LONE STAR FARMERS MARKET

Hello farmers market foodies! Looking for local eats, live music and Sunday fun for the whole family? Take the scenic route along State Highway 71 to the Hill Country Galleria in Bee Cave, and visit the Lone Star Farmers Market. Don’t worry if you can’t see it at first, just drive into the parking lot, beyond the trees and Bee Cave City Hall, and then you will begin to see the colorful tents lining the exterior walls of the Galleria.

I 'd heard good things about this market, which made me excited to meet with Richie Romero, the market’s proprietor and manager. Romero works in technology during the week, but his fun job is being there every Sunday at the market. "I started this market in Lakeway, then we moved to Bee Cave six years ago, and many of my vendors have been with me from the beginning. Come let me show you around," Romero says. As we walked, Romero mentioned he started his market because he wanted to give entrepreneurs a place to thrive by offering affordable booth fees and fair rules. "So many markets are stringent, and we are, too, but only if it is related to safety. This is our community, and we like to have fun!"

Romero introduced me to one of his long-time vendors, Don Moore, owner of Dad's Premium Granola. Moore looked at me with a smile and said, "This market is my second home. If Richie moves, I'll be right behind him." As we continued walking, I stopped to talk to other vendors and ask questions. I highly recommend you do this when visiting any market as you're bound to learn something new.

As we moved through the market, I was stopped by David Benford, the owner of Big Brazos Sustainable Farm. That day he was cracking pecans with his nutcracker and passing out samples. "Try this," he says. He dropped a huge golden brown pecan in my hand, and I tossed it in my mouth. It was one of the tastiest pecans I had ever eaten. "We hand-pick our pecans and sell homemade bite-size pecan pies and oils," says Benford. What I love most about farmers markets is that you buy everything straight from the seller. There are no middlemen. The farmers and producers can provide accurate information regarding any product if you have questions and, like Benford, they love talking about their products — and letting you taste them, too!

Thanks Danks and their all-natural beef jerky. They have four flavors to choose from and samples to try. If you like teriyaki flavors, like I do, buy their savory Umai Jerky. I also picked up a pound of Hatchitt Hill Ranch's Wagyu ground beef and had the opportunity to meet a new vendor, Jessica Fischer, CEO of Sky Roaster Coffee.

As the tour ended, I made one last stop at Pork Booty ATX. The owner, Adrian Viloria, marinates his pork overnight. Before the market opens, he pierces the pork on a skewer and sears it over a flaming fire until it's a beautiful, charred color. The aroma fills the air and there's a line waiting for his cut-to-order pork sandwiches. It was a perfect way to end a shopping day at the Lone Star Farmers Market.

So grab the family, or take a few friends, and remember this tip: always keep a small cooler in the car for the meats you buy and bring a few reusable bags for your vegetables and dry goods. Plan to spend half the day at the Lone Star Farmers Market because farmers markets are meant to be savored.

Thanks, Richie, for the tour!

If you have toured as many Austin farmers markets as I have, you know you're at a great market when you see the SoCo Ginger Beer booth. I couldn't resist buying one of my favorites, their prickly pear ginger beer. As we moved to the other side of the market, I ran into my friends Garret and Jordan, the owners of