Cold Spring Farms CSA Fall Festival and Market
Saturday October 15, 2011
11AM – 4PM
3309 W. 4th Street
Fort Worth, 76107

Join Cold Spring Farms CSA this Saturday for a celebration of wonderful fall produce.

CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture and is a great way to get local produce by partnering with area farmers. Our family has been a member of Cold Spring Farms for several seasons and we love the high quality, organic produce we receive each week. I also enjoy knowing my farmer, in this case, the lovely and hardworking Beverly Thomas. We never quite know what we will get each week but that is part of the adventure and fun of being in a CSA.

If you’d like to see what a CSA is all about and pick up a few other goodies make sure and stop by the Fall Festival this Saturday. Check out the delicious sweet treats from Stir Crazy Baked Goods. There will also be plenty of pumpkins, cooking demos, and face painting. Bring the kiddos and the pets for family and pet friendly fun. The event benefits REAL School Gardens in the DFW area. Also donations of canned goods and blankets are requested for the benefit of the Tarrant Area Food Bank.

Eat Local Dinner
Brownstone
Thursday July 21, 2011
4PM – 10PM
840 Currie Street

It’s Eat Local Week in Fort Worth. To celebrate Cowtown Farmer’s Market has joined Brownstone Restaurant in offering a special dinner that highlights local ingredients from local food artisans, farmers, ranchers, brewers, and winemakers. The Eat Local menu at Brownstone features 4 courses and costs $45 with an additional $15 for beverage pairing. Further details can be found on the Facebook Event Page. RSVP 817.332.1555

An exciting food event hits Fort Worth on Sunday December 5th. Chefs for Farmers brings it’s farm-to-table fund raising dinner to Fort Worth. This event brings together some of Fort Worth’s best chefs to showcase local ingredients from area farms ( Scott Farms, Tassione Farms, Dominion Farms and Burgundy Pasture Beef).

Join Jon Bonnell of Bonnell’s, Blaine Staniford of Grace, Dena Peterson of Café Modern, Michael Morabito of Colonial Country Club, Dan Landsberg of Tillman’s, Gwin Grimes of Artisan Baking Company, Zach Townsend of Pure Chocolate Desserts, and Grace’s Sommelier Ryan Tedder as they present 6 courses with wine pairings. As if all that wasn’t enough cocktails and Il Canne Rosso pizza will be served starting at 3pm before the dinner AND after the dinner you can join rancher and local politician Jim Lane at J Bar L Ranch for a bonfire and marshmallow roast under the stars. That’s a lot of bang for your $150 bucks if you ask me because the event benefits Meals on Wheels as well.

“Chefs were chosen not only for their culinary skill, but for their commitment to support local farmers by sourcing from nearby Texas resources,” says Matt McCallister, Founder of Chefs for Farmers.

The event takes place at Times Ten Cellars in Fort Worth. Take advantage of the opportunity to go if you value local food or if you just want an intimate evening with the food stars of Fort Worth.

Details:
Chefs for Farmer’s Farm to Table Dinner
at Times Ten Cellars – 1100 Foch Street Fort Worth 76107
Sunday December 5, 2010
$150 (taxes and gratuity included)
Hors D’ouvres & Cockails at 3PM, 6 Course Dinner Follows
Bonfire After Party at J Bar L Ranch (guests are asked to bring a blanket to be donated to Meals on Wheels)
Facebook Page

If you are looking to stock up on goodies for your Fourth of July celebrations check out the 2 Farmer’s markets happening on Saturday morning: The Cowtown and The New Public Market.

Every Saturday you will find plenty of fresh produce at The Cowtown Farmer’s Market from 8AM – Noon. Last Saturday there were plenty of delicious peaches available. Along with that I saw leeks, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, blueberries, plums, apricots, and blackberries. This is just a sampling of the fresh produce available, check out The Cowtown Farmer’s Market website for a full list of available produce.

In addition you’ll find jarred preserves and salsas, Coffee and Tea from Aduro Bean and Leaf, bread from Artisan Baking Company, Cheese from Latte Da Dairy, soaps and bath products, cut flowers, tamales, and even dog treats.

The New Public Market takes place once a month. It’s current location is at 4600 Dexter Avenue from 8am until sold out. On my last visit the produce selection was not as large as what you’ll find at The Cowtown Farmer’s Market but there were plenty of other great products. Take a look at their vendor list for full details on the products available.

The Honeybee Guild has a variety of products available and they even have live honeybees for you to observe. Look for the guy in the bee suit and he’ll answer just about any question you’ve ever had had about honey and bees.

Brazos Valley Cheese had a booth at the New Public Market and we were won over by the unique flavors of the Rosemary Garlic Jack and the Gouda. They give out samples so you can see if you like the flavors before you buy.

Check out the beautiful soaps from Soap Addict. I love my oatmeal soap I got from them last month – it has a nice exfoliating effect. They also have a bargain bag filled with all their leftover odds and ends – a great way to save a few bucks.

This next go round I’ll definitely be picking up some olive oil from the Texas Olive Ranch.

Cowtown Farmer’s Market
Saturday 8AM – Noon and also Wednesday 8AM – Noon
3821 Southwest Blvd. (parking lot of Edelweiss Restaurant)
Fort Worth 76116
Fresh Line: 817.462.1426
Twitter: cowtownfm

The New Public Market
First Market day – Saturday May 15th
8 am until sold out (or 4 pm)
Into the Garden parking lot
4600 Dexter Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas
(near the corner of Camp Bowie and Hulen)

Kick off the Fourth of July Weekend with First Friday at The Modern from 5Pm – 8PM.  Enjoy the specialty cocktail, The Firefly, and music from The Tom Reynolds Trio.  This is a fun event and a casual way to enjoy the exhibits at The Modern.  Cafe Modern is also open for dinner and reservations are no longer necessary.  Chef Dena Peterson features seasonal and local ingredients in many of her featured dishes.

Magnolia at The Modern- Mic Macs
Friday 6 and 8 pm, Saturday 5 pm, Sunday NO SCREENING
Tickets are $8.50, $6.50 for Modern members. Advance sales begin two hours prior to the show.
I saw a preview for Mic Macs last weekend and it looks highly entertaining. The film is from the same director who brought us Amelie (one of my all time favorite movies) and it looks to have the same quirky and endearing elements. But then again I’m no film critic, here’s what The Modern has to say about the film:

A David-and-Goliath tale, Micmacs is the story of a man and his friends who come up with an intricate plan to destroy two big weapons manufacturers.
R, for some sexuality and brief violence; 105 minutes

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
3200 Darnell Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76107
817.738.9215

The temperatures were high and the bustlines were low at the charity Grand Opening Event at Brownstone this past Saturday.  The cocktail event sponsored by Fort Worth Magazine benefited the Halo Society and gave Fort Worth their first peek at Brownstone.  This new restaurant in the W7 development will have Season 3 Top Chef Fan Favorite, Chef Casey Thompson, running the kitchen.

With few details trickling out since the announcement that Top Chef runner-up Casey Thompson would be in charge of the kitchen it was exciting to take a look at the space and taste some samples firsthand.

My first peek at Brownstone was literally that, a wall of windows lines the kitchen and you can see the goings-ons of the kitchen right from the sidewalk.  I was taken aback when I saw Chef Casey herself scurrying around in the kitchen.

Inside the atmosphere seemed light and airy with a few traditional touches.  The bar area was the most populated spot of the evening and unfortunately by the time we arrived they had run out their signature cocktails.  Nevertheless, with wine in hand we set out to get a few samples.

Samples seemed to run out as quickly as they came out of the kitchen.  I heard rumors of empanadas but I never saw or tasted one.  We did manage to try a few things.  We enjoyed our first sample of  tender pork on top of peppers.  Some of the waitstaff didn’t seem too familiar with the items but this is pretty typical during the launch of a restaurant.  We managed to snag a blueberry cheesecake shooter that was also quite tasty.

The rest of the evening all that seemed to be passed around were fried chicken livers.  I have to confess I’ve never had chicken livers but fried and with the spicy dipping sauce they were alright.

I look forward to enjoying the full dining experience at Brownstone soon which promises Southern inspired cuisine.  Brownstone’s original concept unique to Fort Worth make it a refreshing stand out in the midst of new restaurants imported from Dallas.  Chef Casey joins the ranks of Ellerbe’s, Cafe Modern, Bonnell’s, and Tillman’s in sourcing local and regional ingredients to include in her dishes.  She earns extra points in my book for supporting The Cowtown Farmer’s market.  According to Chef Casey’s blog, Brownstone is now open, other reports say June 18th (best to call first).

Brownstone
840 Currie Street
Fort Worth
817.332.1555
Tuesday – Sunday from 5PM

Looks like Fort Worth is getting another Farmer’s Market in the area. The new market is in addition to the long running Cowtown Farmer’s Market that operates every Saturday from 8AM – Noon in the Weatherford traffic circle. This information is from John David Bartlett:

The New Public Market
First Market day – Saturday May 15th
9 am until sold out (or 4 pm)

Into the Garden
4600 Dexter Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas
(near the corner of Camp Bowie and Hulen)

Local ~ Fresh ~ Sustainable
Products available include:
Texas olive oils, balsamic vinegars, breads, pastries, pastas, pickles, relishes, local honey, spring produce, stone ground cornmeal, gingerbread mix, artisan cheeses, free range beef, coffee, tea, spices, and much, much more.

This Spring Festival will kick off the first season for the New Public Market. We have sought out growers and producers from around North Texas who have established themselves as purveyors of high quality foods produced locally in a sustainable manner. Certified Good Food.

The featured farm for the first Market Day will be Homestead Heritage Farm from Elm Mott, Texas. They grow and produce all of their products on the farm, using traditional farming methods. There is a gristmill that will offer stone ground cornmeal, gingerbread mix and sweet potato pancake mix among many other products. Artisan cheeses are made on the farm from the milk of their Jersey cows. They offer a horseradish pecan havarti and a blueberry cheddar.

http://www.homesteadheritage.com/?first=1
http://www.brazosvalleycheese.com/

After this first event, NPM will hold Market Days at Into the Garden on the first Saturday of each month from June through October. And then, on October 16th, a Fall Harvest Festival, the last Market Day of the season.

The New Public Market is a values driven, community owned business dedicated to providing high quality, affordable local food products in a neighborhood market setting. We are working on a new model for the production and distribution of local foods, a second Market day location in the historic southside area, as well as a bricks and mortar neighborhood market on Magnolia. The ultimate goal is the renovation of the Fort Worth Public Market Building back into a center for local foods.

For more information on the Market Days or the New Public Market contact:
Johndavid Bartlett ~ singinghearts@hotmail.com

Today is Earth Day and most of us have become educated on reusable grocery bags, recycling, etc. However, there’s more ways we can make a difference and that’s in the choices that we make 3 times a day, when it comes time to feeding ourselves and our families.

The food we eat and where it comes from has a huge impact on the environment. Recent films like King Corn, Food Inc., and The Cove highlight how a few large companies dominate the food production in this country. Their practices are not humane nor mindful of the environment.

Here in Fort Worth we do have some alternatives and I’ll highlight a few ways to eat a little greener. It’s better for the Earth and much better for your body and health.

Eat Local
Fort Worth is quite fortunate to have The Cowtown Farmer’s Market every Saturday from 8am-Noon. Farmers travel no more than 150 miles to deliver just picked fresh fruits and vegetables-you can’t say the same for the produce at your local grocery store. If you have never been-spring and summer brings quite a bounty-and nothing beats fresh tomatoes. They are located in west Fort Worth at the junction of 183, 377, and 80W.

Join a CSA
Community Supported Agriculture allows you to buy a share in a local farm and you receive fresh locally grown produce weekly. Cold Springs Farm in Weatherford is one place to contact if you’re interested in joining a CSA.

Plant a Garden
If you have the space, it doesn’t get any more local than your backyard. This is also a great family activity and a good way to teach children about food and where it comes from. They will become fascinated with the progress from seed to food. Something as simple as a tomato plant or a small herb garden are great places to start. We’ve used the Square Foot Gardening method in the past and with good results.

Support your Local Food Artisans
Artisan Baking Company uses fresh, seasonal, and local ingredients in their products-not to mention everything is delicious. Owner Gwin Grimes has sourced local milk, eggs, vegetables, and herbs and with that crafts her baked goods. Do yourself a favor and pay her a visit at the Farmer’s Market or her store on White Settlement Road (in an old converted Dairy Queen).

Aduro Bean and Leaf brings Fort Worth coffee that is fresh, local, and fair. 90-95% of their beans are fair trade/organic so you can feel good about your daily cuppa joe. With beans roasted fresh to order, you’re also getting a damn fine cup of coffee! If you skip Starbucks and brew your coffee at home not only will you save money but you will also keep your money local.

Latte Da Dairy produces award winning artisinal goat cheese locally and you can find it at The Farmer’s Market or Central Market. Restaurants in Fort Worth and Dallas also feature this award winning cheese. In Fort Worth you can find Latte Da Dairy’s cheese on plates at Ellerbe’s, Cafe Modern, and Bonnell’s.

Meatless Mondays
If you’ve gone to the Farmer’s Market take advantage of all your fresh produce and skip the meat. You can make curries, soups, veggie pizzas, stir fries, salads, veggie burritos or veggie fajitas, or stir vegetables into your favorite pasta with some olive oil and parmesan. Movies like Food Inc. will really make you question whether you want meat that comes factory farms. I understand most people don’t want to give up meat entirely, one day a week can have a significant impact on the health of the planet as well as your own.

Be a loud mouthed consumer and demand change
If you’re totally disgusted by what you see happening in the production of your food, voice your opinion and let companies know that you would like a change.

When you go to Fort Worth restaurants ask if any of the ingredients are local. Ask if they support our local food artisans by serving Aduro Coffee or use Artisan Baking Company bread instead of flying in bread from La Brea bakery in Los Angeles. Ask if they are using grass fed beef, where the lamb come from, where the fish comes from, etc. If enough customers demand this then maybe we can change Fort Worth’s food culture to one that supports the local economy and our local farmers. Some restaurants do currently use local ingredients but they are fine dining. Local food on our plates shouldn’t be a luxury, it should be accessible to as many as possible.

As part of my Magnolia Avenue Restaurant Series, I thought I’d start with the newest restaurant to grace Magnolia Avenue in Fort Worth – Ellerbe Fine Foods.

Ellerbe Fine Foods

The Vibe
This former filling station on Magnolia Avenue has been transformed into an airy, casually urban space with rustic touches.  The patio feels like a relaxing front porch that invites you to stay with colorful chairs and large fans to keep you cool on warm evenings.  The interior dining space evokes simple sophistication with white tablecloths and clean lines.

The Food
Seasonal ingredients from local and regional producers find their place on the menu at Ellerbe Fine Foods.  Ellerbe’s fills the Fine Dining niche on Magnolia so the prices are higher compared to the other restaurants on this street but completely worth it.  With write-ups in Gourmet, high praise from the Fort Worth Star Telegram, and 4 1/2 stars from the Dallas Morning News – Ellerbe’s deserves a visit.

The thoughtfully planned out menu highlights the best qualities of these ingredients.  Deborah’s Farmstead Chevre, produced in Fort Worth, is a delicious standout in a number of into menu. The Summer Melon and Deborah’s Farmstead Chevre featured this beautiful artisanal cheese.  The constantly changing menu accommodates available produce and ingredients.

The Service
The staff will knowledgeably explain all the ingredients and their origins.  Even in the midst of a busy dinner service the waiters maintain their composure and ensure that you are well taken care of.  You will appreciate thoughtful attention to small details such as a black napkin for patrons wearing dark colors to avoid leaving lint.

Eat This
The Homegrown Tomato Salad lives up to the name with luscious Carter Farm’s tomato wedges drizzled in rich buttermilk dressing and accompanied by a creamy Brazos Valley Blue Cheese and crunchy Hush Puppy croutons.

Brie Crostini and Bella Vista Truffle Oil make the Roasted Cauliflower Soup positively luxurious.

The Curried Lamb Chops were given just a tease of curry, which keeps the rich lamb flavor dominant.

Seasonal ingredients shine in deserts such as a Texas Peach and Prosecco Semifreddo.

If you’re looking for a down home, sticky sweet desert the Maw Maw Bread pudding is the way to go.

Desert paired with a pot of French Press coffee completes the upscale, Southern dining experience.

Ellerbe Fine Foods
1501 W. Magnolia Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76104
817.926.3663

Friday October 9 and Saturday October 10

Musicarte
10AM – 11PM Free

This Festival takes place in Sundance Square and celebrates Latin culture through its music, dance, art, and food. Performance schedules can be found on the website.The Mercado de las Americas features artists from around the world, so visit the booths of this juried fine arts and crafts exhibition.

The Pueblo de las America’s promises to be a gastronomical feast featuring food from Ocho Rios Jamaican and Caribean Grill, embargo, Qdoba Grill, and Cantina Laredo Mexican Grill. The menus include jerk seasoned meats, empanadas, carnitas, tacos al pastor, and tortas cubanas. Beer will also be available to accompany the festival food. Bring the kids and stop by the Fiesta Kids Zone for arts, crafts, and games. Also join local artist Jo Dufo in painting a collaborative mural.

Friday October 9 and Saturday October 10

Bistro Lightcatcher Restaurant Round-up
Bistro Lightcatcher Winery showcases Texas ingredients to pair with their Texan wine made on site with Texas grapes. The menu features Texas ingredients such as Texas 1015 onions, gulf shrimp and oysters, check out the website for all the details. Restaurant Round-up is sponsored by the Texas Department of Agriculture and part of the proceeds of this event benefit The Tarrant Area Food Bank. 6925 Confederate Park Rd/FM 1886
Fort Worth, Texas 76108

Friday October 9, Saturday October 10, and Sunday October 11

Mid-Cities Greek Festival
11AM – 10PM, 11AM – 4PM Sunday
Opa! Fall means it’s time for the annual Mid-Cities Greek Festival. The pastoral grounds of St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Euless make the perfect backdrop for enjoying delicious Greek food and cultural performances.

Check out the website for all the menu details. I’m craving the comforting goodness of Pastitsio and Moussaka but spanokopita, gyros and other Greek favorites are on the menu as well. The food is plentiful and you will NOT leave hungry. 303 Cullum Drive, Euless TX.