Florida Avenue Market Tour

Another Cultural Tourism DC tour that I started and then ditched this weekend was of the Florida Market.

That's the gargantuan group wandering around. Our tour guide was a mumbler. Not good when about 70 people show up.

No matter, I had a blast. The Florida Market is my new favorite thing in DC.

Want to know where all the area Asians, Latinos, Africans, and West Indians are on the weekend? They're at the Florida Market. And they've got every kind of food you can think of. Need some pig ears? Cow hoofs? Mexican pastries? Chinese rice noodles? No problem!

The warehouses at the Florida Market contain wholesale businesses that sell to area restaurants and ethnic food stores. Many of them also sell retail. There is also a flea market, a farmer's market, a few restaurants, and a handful of random people just selling things. I bought the most delicious pork and cheese pupusa from the back of some woman's van. It was perfection.

The market is right off of the New York Avenue metro station. You should hurry up and get out there. The area is gentrifying fast and it probably won't be around much longer.

Taste of Eleven Benefit

Last Wednesday there was a benefit for the Capital Area Foodbank called Taste of Eleven. The benefit, sponsored in part by the Wizards and Mystics, was held at the Verizon Center.

For eleven bucks, you received six tickets good at thirty six different food stands. The food selection ran the gamut from McDonalds to Cafe Atlantico.

Amazingly, some of the biggest lines were for fast food. Chipotle was packed. No problem. That just meant the lines for Cafe Atlantico ceviche and Jaleo octopus were short.

A little guacamole from Oyamel and a couple sliders and my office mate and I were good to go...to wait on line for ice cream that is. One thing that all the attendees seemed to agree on was the need for a stop at Gifford's Ice Cream. The line was LONG.

It was a great event. Fun. Inexpensive. Something for every taste. And I'll bet they raised some serious cash too.

Review of Chinatown Express

Chinatown Express is a a little dive in - surprise, surprise - Chinatown.

The front window gives passers by a view of the chefs making noodles in the window. That's about as atmospheric as the place gets. It's a bit shabby. Service is perfunctory, but fine.

The fresh noodles are definitely the way to go. I like the super dense won tons in the won ton soup. The lo mein is a bit on the greasy side, but the portions are huge.

Although the prices aren't dirt cheap, two people can easily eat here for under $20. Lunch is even better. You can get their lunch special for like $6. All in all, not a bad option if you're in Chinatown, slightly broke, and very hungry.

Chinatown Express, 746 6th St NW Washington, DC