BBM

I wouldn't want anyone to get the idea that I'm starving in between postings. Most meals are not noteworthy but many of the meals I don't write about are very good, and that's often due to Broad Branch Market.

In just a few years, John and Tracy have made this an indispensable combination of deli, gourmet emporium and convenience store. We often rely on their prepared foods -- whether fried chicken or prime rib or veal stew -- but also are big customers of the meat counter, where especially the beef is excellent (steak!) and very competitively priced. Most things are good and some are very good -- such as the baguette (best we've found in DC), the mac and cheese (beats anything else you find), the homemade sausage, etc.

Saw on Yelp that some people complain about the prices. There's no way a small store like this can match supermarket prices. It's probably not the best place to shop if you're feeding a large family (though I suspect some in the neighborhood do just that), but the convenience of the location, the small size, and the selection are worth paying a premium for. If John stocks it -- whether it's coffee, or olive oil, or wine, or whatever -- it's like a Good Housekeeping seal of approval.

I was impressed the other day when I was there for their fish delivery and saw that they actually break down the whole fish themselves. I've been wondering how much turnover they have on the fish and whether it could be as fresh as The Fishery, but now I'm willing to try it.

Produce is a bit of a problem, I suppose because it's so perishable, but they are good about looking for something in their own kitchen if it's not in the produce case. The bulk food at times seems a bit half-hearted -- stocks are not quickly replaced and you wonder if there's enough turnover in those products.

But the shop has been a work in progress from the beginning and it keeps getting better and better.