In our view, the more the merrier regarding farmers’ markets – and none other than Bar Italia Ristorante‘s been hosting a new one for the past five Saturdays. The restaurant’s Mengesha Yohannes has designed Showcase Market to … well … showcase – both the wares of local farmers and Bar Italia’s own culinary offerings. The market occupies a tent in front of Bar Italia on Maryland Plaza and runs from 11 a.m. to 8 or 9 p.m., give or take. (Like so much else at this season, times may vary with the weather, according to the restaurant.) Heat lamps keep at bay any autumnal nip, and complimentary wine samples provide another, more pleasant sort of nip while visitors inspect the fresh produce. Also available: sandwiches, sausages and soups from Bar Italia, as well as its coffee, hot cocoa and featured wines. “We’ll probably keep it up as long as we can,” a spokesman from the restaurant told us – so cross your fingers for a late, late winter.
Photo by Carmen Trosser
This article appears in Nov 1-30, 2009.