I love my neighborhood of Bloomingdale DC. It feels like a small town community in the middle of the madness of Washington, DC. The neighbors always say hello, it's as diverse as our household, and the colorful row houses makes it a lovely place to go for a stroll.  My lovely neighborhood also includes some of the hottest spots in DC right now: Big Bear Cafe, Red Hen DC, and Boundary Stone.  However, there is something which truly brings food and neighborhood together: the Bloomingdale Farmer's Market. I was flattered when I was asked to do a cooking demonstration at the market, featuring fruits and vegetables of the season.




Millions of Peaches

  I was asked by the management to prepare a dish with the seasonal items. Two of the items dominating the market right now are peaches and tomatoes. The scorching heat and humidity decreases my desire to turn on a range, so I make a lot of salads in the summer. One of my favorite salads is the caprese, which I learned to make with my Sicilian friends in Brussels. Love the layers of basil, mozzarella, and tomatoes. This time, I decided to add a little southern touch to the salad by adding peaches. Instead of mozzarella, I used Vachino cheese, offered by the local cheese stand, Keswick Creamery. The Vachino is a little saltier than the mozzarella but it still has a similar consistency. I found a beautiful bunch of basil from the Truck Patch Farms, one of the main vegetable stands. We also loved their lovely bouquets which include fresh basil and Rhubarb stalks.

Picking just the right peach

As promised, I'm going share how to make this simple and delicious salad. Ingredients: Tomatoes, Peaches, Basil, Mozzarella di Bufala (or any same consistency cheese), salt and pepper to taste, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Cut cheese, tomatoes, and peaches, layer with basil and sprinkle salt and pepper, drizzle with olive oil and vinegar. Usually two tomatoes, two peaches, a bunch of basil, and half a mozzarella ball yields for two. Please let me know if you try it!

I loved the experience of sharing my passion of cooking with the community and also being able to be part of something which makes my neighborhood a great one to live in.

Tomatoes and Squash at Bloomingdale Farmer's Market

Takorean at Union Market

I am a big fan of food markets.  I love to admire great food on display and the people behind the booth selling their passion.  When I travel, I make it a point to check out the markets.  My favorites are Mercado San Miguel in Spain and the Markthalle in Stuttgart. Back in the US, I was excited to hear about the Union Market in DC.  With all my weekend trips, I had not been able to sample it until this weekend.  I was quite impressed with the discovery.

Sampling Cava at Mercado San Miguel with my favorite Madrilena...

After so many rainy and cold summers in Belgium, the heat and humidity in DC has been no joke to me.  Just as Brussels has no summer, Washington has no spring.  I was happy to discover an air conditioned space filled with so many yummy options.  The great part of the layout is that is is a big open space.  Although you are indoors, it gives you an airy sensation of an outdoor market.  My favorite stand so far is Takorean.  It mixes two of my favorite cuisines, Korean and Mexican surprisingly well.  I indulged in bulgogi kimchi tacos which were to die for.  I also picked up skirt steaks at Red Apron which I grilled with a whiskey dry rub from Bazaar.  I have visited Union Market twice so far and it is rapidly becoming one of my favorite places in DC. 

The scene at Union Market

 As much as I miss Brussels still, I am enamored with my neighborhood, Bloomingdale.  There are so many new things popping up in the neighborhood.  Although it is in the middle of the DC, it feels like a community.  No better way to see this than at the Bloomingdale Farmer's market.  People gather early on Sunday mornings to pickup fresh bread at a mobile boulanger (love I can speak French with him), indulge in local cheese, pies, ice cream.  We also enjoy having a coffee at Big Bear Cafe and watch everything come together: the kids under the sprinklers beating the heat, hipsters buying pies, and young couples picking our herbs for their home.

Loving my Neighborhood at Bloomingdale Farmers Market

I love the concept of outdoor eating and markets.  Last summer, I spent two weeks in DC.  During the visit, I had many experiences which sold my repatriation.  One of the events was the National Barbecue Battle. My friends and I went to sample BBQ from all over the country.  It's pure Americana: eating BBQ with a view of the Capitol.  The event returns this weekend (June 22-23) and Zinio, (a digital magazine app) will make a stop at the BBQ Battle as they participate with the Big Bite Tour.  As part of the Tour, Zinio is sponsoring Big Bite for the Cure: When someone makes a donation to Breast Cancer Research, for as little as $1, Zinio will thank them with three digital magazines for free. 
Here comes the giveaway:  I'm giving away free Zinio subscriptions to the first 9 comments.  What is your favorite DC outdoor market or eating experience?  Which market should I visit next?

*Repatriation Adventures is being compensated by Zinio, Inc.