People have asked me where I buy some of my ingredients, so I’ve started compiling a list. I’m still new to the city, so it is by no means complete. Please contact me if you have any suggestions.
Grocery Stores
| Store |
Favorite Products |
| Central Market |
Perhaps the best produce section in town. Reliable source of obscure fruits and vegetables like pimientos del padrón and fresh pinto beans.
|
| Fiesta |
Mexican herbs and greens like epazote and hoja santa. All types of offal of dubious origin. Pink salt for making bacon and a selection of ethnic foods from around the world, not just Mexico. |
| H-E-B |
Great value for pantry staples. During shrimp season I buy Texas shrimp and fresh flour or corn tortillas. They also carry a large choice of Ball canning supplies. |
| Whole Foods |
My preferred source for clams, mussels, oysters, and flash frozen wild Alaskan salmon fillets. The meat counter has sausage casings and difficult to find cuts like flanken beef short ribs and boneless, skinless chicken thighs for sausage making. The cheese counter carries some rare Hervé Mons cheeses. This Whole Foods flagship store also has a massive bulk section with lots of obscure legumes and grains. |
| Wheatsville Co-op |
Food shopping at Wheatsville is always a pleasure. Great selection of seasonal, local fruits and vegetables including produce from Johnson Backyard Garden, Hairston Creek Farm, and others. I go here to buy flank and skirt steak from Windy Bar Ranch, pork (particularly slab belly) from Richardson Farm, bison from Thunder Heart, olive oil from Texas Olive Ranch, unhomogenized milk and cream from Texas Daily Harvest, organic Texas pecans, Texas raised catfish, local eggs, and fresh black-eyed peas. |
Farmers
| Farm |
Favorite Products |
Where to Find Them |
| Johnson Backyard Garden |
Large variety of fruits and vegetables depending on the season |
Barton Creek Farmers Market, Cedar Park Farms 2 Market, SFC Downtown, SFC Sunset Valley, SFC The Triangle, Wheatsville Co-op |
| Smith & Smith Farms |
Different lamb cuts like chops, ground lamb, shank, and liver. They once generously gave me lamb “oysters” to try. They also have whole chickens, (often fresh), chicken livers, and eggs. |
Barton Creek Farmers Market, Cedar Park Farms 2 Market, SFC Downtown, SFC Sunset Valley, SFC the Triangle, |
| Richardson Farm |
Different beef and pork cuts like brisket, rib eyes, and pork belly. You can place orders for specialty items like pig trotters, heads, or jowls. |
Barton Creek Farmers Market, SFC Sunset Valley, SFC The Triangle, Wheatsville Co-op |
| Hairston Creek Farm |
Seasonal, organic produce. |
Cedar Park Farms 2 Market, SFC Sunset Valley, Wheatsville Co-op |
| Winters Family Beef |
Beef and goat. I particular like their tongue and short ribs. |
Cedar Park Farms 2 Market |
