This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at American chapter.

For those who do not know, the EmporiYUM is a two-day food market that set up in Union Market, Washington, DC, during the weekend of November 14 and 15. I was very impressed with this food market. This wonderful event was in other words, a sample fest!

Mini paper cups of Kombucha were being handed out on my left, while dairy-free globs of ice cream nestled on top of sample spoons were being grabbed on my right. Not to mention, the free stickers being handed out that colorfully advertised each of the vendors! What I especially liked about this food market was the variety of different options of food! And they were all healthy! (Well, not all…) Most of the vendors, like “Misfit Juicer” and “Little Baby’s Ice Cream”, promoted the lighter, yet delicious drinks and foods. Others, involved the aftermath of sugar-covered fingertips and ketchup stains. The Emporiyum also allowed up-and-coming food companies to share their newly created delectables with the public! Here are some of my favorite vendors from the afternoon…

1. Callie’s Charleston Biscuits

The few seconds that I DID have in tasting the samples were quite amazing! With one of the more bigger crowds at the market, I managed to squeeze my way through to grab a mini spoonful of their pimento cheese smeared on a small piece of french bread. The popular cheese spread had a memorable texture to it, and managed to be on the lighter side, but still tasty! Unfortunately, I was not able to try the biscuits; however, I highly recommend if you’re looking for appetizer options for football Sundays! Many retailers in Washington, DC, such as Dalton Brody and Balducci’s sell products made by Callie’s Charleston Biscuits.

2. Craft Kombucha

I was drawn to this vendor for its adorable logo picturem and had no idea what Kombucha was before one of the women in the Craft Kombucha T-shirts stuck a small plastic cup of it in my face. The exotic taste was offered in multiple flavors, such as Elderflower and Pomegranate. For those of you who do not know what Kombucha is (a.k.a. me before I stumbled across this vendor), it is a type of fermented tea that is often used as a probiotic. However, people still drink it for the pleasure of its unique taste and sweetness! Craft Kombucha is a local brewery that is well-known among Kombucha drinkers in DC, and can be found at multiple farmers markets such as Mount Pleasant Farmers Market and Mosaic Central Farmers Market.

3. Fatty Sundays

At first, I especially liked this vendor purely for the name. However, what impressed me shortly after reading the name was when I had a bite of one of its pretzel sticks dipped in chocolate and rainbow sprinkles. The sweet and sugary sensation of this bite, made me want to try more! The great part of this particular vendor, is its variety in flavors! It offered pretzel sticks flavored with dips in birthday cake, cereal and milk, and pecan pumpkin. And if none of those flavors appeal to you, you can personalize a dip for your order. Not to mention, it has gluten-free options as well! Products from Fatty Sundays can be ordered online or picked up right at Dean & Deluca in on M Street in Georgetown. Great if you’re looking to add a little sweetness to a gift for someone!

4. District Donut

After hearing multiple comments from friends about the beloved District Donut, I finally decided to track it down at the Emporiyum. Hustling to find it in time, I almost drooled passing people with plates holding the petite glazed buns with chocolate delicately drizzled on top. But there was nothing delicate about how determined I was inside to find the source of this magnificent creation! Finally, I made it to this vendor. Unfortunately, I found out that samples were not being offered, and I had to pay for that small piece of heaven on a plate. At that point, my cash was running low and I knew I had to be frugal. However, I decided to put this on my list of favorites, because from the presence of the donuts offered and the comments I was hearing, District Donut should definitely be added to everyones must-try food experience list. The scrumptious goodies with donut flavors including Sweet Potato Pie and Snickerdoodle, can be found on S Street in Southeast DC.

5. Little Baby’s Ice Cream

I giggled quite a bit when I came across this vendor, of course because of the name. But learning of the flavors cause a lot more happiness in my food-loving soul. The man behind the fridge cart offered me a sample of either chocolate salted caramel or speculoos cookie butter, and I almost melted (somewhat of a pun since ice cream melts *giggle giggle*). After tasting the sweet serenity of the perfectly balanced salt caramel and chocolate on the miniscule sample spoon, I was obsessed. I went home and looked up Little Baby’s online! I discovered that Little Baby’s offers options for vegans and non-dairy eaters! I also discovered the quirkiness of this food company was not only in the name, but the flavors as well! Little Baby’s Ice Cream offers ice cream flavors such as Sushi, Ramen, Monkeybread, Pumpkin Curry, Strawberry Celery and many more! Taste the unique flavors from Little Baby’s sold at retailers such as Little Red Fox on Connecticut Ave NW, and Yes Organic Market on Columbia Road NW.

6. Misfit Juicery

Running around the market looking for a drink to get rid of the overwhelming tastes of sweetness brought me to a relatively smaller stand at the Emporiyum. I learned, that Misfit Juicery sells cold-pressed juice made from ugly produce with no added preservatives or sugar. It sounds unappetizing throwing the word “ugly” in there, of course. But the fruit and vegetables that Misfit uses is only put in the term “ugly” because the drinks are made of the leftover fruits and vegetables that farmers are unable to sell to retailers because of the unattractive looking appearance as a buyable fruit. As my eyes skimmed across the different flavors being offered, I decided to take a risk. I picked up the sample cup filled with the blend of kale, pear and apple, and amazed my tastebuds by taking that risk. It left me feeling refreshed and ready to take on a world full of healthy foods! I may be exaggerating a bit…but you are able to find some of the Misfits products at multiple retailers in DC, such as Glen’s Garden Market in Dupont Circle, The Hilltoss in Georgetown or Pleasant Pops in Adams Morgan.

7. Pinch Dumplings

Pinch Dumplings was the first vendor I passed walking through the entrance of the Emporiyum tent. Two gourmet stuffed dumplings for $3 seemed like a good deal to me. The options of dumplings consisted of minced beef with onion and cilantro, or traditional pork dumpling. I chose the minced beef with onion and cilantro, and I absolutely do not regret that decision. The beef’s flavor combining the taste of cilantro made the two bites in devouring it extremely enjoyable! If you are like me, and are always looking for tasty Chinese homemade dumplings to warm you up this fall, check out the official restaurant in Mount Vernon Marketplace open daily. You can also find products sold at Fresh Farm right in Dupont Circle!

Other favorite vendors included…Max Brenner’s Chocolate Bar, Slingshot Coffee, Kate Bakes, Crunkcakes, Buredo, BuddhaBites, Momofuku Milk Bar and Savannah Cupcake. Check out all these amazing vendors! Most products are sold all over DC. Happy eating!

Photo Credit: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

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