Four Corners explores local markets selling hard-to-find ingredients from around the globe. Got an idea for a place we should check out? Tell us in the comments.
By DCist Contributor Elizabeth Packer
Fans of Zaytinya, devotees of Yotam Ottolenghi and his gorgeous Mediterranean cookbooks, and lovers of hummus alike will all find something to their taste at Asadur’s Market (5536 Randolph Road) in Rockville, MD, a small, tidy shop specializing in groceries from around the Mediterranean region.
The market, located about a ten minute walk from the White Flint Metro stop, carries everything you need to stock your pantry with Mediterranean staples or put together a fabulous mezze spread. For those less inclined to cook, Asadur’s has a delicious variety of prepared food, including containers of house-made hummus and baba ghanoush, and a freezer case full of imported Greek pastries like spanikopita and tiropita, a savory cheese pie, as well as rounds of lahmajun, a Turkish/Armenian flatbread topped with minced lamb and herbs.
Meanwhile, Asadur’s shelves are stocked with products from around the Mediterranean. The selection provides a diverse tour of the region, a reminder that many of the countries around the Mediterranean, despite religious and ethnic differences, share similar culinary traditions and ingredients. You’ll find tinned sardines from Morocco, bottles of Armenian wine, jars of fig marmalade from Jordan, bags of mixed spices from Lebanon, jugs of pomegranate molasses from Turkey, boxes of frozen filo dough from Greece—so your grocery basket can easily end up as multilingual as a UN session, full of packages covered in Greek, Armenian, and Arabic.
One of the market’s big draws is its selection of feta and olives, which can be purchased by the pound from the deli counter in the back. There were six types of feta available on a recent visit, including a Greek variety made with goats’ milk, as well as imported versions from France and Bulgaria.
In addition to its groceries, Asadur’s also offers a selection of sandwiches, salads, and mezze, which can be enjoyed at one of the market’s three small tables or taken home. House-made dolmades, stuffed with tomato-flecked rice, have just the right amount of lemon zing, and at 95 cents a piece, make a satisfying snack. The baba ghanoush, silky smooth and smoky, is served with warm pita and generous enough to share with friends. The $5 gyro sandwich is an equally delicious deal—while the meat is not carved from a spit, it is well-seasoned and accompanied by generous chunks of feta, tomato and lettuce.
Visitors to Asadur’s should be sure to round out their trip with something sweet. You’ll find a tempting display of house-made desserts near the checkout counter—treats composed of varying combinations of filo, honey, mixed nuts, and sweet cheese—the perfect way to conclude a tour of the market’s Mediterranean offerings.
Asadur’s Market is located at 5536 Randolph Road, in Rockville, MD. The market is open Monday-Saturday, 10:00 am to 7:00 pm.
