Strawberries, asparagus, garlic scapes: Farmers market season is now

 

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Farmers market season has started!💚A gorgeous morning here in VA. I am looking forward to soaking up some sunshine, reading, and meal prepping today. Hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday- any fun plans?✨

A post shared by Jenny Dang, RD (@eatyourdangveggies) on May 6, 2018 at 8:29am PDT

“Mommy, when can we go to the farmers market with the almond croissants?” my three-year-old asked as we walked the few blocks to the Del Ray Farmers’ Market.

Del Ray happens to be one of the year-round markets in NoVA, though I’m guilty of driving to MOM’s Organic Market for compost drops and grocery runs during the cold months.

From spring through the edge of fall, most weekend food shopping is at farmers markets, and I almost always bring my daughter. As the offspring of a restaurant critic, she didn’t have a choice but to become a miniature foodie, finding joy in sashimi, seaweed salad, soup dumplings, fried Brussels sprouts and any shrimp dish presented in front of her. And, she knows her farmers markets, zeroing in on the cucumber samples and remembering which market sells our favorite almond croissant. That pastry is made by Bonaparte-Rustiq Bakery and sold at the Fairlington Farmers Market, which debuts for the season this Sunday, May 5. New vendors include Faerie Springs Farm, Foggy Mountain Pasta, Ana’s Twist and Ozfeka.

The Purcellville Farmers Market also opens this weekend (Saturday, May 4) with vendors Valley Roots Farm and Wicked K9 Treats. And, Central Farm Markets moved from Mosaic District (Freshfarm took over) to a new location at George C. Marshall High School in Falls Church. It’s still on Sundays, and debuted last month. So check your local market’s opening day schedule. It’s probably this weekend. And grab an extra pint of strawberries. They go fast.

 

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A post shared by Ford’s Fish Shack (@fordsfish) on Apr 18, 2019 at 12:53pm PDT

News, events, etc. 

Food hall mania: Alexandria’s Hoffman Town Center will get a 12,000-square-foot food court with 12 vendors. [Washington Business Journal]

Asian seafood grill Rock ‘n’ Claws will open in the former Kaiser space in Ashburn. [The Burn]

Winchester’s Clark and Hopkins won the Specialty Food Association award for best new hot sauce: Assam. [SFA]

David Chang and Chrissy Teigen join with Vox Media to develop Hulu’s first food-focused programming. [Hollywood Reporter]

Sweetgreen reverses its plastic path and will again accept cash payments at all stores by the end of the year. [WUSA9]

Ford’s Fish Shack partners with Old Ox Brewery for Two Fish IPA. [The Burn]

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