Scaffolding has been removed from the Westheimer and Waugh facing facades of theformer Mary’s space, replaced by floor-to-ceiling windows.

Photo by Clifford Pugh
Consulting chef Erin Smith, left, workshopping recipes with Blacksmith partnerEcky Prabanto.

Blacksmith Coffee Bar/Facebook
Blacksmith is divided into three different sections: a sit down area for coffeeand food, an enthusiast bar, and a large to-go counter for expedited pastry andcoffee orders.

Photo by Dillon Sorensen

Foodie News

New Year, new coffee house: Blacksmith Coffee Bar aims for Jan. 1 opening inMontrose space

The mural may be gone, but the spirit remains. Blacksmith Coffee Bar is openingin late December in the former Mary's, Naturally space.

Photo by Scot More/CultureMap/Facebook
Erin Smith has signed on as chef/consultant at Blacksmith, working asideGreenway Coffee & Tea veterans Ecky Prabanto and David Buehrer.

Foodie News

Blacksmith Coffee is coming soon to Montrose landmark with serious foodie powerfrom Erin Smith

Photo by Roswitha Vogler/Photosbyrovo.com
Photo by Roswitha Vogler/Photosbyrovo.com
Photo by Roswitha Vogler/Photosbyrovo.com
Photo by Roswitha Vogler/Photosbyrovo.com
Photo by Roswitha Vogler/Photosbyrovo.com
Photo by Roswitha Vogler/Photosbyrovo.com
Photo by Roswitha Vogler/Photosbyrovo.com
Photo by Roswitha Vogler/Photosbyrovo.com
Photo by Roswitha Vogler/Photosbyrovo.com
Photo by Roswitha Vogler/Photosbyrovo.com
Photo by Roswitha Vogler/Photosbyrovo.com
Photo by Roswitha Vogler/Photosbyrovo.com
Photo by Roswitha Vogler/Photosbyrovo.com
Photo by Roswitha Vogler/Photosbyrovo.com
Photo by Roswitha Vogler/Photosbyrovo.com

Nurturing Regional Talent

From palate to palette: Lawndale celebrates a five-year milestone with a feastfor the senses

Hand-crafted coffee is taking Houston by storm thanks to handful of "hot spots."

Photo by Tyler Rudick
John Searcy preps a latte at Revival Market in the Heights.

Photo by Tyler Rudick
Down House features Texas's direct-trade Cuvee Coffee.

Photo by Julie Knutson
One iced mocha from Catalina in all its glory.

Photo by Julie Knutson
Just a simple cup of coffee at Down House with a dollop of cream.

Photo by Julie Knutson
In addition to coffee, Antidote and Black Hole offer a variety of local, organicand fair-trade food options.

Photo by Julie Knutson
Les Girval's ca phe sua da.

Photo by Julie Knutson

Revolutionary Drinks

The best coffee shops in Houston: Big shakeup at the top sees newcomers changingthe game

OKRA's first fundraiser is Jan. 8, featuring Money Cat brunch and a night out atAnvil and Poison Girl.

Photo via OKRA/Facebook
Fried potatoes and a fried egg from Money Cat.

Photo by Ruthie Johnson Miller

Foodie News

OKRA's first Montrose March brings back the Money Cat brunch

"For me, latte art is like a seal of approval," says David Buehrer. "It getspeople excited about the coffee."

Photo by Dillon Sorensen
"This is really important - the grinder has to be cleaned out every day, andthat requires adjusting and making sure it tastes right," David tells me.

Photo by Dillon Sorensen
Keith Adkins of Fontana Coffee demonstrating the roasting process at theEastside Urban Harvest Farmers Market.

Photo by Dillon Sorensen

A Mentality War

Inside Houston's coffee culture: Local guru David Buehrer fights Starbucks,Walmart

Photo via Greenway Coffee & Tea/Facebook
David Buehrer

Photo by Dillon Sorensen
Mary's, Naturally

Photo via Mary's, Naturally (closed)/Facebook
Bobby Heugel

Photo by Katharine Shilcutt/Flickr

Caffeine lovers, rejoice!

Greenway & Anvil team forge a coffeehouse in Mary's space: There's a newBlacksmith in town

Relish Fine Foods has opened in River Oaks.

Photo by Julie Soefer
Owner Addie D'Agostino conceived of Relish while attending culinary school.

Photo by Julie Soefer
Market sides

Photo by Julie Soefer
Delicious pastries

Photo by Julie Soefer

First Taste

Relish aims for a River Oaks foodie revival with a European-modeled neighborhoodmarket

At the Counter Culture Coffee pop-up shop, co-owner and director of coffee brewsKilenso Mokonisa Natural Sundried Sidamama from Ethiopia.

Photo by Dillon Sorensen
A group of attendees cup a variety of coffees in the exhibition hall.

Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
The SCAA exhibition hall featured hundreds of coffee-related vendors.
Friar Michael Wright and Brother Peter Castieau of Mystic Monk Coffee sell theircoffee online and use the money to build monasteries and houses.

Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchlightGroup.com
Highlights from the show floor included the debut of La Marzocco’s new Strada EPespresso machine.

Photo by Dillon Sorensen

23rd annual gathering

Brewing a good time: Specialty coffee conference highlights Houston javarenaissance

Pete Licata, winner of the United States Barista Championship, celebrates withseveral of the contest's judges.
"I was able to combine the pride of a barista, a roaster and an importer, andserve a cup of coffee that I could have easily talked about for three hours,"Licata told CultureMap.

He won it in H-Town

Meet Pete Licata, the best barista in the United States

A collaborative dinner is a veritable Foodstock for chefs and diners alike:Peace, love and gourmet food.
Pastry chef Rebecca Masson adds a little philanthropy to the concept. Every fewmonths, Masson corrals an impressive array of culinary talents for acollaborative charity dinner.

Courtesy photo
Red snapper crudo from Seth Siegel-Gardner and Justin Yu at last year's JustAugust Project

Photo by Ruthie Johnson Miller
A fantastically rich Forest mushroom shooter with soy from David Coffman ofBenjy's at a collaborative vegan dinner

Photo by Ruthie Johnson Miller
Seth Siegel-Gardner collaborates with Manabu Horiuchi in the Kata Robata kitchenthese days to fantastic results.

Photo by Ruthie Johnson Miller
Van Weldon of Wood Duck Farm brings in guest chefs to create fabu-freshcollaborative dinners.

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Special Meals

Peace, love, and gourmet food: Collaborative dinners are all the rage in Houston