Photo by Flickr user statelyenglishmanor.
Right now, D.C. is celebrating Eat Local First Week, organized by the independent business booster Think Local First. On Monday, I grazed and gazed at the kickoff party with locally-sourced restaurant offerings and flash talks by heroes of the D.C. foodshed (including author Forrest Pritchard and community garden organizer Josh Singer), not to mention the eleganti of the District’s entrepreneur scene. The most summery and close-sourced dish was tomatoes three ways from Cedar. Featuring vegetables and microgreens plucked from the restaurant’s own rooftop floating in smoked gel (not as pretentious as it sounds, really!), Cedar served up D.C. heat and love all in a tiny pastry shell. Tonight, women forging new paths with local food initiatives will have their chance to compete for the Femivore award.
The rest of the week is packed with events for foodies, farmers and brew hounds. My favorite? Farm-to-Table Restaurant Week. I’m taking votes on where I should make my reservations.
On Saturday, July 27, the whole thing culminates in the Farm-to-Street Party at Union Market in Northeast D.C. I’ll be there representing the DC State Fair. If you’re local and love local, I’ll see you there.
Rhea Kennedy Morgenstern, writer 