HOUSTON – If there was ever a time to eat your way through River Oaks Shopping Center, it’s now. All September long, some of Houston’s top restaurants are joining forces for a farm-to-table challenge supporting Urban Harvest, the nonprofit championing local farms, farmers markets, and fresh food access across the city.
The concept is simple but brilliant: each restaurant sources seasonal ingredients from local farms and transforms them into creative dishes you won’t find on the menu any other time. Ten percent of sales go straight back to Urban Harvest, making every bite a little more meaningful.
And trust us, these dishes are anything but ordinary.
Leo’s River Oaks: Tomatoes Like You’ve Never Seen Before
At Leo’s River Oaks, Executive Chef Kirk Thompson took on the humble tomato and turned it into art. His menu includes a tomato and Bavarian cream tart topped with a silky tomato gel made from produce grown at Atkinson Farms.
“It’s all about balance,” says Thompson. “The richness of the cream cuts through the acidity of the tomatoes. It’s simple, but elevated.”
From Mediterranean-inspired garlic bread topped with cheese and tomatoes to delicate tarts that look almost too pretty to eat, Leo’s proves that local ingredients can shine on a fine-dining stage.
Zanti: Ricotta, Ricotta, and More Ricotta
Next door at Zanti, owner Santiago “Santi” Pelaez and Executive Chef Hilario Zamora are obsessed with one thing: ricotta.
“Ricotta is so versatile,” says Pelaez. “We use it in everything - salads, desserts, even with heirloom tomatoes and basil sorbet.”
Yes, you read that right. Basil sorbet. And it works.
Zanti’s ricotta once came from Italy, but thanks to the Urban Harvest partnership, they’ve sourced it locally, giving diners fresher, creamier flavors while cutting down the miles from farm to table.
Brasserie 19: Steak Lovers, Don’t Worry
At Brasserie 19 (or B19, as the regulars call it), Executive Chef Michael Hoffman brings serious flavor with tri-tip steak paired with tomatoes stuffed with roasted oyster mushrooms and creamy goat cheese from Dapper Goat Dairy in Weimar, Texas.
“When local farmers pick produce at its peak, you taste the difference,” says Hoffman. “It’s fresher, it’s better for the community, and the flavors speak for themselves.”
One bite into those stuffed tomatoes and you’ll agree.
Beyond the Plate: Why It Matters
For Carol Burton, Urban Harvest’s Director of Permaculture, this collaboration is about more than just great food.
“Local produce isn’t just delicious,” she says. “It’s about community health, supporting farmers, and improving food access in underserved neighborhoods. Our mobile markets even double SNAP dollars so families can stretch their budgets on fresh, local food.”
So yes - your dinner really does make a difference.
How to Taste the Magic
Through September, you can sample these farm-to-table creations at Leo’s River Oaks, Zanti, and Brasserie 19, along with other River Oaks Shopping Center favorites like Goode Co. Kitchen & Cantina and State Fare Kitchen & Bar. Each restaurant is featuring special dishes crafted from locally sourced ingredients, with 10% of sales benefiting Urban Harvest—the Houston nonprofit dedicated to farmers markets, community gardens, and improving food access across the city.
It’s a win for your taste buds, local farmers, and Houstonians who need better access to fresh food. To learn more about the farms involved, visit UrbanHarvest.org. Then grab a friend, order a drink, and prepare to taste the best of Houston - local, fresh, and for a cause.