Smart Markets: New Bakers Join Us

NOTE: We're going to close the Smart Markets Oakton farmers' market an hour early tomorrow, at 1 p.m., due to the heat. Hope to see you before it gets too hot! (If it's ever not "too hot.")

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This Week at our Oakton Market
Saturday 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
2854 Hunter Mill Road
Map

A Note About the Weather

We are doing our best to remain open with normal hours and with all of our vendors on site for the next few days. Some of our vendors have products that do not hold up well in the heat, and of course some vendors may also begin to flag after a few hours in 100-degree temperatures.

So come early if you can and understand that we may need to close this week’s market earlier than usual. We appreciate your understanding and hope that you will appreciate with even more enthusiasm than you normally display the efforts these vendors are making to bring their wares to you and sell outdoors in this heat. We were amazed by how many showed up last weekend and equally amazed by how many shoppers have braved the heat to support them. Thanks again for your patience.

New Vendors This Week

We welcome this week Valley View Bakery and their full range of great European breads, breakfast pastries, and desserts of all kinds. Two African gentlemen, both with a great story to tell, have teamed up to open a bakery here in Northern Virginia and are moving from wholesale to retail sales. Smart Markets hopes to help them succeed.

So let them know what you like, what you would like see more of, and what you’d like for them to try out on you. So far everything we have sampled has been very good, and we are still working our way through all of their offerings.

Vendors Absent This Week

Joe Belsan will not be with us again this week; he hates to miss markets, but they are still without power at their home, and the heat has not been good for him. And of course his lovely little plants would not do well at the market either.

On the Way In and Out

Max Tyson is sending tomatoes for the first time this week, and we know you love those West Virginia tomatoes for canning, sauces, and slicing for a nice presentation salad.

Ignacio will have melons for the first time, and he is still picking some great greens and colorful beets along with all of the summer squash, corn, peppers, and beans. He should have some nice heirloom tomatoes at very competitive prices and many of those great sun gold cherry tomatoes.

I am hoping that Heritage Farm has some more of those brussels sprouts -- they were fantastic.

Doug Linton is bringing beef cuts from the first of his new herd to go to market, and it is wonderful beef — very lean but tender and quite tasty. Watch it on the grill, though. It does cook fast, and you want it medium rare for best flavor and texture.

Celeste will be with us this week, and Whim Pops will have delicious frozen treats for beating the heat.

Grilling Tip

You can safely thaw sealed frozen meats such as burger patties or steaks in a bowl or pan of cool water in the sink. Just check it occasionally to replace the water to maintain the tepid temperature.

For an even faster thaw, and a safer one for large cuts, maintain a trickle of cool water into the pan or bowl to keep the water moving. This method can safely thaw packages of sausage or burger patties in 20 minutes and steaks, London broil, or brisket cuts in about 30 minutes.

Special Events This Week

I am not scheduling anything until we get past this heat. It is hard enough to expect our vendors to stand out in it for four hours or longer, but I would never expect musicians or Annie, our demo diva, to work in it, and would not want you all to stand around in it either. We look forward to having Annie back soon, and music at the market, too.