Construction of HEB’s new super-duper-market on W. Alabama at Dunlavy has really goosed the neighborhood Fiesta, located just across the street. The last few shopping trips to Fiesta – long beloved for its surprisingly good wine department, despite the store’s overall shabbiness – have revealed one surprise after another. Suddenly the international foods section is expanded, the seafood counter is freshened up and every aisle is getting a thorough clean-up and reorganization with many, many new products. (Sheesh, we even found pricy imported oil-packed tuna in a glass jar.) Don’t worry, the golden-oldies soundtrack remains the same.
The City Hall Farmer’s Market is taking a summer break for July and August and will resume September 7 for the fall season. The season finale is tomorrow (Wednesday, June 29) 11 am to 2 pm around the City Hall reflecting pool at 901 Bagby. There will even be baby goats, so bring the kids. See you there!
We dropped in at Bacchus Cafe & Wine Bar (2502 Dunlavy north of Westheimer) for lunch recently and got to be guinea pigs for Marc Borel’s new menu. Yes, Borel is a wine guy, but he’s been handed responsibility for the food (pretty lame up until now), too. Look for meat and Houston DairyMaids cheese plates, humus and tzatziki, pizza, stuffed grape leaves and sandwiches built on bread supplied by Foody’s Gourmet & Bakery, the new custom bakery and retail spot operated by the Le Mistral folks out on the West side. Feel like a chocolate croissant? You’ll find Foody’s pastries here, too, as early as 9:30 am. Among the sandwiches, we recommend the Penedes panini, made with chorizo, cheese and smashed grapes. Sounds weird, tastes great.
We hear that chef Michael Kramer (formerly at Voice/Hotel Icon and The Tasting Room) is about to open a restaurant in The Village near D’Amico’s. It may be open as soon as July in the now-defunct Mission Burrito on Morningside … Chef Philippe Gaston (formerly at Kata Robata) is now at Haven with chef Randy Evans. Carlos Ballon (former bartender at Mockingbird Bistro) has been spotted shaking drinks at Anvil Bar & Refuge.