Gourmet & Healthy in Sudley

Springfield Butcher has been filling bellies and empty barbecue pits with fresh, hand-cut steaks and seafood for more than 30 years. Prime cuts of beef range from filet mignon and Prime rib roast to flank steak, cube steak, and fun-size steaks perfect for trick-or-treaters. Other protein options run the gamut from Danish-style pork ribs to a variety of game meats including buffalo, venison leg steaks, and wild boar.

Sausages made in-house are available smoked or un-smoked, and bacon wraps its smoky flavor around scallops, which—like the rest of the shop's seafood offerings—are delivered fresh every day, except Sunday. Those looking to go from stove to table as quickly as possible can opt for oven-ready entrees such as chicken cordon bleu or pork chops with onion stuffing, and local deer hunters may find their freezers get filled faster after enlisting the help of Springfield Butcher's venison-processing services.

À la Carte Catering and Event Design shoulders the entire burden of event planning, from the food and wait staff to flowers and decorations to entertainment and lighting. Hosts just meet with an event specialist to describe the basics behind their dream party, and À la Carte hammers out the kinks to make it a reality. The company's executive chef draws on his training in France, New Orleans, and the Caribbean to craft elegant and casual menus, and partner vendors manage other accoutrements, such as coat checks, valet parking, or live musicians. Civilians get a glimpse inside the trade at cooking classes with À la Carte’s chefs during interactive demonstrations that cover professional techniques for butchering meat, cooking pasta, or licking brownie batter off of a spatula.

Running every Saturday in 2012 from May through November, the Briggs Chaney-Greencastle Farmers' Market seeks to provide Silver Springs residents with increased access to fresh and healthy foods. In addition to a selection of local produce, meat, eggs, and cheese, the free-to-enter market hosts a variety of vendors, such as artists, jewelers, and bakers, as well as local chefs who demonstrate simple recipes using local produce and monosyllabic buzz words. To encourage visitors to purchase healthier food, the non-profit farmer's market matches WIC payments dollar-for-dollar, accepts SNAP payments, and matches a portion of Independence card benefits.

The market welcomes children as well, with a range of activities for young ones in its Kids’ Tent. Children can take part in a number of interactive showcases throughout the summer, such as a Railroad Exhibit from the Riverdale Railroad club, puppet theater stories from former Moscow Puppet Theater member Irena Kholodnov, and martial arts demonstrations by the Virginia Kenshinkai School of Budokai. A chess tent lets kids and adults unwind while playing the classic game against friends, family, and Bobby Fischer in disguise. Families may also enjoy live stage music in an audience seating area and feast on their fresh food purchases in a nearby dining tent.

Juicy tidbits of chocolate-dipped fruit arrive on the doorsteps of family and friends, done up in colorful baskets, bouquets, and gourmet boxes by the skilled fruit arrangers at Edible Arrangements' more than 1,100 franchises worldwide. The company's Fruit Experts drizzle strawberries, daisy pineapples, apples, bananas and oranges in semi-sweet and white chocolate. These are supported by undipped but still-delectable fruits such as honeydew, cocount, mango, kiwi, grapes, watermelons, and cantaloupe. Once properly chocolated, the workers organize the preservative- and sweetener-free treats into lush arrangements that resemble flowers in bloom. Arrangements come in a variety of vessels, including vases, mugs, and sports- or holiday-themed containers that add a personal touch to the edible gifts, which can also be supplemented with cards, plus bears, and mylar balloons. Alternatively, customers can opt for the cheery, red-lidded gourmet chocolate fruit boxes, nestling 12 chocolate-dipped morsels inside to build anticipation and determine if loved ones have x-ray vision as they guess whether fruit will come dusted in shredded coconut or rolled in crushed almonds.

Beyond the striped awning of Fern Street Gourmet lays a deli case, shelves of bottles, and a host of cardboard boxes and wooden crates. The culinary connoisseurs behind the counter want you to know where their goods come from, from fine Spanish wines at budget prices or hard-to-find European candies. Shoppers can browse hundreds of cheeses, meats, beers, and party snacks on their own or turn to staff, who can assemble towering custom gift baskets and point them toward the perfect hostess gift to say "Welcome to your new home" or "Sorry I ate that entire cheese platter last time."