- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Bloomingdale Farmer's Market
Rating Details »
Category: Farmers Market [Edit]
Neighborhood: Bloomingdale102 R St NW
(between N 1st St & N Florida Ave)
Washington, DC 20001
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
9 reviews for Bloomingdale Farmer's Market
Second time's a charm. The first attempt at a farmers market in the neighborhood at the corner of North Capitol and Florida fell flat, but you know what they say: location, location, location. The May to November Bloogmindale Farmer's market, now in its third year, gets a lot of great synergy from its location next to the Big Bear Cafe. The fact that it's hours (10-2pm) are not too early, is a bonus.
Ranging from 7-10 vendors, the market makes up in substance what it lacks in raw numbers: pasta and sauces, lamb, beef, pork, goat and chicken, eggs, fruits and veg (some organic), bread, cheese, and even flowers. Yes, you're gonna pay more for it than you do at Safeway/Giant/Harris Teeter (and maybe even Whole Foods), but you can sleep soundly knowing that you bought local and minimized your carbon footprint.
The Bloomingdale Farmer's Market is my local farmer's market and I'm smitten.
Though it's half the size of the largest farmer's markets in the DC area the Bloomingdale Farmer's Market still packs a punch. All the usual suspects can be found - fresh dairy, meat/poultry, baked goods, and fresh produce, fresh produce, fresh produce.
I do my best to plan out meals before I visit as I'm otherwise tempted to just go crazy ("Peaches! For everyone" and "Oooh, how much eggplant can we fit in a bag?!") but even if you forget to come with recipes in mind the vendors and the info booth also keep free recipe printouts handy, and there's usually a cooking demo showcasing what's in season.
And the info booth? It's nothing short of amazing. In addition to the recipes, you know how you usually forget to bring cash to the farmer's market? They have an "ATM" service - for $2 (which goes towards market administering) you can withdraw as much money as you want. The trick - you get your money in market tokens that are good for the duration of the market (until November) that can be used at any of the vendors. If you buy something that rings in under $5 the vendors will give you change. Pretty sweet deal.
Located in front of Big Bear Cafe and with the lazy-Sunday perfect hours of 10am-2pm you can be sure to find me at the Bloomingdale Farmer's Market every weekend.
This is for the Pasta, Jam, and sauce vendor at the market called The Copper Pot. I had to go look on my packages to find the name.Other farmers markets he can be found at are here: http://www.copperpotfo.... Also the Gnocchi I bought were fabulous. The Chef/Owner is extremely helpful!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
8/23/2009
Nom. Nom. Nom. This is probably the closest farmers market to my apartment (20 minutes walk), and I… Read more »
First, let me preface by saying I am one of the vendors at this farmers market. I sell at two other markets (one in DC and one in PA) and I've got to say that the BFM has one of the nicest mixes of customers and other vendors of any market I've ever done. I love doing my own shopping at this market and the coffee & food at the Big Bear Cafe next door ROCKS.
Love a good farmers market as I am from the garden area of the "garden state". Everyone is friendly, you can find all of the fixings for your Sunday dinner whether your a carnivore, a vegetarian or vegan plus you are supporting local growers. I can walk around the corner to the market so I'm a bit bias, but I do think it is worth a visit during the season.
What an oasis of friendliness in the harshness that is DC living. I took the metro down from CH to Shaw (ok ok...it was a hot day and I really didn't want to walk) and strolled down R Street to be invited into a lovely, little, uncrowded farmer's market. I was waiting for a friend, so I stopped at the Big Bear to grab some Iced Tea. Needless to say, the BB is one of the coolest coffee shops in the area -- but that is for another post.
Onto the market -- beautiful everything! Everyone who was selling their fruits of their labor (literally and figuratively) were so friendly -- I almost felt like I was extracted from the cold, harsh moods of the typical DCers into a good ol' Southern family.
Onto the goods -- items being sold included: fruits such as deLICIous strawberries, peaches and apples. A small carton of s'berries was only $2, and they were most definitely fresh, sweet and juicy. Meats such as lamb, pork, bacon and assorted sausages. To say it was a real-life sausage fest would be an understatement. Coolers upon coolers of freshly-packed raw meat lined R Street and for most meats you are able to pick your poison yourself. I picked up two little lamb chops to try out, running me around $12, which is not bad considering their freshness and void of any crazy chemicals.
There is of course a large assortment of vegetables, all in season, from corn to baby eggplant (both which I purchased) to okra to broccoli to Lord knows what else. Fresh flowers are sold by one vendor, which I can imagine were picked from an amazing field of wild flowers.
Lastly -- BreadLine also sets up shop there with amazing baguettes, foccaccia and probably the best damn corn muffin you will ever taste.
All in all, a lovely small little market that will give you the personal attention that you won't receive at Eastern Market. There is even a guy grilling the meats and sticking them on little slices of Baguettes to sample -- I wonder if he noticed I walked by three times to snag one of those???
I'm holding at four stars because I wish there were more tents and more people selling! While it fulfilled my needs for that particular moment, I hope there is more selection in the future.
MMM mmm MMM...two thumbs up for the Bloomingdale FM!
Grass-fed, antibiotic-free meat, check. Fresh-made cheeses, check. An amazing assortment of vegetables (including fresh artichokes), check. An assortment of all the types of fruit available at that moment, check. An ATM, in case you run out of cash, check.. What else could you ask for in a farmer's market? It's small, cute, and friendly. Everyone says goodmorning on the street on the way there and everyone will at least smile at you. So far, this is the friendliest place I have been to in DC- and it has the best food.
It's December so no more farmers market. This place a good selection of your basic needs. Nothing too exotic going on here. Also they have bread line breads. This was a great way for we to get a little exercise in and make sure I have my five a day.
Every Sunday between 10am and 2pm they set up shop and give you a great selection of locally grown fruits, meats, breads and plants. Smaller and less crowded than the other markets, but it's worth a sunday stroll thru to pick up some lamb, fresh sage and fruit for a wholesome weekend dinner . They also do cooking demos so you too can learn how to cook from someone else besides Rachel Ray and Emeril... Worth a look-see if you're around the area. It's from late april till late october, so take advantage while in the summer of love!
