South of the River, Left of Normal, and Right on Taste Central Market: Westgate

The Austin are is filthy with great grocery markets. Not confined to the typical big box shopping experience, a certain flagship location and home office of a renowned whole food chain sits on the hottest corner in downtown.  There are corner niche markets and  farmers markets and specialty markets and package-free markets and cheese shops and butchers and spice shops....

Seriously...we're stinking rich.

Central Market, the Texas-based gourmet grocery and wunderkind of the larger most-popular HEB chain, has a soft spot in my own heart. When we moved to Texas, my daughter and I spent Sunday afternoons on their patios, sampled their cheeses, ogled their seafood, settled on their produce.  I even worked for the company for quite some time.

I have a bias.  I love the people they employ.

Central Market has been gracious to me, too.  I have been invited to attend several excellent media preview parties, one of the hottest tickets in town.  Their recent Passport to Brazil event, celebrated in the collage, above, was as elegant as all they offer.  From their wine department, to catering, to floral, to partners....they know how to throw one heck of a party, and never disappoint.

The Grand Re-Opening of Central Market's Westgate location was true to form!  An "ode to a store that is South of the River, Left of Normal, and Right on Taste, the self-guided 'stroll around'-style food and wine tasting" provided over 30 food and wine demonstrations and samplings, four, four! musical groups to serenade you throughout the store, and expanded departments that included a revamped and enlarged Bulk Foods, Healthy Living, an in-store coffee roaster and bar, and more. The Cafe was hopping-- packed table to table, shoulder to shoulder with eaters, and drinkers, and jammers, and dancers, enjoying the rockabilly raucousness that follows the incredibly talented and popular Dale Watson.

The festivities will continue throughout the weekend, but should you miss them, don't fret.  There's live music playing three nights a week, every week, a Cafe that churns out great grub, consistently, and tables scattered inside and out--perfect spots from which to enjoy that great bottle of wine you nabbed on special, or that favorite cheese and fresh-baked loaf you can't wait to try, or an impromptu party, catching up with old friends, or new, that you've run into-- just as I did this perfect evening.

Catching up with new friends, and old, over a bottle, or two.

Thank you for another lovely event, Central Market!