Quick, someone send a memo to this DCist’s mom: it turns out that beets actually do taste good. And it only took 23 years of wrinkled noses and red stained plates to realize it. With their earthy sweetness and semi-soft texture, beets have been our latest food “discovery”. Eastern Market and Dupont Market are particularly good sources for the taproot, which comes into its prime in the summer.

With the dog days of summer in full swing, beets have been showing up on menus across the city. They taste wonderful roasted and simply dressed, but our personal favorite way to serve them is in a salad. Goat cheese and a simple vinaigrette highlight the beets without overwhelming them, and a nice bed of fresh mesclun salad rounds out this easily prepared summer offering.