaweed in half to make rolls thinner, but it’s based on preference.) Spread a thin layer of sushi rice evenly across the seaweed. Lay out avocado and imitation crab meat on one end and roll.
It should be sort of a simultaneous rolling-and-tucking motion since you want to tuck the tightly sushi into itself.
Step three This is what the finished roll should look like (left). Just cut it into bite-sized pieces and you’re finished!
You can definitely add tobiko (the tiny orange fish eggs) if you would like (they sold a bunch at the H Mart I went to). You can also make the sushi roll inside out so that the rice is on the outside. Just line the sushi mat with plastic wrap so the rice doesn’t stick, then flip the seaweed upside down after you have spread the rice across it, add the ingredients on top of the seaweed, and roll.
- Mai Nguyen
Posted by Warren Rojas / Tuesday, August 9th, 2011
Bangkok Golden III toque Seng Luangrath is just chomping at the bit to flood the market with her native Laotian cuisine.
Mind you, she’s still cranking out all the terrific Thai food that’s been the restaurant’s bedrock cuisine since its inception. But she’s always brainstorming new ways to share the signature tastes she experienced as a youth and has grown to treasure as an adult–like putting a distinctly Asian spin on Continental standbys like escargot and steak tartar.
WR: Salt. Pepper. What other spices/herbs could you not live without?
SL: White pepper, ground Thai chiles, lemon grass, Kaffir lime leaves, galangal root, lime basil, garlic
WR: What’s the very first dish you ever mastered? How long did it take? Do you still make it today?
SL: Larb, a mince meat mix with herbs. It take [about a] half hours [sic] to make. [I] make this every day.
WR: What seasonal ingredient(s) get your creative juices flowing?
SL: Lime juice
WR: My latest cookbook obsession is …
WR: What’s the most challenging dish you’ve ever attempted? Would you make it again?
SL: Vietnamese rice crepe stuffed with pork and black mushrooms
WR: If I could the spend the day working alongside any local chef, I’d love to collaborate with …
SL: Andy Bennett
WR: What’s the easiest/quickest–but still wholly satisfying–meal you make for yourself?
SL: Papaya salad
WR: In the next six months you won’t want to miss my …
SL: Lao cuisine with a modern twist. I am working on grilled fish and larb with a modern cooking method.
WR: It’s quitting time. I’m pouring myself …
SL: I drink a lot of hot, organic soy milk to help me relax.
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Laotian-style tartar sounds like en epicurean trip I desperately want to take. Count me in, chef.
Come back next Tuesday for another helping of Red Meat.
–Warren
Mind Games: Meet Chocolate Mint
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Tuesday, August 9th, 2011
Chocolate Mint Bunch (Image: Johnisha M. Levi)
I first heard about chocolate mint (the plant)–not to be confused with mint chocolate (the candy)–from former Rock Creek-Mazza Gallerie pastry chef Yasmine Sandhu. I was weighing pastry school at the time, and Yasmine was kind enough to let me volunteer or stage in her kitchen so that I could get more of a feel for the day-to-day life of a pastry chef.
Although Yasmine had to design her menu within pretty rigid nutritional requirements (Rock Creek’s petite desserts were all under 100 calories), at the restaurant, she had a lot of freedom to alter the menu as she saw fit. She was able to buy a lot of her produce from local markets, and would build her sweet creations around what was seasonally available. She told me one of the things she was excited to get her hands on was chocolate mint.
Mint comes in an astounding number of varieties. We are all (overly) familiar with spearmint and peppermint, probably not so much in its natural state, but as popular flavors in anything from ice cream to cookies to chocolate bars. But mint plants come in a mulititude of varieties and hybrids, some of the most appetizing sounding of which include pineapple mint, apple mint, orange mint, lime mint, ginger mint, lavender mint, and lemon mint.
So is chooclate mint as appealing as the name suggests? Uh, that would be a yes. I first spied it at the Arlington Courthouse Farmers Market shortly after my conversation with Yasmine. In addition to produce, Potomac Vegetable Farms sells beautiful (almost bouquet-size) bunches of fresh herbs at the Saturday market. You’ll notice them advertised enticingly–their names neatly and colorfully displayed on small chalk boards. So when I saw “Chocolate Mint” in green block letters, I couldn’t resist.
(Image: Johnisha M. Levi/Northern Virginia Magazine)
The plant’s aroma is what will first hit you. It is a little bit of a mind game smelling chocolate mint because, well…it smells like mint chocolate candy. (Looks like a pump, feels like a sneaker). One website describes its odor as reminiscent of Andes creme de menthe thins but the aroma is fuller-bodied and more sensual. It is like smelling a good quality high cacao content dark chocolate with a sea breeze overlay.
It is all so intoxicating you might want to nosh a leaf on its own. Of course you are still eating mint, not chocolate, but because by some estimates 80% of what you perceive as “flavor” (as opposed to “taste”) comes from your sense of smell, your imagination fills in the blanks (namely, the snap of the tempered chocolate and its heady combination of fruity smoky flavors). In reality, the finish of chocolate mint is comparable to spearmint–not quite the level of tingle that you get in the menthol-packed peppermint, but lightly cooling nonetheless.
Hey, at the very least, a leaf or two makes a fantastic natural breath mint or palate cleanser.
So what can you do with chocolate mint? You’ve got a lot of options–some pretty basic, like using it to make either an iced or hot tea, or chiffonading it to eat with fresh berries. Here I’m having it with some fresh, plump blueberries, also from the Courthouse market.
Blueberries with Chocolate Mint (Image: Johnisha M. Levi/Northern Virginia Magazine)
You can also infuse the mint in dairy-based desserts such as panna cotta (a no-fuss dessert of Italian pedigree), or, in the spirit of this month’s Freeze Jag, in a French custard-style ice cream. (Forget American or Philadelphia-style ice cream–without the eggs, it is not nearly as luxurious. If you are gonna eat the ‘cream, don’t count the calories and fat, I say.)
The Perfect Scoop author, chef and food blogger David Lebovitz’s Mint Chip Ice Cream recipe, which has the grace to leave out terribly offensive green food dye, is the perfect way to pay due tribute to chocolate mint. After infusing handfuls of mint into warmed cream and milk, you will cook the egg cream and sugar mixture to nappe (170 Fahrenheit so that the eggs are safe), strain and cool, and let the ice cream base age over night before running it through your ice cream machine. And the last step is the best step: folding melted chocolate into the ice cream to make natural “chips.”
-Johnisha M. Levi
August 7-13 is Virginia Farmer’s Market Week!
Northern Virginia’s Farmers Markets and Hours
Annandale Farmers Market • 6621 Columbia Pike, Annandale – Thu, 8-noon
Arlington Farmers Market • N. 14th St. & N. Courthouse Road, Arlington – Sat, 8-noon
Ashburn Farmers Market • 44036 Pipeline Plaza, Ashburn – Sat, 8-noon
Ballston Farmers Market • N. Stuart St. & N. Ninth St. – Thu, 3-7 p.m.
Brambleton Farmers Market • 22875 Brambleton Plaza, Ashburn – Sun, 9-1 p.m.
Burke Farmers Market • 5671 Roberts Parkway, Burke – Sat, 8-noon
Cascades Farmers Market • 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling – Sun, 9-1 p.m.
Clarendon Farmers Market• 3100 Wilson Blvd., Arlington – Wed, 3-7 p.m.
Columbia Pike Farmers Market • S. Walter Reed Drive & Columbia Pike – Sun, 9-1 p.m.
Community Farmers Market • West & Main Streets (Sat), North St. & Old Lee Highway (Sun), Fairfax – Sat: 8-1 p.m.; Sun: 10-2 p.m.
Crystal City Farmers Market • Crystal Square Arcade between S. 18th and 20th Streets – Tue, 3-7 p.m.
Culpeper Farmers Market • E. Davis & Commerce Streets – Sat, 7:30-noon
Dale City Farmers Market • Dale Blvd. & Minnieville Road, Dale City – Sun, 8-1 p.m.
Del Ray Farmers’ Market • E. Oxford & Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria – Sat, 8-noon
Fairfax Farmers Market • 3720 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax – Tue, 8-noon
Falls Church Farmers Market • 300 Park Ave., Falls Church – Sat, 8-noon
Fredericksburg Farmers Market• George and Prince Edward Streets, Fredericksburg – Mon-Sat, 7-6 p.m.; Sun, 12:30-4 p.m.
Frying Pan Farmers Market • 2709 West Ox Road, Herndon – Wed, 8-12:30 p.m.
Great Falls Farmers Market • 750 Walker Road, Great Falls – Sat, 9-1 p.m.
Haymarket Farmers Market • 1500 Washington St., Haymarket – Sat, 8-2 p.m.
Herndon Farmers Market • Lynn and Station Streets, Herndon – Thu, 8-noon
Kingstowne Farmers Market • Kingstowne Center & Kingstowne Blvd., Franconia – Fri, 4-7 p.m.
Leesburg Farmers Market • 20 Catoctin Circle S.E., Leesburg – Sat, 8-noon
Lorton Farmers Market • 8990 Lorton Station Blvd., Lorton – Sun, 9-1 p.m.
McLean Farmers Market • 1659 Chain Bridge Road, McLean – Fri, 8-noon
Middleburg Farmers Market • 300 W. Washington St., Middleburg – Sat, 8-noon
Mount Vernon Farmers Market • 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane, Alexandria – Tue, 8-noon
Nokesville Farmers Market • 13005 Fitzwater Drive, Nokesville – Sat, 8-noon
Oakton Farmers Market • 3200 Jermantown Road, Oakton – Wed, 8-noon
Old Town Alexandria Farmers Market • 301 King St., Alexandria – Sat, 5:30-11 a.m.
Old Town Manassas Farmers Market • 9201 Center St., Manassas – Thu, 7-1 p.m.; Sat, 7:30-2:30 p.m.
Nokesville Farmers Market • 13005 Fitzwater Drive, Nokesville – Sat, 8-noon
Purcellville Farmers Market• 751 E. Main St., Purcellville – Sat, 8-noon
Reston Farmers Market • 11400 Washington Plaza W., Reston – Sat, 8-noon
Smart Markets – Centreville • 5875 Trinity Parkway, Centreville – Fri, 3:30-6:30 p.m.
Smart Markets – Fairfax Corner • Grand Commons Ave., Fairfax – Tue, 3:30-6:30 p.m.
Smart Markets – Gainesville • 13297 Gateway Center Drive, Gainesville – Sun, 10:30-1:30 p.m.
Smart Markets – Herndon • 460 Elden St., Herndon – Thu, 3:30-6:30 p.m.
Smart Markets – Oakton • 2854 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton – Sat, 10-2 p.m.
Smart Markets – Reston • 11890 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston – Wed, 3:30-6:30 p.m.
Upper King Street Farmers Market • 1806 King St., Alexandria – Wed, 3-7 p.m.
Vienna Farmers Market • 131 Church St. N.E., Vienna – Sat, 8-noon
Wakefield Farmers Market • 8100 Braddock Road, Annandale – Wed, 2-6 p.m.
Warrenton Farmers Market • Branch Drive and Warrenton Village Center (Wed), S. Fifth & Lee Streets (Sat) – Wed, 7-1 p.m.; Sat, 7-noon
West End Farmers Market • 4800 Brenman Park Drive, Alexandria – Sun, 9-1 p.m.
Or click here for our full list of local farmers markets
Design Matters: Nobody Likes the New Budweiser Cans
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Tuesday, August 9th, 2011
In an effort to boost their sagging sales (while craft beer sales are up! Go team!), the King of Watery Domestics, Budweiser, has taken their can back to the drawing board for the 12th time. The result? Well it’s pretty terrible, actually.
The new can highlights the “Budweiser Bowtie” an element that has never played a huge part in the brand’s formerly floral, text heavy tins. The new look gives the can a kind of a sleek, pared down feel that everyone seems to want these days. The result? Nobody likes it.
A line up of Budweiser's can designs. (Image: Anheuser Busch-InBev)
The color scheme has edged more towards an in-your-face red and the trademark medallion and ribbons have melted into the background. I know that Budweiser is about as corporate and soulless as it gets in the beer industry, considering it’s a product of the largest brewing company in the world, Anheuser-Busch InBev, but allowing for that corporate lack of regard for history and tradition to leak out of the can and onto the design is about the last thing a Big Beer company should do.
Look at Milwaukee’s Best. Milwaukee’s Best had a great can design for years. Now look at it. The logo fully embraces the brand’s place as the go-to brew for frat boys and bars where patrons dance on tables.
Now look at Budweiser’s main competition: Miller High Life, Coors, Pabst, National Bohemian – all bad beers, all great cans.
Now I realize that calling Budweiser soulless is sort of like harping on McDonald’s for a lack of integrity, but if there’s one thing Budweiser had going for it, it was it’s consistently old school can and bottle designs. When it comes to cheap, filler laden brews, aesthetics matter, because good lord, it’s not like flavor plays much of a factor. Coors has kept its golden can essentially unchanged, and Miller High Life is still all ribbons and pretty girls perched on the Moon.
They get it.
Drinking from a can that’s gone mostly unchanged since its inception gives a nice sense of tradition, something that only a handful of the country’s micro-brews can fence with, despite a better product. The unwavering designs give a feeling that one day your kids might grow up to drink the same cruddy beer out of the same cool can.
By completely overhauling their new can, Budweiser has broken the unstated rule of the big beer industry when it comes to design. Keep the main product traditional-looking, as sort of elder-statesman of the brand, and then go and make your light beer cans as ugly as you want.
Oh, and they’ve also raised their prices.
So to hell with it.
- Kris King
Posted by Warren Rojas / Tuesday, August 9th, 2011
August is historically the steamiest, stickiest, sweatiest month of the year–brilliant move, Founding Fathers, building the nation’s capital on a swamp–in these parts. We’ve tracked down 31 frozen treats (one a day for the rest of this month) to provide you with some temporary, and often insanely delicious, relief.
The place: Dairy Queen – Multiple NoVA locations; www.dairyqueen.com
The prescription: Cookie dough Blizzard. EVERYBODY mixes stuff into their soft serve these days. But the DQ was the first to give it a clever name–the highly imitated “Blizzard” burst onto the dessert scene over a quarter decade ago–and they’re been thinking up new and exciting ways to sneak candy into our diets ever since. Crushed cookies and crumbled candy bars are all fine and dandy. But sometimes, nothing but gobs of teeth-rotting cookie dough (or a reasonable facsimile thereof) will do–particularly when said blobs of chocolate chip-studded decadence are integrated into creamy vanilla ice cream that is then drenched in a lo00000ng pump of chocolate syrup and vigorously spun into a gravity defying treat.
Traditionalists will be pleased to know that the peanut butter cup, cookie dough and Oreo Blizzards remain evergreen, while more adventurous palates can continue to explore the next frontier–triple chocoholic (with truffles), strawberry-golden oreo or French silk pie Blizzards, anyone?–in frosty ecstasy.
Better yet, indulge your sweet tooth this Thursday (8/11), AKA Miracle Treat Day, and at least part of your purchase will benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
–Warren
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Keep tabs on the month long Freeze Jag trek here.
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Tuesday, August 9th, 2011
After I discovered the sugarcane shortage over two months ago, I had tried several times after that to see if they got any in yet. Many failed attempts were made and I had given up all hope. However, I had the chance to go to Eden Center over this past weekend when I saw this sign:
Translation: We have sugarcane juice! So I hopped right on in and bought myself a cup for $3.50 at Kim Phung Bakery. I wasn’t the only happy camper that day, I saw many customers hoarding cups of sugarcane juice (okay, I’m exaggerating a bit). I’m not sure if any other bakery has sugarcane yet since they didn’t advertise it as well, but at least I know one place that has it for sure.
As for taste, it isn’t as sweet as you would think. I also had a lychee bubble drink, and the bubble drink was much sweeter than the sugarcane juice. The flavor is hard to describe since I can’t compare it to any other juice, but it is extremely refreshing. In order to make the juice, they just put sugarcane stalks through a machine to squeeze all of the juice out. Since it’s in the back of the store, you won’t be able to see them do it, so here’s a video I found on youtube.
Yikes, wouldn’t want to get my hand caught in there. Anyway, if Eden Center is too far for you, Yeo’s has a canned “Sugar Cane Beverage” that you can find at your local international grocery store (Lotte, H Mart, Grand Mart, etc).
Kim Phung Bakery
6771 Wilson Blvd.
Falls Church, VA 22044
703-534-4525
- Mai Nguyen