Pangea Artisan Market & Cafe

CLOSED?
I’ve had delicious & expertly prepared food here before. The food was so good and simple that I found myself craving one of their good croque monsieurs the other day. I could not for the life of me find the storefront. Sadly, it seems like Pangea must have closed recently.

artisan crafts? helping developing nations? sustainable snacks? fair-​trade coffee?
two words: culture vulture.
you, my friend, are a culture vulture, and yes, i caught you redhanded spending $ 200 on obscure games at pangea for your child/nephew/niece/cousin…all in the name of bolstering the economies of developing countries.

Croque Monsieur special: Sandwich+soda+chips for $ 5.99.

I stopped in for some lunch, and was pleasantly surprised! I was interested in the concept of the artisanal market and café, and wanted to take a look. I grabbed a caprese panini and iced coffee– both were great. They gave me a choice of breads. The service was very friendly and there was a great vibe in there– people causally meeting for coffee, some at computers that are found throughout the market (FREE!!), and some stopping in to grab something on the go. It was nice to see a pretty diverse crowd there as well!
After I ordered my sandwich from the board, I noticed another menu sitting on top of the counter with about 10 more options– some looked quite good! Be sure you know all your options before ordering!
Toward the back of the market is the retail portion– I only browsed quickly but it looked like they had some unique items that could be great gifts. Most people were in the café part.
I love the idea of supporting fair trade and worldwide artisans, and will happily return to grab something to eat while in the area.

I went in for a sandwich today. The store is aesthetically pleasing, but I didn’t realize that I’d have to go all the way to the back (at least coming from one of the entrances)… the layout was confusing.
But that’s not why I give the place two stars.
I rate the food a 3-​star, and I rate the service a 1-​star.
The roast beef sandwich was decently good. No complaints there.
Service, however, was questionable. All the sandwich choices are on a little stand-​up menu at the cashier and not on the actual signboard on the wall. The signboard includes two or three generic sandwich choices, and the menu at the cashier has another half a dozen or so. Imagine how much that could delay an order… waiting for each person to get to the front of the line to figure out what to order. Then, there’s the cashier who gave me the receipt for someone else’s order. The clincher was the sandwich maker. Each order is marked with a name, so you have to give your name in order to claim your food. The sandwich maker called out the sandwich name, eyed me and the paper, and said: «I don’t know how to pronounce it» and just handed me the sandwich.
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is the reason why you NEVER EVER use customers’ names in a hospitality setting unless you can hire a literate staff. Given the café’s proximity to the World Bank and IMF and IFC and its relation to one of the aforementioned organizations, I’m sure I’m not the only patron whose name is not Jessica or Sara. And I’m sure I’m not the only person from that *nominally-​disenfranchised* social group who is utterly tired of watching semi-​literate people’s eyes gloss over when they won’t attempt to pronounce a word that’s pronounced exactly how it’s spelled. Even when it’s a name replete with vowels!
The point of calling a customer by name is to enhance service and be hospitable. That clearly isn’t working.
So if you’re reading this, Mr. or Ms. Owner of Pangea, cross out the name section of the order and revert to a numbering system or hire a literate sandwich-​maker. Given the state of the economy, the latter may be easier to accomplish :)
*rant end*

The money helps out artisans in developing countries the IFC works with. That alone gives it a half star but since they don’t have those I’ll round up to four. The food is cheap and pretty standard. The menu is small and limited to basically sandwiches. The paninis are good but again standard. I had a Croque Monsieur, chips and a 20 ounce bottled soda for around $ 6.50. That’s a great deal. It wasn’t really a classic croque monsieur. It was marble rye bread with a couple slices of ham and cheese pressed in a panini grill. Eh. But what do you expect for that price? The inside is unique and I would definitely go here instead of a corner bakery or au bon pain.

A nice thing about this store that you will not find anywhere else except maybe a public library is that it has free computer use. Yes, you can use the computer for free! But a more important aspect is that it sells crafts by artists from around the world. If you buy their work, you support these artists in emerging markets. Some of the pieces are pretty creative like a purse made from soda can tabs.
They recently started selling Illy coffee. Yum. If you work in the area, this is a good alternative for a coffee break besides Starbucks. Sometimes finding a coffee shop, any coffee shop besides Starbucks is really hard. I also buy my afternoon tea here a lot. They always give you hot water in a small cup, but you can ask for a larger one (same price). The food is not bad, I have enjoyed their sandwiches. They will grill/​heat it for you.

I desire the gorgeous Turkish copper pitcher sitting unassumingly on a Balinese carved wood table in the middle of Pangea’s expansive floor space, flanked by Nepalese mountain lavender goat’s milk soaps, beaded silk pillow covers, and mosaic glass vases. That gleaming vessel is one of the few items I haven’t seen preening at Ten Thousand Villages, or replicated by Pier 1 and World Market.
The miniature wicker furniture is remarkable. But, the coffee and chocolate selections in these kinds of shops always provoke me. Even though fair trade is a wonderful idea, it is clear that branding has occurred in this domain as in any other. I understand the politics of foreign business fairly well, I know that certifying products as fair trade involves an organized system of workers and artisans, and I realize that a reliable export system is difficult to achieve, but surely Green Mountain, Divine, and Equal Exchange have not absorbed the world’s market. Perhaps I am angrier at the culture of capitalism than anything else…
Either way, browsing through Pangea’s gallery of goods is a fine way to spend a short afternoon, and the jewelry and puzzle boxes would make wonderful gifts. But I would much prefer to travel through the Himalayas and across deserts, to see the faces of the artisans whose crafts inspire me.

This is both a café and a boutique selling fair-​trade artisan products; both are fabulous. It’s a shame that it doesn’t have a more prominent location… it’s too easy to miss amidst all the medical and office buildings around Foggy Bottom.
The café staff (who, sadly, looked bored both times I was there — go order something, people! keep them in business!) make a tasty latte and several types of paninis. They also sell pre-​made salads, sandwiches and baked goods. It’s simple food, but good.
I love the unique wooden candleholder I bought on a whim, and I’ve been eyeing the purses as well. Prices (in both the café and shop) are very reasonable.

Wandering the streets of D.C. on my own with no clue where I was or where to go. .…
This was the type of situation had there been two people, a fight would have arose. I was hungry! I had just arrived earlier that morning on a red-​eye. I shouldn’t do red-​eyes. Wait, I DON’T do red-​eyes. What a mess. I was emotional and angry.
Why is it I feel like I spend a huge percentage of my life doing dishes or looking for a good place to grab a bite with outdoor seating?
So, it’s a typical hot, humid June summer day in D.C. and I’ve been wandering the streets for about two hours now looking for a place to eat. It was too hot for cooked food and my options were looking pretty limited.
I spotted Pangea from across the street, I could tell it had potential. I had no idea what I was about to embark upon. The moment I entered the store I knew the search was over. Not only had I found a decent place with fresh organic options, I found a place I could really feel good about supporting.
Everything in the store was unique not only in selection but what it stood for. I really appreciate what Pangea is doing. The world could certainly benefit from more businesses and organizations of the like.
Interestingly enough, this was also the beginning of what turned out to be a long night of drinking with my new friend whom I met here whilte having my lunch. I’m not sure if it was the fact that we had the type of personalities who felt totally comfortable with engaging in conversations with complete strangers or the overall feeling and vibe of Pangea that contributed to our meeting. I’m sure it’s a lot of the first and some of the second. Either way, I truly enjoyed everything about Pangea and I would encourage everyone to make an effort to stop by and support this business.

You’re community minded.
Issues of sustainability matter to you.
You’re fashion forward.
You know what makes «fair trade» fair.
You have present (s) to buy for your mother/​sister/​cousin/​aunt/​girlfriend/​brother and you’re looking for something unique.
Enter Pangea.
At Pangea, you can purchase fair trade crafts, jewelry, items for the home and accessories. You can also feel good knowing that your purchase helps create sustainable livelihoods for artisans in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
What are you waiting for?

Hmm. I’ll start out by saying this is a review for the café, not the actual store. With no time to look at the shopping options, a friend and I went to the café to grab a quick snack before class. Hmm. Disappointing. The veggie sandwich is just your choice of veggies, cheese, and they heat it up.
Basically, if you are looking for food… go across the street to Capital Grounds and grab a sandwich there, then come back to Pangea to do your shopping.

I’m giving it five stars too. The store is more museum-​like than shop. Pangea has a much better design esthetic than its pedestiran cousin, 10,000 Villages, which makes many of the same claims about supporting microbusinesses in developing countries, ethical practices, etc. Whereas 10,000 Villages has more of a bazaar-​feel to it, Pangea presents well-​crafted beautifully designed and artfully arranged goods. It’s a feast for the senses, especially with the languid world music lulling you in the background (Asian Lounge – think ravi shankar goes fusion – was playing the night I was there).
So what’s wrong with it? Well, for one thing it’s at 2121 Penn. Ave. I spoke with the owner briefly and he said they had yet to break even. It’s not exactly centrally located in a shopping district. Pick it up and set it down in tony Bethesda, and tony Bethesda moms would be all over it.
Someone told me the place was financed by the World Bank. Not so, says Mr. Owner. He pays the WB rent. Not quite the same thing.
A great place for a unique gift, but an unfortunate out-​of-​the way location. I hope it survives.

For what Pangea is, I would find it very difficult to explain what is wrong with the place to not give it 5 stars. Friendly staff, great food for a coffee-​shop, and selling wonderful goods made by artisans from developing countries.
They seem to demonstrate a commitment to ethical business practices, gender equality, no child labor, environmentally friendly, and they pay their artisans up front. Now, anyone who knows me well, would be aware that this all really isn’t my «cup of tea», but I admire a business that is willing to go that extra yard for their ethical beliefs, and they are very passionate about their store and the products in the store — they will gladly wander the store with you describing their products in detail — really a level of attention you’re not going to find in many other places.
I really can’t fault Pangea on any level, so I won’t… 5 well-​deserved stars.

How rich ARE you? This site ranks your income among everyone in the world:
Feeling flush now? Then head to Pangea, which provides artisans in developing countries with access to markets. It’s a project of the International Finance Corporation, a private sector arm of the World Bank Group. Field assessments ensure artisan compliance with business ethics (transparency, accountability, safe working conditions, caring for the environment, gender equity, no child labor, etc.).
My friend, a super handbag aficionado, has raved about this store all summer (In fact the staff recognized her at the Unilocal event, she’s such a regular!). But it wasn’t until I came here myself that I saw Pangea’s sheer diversity of prices and terrific products.
I esp. liked how some artisans reused materials that others had discarded. There were tote bags made of reinforced Fresh-​n-​Soft packages, a spectacular chess set and lizard sculpture made of scrap metal, and a delightful purse-​toting statue made entirely of a Jumex can and bottle caps. I posted some photos.
More info:

Kudos to Miriam for a great event yesterday! This was my first Unilocal event, and I had a great time.
In general, I love places that combine food and artisan goods – like Simply Home in DC or Kopi in Chicago.
I thought Pangea’s set-​up was really elegant – almost too elegant. Had it not been for the dozens of people present and glasses of wine I consumed I’m not sure I would have investigated all the goods on display as thoroughly as I did. Items for sale include: purses and jewelery, lamps, pillows, lotion, and even children’s toys. Every tag I overturned revealed a different country of origen – Cambodia, Turkey, Brazil, Columbia… The goods are all fair trade. Some are made by HIV+ mothers, some by survivors of domestic abuse. This is a really great place to support the causes you believe in and get people one of a kind gifts. You will find yourself thinking about a necklace or two that you walked away from, thinking, «Maybe I have time to go back on Saturday…»

First things first, I didn’t visit Pangea for any reason other than the Unilocal event hosted there (Great job Miriam). I must say though that I came away impressed with the café and store.
The food was great. Their bagel sandwiches were grilled/​toasted to perfection. The staff was very accommodating and friendly. I was surprised to see them engaging in conversation with anyone who was around and they seemed incredibly genuine. Refreshing to say the least.
If I’m down in that area again, I would not mind stopping for a quick bite to eat or drink.
Impressed.

For all who attended the Unilocal event tonight at Pangea, a good time was had by all! Great job Miriam!
Pangea was not what I expected at all! Not a bad thing really, I will say I didn’t feel like I was in a shop in Washington, D.C. though! Not sure why really, just didn’t seem like a shop typical of DC.
Artisan products from around the world, from hand woven bags to hand blown candle holders to organic hand lotions from Fiji. Great place to get unique, hand made gifts for all occasions and price points.
Pangea also has a food/​coffee bar with indoor and outdoor seating. Vegetarian friendly sandwiches are offered along with deli meat and cheese (on bread of course). Lots of bread types, all were pretty good. The white chocolate chip cookie piece I tried was really good too!
All the staff were super friendly and eager to answer any questions and obviously excited to be part of a unique store downtown.
I will definitely swing by Pangea for many of my gift giving occasions!

Nice little store and restaurant — a little overpriced and nothing special. But, clean and pleasant. Like an overpriced, more spacious Ten Thousand Villages with a little café.

The storefront of Pangea is great, with its various wares from around the world. They’ve got a great range of prices, which is nice. Sometimes I’m willing to spend $ 100 on a necklace, and other times I’m looking for something for $ 20: they’ve got both here. I loved all of the information that they provided next to the crafts: where it comes from, how its made, and any other cultural background.
Where this place really loses me is the «café.» It seems so much like an afterthought when it could really be a great place. They have a very small refrigerated case that has your typical wraps and salads, as well as some sushi. You can also get a panini made: you choose your bread, meat, cheese, and toppings. Nothing special here, just the typical deli fare. The wait for a panini was ridiculously long– how long does it take to assemble and grill? The staff seemed very confused: there were lots of sandwiches made incorrectly and many people had obviously been waiting a while for their food.

There is no better place than the IFC (International Finance Corporation) for an literally international market and café. This store features crafts and every day goods from countries such as Cambodia, Indonesia, Kenya, Nepal and more.
The IFC actually gives small businesses around the world the funding to make their businesses sustainable. All of the items here — from handbags to jewelry — is fair trade.
This place is a fun place to shop because there is always a cool world CD playing (on the day we were there it was music from West Africa). This store is also way to learn more about the country the items it is from, as well as the artisans who create it.