Bloomingdale Farmers Market: Are you Pickl-ish?

The Bloomingdale Farmers Market operates on Sundays from 9 am to 1 pm on the 100 block of R Street NW.

Hi BFM fans,

Are you Pickl-ish?  If you are, you will be as thrilled as I was that the best picklers in the area, No 1 Sons, joined the market last week.  Since many folks were on vacation, you may have missed them but they are extending their grand opening to this week as well.  5 different kinds of New York quality pickles,  several kimchis, 4 or 5 different krauts.  I am a third generation New Yorker and I have not had pickles this good since I moved here in 1976.  Dip -your --finger -in- the- pickle -barrel -brine good as I used to do while my mother was ordering lox and bagels for Sunday brunch.   These are brined pickles, the real deal, barrel fermented.  Come try them and tell me what you think.  And while you are thinking about pickles with your burgers and sandwiches, consider one of my favorites:  Grilled Kim-cheese.  Grilled Cheese -and -Kimchi.  Spicy, melty, crispy. A perfect sandwich.  Come taste and decide for yourself.  I have 3 different containers of their ferments in the fridge at all times.

What else is new this week?  It just takes a few 90 degree days to turn on all the summer vegetables who have been holding back in the chilly Spring we have been having. 

• baby squash with their flowers (a quick saute is all you want for these first of the seasoners.  Dress with olive oil, lemon, fresh parsley, shallot scapes or green garlic.
• *english (garden) peas  (Drop into boiling water, they won't take long and they love mint.
• *sugar snap peas -- there are some new varieties that have sweet fat peas inside but you still eat the shell
• *just dug baby Yukon golds  (wash, rub the skin,steam,  butter, tarragon, parsley, chives)
• *Candy sweet onions
• *Spring Onions
• *Baby Beets
• *Baby Hakurei turnips and greens
• *Shallot Scapes
• Don't forget the asparagus...and marvelou salads, lettuces, greens.

The Bike Clinic will be there to help get your steads in shape from 11-1, run by our friends at the Bike House.

Fruit Report:  The Northern Neck strawberries are slowing down, but the Pennsylvania and Maryland berries are taking their place.  Look for Sweet Charlie, Earliglow, Ovation, Chandlers at Truck Patch, Reid and Garner.  

Looking for the best ice cream and sorbets?  Dolcezza has both half pints to take home and their new Push Pops to eat at market.  Cucumber Mint Vodka is very refreshing, Strawberry Tequila and Strawberry Tarragon and Strawberries & Cream channel the berries, 

Weekend Grillers:  NEW cuts of Pork for the grill at Truck Patch like Porterhouse and the Porcine version of New York Strip Steak.  New bacons and dry rubbed traditional, slow cured Country Ham too.  Goat and rose veal at  Painted Hand.  Cured meats at North Mt Pastures.  Sausages at all three.  Eggs.

Bakers:  Strawberry rhubarb, chocolate pecan pies, chard with roasted garlic and goat cheese quiche are at Whisked. Panorama has a double decker table of Damien's Breton and Parisian pastries and breads. Their new baker, Damien, created an edible Alligator Bread -- a classic French "Fantasy Bread" that bakers in France offer. They are real breads baked in the shape of animals and people buy them as edible centerpieces for a party or dinner table.  One large edible bread animal surrounded by cheese, dips, charcuterie, smoked salmon makes a party.  http://ow.ly/i/2fRRp  You can order any animal you want for a party at the Pano stand.

Cheese:  Keswick is back with their grass-fed Jersey cowcheese. Claude has their version of hot pepperjack, Dragonsbreath; creamy, nutty Vermeer;  Wallaby for grilled cheese (or Kim-Cheese),Sara's Spicy Pimento Spread (that has to meet the Pimento standards of co-owner Mark's Southern childhood. Try the rind- washed, Alpine style Tommes: Tommentor is washed weekly with Troeg beer, Mad Tomme is washed with mad Elf Ale, a cherry brew. Fresh cheeses include Quark (what cream cheese aspires to be), fetas, ricotta.  Their yogurt has is made with whole milk and probiotic cultures. Nothing else. It has a fresh, tangy flavor that is wonderful with granola and fruits or as a sauce for cooked vegetables.

Spread the word that we have 7 food access programs at the market.  We welcome SNAP/EBT, WiC FMNP, WIC Cvc, SENIOR and PRODUCE PLUS and match them with bonus dollars. We are part of the Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program. DASH is our gleaning partner.

 Don't let a little hot weather (or rain) keeep your from the your market-- and those pickles!.  

Ted, Stephanie, Erica.