On Sunday afternoon after the San Miguel Writers Conference, I had been charged with fetching some freshly made sauce and pasta from Natura on my way back up the hill to Chorro. Sunday, however, meant it and seemingly all of the neighborhood tiendas were closed. I asked an ex-pat at the conference where to head, and, much to my disappointment, she recommended the Mega. Naturally, I headed in the opposite direction, to the old market house in the heart of downtown San Miguel de Allende, where produce and flowers are artfully displayed, even on Sunday.
Upon my return to San Antonio, the Saturday market at Pearl Brewery provided a welcome transition back to reality. While pop-up tents perched in a parking lot are not as colorful as the old market house, the produce and fresh meats were bountiful. Children were dancing to the live music, and the browsers – arriving not only by car, but by bike or on foot – came armed with their reusable cloth sacks from home.
The vendors Pearl has assembled seem to be have chosen with great care. Last Saturday brought rustic breads from Sol y Luna Baking Company; artisanal cheeses from Humble House Foods; jams and soaps from Imagine Lavender of Vanderpool; guajillo honey pecans form Al’s Gourmet Nuts; luscious-looking jams produced by Watson Farms of Stonewall; and olive soaps and oils from the Sandy Oaks Olive Orchard near Elmendorf, site of Les Dames d’ Escoffier San Antonio Chapter’s second annual Olives Ole! festival on Saturday, March 27.
I might just have to return to Pearl for another transitioning session when I return from Merida next week.
Postcards from Barton Springs 