The Dressed Up Nut

One word: Addicting!
I discovered The Dressed Up Nut at the Alexandria West End Farmers market last summer and have been nuts for them ever since. A trip to the market always finds me heading home with a bag or two of the tasty little guys.
My favorites are the Sweet BBQ peanuts and the garlic peanuts, but today came home with a bag of the garlic almonds and since I see the bottom of the bag starting to peek though after a generous portion ended up on my salad — its clear more will be coming home in the future.

I provided chair massages at the Cooking and Entertaining Show at the DC Convention Center on Saturday and Sunday of this past weekend. I met Aimee and tried a few of The Dressed Up Nut offerings: the Baja Peanuts, the Chesapeake Pecans, and the Hickory Smoked Pecans.
I have to say these are some of the best peanuts I’ve ever had. I typically hit Trader Joe’s and rock the trail mix… but I’ll definitely be making a stop down to the Del Ray Farmers Market to pick up some more Dressed Up Nuts.
I’m scarfing down the Baja peanuts as I type this. :)

The Dressed Up Nut is the brainchild of Aimee Steel and her mother Millie. They specialize in «small batch gourmet nuts» using high quality ingredients. No preservatives, no artificial flavors.
When The Dressed Up Nut first showed up at the Del Ray and West End Farmers Markets this season, I was skeptical. I can make my own spiced or sweet nut blends, right? Well, I’ve done it once or twice before… I can do it for cheaper, right? Well, again, I’ve only ever bothered to do it once or twice before…
I’m forced to admit that Aimee and Millie’s products are more thoughtful, more inventive, and prettier than any I’ve ever attempted to make. Their signature is the sweet Sherry Walnut, and it’s delicious. The sherry flavor shines, and the glaze is nice and crunchy. I also love the Orange Blossom Walnut with subtle citrus and vanilla notes, like a bite-​sized Creamsicle. The savory nuts are equally enjoyable. My favorites are the Blackened and the Hickory Smoked Pecans, both wholly spicy and smoky without using liquid smoke or other artificial flavors. Hickory Smoked Pecans actually spend two hours in a smoker. Other great flavors are the Slow Peppered Almonds with an intense, delayed heat; the Chesapeake Pecans with Aimee and Millie’s homemade version of Old Bay; sweet and hot Honey Chipotle Pecans; and the Garlic Lovers Peanuts. They’re not kidding — you *must* love garlic.
On top of the lovingly hand-​crafted product, Aimee, Millie, and Dad (I wish I knew his name, too!) are just lovely folks. So inviting and warm. You can tell dad is a burstingly proud papa. He runs the business end of their farm market stands with natural ease, really selling the product without pushing it. You are more than encouraged to stand around chatting and sampling every last nut on offer… and there’s usually over a dozen. Not to mention the homemade biscotti.
Are the prices a bit high? Yes, perhaps. But considering the quality of ingredients, the time that’s put into making them — and the fact that usually if you buy one bag «gourmet» nuts you get a bag of your choice of peanuts free — I’m happy to support a local, family-​run business.
**Note: if you can’t get to the farmers markets, you can have products shipped from their website.**