Farmers Market News

Popular East Dallas farmers market moves to new address after 14 years

You can get your fresh produce every weekend.

Photo by Michael Martin

A favorite farmers market in East Dallas is moving: White Rock Farmers Market, which previously held court every Saturday in the parking lot of Lakepointe Church on Garland Road, has a new home, some would say a better home, in the parking lot of White Rock United Methodist Church, at 1450 Old Gate Ln.

The new location is effective immediately, beginning with the market's spring debut on Saturday March 26. The 2022 season will run every Saturday until December 17; hours are 9 am-1 pm.

The market was forced to relocate due to construction at Lakepointe Church, which is doing renovations to its facility. A spokesperson said that the church, which was formerly Lakeside Baptist Church until it merged with LakePointe in 2021, was unable to commit to a return for the market.

Market director Casey Cutler says she welcomes the relocation and is excited about the new partnership.

"White Rock United Methodist Church has been so welcoming to us and are really taking us in," Cutler says. "They love the value the market gives to the community and want to be a part of it."

She's also receive heartwarming support from her new neighbors.

"The Little Forest Hills Neighborhood Association has also been really great partners and have been working with us as well," she says.

White Rock Farmers Market is part of Good Local Markets, the producer-only farmers market organization, and has been open every Saturday from spring through early winter for 14 years. They showcase all-local produce, meats, eggs, bread, pastries, honey, pickles, jams, and specialty foods as well as local artisans featuring handmade crafts.

Buoyed by their success, Good Local Market launched a second weekend market in 2019: Lakewood Village Farmers Market, which is held on Sundays at 6424 E. Mockingbird Ln. from 9 am-1 pm. In the 2022 season, they'll be there through July 31. So if you miss your Saturday shopping at White Rock, you can head over to Lakewood Village on Sunday, ba-da-bing ba-da-boom.

Vendors include Along Came Tamales, Bohemian Shepherdess, Chandler Family Farm, Demases Farm, Highway 19 Farm, Hippos and Hashbrowns, Jersey Girls Milk, Lost Ruby Ranch, Juha Ranch, Texas Honeybee Guild, Leila’s Bakery, Rowlett Coffee Roasters, Texas Fungus and several others local artisans.

For 2022, they're adding an exciting new vendor: Jubilant Fields Farms, which calls itself a "farm salad bar," growing everything you would use for a salad including salad mixes, microgreens, tomatoes, carrots, and other produce to make the perfect farm fresh salad. They'll also be in the lineup of Good's Sunday market.

"He's actually a teenager!" Cutler says, referring to Jubilant's 17-year-old founder, Dawson Mehalko.

All Good Local vendors are certified local, no resellers no distributors. Good Local Markets requires that vendors come from 150 mile radius of Dallas and must grow or make their own products. Good Local staff even visits each farm and ranch to ensure locally grown and ethically raised.

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Celebrity Chef News

Knife steakhouse by chef John Tesar to close location at Dallas hotel

Photo courtesy of Knife

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A Dallas celebrity chef steakhouse is closing: Knife, the steakhouse at The Highland Dallas hotel at 5300 E. Mockingbird Ln. from John Tesar, is closing after more than a decade.

According to a release, Knife will be closing and moving to a new location "as it moves toward an exciting new evolution." Its final day is August 31.

According to a statement from Lennox Capital Partners, the private lodging investment and management firm that acquired the Highland Dallas in 2018, The Highland Dallas, Curio Collection by Hilton and Chef John Tesar and the Knife restaurant concept are concluding their partnership.

The hotel is in "interim talks" with a new hospitality group for a new concept that will replace Knife — which could also be implemented prior to the August 31 date.

"We are grateful for Chef Tesar’s partnership over the years and we wish him success in his future endeavors," their statement says.

An original plan between Tesar and Lennox Capital Partners, outlined in October 2024, called for the steakhouse to rebrand into a new expanded concept that would be called Knife Steak & Seafood, which would pull from Knife & Spoon, a sibling that Tesar opened at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes in 2020. The Highland Dallas hotel is also undertaking a $13 million renovation.

In addition to Knife & Spoon in Orlando, the Ritz-Carlton there also has a location of Knife Burger.

Tesar has two other Knife restaurants: Knife Italian Steak - The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas, and Knife & Spoon Knife Steakhouse - The Shops at Willow Bend in Plano, in which he's partnered with restaurateur George Stergios.

The Knife Burger at Willow Bend in Plano is temporarily closed. And a Knife location in California, at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott, was dissolved in 2023.

Tesar is currently appearing on House of Knives, a cooking competition show on Food Network.

The release goes on to say that John Tesar Concepts, in collaboration with GBOD Hospitality Group (El Chingon) and 3ntourage Hospitality Group (Wade's Landing), has identified a "premier Dallas location" for a new expanded version of Knife that would feature Knife; plus a more intimate and experiential entity called Pocket Knife; and a new social concept called Switchblade, all under one roof. Where that roof will be, they cannot yet say.

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