Went home to visit last weekend and make it out to the shore, definitely enjoyed the view
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Republican or Conservative Republican
Pretty much those seem to be the choices here.
Full disclosure: I did see one sign for a democrat at a polling station and one sign for a democrat in Bishop Arts
Full disclosure: I did see one sign for a democrat at a polling station and one sign for a democrat in Bishop Arts
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
A Taste of two Cities
Friday, May 18, 2012
Dallas Farmers Market
I took my first trip to the Dallas Farmers Market (http://www.dallasfarmersmarket.org) on
Saturday.
The
Market consists of four large “sheds,” one of which is enclosed, along with an
adjoining floral area. At the open sheds, farmers and produce vendors sell
everything from fruits and vegetables to eggs and meat. At first, it reminded me of a place
Anthony Bourdain might go to in a developing country on “No Reservations.”
There was a crowd, cars attempting to maneuver through, and one vendor barking about
out how he had the sweetest strawberries while a competitor offered a taste of
her tomatoes.
It was
quite different than a suburban farmers market you might find in the middle of
a planned development with balloon animals and face painting. After
thinking about it, It only made sense that a city surrounded by agriculture
would have real farmers trying to make a living rather than just growing plants
to be green or cool.
After
taking in the physical structures and the lay of the land, what really struck
me were the colors. From the bright reds of the strawberries and tomatoes
to the deep greens of the cucumbers and zucchinis, the colors almost made me
want to be a vegetarian (until, of course, I talked to the cattle rancher
selling his grass-fed beef and I made it inside to the Old World Sausage
Company, but I’ll get to those later).
It was
nice being able to talk to the actual people who grow the food I’m about to buy
and know where my food is coming from. One shed is full of produce vendors
who get their food from wherever and I had little interest in spending much
time there. If I were going to buy pre-packaged produce from California,
I’d go to Tom Thumb and get a rotisserie and two-for-one toilet paper to go
along with it.
After
walking some more, I decided on some great tomatoes and peaches from “Betty’s Tomatoes”
and some tart, green plums. I
also decided on a steak from Northstar Ranch (http://www.northstarranch.net/3246.html). They raise strictly
grass-fed beef with no hormones or antibiotics. Along with the farmer’s market,
Northstar Ranch also sells its meat at a supermarket in Denton. I really enjoyed talking to the
ranch’s owner; he even gave me some tips on grilling the steak: add a little
bit of lemon pepper and garlic and only add salt after the meat is cooked since
it pulls moisture. The steak certainly did not disappoint the next day! It was
very tender, and because the meat itself had a lot of flavor, a little bit of
seasoning was more than enough. (This beats anything at Tom Thumb!).
After
exploring the outdoor sheds, I made my way inside. There were a few vendors selling
crafts in addition to different kinds of food, including craft cheese, honey,
and meat. There were also a few places to eat.
Not
that I had room for it, but I also got a piece of cheesecake. The cheesecake was very creamy and
rich without being heavy.
Here's an interview with the owner Al Cappua
Here's an interview with the owner Al Cappua
I was a
bit disappointed by the options inside; half of the space was empty. I feel like there is a whole lot of
potential with that space. Apparently, the Dallas Farmers Market has been
struggling financially and the city has been considering different options with
what to do with it. I have
also been to the Deep Ellum Market and the Urban Bazaar in the Bishop Arts
District, and while both had a better variety of vendors, neither could compare
with the Dallas Farmer’s Market’s produce. So I hope the Market can continue to
grow because, although I enjoy pre-packaged salami and cheese Danishes filled
with who knows what as much as the next guy, I also really like being able to
buy food straight from those who actually grow it.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Urban Bazaar in the Bishop Arts District
I spent last Saturday at the Urban Bazaar in the
Bishop Arts District (http://bishopartsdistrict.weebly.com) of Dallas. The thing I liked about the
neighborhood is that it seemed like a walkable urban community with plenty of
small businesses as opposed to the sprawl and strip malls full of big box
stores and fast food chains that seem to dominate the landscape around Dallas. We
were able to find parking within a few blocks and headed over. The main area
covers around four blocks, with some other shops scattered around. The
neighborhood is full of independent businesses, including a soda shop, chocolate
shop, and a few boutiques along with several restaurants.
One of my favorites was M'Antiques: It was full of
old posters, prints, etc -- pretty much any knickknack you could imagine from
the 1920's to today. The bazaar itself consisted of many types of vendors
ranging from tarot card reader to crafts to custom shirts. Of course, I tried
the soda shop (got a Fanta), and then went to Eno's Pizza Tavern (http://www.enospizza.com).
Along with pizza, Eno's serves pasta, sandwiches, etc. The pizza was
quite good. The crust was thin, but not too crispy. They also serve a
variety of microbrews, including the East Coast's own Dogfish Head! Then
I headed over to Dude Sweet Chocolate (http://www.dudesweetchocolate.com), a
chocolate shop. As soon as we walked in, we were introduced to the store. They make
all of their chocolate on site, and we were encouraged to sample as much as we
wanted. If you want a Hershey’s bar or a Kit Kat, there is probably a
7-11 or CVS near by. If you want a chocolate bar with Hawaiian chocolate made with
cane sugar and honey or chocolate with sea salt and hazelnuts, this is your
place. After a few tasty samples, we left with a chocolate bar (WHAT KIND?) and
a box. As we left, a chocolate tour came in (how do I sign up for that!!).
My visit to Bishop Arts was a breath of fresh air
from the Wal-Marts, Chipotles, and gated communities of the world. I
worry that with a neighborhood like this, they could be a victim of their own
success and the little cafĂ©’s and burger joints will be forced out by Starbucks
and In-N-Out Burger; or struggle with
$6 dollar chocolate bars and $4 soda, I hope the businesses can make it.
I, for one, am happy to spend a few extra support them!
(Sorry no pics)
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