Update, 1/9/2020: Amparo Fondita has pulled out of La Cosecha. Chef Christian Irabien is searching for another permanent location for his Mexican restaurant, according to Washington City Paper. “As one of many in D.C.’s immigrant community, we face unique obstacles in trying to open our own ventures,” Irabién said in a statement to City Paper, citing the “ambitious undertaking” of Amparo Fondita. “Many of us do not have access to traditional funding vehicles and rather than being able to raise money through a ‘friends-and-family’ round, we are in fact sending money home.”
More than three months after La Cosecha’s soft opening, only Serenata and El Cielo remain open during the market’s limited Thursday-Sunday opening times. Representatives for the market told City Paper that more brands would be in operation in the first quarter of 2020, including Peruvian Brothers.
Original: La Cosecha is coming soon. The highly anticipated Latin American food hall near Union Market (whose name translates to “The Harvest” in English) is soft opening this summer, with a few spots set to begin operating in July and August, and a grand opening slated for September.
The sprawling Latin American market has been in the works for three years now. Philadelphia-based celebrity chef Jose Garces was originally tapped to helm the project, but he pulled out after filing for bankruptcy amid several lawsuits. Now, the project is being run by developer Edens, which is building the food hall and a connected giant apartment complex. So far, there are nine food stalls confirmed to be joining the market.
A number of vendors were announced at the start of this year, but several additional partners were added more recently.
It’s still not clear which of these vendors will be opening up this summer and which will hold off until September, a spokesperson for Edens tells DCist. But we’re already hungry.
Here’s a comprehensive rundown of all the places you can expect to choose from once the food hall is fully up and running.
FILOS Bakery: You can currently find treats from this German-Mexican bakery at the Petworth Farmers Market and the Van Ness Farmers Market, as well as Shop Made in DC. Now, Mexican-born Francesca Arienzo is opening up her first brick and mortar shop at La Cosecha, where she’ll sell her take on various traditional pastries from her German and Mexican heritage. You’ll be able to find $3 conchas and $30 guava streuselkuchen. The space will be cozy at 145 square feet.
Serenata+Zumo: One of the three newest partners to sign onto La Cosecha, Serenata+Zumo comes from Daniella Senior of Colada Shop. During the day, this stall will serve fresh juice and toasts. In the evening, they’ll switch menus and serve cocktails and snacks. The restaurant isn’t tied to one specific country’s cuisine, instead serving food and drink “sourced and inspired by the many countries that make up the fabric of the rich Latin American heritage,” according to Edens.
Café Unido: Panamanian coffee roaster Café Unido will also be part of the project, and it will be the chain’s first location in the United States. They will offer Panama Geisha coffee, one of the most coveted and expensive beans in the world. According to Eater, Café Unido will have two counters inside the market, one of which will be a brew bar.
La Casita: Rounding out the three newest partners at La Cosecha is La Casita, a fast casual pupusería from Chef Iris Veronica Jimenez and her family, who have a bevy of Salvadoran restaurants throughout the D.C. area. Jimenez and her family have been operating markets and restaurants in D.C. since 1984, Edens says. The pupusería will focus on street food, much like what one might find at an open air market in El Salvador.
ElCielo: From Colombian chef Juan Manuel Barrientos, ElCielo at La Cosecha will be the restaurant’s second U.S. outpost (the first is in Miami). The chef is famous for creating avant-garde dishes based on traditional Colombian cuisine. There are also two ElCielo locations in Latin America, one in Bogotá and the other in Medellín.
Amparo: If you made a stop at Christian Irabién’s Amparo Fondita pop up last year, then you know this one. Apparently, the black beans are to die for. “It’s this idea that you can take a good quality product, and treat it with care and technique,” no matter how simple the ingredient may be, Irabién told DCist last August. “It’s the core of any great cuisine.” The restaurant is named for Irabién’s mother, Amparo. A native of Chihuahua, Mexico, Irabién is also the senior sous chef at Oyamel, José Andres’s Mexican restaurant in D.C.
Ali Pacha: The name translates to “The Plant Universe” in Aymara, an indigenous Andean language. And true to its name, the menu at Ali Pacha will be all plant-based. Chef Sebastian Quiroga of Bolivia is heading this venture, and it will likely resemble the fine dining restaurant he’s already got going in La Paz, Bolivia. The restaurant was named one of the 50 most exciting Latin American restaurants to watch in 2019.
NOVA BOSSA: Twist: this one isn’t a food stall. NOVA BOSSA will sell art, home decor, accessories, handbags, and clothing. It’s from Brazilian entrepreneur Carolina Furukrona. You can learn more about the brand here.
Peruvian Brothers: You may have tasted this food truck before. Siblings Giuseppe and Mario Lanzone are opening up their first brick and mortar location at La Cosecha after years of operating a food truck and catering business. The menu includes a bevy of Peruvian sandwiches, empanadas, and platters featuring a different main protein (fish, beef, chorizo, pork loin).
Grand Cata: Also not technically a food stall or restaurant, Grand Cata will be a grocery wine-bar from Pedro J. Rodriguez and Julio Robledo (of Puerto Rico and Chile, respectively). As well as wines, the grocery will offer “artisanal gastronomic products from the region,” according to Edens.
This story has been updated to include FILOS Bakery, the latest partner at La Cosecha.
Natalie Delgadillo