[ad_1]
A few Houston restaurateurs with serious foodie credibility and a passion for helping Texas farmers and suppliers move to Austin.
Local Foods, the Houston-based restaurant concept founded in 2011 that has grown to five locations in Space City, is moving to Austin with a stationary restaurant that will open later this year in the Second Street District of downtown.
Although Local Foods has not yet opened its Second Street spot, Austinites can expect the restaurant to have an impressively stylish flair, given its glitzy downtown location and the fact that Austin’s famous Michael Hsu Office of Architecture is designing the restaurant.
Local Foods had originally planned to enter the Austin market with a stationary location in the summer of 2020, but this was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The move marks the first time the company has expanded outside of Houston, but it’s a return to their roots for the makers of Local Foods as founders Benjy Levit and Dylan Murray, and partner Martin Berson (Austin-based since 2008). all graduated from the University of Texas. Berson also founded and worked as CEO of healthy packaged food retailer Snap Kitchen, which has long been a go-to for health-conscious, busy Austin locals despite the company closing stores in the face of the pandemic.
Levit and Murray are also no lightweights in the restaurant industry. Levit has owned and operated Benjy’s in Houston for 25 years and recently converted the Rice Village store into a local grocery store. Murray, who also has more than 25 years of hospitality experience and has helped run the Benjy’s kitchen, has overseen the culinary operations for Local Foods since its inception.
“For me the way back to Austin closes,” says Murray, partner and chef at Local Foods. “Getting the opportunity to rejoin the Austin’s restaurant community is exciting and a long-term goal. We look forward to being part of the culinary conversation in this vibrant city. “
Dedicated to helping local farmers, ranchers, fishmongers, artisans, and vendors – and sourcing from vendors in close proximity where possible – the Local Foods team is in the process of building its Austin, Hill Country, and Central Texas Souring List in preparation on the expansion of Austin. Local vendors include Georgetown Pecan Company, Fresh Tofu, Pure Luck Dairy, and Farm to Table.
Austinites craving local food don’t have to wait for the stationary eatery to open in the Second Street District, as Local Foods will be hosting a pop-up this summer – it’s the first Austin event ever. He shows up at 5350 Burnet Rd in mid-June. In the former bonhomie area, Local Foods offers a pick-up and delivery service for its delicious, homemade sandwiches, salads and side dishes.
With a fresh, focused menu that undoubtedly appeals to the health-conscious and locally-minded sensibilities of the Austinites, the Local Foods pop-up offers select specialties such as the crispy chicken sandwich, the truffle egg salad sandwich, and the spring harvest salad with Texas Goat cheese, as well as side dishes like local strawberries, Tuscan kale, and homemade potato chips.
Local Foods says it will be launching more house specialties in the coming weeks, including its Banh Mi with Falcon Lake Farms pork, a vegan taco salad, chicken cobb salad with local blue cheese, classic chicken pozole and a couple of desserts, including vegan carrot cupcakes.
The pop-up is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:45 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., but opening times may vary. There will also be a limited catering menu. Please visit the Local Foods website and Instagram page for more information.
[ad_2]
