Kalorama Market — Local services in Washington

On our way back from the Embassy, we decided to stop for a couple of cappuccino’s at the Kalorama Market during the morning. They have all sorts of Italian and Spanish goods, great selection of wines, pasta, organic vegetables and fruits, cheeses, meats, dairy, etc. There were two outside tables to sit at.

We met the friendly owner Daniel and had a great chat with him since my husband is of Italian descent. Before leaving he asked where we’re having lunch and asked us to come back around 1 pm. Just before leaving a store neighbor stopped by and asked for the menu of the day and said he will be back later too. Not before telling us Daniel was a former 2 stars Michelin Executive Chef. He said: “Everything he makes is absolutely delicious!”

Around 1 pm we were back and all the locals started to congregating around the counter. You can see the excitement in people faces.

It looks like the menu is different every day. The menu is a rotation between sandwiches, hamburgers, pasta and pizza.

The menu for the day was Organic Chicken Scaloppine Style Hamburger. I can’t find enough words to describe how fantastic it was. It is like a fusion of contrasting elements creating balance, like a hint of sweetness with a sour counterpoint. The serving of chicken scaloppine was very generous and cooked to a tender perfection. Daniel added salsa grenolada, and delicious cabbage, in the end he “branded” the fresh tender brioche with a hot iron being his personal signature, (typical sense of proudness from Italian culture). The price was fair considering the high quality ingredients he is selecting. We were so glad we came back and tried this exquisite meal. If you are near Embassy row on Massachusetts Avenue around lunchtime, don’t hesitate to do yourself a favor and enjoy this delicious and wonderful treat. It is unique, special and unforgettable! And don’t forget the grocery store items...

Updated: Got their sandwich but deconstructed to have at home for dinner. It probably would’ve been much better eaten fresh but it was still very high quality. Not the biggest sandwich but fresh ingredients, good for an indulgent, treat-yourself type of day!

The latte was amazing, you can actually taste the coffee (it’s not all milk) and the chocolate croissant was better quality than a famous bakery in the area. I haven’t had their sandwiches yet but they seemed very popular so I will be trying soon. Their product range isn’t the largest and their pre-packaged snacks like cookies aren’t the most rare or exotic. However their refrigerated options looked more interesting and different, especially their cured meats and stuffed gnocchis. Also seemed like they had a nice collection of wines and special...

This market opened up on my street a few months ago. Apparently, there used to be a mediocre market here previously but this one is amazing!

The store is run by a former executive chef at a notable DC restaurant. This is evident in the quality of the sandwiches they make (daily on weekdays) and pizza (on weekends). In the morning, they have pastries and coffee.

As you might expect, the grocery items themselves are very expensive. However, they have an extensive wine selection, very curated sundries, and fresh produce!

Definitely give this place a try. We are lucky to have it in the...