There was a time when Houstonians on the prowl for farm-fresh
produce were limited to produce stands on the side of country roads or
to the vast lots behind Canino’s Produce on Airline, which is composed
primarily of food flown or trucked in from other areas.
The recent proliferation of farmers’ markets in the city, beginning
with the Houston Farmers’ Market in 2003, has marked a change in the
way that Houstonians are buying and thinking about their food. In a
world concerned with the environmental impact of mass-farmed foods and
the health impact of poor diets, it’s become more important than ever
to get your food fresh and local.
Farmers’ markets around Houston offer more now than ever, from
seasonal fruits and vegetables to freshly butchered meat, hand-gathered
yard eggs and local honey. Although there isn’t one large, coherent
farmers’ market in town, it just means more selections at the market
nearest you.
Take our guide to Houston’s best farmers’ markets with you before
you head out the door this weekend, and you’re guaranteed to have a
happy, healthy shopping trip.
Houston Farmers’ Market
The grand dame in town, this bustling market sets up on Saturday
mornings from 8 a.m. until noon next to popular Heights eatery Onion
Creek, and parking is hard to come by. We recommend bicycling if at all
possible.
Vendors change weekly but routinely feature cheese from the Houston
Dairy Maids, produce from Gundermann Farms, Dustin’s Eggs, goat milk
and yogurt from Swede Farm Dairy, grass-fed beef and poultry from
Village Botanica, and dog treats from Woofalicious Pet Bakery.
On Tuesday afternoons, you can find the Houston Farmers’ Market at
a secondary location in the Rice University stadium’s parking lot from
3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Although many vendors complain about the heat from
the blacktop, it’s one of the only farmers’ markets to operate on a
weekday.
Bayou City Farmers’ Market
By far the largest in town, this market just off Richmond has the
same hours as most of the big players in town: 8 a.m. to noon. Use it
to your advantage and hit all three major markets in one morning.
Operated by local nonprofit Urban Harvest since its inception in
2004, this market supports urban farms and gardens by giving the
farmers a place to sell their produce alongside other vendors’
vegetables, meats, fish and ready-made food. Summer sees events like
the annual Tomato Fest in July. Additionally, Urban Harvest offers
classes on starting a garden of your own (either at home or in your
community) and how to sell your items at the market.
Midtown Farmers’ Market
Started by pioneering chef Monica Pope in the parking lot of her
restaurant t’afia, off Travis, this market also takes place on —
you guessed it! — Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. till noon. While
small, the market is potent in its selection and conveniences. If
you’re lucky enough to live near the light rail, you can take it to the
Ensemble Theatre stop and get all your marketing done that morning,
then stop for breakfast at t’afia or Tacos a Go-Go afterwards.
The outdoor portion of Midtown Farmers’ Market offers the standard
array of produce, meat and eggs, in addition to the best knife
sharpener in town, who’ll sharpen all your kitchen knives for you while
you shop. The indoor portion plays host to ready-made food vendors like
the popular Nisha’s Quick ‘n’ Ezee Indian Food and Trentino Gelato. As
an added bonus, you can take a free cooking class from Pope herself
every Saturday morning at 9 a.m. at her Green Plum Cooking school.
Green Market at Discovery Green
Folks living downtown no longer have a reason not to buy fresh:
Urban park Discovery Green hosts its own farmers’ market on Sundays
from noon to 4 p.m. Created by Central City Co-op, it’s the newest and
smallest market in town but has great potential. Because the limited
amount of produce is available on a first-come, first-served basis, it
runs out quickly. However, smart shoppers can preorder and prepay
online at Central City Co-op’s Web site and pick up their orders on
Sunday. There’s also prepared foodstuffs like the pimiento cheese from
Words and Food. Don’t forget to take advantage of such fun services as
free bike repair and the nearby playground and fountains for the
kids.
On the Decks
Work on that tan (and a margarita) while relaxing on one or all of these sunny patios around town.
BY KATHARINE SHILCUTT
Backstreet Cafe (1103 S. Shepherd): The granddaddy of them
all, this sprawling, oak-shaded patio is widely hailed as one of the
best in town and with good reason: It’s just flat-out gorgeous.
The Black Labrador / Kraftsmen Baking (4100 Montrose): The
shared patio between these two popular spots meanders soothingly along
the shady, ivy-lined walls of an old church that now houses the
Montrose Public Library, two restaurants and a jazz club.
Cedar Creek (1034 W. 20th St.): Low on funds? Pretend you’re
in Austin at this Heights-area watering hole and save your gas money
for cold beers while you pitch horseshoes or sit by the fire pit.
Boheme (307 Fairview): This tiny jewel box of a patio is
tucked into a quiet, predominantly residential neighborhood in
Montrose. Enjoy the imported Zimbabwean sculptures and towering bamboo
planted in fat clumps while you sip homemade sangria.
Cafe Adobe (2111 Westheimer): Take in an oddly mesmerizing
view of the city from the Westheimer location’s rooftop. Get there
early enough and you can snag prime real estate in the cozy cabana.
Little Big’s (2703 Montrose): This brand-new patio on
Montrose still smells of freshly cut wood, which goes well with Little
Big’s freshly cut french fries and affordable wine and burgers. Some of
the best people watching in the city doesn’t hurt.
Coffee Groundz (2503 Bagby): This compact patio turns
sprawling on the weekends as people drag tables and chairs into the
drive-through area and it morphs into Ground Zero for Houston’s
technorati community.
Brasil (2604 Dunlavy): Opening up a beautiful second patio in
the back (which it shares with Domy Books) has allowed this cafe to
expand its fascinating menu and offer crowd-pleasers like free movie
nights and live music.
Baba Yega (2607 Grant): Not to be missed for the heavenly
Sunday brunch, this ever-growing patio features bright flowers,
bubbling fountains and sun-warmed bricks that encourage diners to relax
and enjoy the afternoon.
Cafe Benedicte (15455 Memorial): This unlikely outpost on the
west side of town overlooks a quiet, duck-filled lake and rolling,
verdant grounds. It’s best enjoyed with a bottle of wine between
friends.
Out of Africa (14019 Southwest Fwy., #204): One of several
South African restaurants in town, this Sugar Land hot spot offers a
soothing, watery view that will help combat the ultra-spicy food.
Summer Cocktails
Beat Houston’s notorious heat this summer with one of these refreshing drinks.
BY KATHARINE SHILCUTT
Pimm’s Cup
1½ ounces Pimm’s No. 1 Cup
½ ounce gin
¾ ounce freshly-squeezed lemon juice
½ ounce simple syrup
½ inch wide cucumber wheel (muddled)
Splash of soda
Muddle the cucumber in the bottom of a Collins glass. Add ice cubes
and remaining ingredients, then finish with a splash of soda. Garnish
with a lemon slice.
If you don’t have the ingredients on hand to make your own Pimm’s
Cup, head over to Anvil, where the bartenders will make a fresh one to
quench your thirst.
Mojito
1 teaspoon powdered sugar2 ounces freshly squeezed lime juice
2 ounces white rum2 ounces club soda4 mint leaves (muddled)
1 sprig of mint (garnish)
Gently muddle the mint leaves with the lime juice and sugar in a
Collins glass. Add crushed ice and remaining ingredients. Garnish with
a mint sprig.
Not in the muddling mood? Under the Volcano makes a mean, minty
mojito, and The Flat freezes them for an ultra-chilly treat.
Margarita
1½ ounces tequila
½ ounce triple sec
Dash freshly squeezed lime juice
3 ounces sour mix
Lime wedge
Mix tequila, triple sec, sour mix and juice in a cocktail shaker
with ice cubes. Strain into a margarita glass and garnish with a lime
wedge. Salted rim optional.
Whether on the rocks or frozen, no summer is complete without a
margarita. For a twist on the old standby, try The Grove’s spicy ginger
margarita or Beaver’s Mayahuel Fizz.
This article appears in May 21-27, 2009.