Inside Look: Tuesday’s Crystal City FRESHFARMS Farmers Market
Posted by Sally Traynham / Monday, May 7th, 2012
Bigger is not always better. Crystal City FRESHFARMS Farmers Market is the perfect example of an intimate market with the perfect balance of vendors.
Last Tuesday at 3 p.m. I rang the bell alongside other market staff members to kick off the 2012 season opening day. While walking through the producer-only market, that’s snuggled on Crystal Drive, I got the low-down on each vendor and swung by the Chef at Market’s tasting table featuring a gazpacho by Jaleo’s chef Drew Terp.
Beyond the beautiful produce—I didn’t know know radishes could look mouth-watering—and the wafting smell of freshly popped popcorn, here are five interesting insider notes about the Crystal City FRESHFARMS Farmers Market that I learned along my two-block tour:
1. The two new vendors this year are: The Farm at Sunnyside (the market’s organic farm offering up beautiful produce) and Capital Kettle Corn (who dish up freshly popped corn with flavors ranging from Ethiopian and old bay to spicy hot chocolate).
2. This market takes “green” to a whole new level. Last years’ signs and banners are saved and recycled into re-usable and retro grocery bags that are given out to market goers (see picture below).
Read the rest of this entry »
Cinco De Mayo: Tequila-Infused Menu
Posted by Sally Traynham / Friday, May 4th, 2012
Igor Normann/Shutterstock
May brings the crazed excitement of Cinco De Mayo with the inevitable hangover after a night of bar hopping. This year, get your tequila fix through flavors of this tequila-infused menu. (Trust me, you’ll thank yourself in the morning.)
Queso Fundido al Tequila from Rick Bayless [food and wine]
Mussels with Tomatoes, Jalepeno and Tequila from Susan Baker [bon appetit]
Tequila-Lime Chicken from Ina Garten [food network]
Grilled Tequila Garlic Lime Flank Steak from Guy Fieri [food network]
Read the rest of this entry »
Seven Things to Know About Del Ray Cafe’s Soft Opening Tonight
Posted by Stefanie Gans / Thursday, May 3rd, 2012
Photo by Stefanie Gans
1. Laurent Janowsky is welcoming Del Ray neighbors and friends to the soft opening tonight of his new, more-casual French restaurant, Del Ray Café. (D’uh.)
2. Janowsky also owns the fancy French Le Bergerie in Old Town.
3. He’s hoping for a slow night to let the kitchen ease in. “I want to be here a long time,” says the veteran restauranter, “and not short term, so I don’t want to srcew up my opening.”
3. Le Bergerie’s Sylvian Tonello will become executive chef of both restaurants and will now be primarly cooking at Del Ray Café.
4. The menu will be sustainable, natural, organic and local, but, says Janowsky, ”with a little bit of poison, meaning that there’s some stuff…that’s too good to pass up.” Expect foie gras and beignets.
5. Starting Monday, Del Ray Cafe will be ready with breakfast at 7 a.m. and will also offer lunch and dinner.
6. Boozers welcome – Jankowsky scored a liquor license.
7. And of course, here’s a peek at the Del Ray Cafe menu
205 East Howell Ave., Alexandria; 703-717-9151.
[tips for the food desk / follow @gansie]
The Dedication of a Line Cook, Updated
Posted by Stefanie Gans / Thursday, May 3rd, 2012
Facebook screengrab
Think working in the restaurant world is easy?
There’s no calling in sick. No bullshit excuses.
Get run over by a car? Your ass is at work. Or at least that’s the dedication of Will Artley‘s staff at Pizzeria Orso.
UPDATE, 2:42 pm
@chefwillartley tweets the full kitchen conversation:
Read the rest of this entry »
Lick Your Screen: Italian Nachos Edition
Posted by Rebekah Lowe / Thursday, May 3rd, 2012
When I walked into The Don’s Wood-Fired Pizza last night for dinner, a piece of pizza was my only intention. But when “Italian Nachos” caught my eye on the menu, how could i resist? I’ve had chili nachos, Irish nachos, and now it was time to add Italian nachos to that list. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Would there be chips? Would there be cheese drizzled across my nachos? These nachos came deconstructed: a heaping pile of pizza dough freshly baked into perfect flatbread with plenty of oregano, garlic and Parmesan sprinkled on top and served with a side of spicy melted cheese with a pinch of peppers folded in. Delicious.
Are there any other types of nachos to try in NoVA?
Italian Nachos | The Don’s Wood-Fired Pizza | Sterling
Photo by Bekah Lowe
[Do you have a lick-worthy photo? Send it in: food desk / follow @bekahlowe]
FRESHFARM Markets Welcomes Ballston Farmers Market into the Family
Posted by Sally Traynham / Thursday, May 3rd, 2012
For all NoVinians who feared that Ballston Farmers Market was no longer in action, FRESHFARM Markets is teaming up with the Ballston Business Improvement Distrcit (BBID) to debut the market on June 21.
The BBID’s desire for a fresh approach in combination with FRESHFARM’s success with other area markets (such as their Crystal City location) makes this partnership an ideal fit. Enthusiastic about the new addition, Bernadine Prince, co-executive director of FRESHFARM Markets, talks about how much she likes the location.
Ballston, says Prince, is “a neighborhood with a good mix of residential, retail and non-profits and near the metro.” To keep the regulars, Prince recommends keeping the Thursday afternoon (3 p.m. to 7 p.m.) time slot.
While most area farmers markets open in May, FRESHFARMS is taking its time to roll out the renewed market, making this the 11th on its roster. Because of the brand-new partnership FRESHFARMS requires an extra two months to recruit all of the farmers and producers. Prince estimates the market as having 10-15 farmers and producers, and remains optimistic about the project, saying we’ll “see how the first year goes.”
“Because it’s a tough growing season [due to the mild winter and temperatures warming so soon], it is better to err on the smaller side to make sure the market looks robust,” explains Prince whose main goal is to make sure that vendors and customers are happy with fresh, local goods.
Photo: Sally Traynham
[tips for the food desk]
Posted by Stefanie Gans / Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012
Just in time for the debut of Spike Mendelsohn‘s second Good Stuff Eatery location in Crystal City on May 9th, the former Top Chef contestant revealed he suffers from acid reflux disease. With this news Mendelsohn also announced a new campaign, “Don’t Let It Burn,” in partnership with Takeda Pharmaceuticals, the makers of the heartburn medicine DEXILANT (dexlansoprazole), to raise awareness for the disease and to provide heartburn-friendly recipes.
This is the second nationally-recognized chef this year to publicly announce a health-related problem while simultaneously becoming a spokesperson for prescription drug company. After hiding her Type 2 diabetes diagnosis for three years, Paula Deen, famous for her fatty recipes, came public with her news while also becoming the face of the diabetes drug Victoza, from the Danish company Novo Nordisk. Deen received a lashing from the press over the timing of her announcement, especially because the “Queen of Butter” had been selling the public a brand of food known to lead to obesity, while she had been hiding her own diabetes.
Endorsement deals are big money. And Big Pharma’s got some cash to spend on celebrities, especially now that the government is enforcing drug companies to disclose any gifts, payments or other swag pharmaceutical reps bestow upon doctors. Drug companies must find additional ways to promote pills. While celebrity prescription drug endorsements have been around for years, tapping into culinary heroes has become a trend.
Read the rest of this entry »
Last Chance To Vote: Which Chain Restaurant Should Northern Virginia Magazine Review (on Gut Check)?
Posted by Stefanie Gans / Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012
The fancified seafood chain Bonefish Grill is in the lead for the chain most worthy of a review by Northern Virginia Magazine. Think not?
Vote today. Polls close this Friday and look for a review later this month. For more on the chain debate, check out the comments that sparked the review.
Now it’s up to the readers again. If we’re going to review a chain, which one should it be?
Vote for the chain most worthy of a NVM review.
Photo: Shutterstock/svry
Posted by Sally Traynham / Tuesday, May 1st, 2012
Excitement over Westover Farmers Market‘s opening debut, set for Sunday, might be tempered by Arlington County Board restrictions. Most notable? Parking issues. [Arlington Mercury]
Woman wins $1 million in lawsuit against Nutella, blaming ads that made her believe it was more nutritious than it actually is. Really? If you were also that naive, you can make the same claim here. [Yahoo]
Twilight mega-star Robert Pattinson enjoyed a medium-rare steak at Majestic Cafe this past Saturday. Before leaving, the heart-throb signed a menu for Cathal Armstrong‘s daughter. [Washingtonian]
Food truck alert. Something Stuffed—a new food truck featuring filled-food items such as egg rolls, empanadas and dumplings—has rolled into Arlington. [ARLnow]
Restaurant Magazine revealed the World’s 50 Best Restaurants for 2012. Unfortunately no NoVA establishments made the cut. [CNN]
Doctors scold McDonald’s for being a sponsor for the London Olympics, claiming it’s sending the wrong message with its Olympics menu featuring Big Macs, fries and milkshakes. [abc]
[Pet] food recall! Diamond Pet Foods voluntarily recalls its Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food with concerns of salmonella. [delmarvanow]
Photo: Martin Turzak/Shutterstock
[tips for the food desk]
The Dude Would Approve: Housemade Kuhlua at kybecca
Posted by Stefanie Gans / Tuesday, May 1st, 2012
It’s no longer good enough that a restaurant makes its own charcuterie or cheese. It now must make its own alcohol. And its own ice.
kybecca, a darling wine bar in Fredericksburg, honors The Dude by combining a few simple ingredients (coffee, sugar, vodka) for a version of Kahlua, “ky-luha”. kybecca’s coffee liquer tastes less syrupy than its mass produced counterpart. I only wish it tasted stronger of coffee, because if you’re going through the trouble of making it, might as well create something drastically improved.
I wasn’t too mad though, as the gorgeous cube of ice, streaked and crystallized from a few rounds of freezing, sparkled in the late afternoon sun.
Photo: Stefanie Gans