Paris Where You Are

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.

Main Street Boulangerie, Grapevine, Texas

Just a pleasant five-minute walk from our church is a popular Sunday morning destination for both pagans and Protestants--Main Street Bread Baking Co.  Owned by Fabien Goury and Yasmine Bohsali, this little touch of Paris in the Tarrant County suburbs is just what the doctor ordered when one needs a break from the tidal wave of chain restaurants that line the freeways.

Lots of restaurants in Texas offer outdoor seating--it was one of the things we loved when we first moved to Texas--but especially in the suburbs where we live, the outdoor views are mostly of freeways.  Main Street Bread Baking Co has that rare American experience—sidewalk café seating with plenty of pedestrian traffic for people watching. 

Located in the village of Grapevine, the bistro creates just the right café atmosphere.  The décor is a little world-weary, but isn’t that just like the French?  And there are touches of elegance like the beautifully detailed brass door handle at the entrance.  You’ll love Fabien and Yasmine’s playlist.  Here are a few of the songs on her iPod 

• ·      Amapola
• ·      Les Feuilles Mortes
• ·      Mr. Chow
• ·      Jamaica Heartbeat
• ·      Ya Mama, Tu M’As Tant Donne

And oh yes, there’s the boulangerie!  You’ll find all the traditional French breads and pastries—rounds, buns, croissants, Napoleons, and tarts—all displayed in the gleaming glass cases.  My knowledge of French pastry is fairly limited so I can't really address the quality of these pastries; but when you are in need of a taste of Paris, you will find these to be utterly transporting!

The café has free wireless access for its customers and thus is perfectly suited for a lazy morning of reading, web surfing, and people watching--and that’s the best formula for creativity I know. 

If you go, wear a flowing skirt and your sexiest shoes.  (Remind me to take my own advice.)

I can’t wait to tell you about Ralph and Reba Ferrell’s favorite French restaurant in Addison and Zellia Rendon’s guilty pleasure of listening to others practice their French at a La Madeleine in Plano. 

Please!  Write me back—tell me about places you know in Dallas--or elsewhere--that transport you to Paris.