Chef Chris Shepherd’s new restaurant, Underbelly, will be next door to the Hay Merchant Craft Beer Bar in the old Chances building–across the street from our very own Tex-Mex joint, El Real! I ran into Shepherd at the Farmer’s Market last weekend. Alison Cook had just reported the news. Underbelly will be a Farm-to-Table establishment with a Nose-to-Tail butcher shop. Shepherd told Alison Cook that the name is not only a nod to his famous dish–fried pork belly with Steen’s syrup–it’s also a reference to the seedy neighborhood where he is locating the place. Hey, wait a minute!
I told him he should put some outdoor dining tables on the sidewalk so that our customers and his customers can hit beach balls back and forth across Westheimer!
Is that going where Mary’s used to be?
Hi Robb,
I was pleased to meet you at the market on Saturday. I had no idea at that time that you were an idol of mine as the founder of Foodways Texas! I am so pleased that you have done this important thing and as of Sunday, I have my new family membership! ALSO, I am sooo looking forward to the openings of both Underbelly AND El Real! I’ll get my beach ball ready.