Learn to Love Food Like the French

The French love their food and so do the folks at Food Roots.  Founders Mark Haley and Mary Kimbrough promote Texas wine and food experiences.  My very favorite foodie, Nicole Bullock, invited me to join her on a Saturday Food Roots bus tour of area organic farms where the temperature was Texas hot but the experience was way cool.

Our first stop was the JuHa Ranch in Barry, Texas.  Harry Butaud was an oil field worker in a former life.  Nine years ago he left the Louisiana oil fields and bought a ranch in Texas.  Harry indicated that he’d had some agricultural experience in his early life, but I got the impression his ranching expertise was almost entirely self-taught.  I bought some butterfly pork chops from one of Harry’s Berkshire hogs.  He claims the Berkshires produce a much better taste than the usual supermarket variety of pork.  You can find JuHa Ranch at the Dallas Farmers Market on Saturdays.  And BTW, despite the remarkable similarity in appearance, Harry is not related to Willie Nelson.

We had lunch at the Brown Street Café in Ennis, Texas.  The same people who do Kolache Depot on I-45 have taken their talent to downtown Ennis and opened a charming eatery.  I had the veggie sandwich on nutty brown bread with Muenster cheese, sprouts, mushrooms and creamy avocado.  Yum!  Ennis is a Czech community and the little downtown is alive and vibrant.  It is definitely worth a weekend outing.

After lunch, we headed for nearby Oak Grove Farm.  Tommy and Kristi Copeland have day jobs, but their passion is organic farming.  I bought plump Roma tomatoes and juicy blackberries.  They used to sell at the Dallas Farmers Market (and hope to again in the future) but for now, most of their produce is going to Dallas chefs.

Joining us the Copelands’ farm was Benjamin Calais who is—of all things--from Calais, the French city that is closest (geographically) to England.  On a clear day in Calais, you can see the white cliffs of Dover.  Benjamin worked in the IT industry and was transferred to Plano from France.  He married a Texas girl and left IT to become a wine producer and importer.  He uses authentic French techniques to produce his wines.  Benjamin’s Calais Winery is in Deep Ellum where you are welcome to BYOF (bring your own food).

Our final stop was a farm near Orvilla, Texas, where I bought a mason jar of honey for $8.50.  Cost is the ugly side of organic farming.  For 99% of the world’s population, organically produced food is just not an option.  I'm going to drop this topic like a hot potato because I can feel my frivolity fading.  World hunger is an important topic; in fact, one I’m easily drawn into—but it is not for this space.

For an evening of fun--and frivolity, of course—Nicole and I plan to attend the nationwide opening of Julie and Julia (Meryl Streep plays Julia Child) at the Angelika Theater on Friday, August 7, followed by wine at the Calais Winery.  Come on!  It’ll be fun! 

I’ll do another blog posting with more details about the movie and the exact time of the showing we are planning to attend.

Comments

[Kelly]

Oh my, you are making me so hungry! There is nothing like a fresh tomato still hot from the sun. Thanks for sharing your adventure!

[Kristine Christlieb]

You good girl. On the tomato front, I've decided that my memories of tomatoes past are far better than the tomatoes (even the farmer's market variety) I buy today. It's funny but tomatoes seem to be the gold standard by which people judge great vegetables. Not too many people nostalgically remember, for example, past zucchinis. So, I'm sorry to report, that the Roma tomatoes I bought last Saturday were nothing special. Having said that, I still stand by my report of a wonderful outdoor adventure on the Texas plains.

[Rocket French]

Nice pictures ! Benjamin Calais offers wonderful French wines. Great find !
Thanks

Cathy