This morning, I was in a certain mood. It was such a beautiful morning and I was looking forward to going to the farmer's market in Downtown Annapolis. Unfortunately, the local market wasn't open, so CJ and I made a quick decision to head into DC and visit Union Market. I was so satisfied with our decision.
If you didn't know about Union Market, you would never know it was there. It's tucked away into an underdeveloped section of NE, sitting amongst warehouses and industrial buildings. Also, THEY HAVE AMPLE, FREE PARKING, which is basically unheard of in DC. We arrived around 10:30 and the market was already buzzing with people enjoying nice weather and good food.
The quirk that I love about Union Market is the wide variety of stalls. Like, where else can I get bread pudding, Korean BBQ tacos, and a professional Japanese cooking knife all in one place? One of my favorite shops is Salt and Sundry. It's such a small store but I could spend HOURS in there looking at every single thing. They have an amazing array of unique and artsy dinnerware, barware, and general home goods, so naturally I'm obsessed with it. It is very similar to the home section of Anthropologie in my opinion, but a little more affordable.
Another stall that I frequent is called Red Apron. It's a butcher stand with huge variety of hard and soft salamis, like chorizo and pepperoni - "a candy store for meat lovers" as they call it. I normally come here when I'm putting together a charcuterie board for a party or something similar. It's a nice way to spice up a dish and make it more notable, rather than picking up the standard, generic meats at the regular supermarket. Plus, it's super affordable and the employees are always willing to help out and offer recommendations.
On the opposite side of the meat counter is the sandwich counter. The masterminds at Red Apron have created a handful of different sandwiches incorporating their meats, as well as other unique flavors. I ordered a Porkstrami, which was pork and sauerkraut with whole grain mustard and came on fresh bread from the baker a few stalls down. And honestly, I can't even remember what CJ ordered because I was so into my sandwich.
I've recently had a peaked interest in markets. I love going to farmer's markets, the Amish market, and of course, Union Market. I think that it's a great way to explore the community while supporting local businesses. I'm in love with the concept.
Do you guys have any favorite markets that you frequent??
Xx Christy
