In My Tum

EmporiYUM is a one-of-a-kind touring food marketplace featuring the tastiest treats from around the country. I took a trip to the DC stop at Union Market and discovered delicious foods, purchased thoughtful gifts and explored top-quality products from a lineup of artisans you can only find locally. Check out my photo summary of my favorite bits and bites!

Talk about a fangirl moment - I had a mission from the moment I stepped into the venue: eat the catfish sandwich from Succotash. What happened when I got to their stall? Edward Lee himself was serving them up (from Mind of a Chef, Top Chef, ya know..)! I had a small heart attack and then made some inappropriate jokes, while speaking an octave lower as he handed me the sandwich. NAILED IT...sigh. He is the nicest - chatted with me and took a few photos - thanks, Ed!

*Sufferin' Succotash - that's Edward Lee!*

So here it is, the cornmeal crusted catfish sandwich with jalapeño mint remoulade, slaw and a buttery toasted bun. I was instructed to add the two types of offered hot sauce to really take the sandwich over the edge - gochujang hot sauce and Crystal's! It was seriously A W E S O M E. Crisp and tender catfish, light refreshing remoulade, tart slaw and spicy hot sauce - the perfect sandwich. I housed this puppy in approximately one minute, while trying to navigate through a sea of foodies. It was not glamorous, but it was worth it. The HANGER was real with me that day.

I have a thing for Ramen (see here and here), so I had to make a stop at my favorite noodle stall - Toki Underground - for their chicken ramen, aka chicken noodle soup on steroids. It was so comforting and simple, but perfectly executed.

I grabbed some pork dumplings from Pinch to sufficiently fill my belly, and was more than satisfied. I LOVE these dumplings, they are somehow puffy and light, while crispy and chewy and filled with traditional Chinese ingredients: cabbage, chives, ginger, pork and scallion. I had these for the first time at the Brookland Farmer's Market and they are straight up addicting. Even better than some I ate in China.

*Matt and Kori Wallace, owners of "Chups Fruit Ketchup.*

&nb… — *Photo Courtesy of Mouth Party Caramels.*

I picked up some sweet artisinal products before slinking into a food coma. First stop was some 'Chups Cherry, a fruit-based ketchup made to enhance and brighten the traditional tomato-dominated ketchup market. I have been dying to try this product and was very excited to meet owners Matt and Kori Wallace, who directed me to the cherry flavor and also had a very eye catching shirt for sale (more on that later). Check out my pork recipe later this week using the 'Chups, and don't do what hangry boyfriend did and use it as jelly for a PB&J - it's so much more than that! (It was quite hilarious to see his reaction, though).

And as if I hadn't had enough already, I was wooed over to the Mouth Party Caramel's just before closing time, where they handed me handfuls of their decadent caramels, crafted form a four-generation-old recipe. These will absolutely be used for stocking stuffers this holiday season. They are DIVINE! Melt-in-your-mouth creamy caramels in a variety of flavors such as sea salt, chocolate dipped sea salt, and original. I'm not ashamed to admit that I ate every single one when I got home. #sorrynotsorry.

I can't wait to head back to EmporiYUM next year! All the hangry people are doing it ;)

★★★