Tomorrow is the Grand Opening of Homestead Market which will be open Monday-Saturday from 10am to 6pm. It might not be a Whole Foods, but it promises to be a fun alternative!
Homestead Market will carry locally grown/sourced milk, eggs, flour, grass-fed beef, ice cream, poultry products, tea, baked goods, and produce. Also available are organic and all-natural brands such as Organic Valley, Fresh Point, Shelton's, Lundberg, Cascadian Farms, Alden's, Bob's Red Mill, and Wheat Montana.
For your more immediate food needs, Pat & Joe's Red Wagon Bar-B-Que will be stationed in the Market parking lot tomrorow. I chatted with Joe while he smoked chicken and brisket, and he let me know that Red Wagon will have a fridge inside the Market with chopped brisket (the yummy burnt ends), smoked chicken, and my personal favorite: smoked salmon. Joe assured me that all his meat is raised humanely and "has never been touched" by hormones and antibiotics. Red Wagon salmon is caught using the reef-net method, which is not only more humane but produces better flavor than industrially fished salmon.
Grab some smoked salmon and chopped brisket and fresh bread at Homestead Market, pop across the parking lot to the Brazos Valley Cheese Shop for award winning brie and horseradish pecan cheddar, and you've got yourself one heck of a party platter!
Pat & Joe's Red Wagon Bar-B-Que is open Saturdays from 11am-4pm, or until they run out of food. Their usual spot is just off Halbert Lane, past Homestead Market and before Homestead Cafe. I had some of their brisket at the Homestead Fair and it was very tasty.
Also pop over to the Waco Downtown Farmers' Market tomorrow to get the last of the season's tomatoes, squash, peppers, and sweet potatoes. I personally will be picking up a tray of Rancho Martinex Tamales to freeze and eat over the holidays. In addition to food, there will be craft vendors at the Farmers' Market tomorrow and next Saturday the 20th. Get those last minute gifts and support local artisans!
That's all for now, folks. Get out there and eat something good.
