This week we’re focusing more on salads and lighter fare.  Ben’s making a grilled cheese on our sourdough that we will serve with a spicy slaw $7 – come on, that’s like recession pricing ya’ll. We’ve got one last week of local heirloom tomatoes, so we’re making a tomato salad with lots of parsley and herbs $8. Then we’re adding a zucchini salad with prosciutto and fresh mozzarella.  In another homage to the season, we’ll be stuffing Boggy Creek red bell peppers with lamb, pork and ciabatta croutons – baking them – and serving them as an appetizer $8.  And finally, Ben is planning a shrimp salad with tarragon, Boggy Creek red onions (and California celery).  Celery, you might well surmise, doesn’t really grow in Texas in August, because it’s really, really hot out there.

How hot is it?  Don’t ask.  Last year, we were able to get lettuces even in August from Animal Farm.  My understanding is that they used Israeli made high-tech shade clothes and retaining walls to block the hottest sun in the late afternoon.  We can only hope, but we haven’t seen anything like that so far this summer – it’s just too hot.

No matter – we’re still upbeat about the menu.  But it does raise interesting questions for us about our mission, and our level of fidelity to the whole local exclusivity thing.  Ben spoke recently with John at Angel Valley and asked him what they anticipated selling in August – the answer?  Nothing. They’re headed to Montreal for the month.  So, I guess one way of dealing with the heat is to leave town for cooler climes.

But assuming you’re here and you want to eat?  Well – we have a couple of thoughts.  First – we do grow wonderful squash, eggplant, peppers, okra, etc. during the hot months.  Second – nobody’s perfect.  We may have to cheat a little bit and use produce grown further afield – celery for instance, from California.

Also wanted to thank everyone who dropped by last weekend.  I have to say – on Saturday night, with the music turned up (Hayse McCaulley sat in for Paul Ray on KUT and played among other things, early Eisley Brothers with a young unknown guitar player named Jimi Hendrix) – the room was filled with people and energy – well, it just felt like we were part of something really fun.

Hope to see many of you again this weekend.  As always, please don’t forget that while we may not have a wine list yet, our neighbors at Junior’s across the street are stocking some very nice choices for us in the $8 – $15 range.

Bon appetite,

Murph