Seasonal Pantry, Serious Food Porn – by JK

I first started hitting up Seasonal Pantry, a locally sourced food market/supper club near the DC convention center, a few weeks ago. Ever since it’s kind of been like an obsession. It’s all I think about, and all I want. In discussing the place with a friend recently, he told me that when he first saw the sign for this place, he thought it was called “Seasonal Panties.” Frankly though I’d rather have the markets goods than scantily dressed women any day, here are the many reasons why.

The market doesn’t pretend to be anything but what it is. There’s no bullshit about caring about sourcing the best farm to table products, and then giving you sub-par crap. Everything they do is legit, and is literally mind blowingly good. Co-owner Daniel O’Brien has been that dude whose culinary skills are really wowing me of late, and his humor seems too match his appetite. Recently for Halloween he did a supper club menu of “scary parts” foccusing on everything from organs to, on one course, testicles. For the last few days I’ve been on a steady diet of his house made pates wrapped in slices of tongue pastrami, and I regret nothing in the extra 5-10lbs I think I’ve gained.

Adding to his repetoire, recent hits have included some more basic comfort foods that don’t require an anatomy course to comprehend. The mac ‘n cheese is bangin, it’s like the crack cocaine of mac ‘n cheeses, you can try and have just one spoonful, but you are undoubtedly gonna eat that whole container. The chocolate chip cookies were the highlight of my afternoon recently, perfectly balanced between flavor and consistency. And I have it on good authority that the whole roast chicken is so good that it will spoil you on attempting to eat chicken anywhere else. The shops selection of pickled vegetables have been impressive too, showing skill at an art many attempt, but few pull off with this level of success. My personal favorite has been the green beans, although I’d probably eat a pickled gym sock from this place if it was offered and wouldn’t regret it. Other items including housemade pastas and charcuterie are game changers as well, based around the best seasonal ingredients (you know, cause it’s called Seasonal Pantry for those of you who are a bit slow). But perhaps the most impressive thing about this market is how reasonable the prices are! Compared to any place else that offers something close to this caliber of food, the price point at Seasonal Pantry has got to be close to half the amount.

The place offers it’s supper club most Thurs-Sat nights, a schedule of which can be found on a blackboard in the shop. The meal is offered for approx 10 people at one communal table. Upcoming menu’s look pretty ridiculous, and basically make me want to just offer them rent to live in the space (note to self, check into a lease option in the storeroom). Dinners run about $90/person, which seems well worth it for what you get (which typically includes an extra unadvertised course or two according to Dan).
So while I can not advise you as to where to get Spring panties (yet), If yo are looking for food porn go check out Seasonal Pantry and our homie Dan sometime soon!

For more info on Seasonal Pantry check them out online at seasonalpantry.com