MediterraneanGrocery Wholesalers in Fort Worth, TX

Noah Franco, one of the top prospects for the 2024 class, traveled to TCU over the weekend for an official visit. Just days later, Franco has announced his commitment to the Frogs on an Instagram Live.

His commitment gives TCU three Top 100 players for the 2024 class, joining left handed pitchers Mason Brassfield and Blake Larson.

Franco, though, is not just a Top 100 player. He’s one of the top players in the class, rated as the No. 5 overall prospect for 2024, regardless of position. He's a legitimate two-way player and was the highest-rated uncommitted prospect left on the board for 2024 according to Perfect Game. In fact, Perfect Game has given Franco a grade of 10, which is the highest grade a prospect can receive.

Franco’s list of gifts are long and well-documented at this point. The 6-foot-3 lefty is a force on the mound, with a fastball that touches 93 mph and has good ride when he keeps it low in the zone. He also works in a curveball and change up for a good three-pitch mix.

Franco is also a power threat at the plate who has the ability to hit to all areas of the field. Most of his fielding experience is in the outfield, but he’s also worked at first base.

Current Horned Frog and two-way player Payton Tolle was Franco’s host over the weekend, and the duo hit it off. Tolle was able to relay his experiences this fall to Franco, and discuss why he chose to transfer to TCU over the myriad other schools who pursued him in the transfer portal.

Of course, as it is with all high-end high school prospects, the MLB draft could come calling for Franco, at which point he would have a decision to make. Franco is essentially a consensus top 50 prospect for the 2024 MLB Draft, meaning he could see himself drafted as high as the second or third round.

TCU recently saw 2023 commit Jake Tiedemann choose the pros over college, after the New York Yankees drafted him in the 13th round of this summer’s draft.

2025 Class Growing Too

Saarloos and Co. also landed two commitments for the 2025 class over the weekend: RHP Drew Van Court and LHP Uli Fernsler. Van Court was on campus the same weekend as Franco, receiving his offer and committing soon after.

Fernsler visited TCU in September, before taking a few other visits and exploring his options. Fernsler is one of the top rated recruits from the state of Michigan.

With the additions of Van Court and Fernsler, the 2025 class is now up to 11 commitments, and is ranked as the No. 23 class in the country by Perfect Game.

Texas' moderate climate means that diners can theoretically dine outside all year long. And thanks to misters and heaters, some do.

But there is nothing like the fall when temperatures cool and the sun still shines, for absolutely perfect patio weather. That time has arrived.

For the October edition of Where to Eat, that can mean only one thing: Where are the cool new restaurants offering outdoor seating? Here are five new picks:

Brix BBQRecently opened craft barbecue spot at 1012 South Main St. has a large, spacious patio, plus an indoor area that turns into an outdoor area when the large garage door is raised. All the Texas ‘cue staples are here – brisket, pork ribs, pulled pork and housemade sausage – plus barbacoa tacos, great burgers, and an excellent fried chicken sandwich. Keep an eye out for rotating specials that include burnt-end pancakes with salted beef tallow frosting, brisket hash, and a sandwich called the Porchetta Melt, with two slices of porchetta, grilled onions & peppers, melted provolone, and a balsamic glaze, served on a toasted ciabatta bun.

Eazy MonkeyAdventurous new restaurant in the Near Southside takes over the cool old building – and its spacious patio - last occupied by Fixture. Developed by local chef Andrew Dilda and longtime friend Andrew Chen of Monkey King Noodle Company, the menu is a unique mash-up of Asian and American cuisine. Dishes include cheeseburger fried rice, orange chicken and waffles, crab rangoon nachos, and bao buns filled with brisket from nearby Brix BBQ. Another familiar face, Tia Downey, developed the drink menu. Dilda and his wife’s interest in ‘90s music and pop culture is reflected in the restaurant’s rad décor, which includes skateboards and colorful murals.

Fireside PiesAfter closing its location in the West 7th area, this Dallas-born pizzeria recently reopened a few blocks away, in the Left Bank Shopping Center at 628 Harrold St. The new spot isn’t as stylish as the West 7th location, but there’s a nice patio that faces east, out of the sun. The atmosphere is more kid- and family-friendly than the previous incarnation, and the menu has been slimmed down. But several favorites remain, including the buttery pappardelle pasta, the Triple Roni pizza, and the huge salads. New dishes include shrimp alfredo and a garlic and shrimp pizza.

La Guera Street TacosNewly opened in a strip mall in south Arlington, this family-run taco spot is so small inside, you may not have a choice but to grab a seat on the patio, festively decorated with plants and colorful tables and chairs. It’s a gringo taco shop for sure, but they do make efforts to replicate Mex-Mex food, serving taco fillings such as tripe and making their own flour tortillas – a definite plus. There’s also a salsa bar, with salsas ranging from mild to extremely hot, and complimentary pinto beans, another nice touch. Best time to go is breakfast, when La Guera serves generously sized tacos filled with eggs and your choice of chorizo, bacon, potatoes, and cheese.

Postino WineCafeWith its attractive, oversized patio, decked out with colorful umbrellas, this chic new wine bar in Southlake Town Square was practically designed for nice weather. The Arizona-based chain is known for its happy hour, which takes place 11 am-5 pm and features 25-plus wines for $6 a glass and $6 pitchers of beer. For food, there are bruschetta boards, in which you can mix and match bruschetta in flavors such as Sweet N’ Spicy Pepper Jam with Goat Cheese, and Brie, Apple and Fig Spread, along with soups, salads, paninis, and desserts.

A Fort Worth startup is putting mushrooms on the plate at some of the area’s most interesting restaurants. Called Black Cat Culinary Mushrooms, it's a grower and supplier of mushrooms, available in Dallas-Fort Worth to both chefs and foodies alike.

Black Cat Mushrooms was founded in 2020 as a fun project by John Zaskoda and his son.

Zaskoda, whose day job is production manager for Billy Bob's in Fort Worth, would give the mushrooms he grew to chef friends, and it quickly grew from hobby into a full-fledged business, servicing restaurants such as Tokyo Cafe, Eazy Monkey (the new restaurant from chef Andrew Dilda), Hao's Grocery & Cafe, and garden-to-table favorite Heirloom.

The startup is now fully owned and operated by Zaskoda (whose son is 17 now and "too cool" for mushrooms, Zaskoda says) out of a storefront at 2808 Shamrock Ave. #108, where he grows, stores, and sells mushrooms.

Zaskoda attributes his success to the supportive community of chefs who are interested in what he grows on a weekly basis.

He grows up to 20 varieties, particularly gourmet options such as oyster, lion's mane, chestnut, and shiitake, producing a different number of mushrooms every week. He keeps a subscriber list ([email protected]) and sends out a weekly update with information on what varieties are available to purchase that week.

His shop also sells gear if you want to grow your own including ready-to-grow kits, sterilized bags, and grain spawns.

You do not need to be a gardener to grow mushrooms at home. The process that Black Cat uses at their storefront is the same that anyone with a kit could use: Mushrooms are grown in small batches in a room that receives central air, at an ideal temperature of 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, but isn't overblown. You need a cool place to place the spawn, heat to speed up the process, and soil to place over the spawn once it is in position.

Avoiding moisture buildup is key, as it guarantees a chance for molding. This process yields a bed of mushrooms ready to be molded.

But being able to buy them grown in such a variety is a plus, whether you're a restaurant chef or adventurous home cook.

The shop's hours are Sunday-Tuesday, with Mondays and Tuesdays are designated for Chef pick-ups.

Mushrooms have enjoyed a big boom in popularity, fueled by the pandemic.

Mushrooms are also a big favorite among vegan chefs who capitalize on their hearty, meat-like texture, using them as a stand-in in recipes for chicken and beef. They're also thought to have big health benefits in areas like warding off cancer, encouraging healthy bacteria, and supporting the immune system.

Zaskoda, who's also a former touring guitarist with Fort Worth band Dirty Pool, describes his passion for growing mushrooms, saying, "I don't just grow mushrooms because they are delicious, I grow them because they are art."

"Chefs get to take it and make art from it, I’m giving them their clay," he says.

Fort Worth restaurant Reata Restaurant, which is leaving its longtime location at at 310 Houston St. in Sundance Square, is moving to a new interim location nearby: According a release, it'll return to its original location at 530 Throckmorton St. in July 2024, where it will reside until it moves into a more permanent home still TBD.

The restaurant will be situated on the ground floor of the northeast corner of The Tower building. They're moving because their lease expires in June 2024; they'll continue to operate from their current location until June 30.

The release says they conducted a comprehensive exploration of Tarrant County, before deciding to remain in downtown Fort Worth.

And they already have history with The Tower, says Reata president Mike Micallef.

"23 years ago, an F3 tornado devastated our community, making our original Fort Worth location uninhabitable and forcing our relocation in 2001,” Micallef says. "Like Fort Worth, Reata is a testament to resilience and rebirth. Together, we will continue to create unforgettable experiences, regardless of geography."

The Tower was purchased in June 2022 by SADA Tower LLC of Texas and SADA Capital Partners LLC, an Illinois based real-estate holdings group and has already secured corporate headquarters for Fort Worth-based Dickies.

“With Reata Restaurant and Dickies’ corporate headquarters relocating to The Tower, SADA has had an inspiring entry into the Fort Worth community," says SADA Tower LLC managing Saad Sindhu in a statement. "Working together with homegrown stakeholders like Reata and Dickies will help us achieve our goal of bringing more and better opportunities into the great city of Fort Worth."

Reata was founded by Al Micallef, owner of the CF Ranch, who opened the first Reata Restaurant in Alpine, Texas in 1995. The Fort Worth location opened in 1996, then relocated to its Houston Street address in 2002.

Reata also operates three satellite locations during the annual Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo – Reata at the Rodeo, Reata at the Backstage and La Espuela.

"Reata transcends physical boundaries,” Micallef says. “It's not just about the walls that house us, the western artifacts that adorn us, or the plates and cutlery that serve us. Reata embodies the spirit of Fort Worth. What truly defines us is our community. Our location may change, but the soul of Reata – the people – remains constant.”

Saturday’s TCU-Kansas State showdown is a rematch of last season’s Big 12 Conference championship game and the Horned Frogs are looking to avenge their 31-28 loss. The 4-3 Frogs gained some traction last week with a 44-11 win over BYU led by freshman quarterback Josh Hoover.

Kansas State, meanwhile, bounced back from an ugly showing at Oklahoma State to beat Texas Tech on the road last week and remain in the hunt for another Big 12 title.

THE GAMETCU (4-3, 2-2 Big 12) at Kansas State (4-2, 2-1), Saturday at 6 p.m. Central timeTV: ESPN2Line: Kansas State by 6 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: Kansas State leads 9-8.

KEY MATCHUPTCU QB Josh Hoover against the Kansas State pass defense, which struggled against Oklahoma State but looked better against Texas Tech. The redshirt freshman threw for 439 yards and four touchdowns, each to a different receiver, in his first career start a week ago, leading the Horned Frogs to a 44-11 win over BYU. Hoover took the place of Chandler Morris, sidelined by a sprained MCL in his left knee.

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PLAYERS TO WATCHTCU: Wide receivers JP Richardson and Savion Williams each caught six passes and scored a touchdown last week against the Cougars. Richardson finished with 104 yards and Williams with 77, and together they were a big reason why Hoover had so much success in his first career start; 13 different Horned Frogs caught a pass in the game.

Kansas State: QB Avery Johnson or Will Howard. Both could see the field, but there is also the very real chance that Johnson has taken the starting job completely from Howard, who led the Wildcats past the Horned Frogs last year but has struggled mightily this season. Johnson, one of the nation’s top dual-threat QB recruits, took over when Howard was ineffective against Texas Tech and went 8 of 9 for 77 yards while running 13 times for 90 yards and five touchdowns.

FACTS & FIGURESTCU is 17-1 under Sonny Dykes when leading or tied in the turnover battle. … TCU linebacker Namdi Obiazor, their leading tackler, is the brother of Kansas State DE Chiddi Obiazor. … TCU RB Emani Bailey is second in the Big 12 and seventh nationally with 751 yards rushing. He has topped 100 yards four times this season. … TCU is allowing a Big 12-best 301.3 yards total in conference games. The Horned Frogs also lead the Big 12 with 19 sacks. … TCU ranks first nationally in offensive tempo, running 2.78 plays per minute. … Hoover is the first Power Five quarterback with at least 400 yards passing and four TDs in his first start since Washington State’s Anthony Gordon against New Mexico State in 2019. The four TDs were the most by a TCU quarterback in his first start since Casey Paschall against Baylor in 2011. … Kansas State had three interceptions against Texas Tech last week. SS Kobe Savage had two of them for the first multi-pick game by a Wildcat player since Kevion McGee at Iowa State in 2018. … Johnson’s five TD runs last week tied the school record held by offensive coordinator Collin Klein, who did it against Texas A&M in 2011, and Jonathan Beasley, who did it against North Texas in 2000.