Attention Houstonians! New Farmer's Mkt in Midtown

[RebeccaT]

This weekend I paid a visit to T'afia (Chef Monica Pope's newest venture), not to eat at the restaurant (although I plan to soon!), but to check out the weekly organic farmer's market.

What a blast! Despite the rain, there was an excellent turnout of local growers and food artisans. The largest grower present had loads of Swiss Chard (mostly rainbow, some green), herbs, bok choi, dandelion greens, various lettuces, baby carrots, cauliflower, and a variety of kales. It was gorgeous! Her prices were excellent as well - I got two bunches (large!) of chard for $4, and I usually pay that for one bunch of organic chard at Central Market. I loved talking to her about what actually grows seasonally in Texas (Lori and others, I am learning about seasonal produce! :D )

Inside, I met an artisan chocolate maker who specialized in unusual chocolate flavors - my favorite was a dark chocolate with tequila and ancho chile. My husband liked the dark chocolate with pistachios and dried cherries. There were a number of breads, scones, and pastries available, as well as cheese straws and ginger snaps from a non-profit producer whose proceeds all go to a residential home for those with mental retardation. I met a chicken farmer whose pastured chickens have access to grass and plenty of room to scratch... I bought a chicken from him that had just been processed the day before, and we roasted (PSYCHO!) and ate it last night. It was SO moist and tender, and had great flavor! Monica was there selling scones, there was someone selling incense and someone else selling handmade purses - the atmosphere was so happy!

As an added bonus, we got there in time to attend a kitchen demo with Scott Tycer of Aries. We talked about local, seasonal produce and some of his efforts to incorporate more of it into his menus, and then we followed him into the kitchen where we watched him prepare the chard from outside and turn it into a lovely little munchable - a savory thyme pastry filled with the simplest braised greens with cream and bacon. Mmm.

I haven't been to Pope's market in the Heights, so I don't know how this one compares. But I do know that I will be back, regularly, to support this worthwhile venture!

[kwormann]

ok, give it up....where is it located???

[RebeccaT]

Sorry, Kim! Didn't mean to leave out that crucial piece of information!

3701 Travis
Houston, TX 77002

It's just west of downtown...

[kwormann]

Cool.....I might be making a trek into town Saturday....

[Beth]

Kim, if you want a companion, maybe we can make it a road trip. I may be playing chaperone for a choir trip this week -- still haven't heard, but I would love to go. I miss real farmers' markets like we had in CA perhaps more than anything there.

[RebeccaT]

Beth or Kim, have either of you been to the one in the Heights? I have heard it's the same concept, but with different vendors, of course...

Also, I forgot to mention that there was a flower wholesaler there as well! Sweet Peas for $5 a bunch, snapdragons for $8... gorgeous!

[buffygirl]

OMG, Rebecca, I almost ran into you there. Much to Hubby's chagrin, I forgot the address and we ended up driving around the area where I *thought* it was and never found it.

We've made the Height's Market a weekly event. I get their newsletter every Thurs or Fri and will be happy to forward it to anyone who PM's me their email address.

We should have a little board get together at one of the markets!!!

BK

[Beth]

I haven't. I think we're just far enough out of the loop to get a lot of in town scoop. Of course, we stay pretty busy with the kiddos and neither of us work in town. Kim work in town, so she may get more of the scoop and may have made the trip.

[RebeccaT]

Originally posted by buffygirl
OMG, Rebecca, I almost ran into you there. Much to Hubby's chagrin, I forgot the address and we ended up driving around the area where I *thought* it was and never found it.


<snort> Too funny! We did the same thing! I got in the car with DH, he said, "So where we goin'?" I said, "I don't exactly know..." :o

We did find it, eventually, because I knew it was on Travis.

Here's the website for anyone who is interested in T'afia itself, or wants more scoop on the market.

http://www.tafia.com/

So what's the Heights market like?

[doggerham]

Beth, Kim, et al, if you're going to come in from the hinterlands, come early for a big Southern breakfast next door at the Breakfast Klub. Here's an article from the Chron. (http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/diningstory.mpl/dining/cook/2450540) Come very hungry! The catfish and grits was great.

I guess we were there early, because we missed all of you! If I had to guess, the produce lady in the tent outside is from Gunderman's, who also sells at the market in the Heights. The other produce vendors upstairs seemed like smaller outfits. since I live in the Heights, that's my usual stop -- this was my first visit to the one in Midtown, though I am on Monica's email list.

IMHO, the chocoloate maker is an emissary from the devil. ;) Kraftsmen bakers was also there, as well as another pastry guy who specializes in vegetarian and vegan products. And, oh yes, the coffee guy!

[RebeccaT]

Amy, I wouldn't have known if you were there or not, since we've never met! :) We got there around 9:30 and stayed until around, I don't know, 11? Were you there for Tycer's kitchen demo?

I love Kraftsmen bakery. That's actually where I first heard about the market, I was there for lunch one weekend and saw a poster on their door about it.

I've never been to the Breakfast Klub before (I'm a Buffalo Grill kind of gal) but I think we'll give it a try next time.

And yes, the chocolate guy is definitely spawn of something. ;) At $8 a pound, I know that I would feel compelled to eat that chocolate if I let it into my house so it wouldn't "go to waste." Argh. :o

Based on this article from the Houston Press reviewing T'afia, I think that the farmer outside was actually Gita Van Woerdan: http://www.houstonpress.com/issues/2004-03-11/cafe.html/1/index.html Making a mental note to find out her name next time I am there...

[buffygirl]

Amy, thanks for posting about Breakfast Klub, never heard of it, but we are always looking for good inner loop breakfast places. BTW, I'm sure you know this since you are a Heights girl, but Shade is now serving a wonderful breakfast/brunch on the weekends. We alternate among Shade, Barnaby's, 59 Diner, Empire Cafe and the like. Oh and we tried Hobbit on Saturday and really enjoyed that as well.

The Onion Creek (Heights) Market is also all organic. It sounds like a very similar setup to the midtown market. Fresh flowers, herbs, potted herbs and plants, lots of locally grown greens, coffee, chocolates, doggie treats, Kraftsmen bakery. The local greens folks also sell an incredible salad dressing called "Vitality" (I think). We are hooked. The greens mix he sells is also wonderful. You can actually go out and visit their farm, near I-10 East at the Waco exit. They let you pick your own. We keep threatening to do that, but keep running out of time.

BK

[doggerham]

buffygirl I have mixed feelings about Shade. If you go over to http://www.b4-u-eat.com, you can read the reviews. I doubt that I will get DH to go to T'afia -- it sounds a little too precious for him. At Boulevard Bistrot, you could always count on a nice piece of grilled meat for a he-man type. The Breakfast Klub has not been open on Sundays, but I noticed that they had a flier announcing a brunch on 4/25 -- so maybe they are going to start that? I would think they are missing a big market now that Midtown is more populated.

RebeccaGood call on the farmer outside -- mine was a WAG based on her setup and the produce --- very Gundermen-esque. I've also had a box of their stuff from the co-op, but even their small box was too much for us to get through. I wish I had been there for Tycer's presentation, be we were already gone by then. I've eaten at Aires once and am saving my pennies to go back...someday. :)

[RebeccaT]

We went to Shade right after it opened, and had a great meal there! We loved that we could bring our own wine... can you still do that, or do they have a liquor license now?

I read the reviews at b4-u-eat, and maybe we just went soon enough after it opened not to have to deal with some of the service issues. I don't remember any of that! We had a great table, we took our time and weren't rushed at all, and had a delicious meal. We'll have to go back for brunch!

[Robyn1007]

Hi all,

Just wanted to thank you for all the great tips! My mom and step father live in Houston (well just outside) and I am headed down there in May for a visit (its a surprise, mom doesn't know about it) and I have already told my step father that we are going to the farmer's market on Saturday. I won't be able to bring produce back with me but the chocolate alone sounds like it will be worth it! My list of places to go also includes Penzey's (I can't wait for that one!).


:D Robyn

[doggerham]

Rebecca Shade is still BYOB, which is one of its best features. Its a problem for the restaurant owners I suppose, because not only do they not make any money on the wine, but then people hold a table all night. Now if restaurants didn't mark wine up such a ridiculous amount....

RobynPenzey's is a few blocks down the street from Shade (as well as a bunch of antique/"junque" stores) in the Heights -- a fun area to spend time browsing.

[buffygirl]

FYI, the Heights Farmers Market will feature a demonstration by the Sous Chef from Aires (Jason Gould) this Saturday morning at 10:30.

BK

[RebeccaT]

Cool! Jason was at our chef's demo with Scott Tycer last Saturday. He's cool - an Aussie.

Incidentally, Sur La Table in River Oaks is featuring the Aries staff (Jason, Scott, the pastry chef and a bread guy from Kraftsmen) in a cooking series in June. I am really tempted!

Cooking with Aries
Learn to cook like the pros in this hands-on series presented by Aries
Restaurant.
$65 per class
I. Mastering Summer Appetizers and Salads
Jason Gould
June 9 6:30 pm #373845
Great summer starters. You’ll learn how to make vinaigrettes from scratch, a variety of basic techniques for creating tasty appetizers and how to use seasonal ingredients for maximum flavor. Jason Gould is chef de cuisine of Aries Restaurant.
M E N U • Mixed Lettuces with Candied Walnuts, Muscat Grape Jam and Stilton · Dry-Packed Day Boat Scallops with Melted Leeks and Creminis · Baked Goat Cheese Tart with Pickled Onion Jam

II. Delicious Artisan Breads and Pastries
Chad Fry
June 14 6:30 pm #373886
The secret of handcrafted baked goods. Join Chad Fry of Kraftsmen Bakery and learn how to create artisanal bread at home. He’ll teach you the specific mixing techniques required for different
bread and pastry doughs, and you’ll learn how to make a variety of basic breakfast pastries for easy entertaining.
M E N U • Toasted Pecan and Raisin Bread · Brioche Rolls · Fresh Cherry Danishes · Apricot Scones

III. Mastering Summer Sweets
Matt Smith
July 12 6:30 pm #374249
Deliciously easy desserts. Matt Smith, pastry chef at Aries Restaurant, will teach you how to use summer fruits to
their most delicious advantage. You’ll learn how to poach fruit, make tart dough, turn any fresh fruit into sorbet and more.
M E N U • Cherry Clafoutis · Raspberry and Hazelnut Shortcake · Lemon Cake with Blueberry Compote · Peach Tart

IV. Grand Finale:
A Signature Summer Menu
Scott Tycer
July 20 6:30 pm #374140
Sumptuous summer dishes to impress your family and friends. You’ll learn how to select the freshest summer seafood, cook fish to the proper doneness, make pasta dough, fill pasta and more as you
create a spectacular menu bursting with seasonal flavors.
M E N U • Tortellini with Sage Butter, Hazelnuts and Arugula · Scottish Salmon with Chorizo and Summer Kale · and more!

[emily]

These attempts to lure me back to Houston may have worked if I hadn't had the opprotunity to attend a fabulous Thursday mid-afternoon farmer's market yesterday :p

Seriously though, I'm so excited to read about Houston supporting local and organic produce. Woo hoo!

Emily

['lil cooker]

Thanks to ALL of you for the fabulous info - I don't get to "town" much, but may just have to make the trek for one of the cooking classes at Sur La Table. Now... which one do I pick???

[Pony]

Hello my soon to be neighbors ;)

I just tried to do a google search for Houston Farmer's Markets. I was hoping to find a list of all the markets in the area, but couldn't find anything. Is there such a list? I'm assuming the markets are usually year round? If so, I'm sooo excited!!!! Chicago's are just now beginning to start and end in the early fall.

Also, I noticed someone mentioning a restaurant being BYOB. We have tons of these in Chicago, some free of charge, some charge you a corkage fee. Is this common in Houston?

Yay!

Thanks again for all your help.

Michelle

[emily]

To my knowledge there are actually very few restaurants in Houston that are BYOB. I can't recall going to a single one in fact.

As for the farmers' markets, for having such a temperate climate, there are actually very few farmers' markets, there are the ones posted here, the midtown one and the one in the Heights and then there's the farmers' market off of Airline Blvd which is open daily and is a great resource for Mexican ingredients. However, not all of their produce is local :(

I also recommend checking out Fiesta grocery stores while you're there. They may look a little ghetto from the outside, and well, the inside too, but you can usually get some great and CHEAP produce and ethnic ingredients there :)

I lived in Montrose for a few years and highly recommend it as a place to live and hang out (it's super close to the museum district too).

Enjoy,

Emily

[Pony]

Thank you very much Emily.

I can't wait to check out the markets! And I just added Fiesta to the list.

And thanks for the Montrose info, we are definitely leaning towards that area right now. Can't wait for our visit!

michelle

[RebeccaT]

Hi Pony!

:( Don't get your hopes up too high regarding farmer's markets. There is a real lack of them here, although the Heights and Midtown ones mentioned on this thread have brought some new hope. As Emily mentioned, the Airline market is decent for cheap items in bulk, but since many of them come from the Valley area of Texas or Mexico, the quality is mixed. I have gotten some outstanding fresh crowder and purple hull peas there, though. And there is a fabulous Mexican bakery next door that has wonderful empanadas (mmm, sweet potato!) and bolillos (Mexican sandwich rolls, so good!).

As far as BYOB, there are some places. Collina's is a local Italian/pizza chain (there are a lot of local chains in Houston. There are a lot of restaurants in Houston. Just because it is has multiple locations does not mean it is to be avoided, unless it is owned by Tillman Fertito) that is BYO, no corkage fee. There are the couple mentioned above in the Heights as well. Not sure about others, but it's worth researching!

[Pony]

Thanks once again for all your help Rebecca!

DH is going to go crazy with all the good yummy mexican places, especially a bakery!

Michelle

[buffygirl]

Michelle,

La Vista is a fab-u-lous BYOB place over off Fountainview near the Galleria area. The food is wonderful. Also if you ever get out to the Clear Lake area, Italian Cafe is good. Those are all I can think of (other than the ones mentioned) for now.

Kim

[RebeccaT]

Interesting article in the Houston Chronicle about chefs and local farmer's markets...

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/dining/2593577