New Winter Vendors

The winter hours have started at Bethesda Central! This means the market begins at 10:00am and ends at 1:30pm. It also means that we have some new vendors joining us for the next few months! I was so excited to meet them this past Sunday, but I’m even more excited to introduce them to you!Jumping off their Baltimore-based food truck and into our market, Sexy Vegie is joining us to serve delicious vegetarian and vegan ready-to-eat cuisine. The owner and founder, Ashwini, delights in bringing healthy food options without meat to her customers. I was overjoyed to sample a few of her culinary treats this past week, including:The Holiday; multigrain bread topped with a delicious homemade black bean patty, cranberry relish, grilled Portobello mushrooms, greens, and something called the “Sexy Vegie” sauce. This was a wonderful mixture of sweet and savory that completely satisfied my taste buds.The Protein Express; two corn tortillas stuffed with a black bean patty, avocado salsa, Sexy Vegie sauce, lettuce and tomato. Again, I couldn’t believe how satisfied I was after just a few bites of this delicious, nutritious meal.Next week, Ashwini will begin selling take-home containers of her delectable lentil soup as well as pre-packaged homemade black bean patties. Stop by next week to try her healthy and tasty dishes!Coming to the market from Mt. Airy, MD, Woodbourne Creamery at Rock Hill Orchard is selling some of the best milk I have ever tasted in my life. It was as if the cows produced a cream-flavored milkshake without all of the sugar. The first thing I noticed was the color of the milk; a rich, creamy off-white. Not only was the quality clear, but the nutritional value provided by such a natural product could not be denied!I learned a little about the cows; a breed called Golden Guernsey that produces more milk with more nutrients than any other cow. The milk has high levels of Beta Carotene, vitamins B1 and B12, lower cholesterol and higher naturally occurring Vitamin D. The genuine happiness of the cows on the dairy farm is also evident. Woodbourne uses what is called a Voluntary Milking System, or “VMS," to milk the cows. Essentially, whenever the cows decide they want to be milked, they simply step into the milking system! I cannot wait to learn more about this operation and visit the dairy farm in the future. Stop by their stand at the market for a taste of their regular or chocolate milk!Also new at our market is a local business that goes by the name of The Red Bandana. Jamie, the owner, graduated from culinary school and decided to open up a small, fun bakery business that caters to people who desire gluten-free, vegan and other healthy options. This past Sunday, I had the opportunity to try her Chocolate Orange Biscotti. As a pastry chef myself, I can tell you first hand how hard it is to make something tasty from gluten-free ingredients. This biscotti was a perfect balance of sweet and crunchy without being obviously gluten-free. I loved the chocolate orange flavor and I can’t wait to try the other treats this little bakery offers!Also coming to us from Pike Central Farm Market is DC Dills, a company that sells delicious varieties of pickles such as wasabi, bread and butter, and garlic spears. They are more than happy to give you a taste before you commit to a purchase, and they love to discuss their pickling process with you!So stop by the market next week and come meet the new members of our family. Lets make them feel welcome and assure they have a great winter season with us!Also, don’t forget about the winter customer loyalty card. Stop by the info tent to receive your card. Any four times you come to the market throughout the winter season, you'll get a $5 gift certificate to use at any of our markets. Attend all the winter markets and receive an additional $10 gift certificate - so you'll get a total of $25 to spend at the markets!We look forward to seeing you soon! Happy New Year and stay warm!