PULLMAN MARKET IS A FEAST FOR THE SENSES
WORDS BY MEREDITH KAY I PHOTOS BY PULLMAN MARKET
Each foodie’s idea of heaven will most certainly vary based on individual tastes and preferences. However, we can all probably agree that it will include a gourmet market stocked full of unique products, and meat, seafood, and produce locally sourced from nearby farms, ranches, and purveyors. There might also be several outstanding restaurants, a great bar specializing in craft cocktails, a wonderful bakery, and ideally a comfortable gathering place to enjoy it all. Luckily, San Antonio food enthusiasts can now enjoy all of this and more just by passing through The Pearl(y) gates.
Pullman Market at The Pearl is now open. This stylish new emporium is serving amazing food, drinks and desserts, and offering an impressive selection of locally-sourced groceries and specialty foods.
Walking through the doors at Pullman Market can be overwhelming at first. Each of your senses will be kicked into high gear as you absorb everything it has to offer. This specialty grocer and eatery spans a whopping 40,000 square feet in the space that previously housed the Samuel’s Glass Company adjacent to The Pearl. The project was conceived and is managed by Austin’s Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group. Kevin Fink, chef, owner and CEO of Pullman Market, gets very excited when talking about their vision for the market and the many local products they stock.
“We wanted to create a special place that would allow people to discover locally-sourced products, and we wanted to honor local farmers, ranchers and food purveyors,” says Fink. “There is something for everyone. Food is our life and our passion, and we wanted to share this with San Antonio while supporting the local economy at every level.”
Fink and his team have successfully manifested that passion. As you walk through the vibrant displays, you’ll want to savor every sight and smell, and sample every flavor. And knowing the mission behind the concept, you feel like you are a part of something special.
The team’s goal is to provide an array of local options, while adhering to specific sustainability factors. The bakery only uses regional flours, seeds and grains in its naturally-leavened breads and baked goods. The seafood market only sells wild-caught and environmentally- conscious fish purchased fresh off the boat, and the oysters are sourced from Texas oyster farms. The seafood graces the fishmonger display case for one day and then it is diced, spiced and brined to create the delicious dishes featured at the ceviche bar.
At the butcher counter, you’ll find high-quality, fresh cuts of meat sourced directly from local ranchers who have dedicated their lives to raising animals humanely. The butchers have developed a close relationship with these ranchers. They know where the animals come from, what they have grazed on, and even the sex and breed of the animals. The butchery program also ensures that the entire animal is used. Once the choice cuts are extracted for sale, the other parts are used onsite in the restaurants and the grocery products.
The market currently features four full-service restaurants and five quick-bite counters, including the cevicheria, a burger grill, a sandwich counter, a coffee shop and a creamery.
Fife & Farro features exceptional Italian cuisine using fresh ingredients in their wood-fired pizzas and handmade pastas. Mezquite celebrates the bold and unique Mexican flavors of the Sonoran region with their grilled meats served with Sonoran wheat tortillas. Isidore is Pullman’s fine-dining restaurant. It features the best cuts of meat, the freshest seafood and the finest local ingredients. It’s where all of the locally-sourced products that can be found throughout Pullman Market come together in one exquisite dining experience.
Fink says, “Dining at Isidore is like having dinner at the home of a close friend who also happens to be an outstanding cook. It’s an intimate experience with intense flavors that showcases all the best that Texas has to offer.”
Finally, when your bellies are full but your sweet tooth isn’t, you can grab a spot at Nicosi, a 20-seat dessert bar where pastry artists design sweet works of edible art and you can enjoy personal conversations with the chefs themselves as they create.
There is truly something for everyone at Pullman Market, so come hungry, and be prepared to be delightfully overwhelmed by choices and impressed by the quality of the food. It will make you proud to be a Texas foodie.
About the Contributor
Meredith Kay has called San Antonio home for over 30 years and is an incurable foodie with an insatiable case of wanderlust. She is constantly looking for her next adventure, and easily makes friends with everyone she meets.
