Gluten Freebird

Safeway, Whole Foods, and Giant get old after a while. Even MOM and the Takoma Park Co-op can seem like big ventures.

If you miss the days of the mom-and-pop market, rejoice in Timor Bodega. It’s probably my favorite shop in D.C. From the outside it looks like any bodega, but it’s more like an organic emporium than a mini-mart, located in an under-loved part of town (Bloomingdale) at 2nd and Rhode Island, NW.

Owner Kim Wee stocks the shelves with a keen eye. He carefully curates a selection of local, health-oriented products. He has pastas, wine, pet food, and cleaning products, but you won’t find major labels. Instead, it’s organic pet food, quinoa, biodynamic wines, and eco-friendly cleaners.

Wee keeps a small selection of produce, often supplied by the USDA farmers market. Sure, you can often get avocados and non-local produce, but he also carries things from local farms.

When it comes to milk and meat, it’s all local. Timor sells Trickling Springs Milk (in the glass bottles) and ICE CREAM (go for the peppermint or black raspberry) and meats from Eco-Friendly Foods.

I was very excited to see some new gluten-free products, including frozen tamales and a line of gluten-free Japanese snacks from a company called Feng Shui (rice crackers, wasabi peas). Does this mean a reprieve from rice cakes?

This is one case where supporting the little guy isn’t just a social responsibility, it’s a pleasure.

NOTE: It’s also right near the Bloomingdale Farmers Market (Sundays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.), so do the two together with some fuel from Big Bear Cafe.