Farmtastic Faves – 2nd Street Provisions
The farm has been busy this summer with friends and family from far and wide. And when friends visit, not only do we make time for all the glory of the farm, but we also try to show them a little Texas hospitality and dazzle them with some of the charming small town wonders in our neck of the woods.
When one of my very best girlfriends spent the weekend, she encouraged me to expand the blog and share the stories of places that we visited. And since I started the Farmtastic Faves page quite a while ago but never really expanded it, my wheels got to turning and I decided to give it a whirl. I hope you get a chance to visit some of these amazing small town finds and show them some love, put them on your bucket list, or just enjoy a moment of escape in your imagination.
First up in the category of Farmtastic Eats comes to us from one my absolute favorite little Texas towns – Hico.
2nd Street Provisions – Hico, Texas
A charming old farmhouse, complete with the perfect porch swings and lazily spinning ceiling fans, stands gracefully under a bevy of oaks, just welcoming guests to come and sit a spell and indulge in some down home goodness.
From the first time I stepped foot on the porch and heard the boards squeak, I was in love and knew this would be a place that I would visit again and again. Inside, the aromas of coffees, teas, pastries, and just good old fashioned yummy food said home. The proprietor, Haley Rankin, a butcher by trade who raises her own stock on a farm just a couple of miles away, had a vision to create 2nd Street Provisions – a place to, “Shop Local. Eat Local. Be Local.” And boy did she deliver!
The atmosphere is straight out of an HGTV or Food Network set. Whitewashed shiplap walls, mix and match dining tables and chairs, charming signs and accessories, and a smattering of different rooms to dine with your entire family or just sit a spell with a good book and a latte. Not only a feast for your tummy but also for your eyes, as you’ll find interesting and charming light fixtures, fresh flowers tucked in all around, and porches turned into dining spaces. Be still my heart, not only did I want to eat here the first time I visited, but I wanted to move in and take up residence.
Now for the food – oh my stars! On my first visit, I got lost in a divine piece of dark chocolate Texas sheet cake topped with homemade vanilla bean ice cream. Just the right texture of dense, but yet still fluffy cake dripping with cold, creamy goodness. Had I been alone, I might have licked the plate clean, but I am a southern girl and wanted to mind my manners.
Next, I came back for their Friday night pizza night. Haley grew up having Friday night pizza with her family, and turned that deep tradition into a shareable one, and one she says she hopes her children will also pass down. She uses her mama’s crust recipe to make your taste buds do a jig. Choosing their Margherita pizza and a fresh salad, I was in heaven and pizza simply has not been the same for me since. If you like a thin, perfectly crunchy crust, this is your pizza mecca. Covered in homemade pesto sauce, garlic, mozzarella, and fresh tomatoes, it tasted like your favorite summer garden.
Today, I tried their Sunday brunch. Since Cowboy had other plans, I decided to take a trip to just savor the goodness and find some writing time by myself. Walking into the main hall, I was greeted with oodles of fresh food piled high on the brunch buffet. Everything from from cheesy grits to ooey gooey coffee cake to frittatas to fresh fruit to rosemary chicken and mashed potatoes. The bacon was perfectly crisp and the sausages were filled with fresh spices to tingle your tongue. Oh, and I would be completely remiss if I didn’t mention the biscuits and gravy – crunchy on the outside and perfectly fluffy on the inside. And because I’m a people watcher of grand proportions, I loved listening as the guests delighted in the flavors and atmosphere – from little kids excited to try coffee cake for the first time to elderly church couples visiting with friends.
Between the atmosphere, the friendly staff who makes you feel like you are long lost friends, and the food that will leave you dreaming of it for days to come, 2nd Street Provisions is a gem for anyone who is looking for a great experience for their soul and their tastebuds.
2nd Street Provisions describes themselves as, “… a full service coffee shop, butcher, farm fresh grocery, and cookery located in Hico, Texas. Come dine in with us and enjoy our home cooked meals, or grab some fresh produce to cook your own. Not hungry? We support coffee drinkers too.” To learn more, visit their website or follow them on Facebook.
P.S. – This is not an advertisement and no money, gifts, or favors were exchanged in return for this post. It is simply my opinion and recommendation of a great little place to enjoy some good food and soul time.
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