David's Natural Market Appears To Be Getting Its New Home This Week In Wilde Lake's Center

David's Natural Market's new home in Wilde Lake

David's Natural Market is moving on up to the east side of the new Wilde Lake shopping center.

Moving day appears to be Thursday or Friday according to signs and talk at the organic grocery store in Columbia.

David's is a Howard County institution.  It is one of the centerpiece of the new Wilde Lake development. I hadn't been there in a while so I was stunned to see how much had been torn down and how much had been built.

The "old" market

The new store looks big, and I assume there have been all kinds of innovations in grocery store design since David's last renovated its old space.

From the signs, it looks like the Today's Catch seafood market will also get a new store in Wilde Lake. Does anyone know that timing or location? With Frank's closing in Jessup, Today's Catch is one of the few independent seafood options.

Congrats to David's. Lil' Chow and I came through for miso, and they were preparing for the move. I assume the Wegmans and Whole Foods have shaken up the local organic chains -- David's in Columbia, Roots in Clarksville, and Mom's in Jessup -- and I would love to see them all succeed.

Crunch Daddy Is Back At David's Market in Columbia; All Three Bags Will Make You Smile

CrunchDaddy popcorn (photo from their site)

Now you can pick special popcorns right off the shelves in Columbia -- CrunchDaddy is returning to retail.

CrunchDaddy is a little Columbia company that Dan Bazis started in 2012 to sell the flavors that he had imagine and cooked up.  Cheryl Clemens wrote a whole Howard Magazine profile last year, and I have raved about CrunchDaddy's sweet and savory varieties because they're as talented as restaurant desserts.

Now, you can check out CrunchDaddy in person at David's Natural Market in Columbia.  Starting this afternoon, David's will stock three varieties -- "maple & bacon," "caramel & peanut," and "honey & cinnamon."  They're all delicious.  Bacons makes for fun where ever it appears, although "honey and cinnamon" sits among my favorite two or three favors from the entire line.

David's will charge the same prices -- around $6.50-$7.50 for a quart bag -- as the CrunchDaddy Web site.  They'll also have some seasonal flavors that Dan is working on now and expects to unveil in late October or early November.  CrunchDaddy's bags are fun eating on their own, but they're interesting enough to be great as a hostess gift or in a gift bag.

I personally love CrunchDaddy's popcorn.  Once you have tried the three varieties at David's, I have to recommend the "peanut butter & jelly" variety on the Web.  We bought an assortment for my parents over the summer, and my mother joined the rave about Dan's imagination.  Peanuts appear in many fancy popcorns, but Dan got the "jelly" with minced grape jelly beans.  It's smart and fantastic.

Dan makes all the popcorn in small batches with real ingredients - everything from Old Bay to cheddar cheese, real butter to candied ginger.  David's sold them briefly last year, but Dan retrenched a bit with production issues until going back to retail now.  CrunchDaddy has been reviewed on the Pop Blog by local popcorn blogger Kevin.  You can click through to the links from Kevin's list of all the popcorn that he has reviewed.

David's will also stock CrunchDaddy in Gambrills and Bel Air stores in a few days.  If you go to the Columbia David's, definitely check out the sandwich counter for a meal -- and consider Today's Catch seafood market on the other side of the village center if you want to cook your own dinner.

David's Natural Market
5430 Lynx Lane
Columbia, MD 21044
410-730-2304

NEAR: This is in the Wilde Lake village center very close to the Columbia Mall. It's not in the section with the Bagel Bin and The Melting Pot. It is across Lynx Lane in a separate set of stores.

Michele's Granola At All Our Organic Markets

Breakfast advice from Mrs. HowChow -- Michele's granola and some Greek yogurt.

This is the combination that has changed mornings here in Casa del HowChows.  For years, breakfast was basically the orange juice that I deliver in the morning.  Then we went to Montreal where she ate yogurt and granola in the hotel.  It reminded her of all the simple breakfasts she has enjoyed while travelling, and she decided to bring that experience home

The local option was Michele's granola, a Baltimore brand that Mrs. HowChow found in Whole Foods.  She topped her bowls with the Fage Greek yogurt.  It's a cool, sweet, crunchy breakfast, and it has inspired her to keep it up.  The granola is the key, Mrs. HowChow says.  Small packages that stay fresh.  Big chunks of granola.  She says it's like they bake trays of granola, then break it into the bag.

Have you noticed that I don't have a lot of opinions here?  She loves this stuff.  I don't want to get between a woman and her infatuation.  From my snacking, I'm impressed at how fresh the Michele's tastes.  The oats are right up front, then nuts and fruit (at least in the cinnamon raisin we have in the pantry).  Right now, Mrs. HowChow wants bags of the original flavor.  The cherry chocolate doubles as a dessert, and the ginger is her variation.  For right now, she doesn't buy pumpkin spice and the cinnamon raisin, although she thinks they might be flavors for fall.

I have seen Michele's at all the local organic markets -- Roots in Clarksville, David's Natural Market in Columbia, and Mom's Organic in Jessup.  Roots was definitely cheaper than Whole Foods, which makes a difference because this stuff runs about $6 for a 12-ounce bag.  For the record, Kristi talked up Michele's when I wrote about Greek yogurt last week.

Salazon Salted Chocolate At Roots, Mom's, David's

If you tried the Lindt salted chocolate at Target, you should grab a Salazon chocolate bar at one of the local organic markets.

Salazon is a local company that makes chocolates in Pennsylvania.  They're adult bars.  Dark chocolate bar with salt on the outside.  Larger crystals and dusted in a layer across the bottom, not mixed into the chocolate like the sea salt Lindt.

The flavor depends on how you pop it in your mouth -- chocolate then salt, salt then chocolate, depending on which side you put on your tongue.  It's fun.  It's expensive, but it's a deep chocolate taste with a salty contrast.

Salazon is based in Eldersburg, MD.  They sell through Roots in Clarksville, Mom's Organic Market in Jessup, and David's Natural Market in Columbia.  Roots had all three varieties -- the salt, a version with salt and pepper, and a version with salt and turbinado sugar.

Schorr's Pickles at David's Natural Market

Special sandwiches deserve special pickles, and I'm captivated by the Schorr's Pickles at David's Natural Market in Columbia.

They may be available at the other Howard County organic groceries, but they're worth a drive wherever you have to go.  They're clean, fresh cucumbers turned into crisp pickles.  Hard for me to translate into words.  They're fresh, clearly pickled but still tasting more like vegetables than even the best supermarket spears.  They remind me of the pickle bar at Harold's in Edison -- the greatest compliment that I can pay to any Jewish-style deli food.

Pair Schorr's Pickles with a takeout corned beef sandwich from New York Deli in Columbia.  Or improve your grilling with pickles and a burger made from Laurel Meat Market's ground chuck.

If you are considering a stop at David's, check out all my prior posts about things to try.  Also check of Kevin & Ann Eat Everything where Kevin posted about David's lunch counter.

Ginger Candy at David's Natural Market

Reed's Ginger Chews are for people who want candy with bite when they bite into candy.

David's Natural Market in Columbia sells these all-natural ginger chews in bulk.  They're fiery with all of the flavor that comes from actual pieces of candied ginger.  I actually prefer the flavor and the texture, which is almost like chewing gum but eventually melts in your mouth.

The Reed's candies are individually-wrapped, so they're great to stuff in a lunch or a purse.  Ginger has anti-naseau properties, according to my medical expert, and it's a really adult flavor when you want a treat. Ask at David's or look for the bulk candy bins in the center of the store.

One thought:  The candies are dusted with a white, flavorless powder.  Don't be alarmed.  I assume that it keeps the sticky candies from attaching to the wrapper, but it melts on your tongue and mars nothing along the way.

Roots in Clarksville sells Reed's Ginger Beer -- along with the company's seasonal spiced apple brew -- so it may sell these ginger chews as well.

Tommy's Naked Soda at David's Natural Market

Between the branches of my family tree, I'm two generations from the Bronx and two generations from a dairy farm, and I think that it is fair to say that the Bronx has won.

My mother was forced to drink milk every day so she never served milk to my brother and me.  I only drink the stuff with chocolate chip cookies.  But my entire family comes from the New York area, where great deli calls for a great cream soda -- and I'll drive for the soda when inspiration hits.

Drive to David's Natural Market in Columbia.  A few weeks ago, Kevin & Ann Eat Everything posted about David's vegetarian cafe with a photo of Tommy's Naked Soda root beer.  My mother -- the greatest beyond-the-border connoisseur of Howard County food blogs -- pointed out the photo and said that Tommy had gone to religious school with me.  Tommy's mother had been in my mother's sorority.  (Alpha Iota chapter of Alpha Sigma Tau in the house!)  Tommy runs an all-natural soda company near Boston that offers six flavors created from cane sugar, natural flavors, and no caffeine.

The cream soda is ideal.  It's a smooth creamy flavor with less fizz than a Dr. Brown's.  The Doctor has always been the deli standard, but Tommy's Naked cream soda is better.  Get a corned beef sandwich from the New York Deli in Columbia, and the cream soda will spark memories of New York street corners that you never actually stood on.  We tried a few other Tommy's Naked flavors.  They're subtle, headings towards "not that flavorful."  That's a style, and they're worth trying.  Personally, I'm a huge fan of products like this where you recognize every ingredient on the label, but I tend to drink soda for caffeine and to drink water with everything else.

If you go to David's, look for the Tommy's Naked Soda in a cooler near the produce.  It was to the right of the cafe counter.

David's Natural Market in Columbia

David's Natural Market meanders along a series of shopping center bays in the Wilde Lake village center in Columbia.

At the far right is a bay of organic groceries, good looking but not as pristine as Roots or Whole Foods or priced by Mom's Organic Market.  Then a terrific cafe.  Then the supplement and healthy pills section.  Then a series of rows of national organic packaged goods.  A little cheese.  A little frozen meat.

There is something for anyone at David's as long as they're looking for healthy food.  It's a real resource like Roots in Clarksville and Mom's Organic Market in Jessup, although, as I have written about all of Howard County's organic markets, I'm not the perfect customer because I balk at most of the packaged food and don't need gluten-free, soy-free or oddities like Goraw "live" granola bars.

I value David's for basics like bulk grains, Muir Glen canned tomatoes, and the vegetables that you can't buy at a normal supermarket.  The bulk grains are at the farthest wall from produce, and they're worth a trip by anyone looking for flavor, variety or health.  For a few dollars, you can walk out with bags of basics like cous cous or brown rice and with exotic items like red quinoa that I found this month.  Between the organic chard and the bulk quinoa, David's has aisles filled with most of the national organic brands that I recognize.  There is also Trickling Spring milk and Roseda Black Angus Beef hamburger patties.

I also love searching for treats.  Among the items being sold for being healthy, some are are just plain delicious and worth the price that David's charges.  My recent finds: Tommy's Naked cream soda, Reed's ginger candies, and Schorr's pickles in the refrigerated case near produce.

You do need to watch the prices that David's charges.  They don't always have a price on the shelf, and I had to send back the bottle of honey when it scanned at $15.  There were also items that I recognized as more expensive than the Whole Foods in Silver Spring.  (More expensive than Whole Foods?)  But there are treasures, generally simple ones -- products that list five ingredients that you recognize instead of the 15 ingredients (half from a chemistry lab) that you would find in a supermarket. That's why the pickles are so delicious or sodas taste so fresh.

In the end, you should check out David's if you're interested in good food.  Lunch at the cafe is worth however far you drive -- as discussed on the Kevin & Ann Eat Everything blog.  Then you can search for your own treats among the shelves.

If you're interested in organic shopping, check out my prior post about organic markets in Howard County.


If you go to David's, you should definitely stop in the other section of Wilde Lake for the Today's Catch fish market.  High-quality seafood.  If you have no other ideas, start with the scallops that guarantee a delicious dinner or with the fish scraps that are perfect for seafood soups.  They christen the scraps with a French term and sell at a discount price.

David's Natural Market
5430 Lynx Lane
Columbia, MD  21044
410-730-2304

NEAR:  This is in the Wilde Lake village center.  It's not in the section with the Bagel Bin and The Melting Pot.  It is across Lynx Lane in a separate set of stores.

Organic Shopping in Howard County

Organic food in Howard County starts at the three organic markets, and it is spreading out more and more every day.

The three big markets are Roots in Clarksville, David's in Columbia and Mom's Organic Market in Jessup (formerly My Organic Market). These are independent stores -- smaller than a Safeway but larger than most of the ethnic groceries -- offering produce, breads, cheeses, some meats, and aisle after aisle of packaged goods.

I'm not the perfect customer for these stores because I don't flock to the packaged goods. I love Muir Glen canned tomatoes, but I don't really crave the milk, juices, crackers, sauces and frozen foods that seem to appear in all three stores -- like they do at Whole Foods. These seem to be the core products. Many of them are delicious. Many are pretty pricey as well. I don't know if the prices differ between the three stores, although Roots certainly feels a bit more upscale.

They all have good bread, including Bonaparte baguettes at MOM's. I do love the bulk bins for beans and grains like oatmeal, quinoa and cracked wheat. I also go for cheese, although even the premier Roots cheese section doesn't have the excitement of the cheese at Wegmans.

Roots, MoM's and David's truly do offer some unique items -- both ingredients to cook and convenience food that you could cook tonight. I tried the Moorenko's ice cream at MoM, and commentators on a prior post talked about their personal favorites -- like local honey (Kikiverde), Trickling Springs Creamery chocolate milk, and a Neiman Ranch uncured ham steak.

Beyond the big three, you can find organic products at Trader Joe's in Elkridge and really at most of the standard grocery stores. Clearly, organic has become a trend that no one ignores.

Where do you buy organic or natural foods? What differences do you see between MoM, Roots and David's? Better prices? Better selection? Special goods?

One of the little treats at the organic markets is that they'll give you their trash. I call ahead and then pick up the produce or the salad bar scraps that the markets would normally throw away. Mixed with shredded leaves, they're perfect fuel for a compost heap -- although I have been weeding squash seedlings from my gardens all spring because I tossed pumpkins and butternut squash into my pile last fall.

For more information, check out my post about vegetable shopping in Howard County and click on any of these links for all the posts about each of the three markets: Roots in Clarksville, David's in Columbia, and My Organic Market in Jessup.

Roots Market

5805 Clarksville Square Dr.

Clarksville, MD 21029

443-535-9321

NEAR: It's on Rte 108 just north of Rte 32. The Clarksville Square shopping center is on the west side filled with "crunchy" businesses owned by the same people -- a restaurant, a pet supply shop, a decorating place. Look for the Jiffy Lube on Rte 108.

Mom's Organic Market Columbia East

7361 Assateague Dr. #190

Jessup, MD 20794

410-799-2175

NEAR: This is the Columbia East shopping center at Rte 175 and U.S. 1. There is a Starbucks and a Rita's facing Rte 175, and you'll see My Organic Market right in front of you when you pull into the parking area.

David's Natural Market

5430 Lynx Ln. #C

Columbia, MD 21044

410-730-2304

NEAR: This is in the Wilde Lake Village Center near the Columbia Mall. The center is off Twin Rivers Road, which runs between Harpers Farm Road and Gov. Warfield Parkway.

This is part of the "What I Learned" series of posts. They're organized in rings. See below to continue on the ring about shopping in Howard County. Or click to switch to the posts about different cuisines or posts about areas and ideas.

PREVIOUS: Meat Markets in Howard County
NEXT: Ethnic Shopping in Howard County

Delicious: Grains at the Organic Markets

If you want to cook grains, start with plastic containers, then go to a crunchy supermarket.

Oats, bulgar, brown rice, couscous, etc. are delicious if you can find them and if you can keep them organized. I always ended up with a tangle of plastic bags and half-empty boxes. Until I bought tall containers, I never knew what I had, and I was never inspired to use them. I bought Decor Tellfresh containers, and they're great because you can jam more tall, thin containers on a pantry shelf. But buy anything that seals. The Container Store is expensive.

Grains are cheap. They're fun to try. They're super-nutritious. And you can get a world of beauties at Roots in Clarksville, David's Natural Market near downtown Columbia, or My Organic Market in "Columbia East."

Pick four or five grains to try. Start with two or three cups each to see what you like.

Go back for more of what tickles your fancy. Couscous for a simple side dish. Bulgar for salads. Barley for a

risotto variation. Rolled oats, quinoa and millet for breakfast cereal, then later for inspirations like "quinoa and carmelized onions." Wild rice for an exotic touch.

Borrow How To Cook Everything Vegetarian by Mark Bittman from the library. He has descriptions and basic directions for two dozen grains. Then, he has 40 pages of recipes. (He also has recipes for lentils, which you should buy in bulk when you're trying the grains.) Or borrow Whole Grains Every Day Every Way by Lorna Sass. Her recipes are a little less accessible, but she has a brilliant section where she talks about making large pots of grain, then freezing them for future use.

My whole-grain weekend breakfast -- make several servings because you can store in the fridge and microwave a bowl for 2-3 mornings:

1. Put six cups of water in a pot and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer.
2. Set the timer for 40 minutes. Then add one cup of steel-cut oats. (They're different from rolled oats. Trader Joe's sells containers of steel-cut oats in the cereal section.)
3. Cover the pot, but leave a crack so that it doesn't boil over. Stir occasionally throughout the rest of the time.
4. When the timer says 25 minutes, add 1/3 cup of amaranth.
5. When the timer says 20 minutes, add 1/3 cup of millet.
6. When the timer says 15 minutes, add 1/3 cup of quinoa and 1/2 or more cups of raisins or other dried fruit.
7. As the timer runs out, the cereal should be moist without standing water. It should be soft, but still have a little "bite to it. You can add a little water if it dries out or stick to the pot. You can cook it a few minutes more.
8. When the cereal is done, add honey or brown sugar to your taste.
   

Try that once, then adapt to what you like. Use the grains in the mix that you like. Add wheat germ at the end if you want. Add fresh fruit like bananas or apples -- either early if you want them to disintegrate or late if you want a crunch. I'll eat this without sweeteners. Mrs. HowChow would consider that a punishment, not a treat.

You can borrow How To Cook Everything Vegetarian or Whole Grains Every Day from the Howard County library. Or you can buy either book on Amazon through these links (which means Amazon would pay me a referral fee):

My Organic Market (Columbia East)
7351 Assateague Dr. #190
Jessup, MD 20794
410-799-2175
www.myorganicmarket.com

NEAR: It's on Rte 175 just east of I-95. There is a large shopping center on the right just after you cross Rte 1. Look for the Starbucks. MoM is in that shopping center. It's a bit tricky to return home. You have to exit east-bound on Rte 175 and U-turn at the next light.

David's Natural Market

5430 Lynx Lane

Columbia, MD 21044

410-730-2304

www.davidsnaturalmarket.com

NEAR: It's in the Wilde Lake shopping center near the Columbia Mall. The shopping center is on Twin Rivers Road. Turn in at the light with a KFC. David's is on the right in a building separate from the main village center. David's has a main store with dairy and packaged goods, then a separate produce store down the row.

Roots Market
5805 Clarksville Square Drive
Clarksville, MD 21029
443-535-9321
www.rootsmkt.com

NEAR: It's on Rte 108 just north of Rte 32. The Clarksville Square shopping center is on the west side filled with "crunchy" businesses owned by the same people -- a restaurant, a pet supply shop, a decorating place. Look for the Jiffy Lube on Rte 108.