Pike and Rose
With countless rows of produce and a live band, Pike Central Farm Market is worth a walk through. The market runs from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every Saturday year-round, with different stands sent from local farms and businesses. Containing a variety of options, it is perfect for purchasing fresh vegetables.
I sampled various apples from Spiral Path Farm and would recommend trying the sweet, crisp, Fuji apples. Near the end of the market was DMV Empanadas, a stand with nearly every flavor of empanada imaginable. I ordered both the Nutella ($4) and the spinach and cheese empanada ($4).
The spinach and cheese empanada was oozing with a creamy, cheesy mixture and perfectly satisfied my savory craving. The Nutella empanada was filled with a mixture of Nutella, bananas and strawberries and had a perfect level of sweetness, without being too rich. The empanadas were very messy and hard to eat without spilling any filling, so I would definitely recommend picking up napkins.
Some other options at Pike Central Farm Market include Mastiha Taverna, a Greek bakery, Dumplings by Batik and Venezuelan food vendor Panoteca.
A unique part of Pike Central Farm Market was the live music, which is there most weeks and consists of various bands. The band lifted the atmosphere of the market and contributed to a fun experience. Although the market is mainly filled with produce and has fewer snack options, it is definitely a great place to visit for fresh ingredients and a lively, enjoyable environment.
Kensington
While the Kensington Farmers Market is small, nestled into a parking lot by Kensington’s historic train station, its charm makes it a pleasant place to visit on a weekend morning. Open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday year-round, the market has short rows of stands filled with items from baked goods to different types of olives.
Most vendors, such as King Mushrooms and Old Smokey BBQ, represent small businesses that travel to various farmers markets. The market had only a few produce options, which is not ideal for a market made to sell fresh goods.
Though there were not as many produce options as I anticipated, they still had options like mushrooms, tomatoes, apples and other various seasonal items.
As soon as I entered the market, the sweet smell of cinnamon lured me to The Crêpe Shoppe where I ordered The Churro ($8), a crepe filled with butter, cinnamon and sugar. They made the crepe right in front of me and handed it, steaming hot, to me with the cinnamon-sugar mixture oozing out of all sides. The thin, doughy layer of crepe mixed with the warm sweet filling made for a delicious treat that is definitely a must-buy at the market.
In addition to the churro-flavored crepes, they offer other sweet options such as Classic Nutella, Lemon Delight and Sh’mores. On top of sweet crepe options half of the menu is composed of savory crepes such as Veggie Delight, Caprese and Spinach Breakfast Crepe.
Across from the crepe stand was Amazonica Coffee, where I ordered an iced pumpkin spice latte. For the steep price of $7.80, the latte lacked any strong pumpkin flavor and tasted like an average cup of coffee. Instead, I would have rather tried some of Great Harvest Bread’s enticing options, such as the chocolate babka or pumpkin swirl bread.
With only short rows of stands and minimal produce options, the market lacked the variety of options that makes for an optimal farmers market, but still offered a cozy atmosphere to enjoy a leisurely morning snack and support small local vendors.
Bethesda
The Bethesda Central Farm market was by far the best market for both walking around and enjoying a treat. Open from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every Sunday year-round, the market has a plethora of stalls and a wide range of fun food options.
One stall that stood out to me was The Brinary at Two Acre, which sold different flavors of pickles. Some notable flavors included maple bourbon, sweet and spicy and smokehouse. I bought a pint of roasted garlic pickles for $6.37 and was immediately hit with a wave of the spicy, salty flavor with the perfect crunch. This stand is a definite must-visit for any pickle lovers.
Next, I stopped at Grandma Vera’s Bakery, a Brazilian food trailer selling juice, baked goods, stew and various other kinds of Brazilian foods. I bought a Brazilian cheese ball for $1.50 and a medium Morning Kick juice for $8. The ball had a crispy exterior that gave way to an airy center filled with cheese, which perfectly balanced the flavor. The juice was made with lemon, apple, orange and ginger, which added a spicy kick that made it refreshing.
There were many other vendors I wanted to try, such as Rita’s Crepes and More, which has many different types of crepes, Rise bakery for gluten free baked goods, and Jarape Gourmet Pops for unique flavors of popsicles. Directly next to that stand was a live band playing cheerful folk music that carried joy throughout the market. While there isn’t music every week, more often than not different bands perform. Bethesda Central Farm market is an essential visit for anyone who likes farmers markets or is just looking for a fun weekend activity.
