You’ve heard us shout it from the rooftops. You’ve read it time and again. But we’re gonna say it once more.
Buy local! Support Houston! Let’s all work together!
And what better way to do it than to take advantage of the wonderful produce grown right in our backyard? Some of Houston’s most down-to-earth restaurants have called up their favorite farmers and plowed their gardens to create perfectly seasonal menus. So take a few cues from these guys, try their tasty, timely treats – and maybe try a few fall flavors at your own home!
We found this list of seasonal vegetables and scoured menus to find the places where we could taste the freshest dishes. Some of the trendiest flora around includes arugula, beets, brussell sprouts, sweet corn and peppers of all kinds – just to name a few. Keep your eyes peeled as you explore in the coming months.
Shade – This Heights establishment prides itself on its seasonal menu, and when we investigated, we weren’t disappointed. Here are some of the notable items with seasonal ingredients in BOLD.
-Baked eggplant and four cheese involtini with spinach, pine nuts and tomato
-Vegetable plate with Roma Tomato Cucumber Salad, Arugula, Root Vegetable Straw, Corn Maque Choux, and Chicken Fried Asparagus & Zucchini
Haven – Known for its dynamic menu featuring all local, all seasonal items, we found no shortage of fresh fare.
-Sweet corn, queso fresco, crema fresca, chili
-Summer squash, quinoa, shelling peas, mire poix, butternut squash, kale, micro basil
-Peanut crusted soft-shell crab, eggplant, okra, onion, squash, nuoc mam
Brennan’s – One of the most iconic restaurants in Houston, Brennan’s proves that even the most decadent dishes can benefit from local, seasonal produce. With a menu that changes constantly, they’ve been supporting our Houston farmers for more than 40 years.
-Veal Chop Tchoupitoulas with herb roasted sweet potatoes, caramelized shallots, Swiss chard and oyster mushrooms with honey green peppercorn glaze
-Jumbo lump crabcake with sweet corn and champagne cream, fire roasted pepper oil andWoodduck farm greens
Mark’s – This restaurant exemplifies freshness, offering its guest a menu that actually changes throughout the day depending on availability. And as a long-time staple on Houston’s dining scene, Mark’s truly understands the importance of the local produce suppliers.
-Roasted corn chowder with smoked apple wood bacon, potatoes and thyme
-Prime sirloin of beef and chicken fried bacon with roasted potatoes, mushrooms, slow roasted pepperswith aged balsamic vinegar and a “1658” steak sauce
How will you use this season’s batch of fresh produce? With all of these delicious options, you don’t have to try very hard. Let us know if you have a special recipe or favorite menu item using the produce produced by our local farmers. Leave your advice in the comments below!
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