Splashy. That was the first word to come to mind entering the San Antonio Farmers’ Market at the Pearl Brewery. Originally built in 1883 on the East bank of the San Antonio River, the site has a colorful history:
July 4th, 1887 – “City Pearl” beer, named after its refreshing bubbles.
1899 – Otto Koehler becomes Brewery president.
1914 – Otto Koehler is murdered by former mistress Hedda Bergemeister.
January 16, 1920 – Prohibition begins. Pearl manufactures near-beer, soda water, dairy products and ice.
September 15, 1933, at 12:01 a.m. – Prohibition ends. Everybody gets drunk.
June 2001 – Facility ceases production of Pearl, Lone Star, Pabst. Hipsters everywhere shudder.
Fast forward to the new foodie complex with restaurants and other food related businesses. Glass, steel, old bricks and farmers setup in a side parking lot. I don’t get it. Is that the best place they could have put the farmers? The facility has a large, open-air structure, crushed gravel winding pathways with hundred year old buildings. I can understand the convenience of vendors setting up on asphalt, but it doesn’t do much for me the customer. I know what you are saying, “Hey Christian, you’re an idiot.” (And, you are probably right.) Austin has it’s share of parking lot farmers’ markets. But, do you also remember this past Spring, walking into Republic park for the fist time to get your veg on. Felt more appropriate, didn’t it? I think so.
That being said, Pearl market has a deep vendor list (CKC Farm cheese, Kitchen Pride mushrooms, Oak Hill Farms, Shape Ranch bison, et all), and is well attended by the public. Bottom line: any farmers’ market is a good farmers’ market.
Culinary Institute of America has just opened a campus at Pearl. The most revered cooking school in the country putting down stakes in San Antonio? How did this happen? Not that I’m bitching about it. (Everyone is probably asking the same question about Austin’s Formula One track.) It’s the CIA’s third location behind Hyde Park, NY and Napa, CA. Pretty good company to be in. A 30 week Certificate Program is offered to aspiring Chefs to learn the basics. Credits can be transferred to the CIA in Hyde Park, NY, where students may earn bachelors and associate degrees in culinary arts. They also offer “foodie” classes for the renegade home cook and win the prize for the coolest frying pan chandelier I have yet to encounter.
Pearl Farmers’ Market : Saturdays, 9:00am – 1:00pm (Rain or Shine)
Culinary Institute of America, San Antonio : Grand Opening Event October, 9th 2010
Truck Farmers’ Market (with all the flamingos at 360 and Bee Cave) has closed. The good news is that more markets and farm stands are opening every month. Green Gate Farm stand is open Friday noon – 6pm and Saturday 10am-2pm.
Check out new kids on the block Springdale Farm. Gets some veggies in air conditioned comfort Wednesday and Saturday 9am-1pm. See the Events Calendar for more updates.
It’s hailing tomatoes. Like something from the bible-like locusts, except tastier. Think of the possibilities: Tomato Sauce, Salads, Panzanella, Bloody Mary, Caprese, Salsa, Gazpacho, Bruschetta and BLT’s (bacon, locust and tomato sandwich). Take your pick. All the farmers’ markets around town are overflowing with them.
 Just to clear up any lingering confusion, Sunset Valley farmers market is still open. It’s just under new management. The city of Sunset Valley asked the Sustainable Food Center, the organization that manage the Triangle and Republic Park markets, to take over operations. Great move. I was not a fan of how it was run before. Suzanne Santos now manages all three of SFC’s markets and couldn’t be doing a better job.
Downtown: 4th and Guadalupe, Saturday 9am – 1pm
Triangle: 46th and Lamar, Wednesday 4 – 8pm
Sunset Valley: 3200 Jones Rd (Tony Burger Ctr) Saturday 9am – 1pm
 Need ‘matoes on Sunday? HOPE Farmers’ Market is open with their new Summer hours from 10am – 2pm. Their annual tomato festival is this weekend, June 27th. Free heirloom tomato samples, live music and BLT sandwiches from Dai Due.
HOPE Farmers’ Market: 5th and Waller St., Sunday 10am – 2pm
HOPE Tomato Festival June 27th (this Sunday).
Not too long ago, I was relaxing in a wheat field with Governor Rick Perry. He turned to me and said, “Christian, how can we get people to eat more tomatoes?” I said, “Ricky, that’s easy, give them a taste of the luscious fruit being grown at Springdale Farm.” With the early Summer light dancing across my face, he had to believe me.
If you were fortunate enough to snag a BLT from Jesse, Tamara and the Dai Due crew at last week’s SFC Farmers’ Market at Republic Square, you know what I am taking about. Redder than red with the right amount of acidity. Just like Texas politics.
Springdale Farm : 755 Springdale Road Austin, Texas : (512) 386-8899
Larry and Lee Ann Kocurek keep cranking it out. Texas unpasteurized gulf crab blended with fresh herbs, lemon juice, cayenne, capers, nutmeg and loads of butter. I would kill someone to get some more of this. But, I am guessing they don’t have this on the menu at any of our local detention centers. I’m torn. Boutique food crimes are all the rage right now. I’m just doing what society tells me. I’m the victim. A victim covered in fresh herbs and butter.
Kocurek Family Charuterie are at the local SFC Farmers Markets
If you can’t make it to the vegetables, they are going to bring the vegetables to you. Sustainable Food Center has just opened neighborhood annexes of their Farmers’ Market. All SFC Neighborhood Farm Markets accept WIC-FMNP, Lone Star SNAP (food stamp) benefits, cash and debit cards. These markets are only open from late May through late July.
Northeast WIC Clinic (In partnership with H-E-B) : Monday 8am – 11 am
7112 Ed Bluestein Austin, TX (Manor and 183)
St. John’s Community Center (Virginia Brown Recreation Center) : Monday 12 – 2 pm
7500 Blessing Ave. Austin, TX 78752
Rosewood-Zaragosa Neighborhood Center : Wednesday 11 am – 1 pm
2800 Webberville Rd Austin, TX 78702
Montopolis Recreation Center : Wednesday 11 am – 1 pm
1200 Montopolis Dr. Austin, TX 78741
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