On the way home after a fine
Lanterne Rouge team ride, I stopped at the
Christoper Bakery stand at the
Arlington Farmers' market. Among brownies, lemon bars, raspberry double-decker bars, and several types of biscotti, I picked out a cinnamon oatmeal raisin bar. It was fragrantly spiced, soft like a dense cake, but not too sweet. For $3, the one bar was about four normal-sized portions. I ate the whole thing with relish as soon as I returned home.
Then I went back to buy another one. I talked a bit with the person running the stand. He turned out to be Chris of Christopher Bakery. Christopher Bakery currently operates from Baltimore, but sells at the
Clarendon Farmers' Market on Wednesdays and at the Court House Farmers' Market on Saturdays. Chris told me that he's hoping to open a bakery in this area in 2008.
Special treats from Christopher Bakery will soon be even more special than my cinnamon oatmeal raisin bar. Hungarian Daboche Torte, Tahitian Rum Cake, Bourbon Caramel & Chocolate Whirl Cheesecake -- these aren't factory-produced desserts. Check out his "
haute pastries"! Chris studied at the Culinary Institute of America and was Director of Catering at Raffles L'Ermitage in Beverly Hills, California. Get ready for some world-class pastry.
It's even better than that. Chris said that he liked working at the stand because being there helped him to better understand local tastes. He noticed an interest here in a wide range of international flavors. He is excited about exploring spices and flavors different from his classical European training. To me, that's a chef and a business person who will undoubtedly make a tasty contribution to the community.
