Tomme Johnson

A Tempo has opened at 4331 McCullough Ave., the former home of Valentino’s and Olmos Park Bistro.

Chef Tomme Johnson describes the restaurant as a neighborhood hangout with a regularly changing menu of seasonal items, ranging from pizzas and pastas to a rib-eye and seafood, all of it locally sourced when possible.

Johnson, who has worked at restaurants such as the Grill at Leon Springs and Polo’s at the Fairmount, visits farmers markets regularly for ingredients and is working with meat purveyors such as South Texas Heritage Pork.

The result is American cuisine based on fresh ingredients and at an affordable price, he says.

“I always wanted to be part of a place where I could source as local as possible,” Johnson says in his mission statement. “I’m passionate about people and fascinated with the art of farming and ranching, that nurturing gift has always driven me to develop relationships with my suppliers and as a result we have been blessed.

“So our name — A Tempo, a return to the start — is our philosophy, driven in that we purchase locally within a 200-mile radius of where it was harvested. (It) allows us to support our community; everything done in-house  allows for the harmony of flavors and presentation all the while fueling  our commitment to excellence that drives our culinary soul.”

At the present time, there’s a sign above the restaurant saying the name is Etcetera, but it is A Tempo, Johnson says.

A Tempo is currently waiting on its liquor license to be approved. Until then, people can bring their own with them, the chef says.

Lunch hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Friday, while dinner is served from 5 to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 5-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Sunday brunch is from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (At the present time, the Sunday brunch is a la carte, but he hopes to have a small buffet in place by mid-July.) Call (210) 826-0222.

A new Farmers & Ranchers Market is set to open in the Quarry Market parking lot, 255 E. Basse Road, on May 1.

The emphasis will be on fresh, locally grown, humanely raised and artisanally produced food, according to Heather Hunter, one of the two directors behind the enterprise. It will run from 8 a.m. to noon each Sunday, rain or shine.

The market will set up in the lot next to Whole Foods, which welcomes the new venture. “Whole Foods Market is committed to supporting local producers, not only by selling regional products in our stores, but also by supporting local farmers markets where they sell their unique artisanal products,” said Chris Romano, produce coordinator and local forager for Whole Foods Market Southwest region.

The lineup of vendors will be selling local and organic fruits and vegetables, grass-fed beef, pastured chickens and their eggs, honey, pasta, all-natural tamales, cheeses, mustards and other spreads and sauces, Hunter’s Cowgirl Granola, gluten-free foods, herbs and plants and more.

In addition to the products for sale, the market will offer lectures and seminars on topics such as where food comes from and how to plant a garden. Cooking demonstrations, live music and other special events are also planned.

Hunter’s partner in the venture is F. David Lent. The two are also establishing a board of advisers to assist in program development.

For more information, call 210-865-5900 or e-mail quarryfarmersmarket@gmail.com.

The Texas Department of Agriculture is sponsoring Go Texan Restaurant Week Sept. 27-Oct. 1.

For the entire week, restaurants across the state will be serving up Texas-produced food in ways that show off the diversity of the state’s agricultural riches.

In San Antonio, some of the restaurants with specials that week include:

• Acenar, 146 E. Houston St., which will offer a three-course prix fixe meal featuring Texas chicken-fried oysters; grilled adobo chicken breast with asadero-stuffed poblano or sirloin steak asada and grilled beer marinated sirloin; and peach cobbler or pineapple cream cheese empanada. Cost: $35.00 a person, plus tax and tip.
• Boardwalk Bistro, 4011 Broadway, which will feature fixed-price Texas meals as well as a food-and-wine-pairing menu with Texas food with Texas wines. A Texas wine tasting with special pricing and Texas wine list will last throughout October (Texas Wine Month).
• Earl Abel’s, 1201 Austin Hwy., which will offer discounts on Texas items, including Texas raised, grass-fed bison burgers with sweet potato fries in addition to Texas quail stuffed with homemade pork sausage and cornbread dressing.

A partial list of other restaurants involved in the Go Texan week include Barn Door, 8400 N. New Braunfels; La Hacienda de los Barrios, 18747 Redland Road; Josephine St. Cafe, 400 E. Josephine St; the Lodge Restaurant of Castle Hills, 1746 Lockhill Selma Road; Zocca Cuisine d’Italia, 420 Market St.; and various Stonewerks locations.

For a list of participating restaurants in San Antonio, click here.

Texas Farm to Table at the Pearl Brewery, 312 Pearl Parkway, will close May 29, according to a message posted on Facebook.

“Thanks so much for all of your support,” owner Brian Mongtomery writes. “I love you all! Don’t worry though … I’ll be back soon, I promise. In the meantime, I will keep the food good, I promise! ”

Texas Farm to Table was the first restaurant to open at the Pearl Brewery and one of the first in the city to focus on locally produced food.