The ROAMies Podcast

Meat Markets, Fire Cider, Purple Potatoes AND SHOPPING!

• The ROAMies • Season 7 • Episode 243

Share episode

You might hear my stomach growling as you listen to this delicious episode. Join us as we eat our way through Mineral Wells, Texas, a small town with a big reputation as "The Wellness Capital of Texas."

Our culinary adventure begins at Fro Pro Cafe, where breakfast comes with an unexpected bonus—a sophisticated body composition scan that reveals far more than your weight. The cafe owner explains how this technology helps customers understand their true health metrics beyond BMI, tracking everything from muscle mass to hydration levels. While Alexa enjoys a colorful acai bowl, Rory discovers the unique purple sweet potato flavor of ube in a protein-packed breakfast shake.

The day continues at City Meats and Market, where wellness takes on a distinctly Texan twist with high-quality, locally-sourced meats and specialty grocery items. This multipurpose establishment flows seamlessly into connecting boutique shops, creating an immersive small-town shopping experience. We meet passionate local business owners who reveal their community-first approach to commerce—rather than competing, they actively send customers to each other's shops.

At The Market at 76067 (named for the local zip code), we discover an innovative approach to supporting local artisans. Instead of each vendor having a separate space, products are organized by category, creating a cohesive shopping experience while still celebrating individual makers. The owner shares how this collaborative model has transformed their downtown, with over 70% of sales now coming from tourists.

We grabbed Rose's book here! You can learn more about her from her podcast here:  and www.BeneathTheFigTree.org

Our day culminates with dinner at Second Bar and Kitchen inside the historic Crazy Water Hotel. Under the direction of a New York chef, the restaurant maintains its Texas roots through locally-sourced ingredients proudly listed on the menu. Don't miss their "fire cider" shot—a non-alcoholic wellness elixir that packs flavor and health benefits in equal measure.

Through our food-focused exploration, we uncover the true meaning of wellness in this unique Texas town—it's about quality ingredients, strong community connections, and businesses that lift each other up rather than competing. Ready to taste it for yourself? Visit minerallwells.org to plan your own foodie adventure.

Thanks for your ongoing support!
http://paypal.me/TheROAMies
Alexa and Rory
The ROAMies
Please subscribe, rate and share our podcast!
Follow us at:
http://www.TheROAMies.com
The ROAMies: Facebook and Instagram
YouTube and X.

Speaker 1:

Hi, I'm Alexa and I'm Rory, and together we are the Romies. We are married to each other. Right, we are a touring musical duo.

Speaker 2:

And our music has taken us to all kinds of places all around the world and keeps us always on the go.

Speaker 1:

So we hope you enjoy our stories and adventures while running around working to keep all your plates spinning.

Speaker 2:

And we hope, to facilitate your busy lifestyle and feed your inner travel bug.

Speaker 1:

Y'all, today's episode is well, let's just say that while we're talking, you might hear my stomach growl literally.

Speaker 2:

So y'all get ready to snack shop and stroll with us as we explore some amazing local food and fun finds in Mineral Wells, texas.

Speaker 1:

From small town cafes to charming boutiques, we're sharing the flavors and treasures that made our visit unforgettable.

Speaker 2:

So grab a mug of your Viga Bond tea Right and your road trip snack of choice, because this episode might make you hungry.

Speaker 1:

I'm already hungry.

Speaker 2:

All right, we kicked off our day at the Fro Pro Cafe, which is just the kind of breakfast spot that makes you feel like you're starting the day right super fresh, colorful and energizing.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, if you're into fitness or just curious about what your body's doing, they've got this cool tech that tells you a ton about your health.

Speaker 2:

And it's free, okay. So when we were looking y'all up on Google Maps, I saw that there was a description about a body scan, body something. Oh yeah, a body scan, yeah. So what is that?

Speaker 3:

It's really pretty neat. So it takes your weight and then it breaks down your weight and tells you all the body water like inside your cells, outside your cells. It also tells you your fat composition versus your muscles, gives you the percentage, and so the typical people that just get their BMI done well, they might consider them obese just because they have more muscle and so, like I'm actually supposedly overweight, which you are, so not, yeah, you're like muscle.

Speaker 3:

So yeah, and so I have. And it'll tell you you have body composition D, which means that your BMI shows that you're overweight, but it's just because you have more muscle. So it goes, it breaks down all that. It also tells you some of your visceral fat levels. So if you're at risk for high blood pressure, diabetes we're not a doctor, but it can be a predictor, like if you have a visceral fat above 10, then I tell them you might want to just have a doctor check up because it puts you at risk for diabetes and stuff.

Speaker 3:

And just because people start working out, just because you're not losing weight, doesn't mean that your body's not changing. So it shows us those changes. If they're not getting enough protein, we can be like, well, you're losing muscle because you're not getting enough protein, or sometimes their weight stays the same and it's because they might lose five pounds of fat but they gained five pounds of muscle. And it tells you how hydrated you are. It's pretty cool, especially if you have goals you want to meet. It shows you where you're at and how you're progressing. It tells us what you need in your diet or even in your workout to improve and help you meet your goals.

Speaker 2:

So not only do you provide a wonderful breakfast of acai bowls, but you also help people with their nutrition goals, and you work with people in that capacity as well here.

Speaker 3:

Yes, and the InBody machine that's. I don't know anybody else that provides it free. Most of the time you have to pay for it, but we do it free here for everybody. And then the InBody also comes with a free app, so you can also put your goals in that app and the app will calculate your nutrition plan for you. That's awesome. Yeah, it is. It's really cool.

Speaker 2:

I love it, yeah and you own the gym? Yes, very cool. Do you have guest passes? So if people are traveling, traveling through, they could do a guest pass and work out at the gym.

Speaker 3:

Yes, there's a $10 day pass $10 day pass and it's still. We give you a code and you can go 24-7. We have day passes and two-week passes. It is in a historic building and it is one of the coolest gyms you'll ever see because they left a lot of the old plaster. When they pull back plaster you see the brick Like. It's really cool.

Speaker 2:

Super fun, okay, and this is just breakfast. I mean, we're like we are just getting started. Super fun, okay. So let's hook us up with some acai bowls. So I actually went and I did the body scan test thingy deal while you were ordering yours. It was a great way to start the day, feeling motivated and fueled, and I had their acai bowl with some fun fruit and nuts on top and it was a nice fun mix of feeling light and satisfying all at the same time.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I had their ube shake.

Speaker 2:

So he was in the mood for a protein shake that morning.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, it was an ube coconut protein. So good, I got it with, I think, strawberries and something else and it was really delicious if you aren't aware of what ube is, it is purple sweet potato and so you aren't aware of what a purple sweet potato is they're super yum.

Speaker 2:

I put them them in our fryer all the time, our air fryer thing she does. The first time that I had the ube, the purple sweet potato ice cream, was in Hawaii, when we went to Kauai.

Speaker 1:

That's where we learned about ube.

Speaker 2:

Yes, I had never heard of it before. Things made from ube and so it's starting to gain popularity. And now Trader Joe's has a line of ube like pancake mix and cookies and all of this fun stuff. But you can go to Mineral Wells?

Speaker 1:

Yes, now you can get a shake and get your ube shake baby. Shake it up, baby now. So fun, it was really good. So after our wonderful breakfast, we did some outdoor exploring, which we talked about in our previous episode. So if you haven't yet go, listen to it yeah, we made our way to City Meats and Market for lunch, and this place ain't no joke. It's like walking into a Texas foodie dream. It's a meat market that says pretty much all of it right, especially grocery store and a sandwich shop.

Speaker 2:

So the menu. Well, in this, like in our Cajun versus vegan thing that Rory and I have going on, seeing that this was a meat market, the Cajun definitely won out on this one.

Speaker 1:

Big time. We are in Texas, come on.

Speaker 2:

I know this is how Texans do wellness Meat first, so it is a little difficult to go vegan here. I got a grilled cheese and a salad with cheese. But what I think is deliciously wonderful about this place is how clean and local the offerings are here, so they're offering high quality, clean meats from local and regional farmers. They're offering high-quality, clean meats from local and regional farmers, and they have some really fun specialty grocery products that are sourced from brands that lean on the clean, organic or better-for-you side of things, and so the market is just really laid out really cute.

Speaker 2:

And we took advantage of some of those brands, yes, which we'll tell you about in a little bit, but, rory being the resident Cajun, tell us about what you ordered, since you won this one.

Speaker 1:

Well, I obviously got a sandwich with lots of meat. I got a sandwich that was sort of their version of a Philly cheese steak sandwich. It was yum-y, really good. Probably all their sandwiches are yummy, but that thing hit the spot. You know what I'm saying.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it's the kind of spot where locals know your name, and while we were there, we actually got to meet the owners and some of their family members and so it was just a very welcoming fun place. So after you finish a yummy meal there which it will be. One of their walls is actually like, not a wall.

Speaker 1:

It just opens up.

Speaker 2:

It's a big opening yeah To this cool shopping gallery of boutiques and goodies from local and national merchants, so you can just kind of like morph from your lunch into these cool shops. And so the two shopping areas that connect together inside this building are the Outfitters of Palo Pinto County.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, Outfitters. It's perfect for anyone into outdoor gear or looking for something rugged and real. It's like the meat.

Speaker 2:

And.

Speaker 1:

The Collective at Poston's or maybe Poston's. They say it's kind of like a better version of an upscale flea market shop kind of thing, but really cool, where multiple vendors get to sell all in one main area so you could walk through different sections and different kinds of goods. Some cool stuff there, for sure.

Speaker 2:

Now going through all of that shopping. Uh Was difficult, but we did stick to window shopping.

Speaker 1:

Well, that's what was difficult sticking to window shopping.

Speaker 2:

Right, right. But we couldn't resist buying.

Speaker 1:

Didn't totally stick to window shopping.

Speaker 2:

These pretzels that they had at the City Meats and Market, yeah, so Wow, they had these pretzels that were just at the counter as like a sample.

Speaker 1:

Oh, they totally suckered us in, totally.

Speaker 2:

And they were just so good yeah a sample oh they totally suckered us in, totally, and they were just so good. So, yeah, so that's you know. If y'all saw my recent post about our food souvenirs, these join the ranks for sure.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, we carried some as a souvenir in our bellies as well as in the bags. We purchased multiple bags. So if they have something out to taste like a to try it thing, definitely taste it, but also realize you buy it.

Speaker 2:

you're gonna buy because it's because they have good stuff there, all right, so after we left there, we just crossed the street over into the magical the market at 76067, which is their zip code.

Speaker 1:

Yes, 76067, 7-6-0-6-7,. Treasure chests of local goods, home decor, gifts, creativity. Such a cool shop. I wanted to spend a lot of time there, which we didn't have, so that the botanical garden we got to go back to. Both of those man.

Speaker 2:

Yes, so here, instead of each seller having his or her own area, like it is at the collective, the market at 7-6 7607 combines everybody's goods together, so you're still going to have sections of like all the clothing is together or all of the pillows are together, so it's like an urban outfitters kind of thing, but from local vendors, and so everything is together and what this does is create a really very cool sense of community and supporting each other.

Speaker 2:

And so we got to talk to Denise and get a little bit more insight about how effective this strategy for setting up local vendors all together. She shared with us how they all came together as a community to make this thing happen.

Speaker 1:

Very cool story.

Speaker 4:

Yes, I'm pushing people up and down the street and everybody on the street, every entrepreneur on the street, is pushing people up and down the street to allow them to experience not my business but our city, and that, I think, is why it has succeeded the way it has. Is because none of us have come into this, as how can I be successful? We've come into this with, how can we make this city successful, especially our historic area, and so that's what we do. We I got, I actually pay my staff. Everybody gets one hour a month on the clock where they get to go wander the other stores and that way they know what everybody has and that way we can direct that customer down to where that item they're looking for is or what they're searching for could be. It allows them to also see all the things going on in downtown in real time. So that's something we started doing about a year and a half, two years ago, and had found it to be very beneficial. The other thing is our history. We make sure that our staff here at the market really knows the history of our city, because the history is what's driving so much into the city already and people always say I bet you can't wait for that baker to get open, because your business is going to be busy, and I'm like you know what. It is perfect timing because God has us building all of this and getting strong, fast legs to where we're running a hundred miles an hour with our hair on fire when the baker opens up.

Speaker 4:

So are we waiting for it? We're not waiting for it, we're anticipating it, but we're running as fast and as hard as we can with everyone that's coming through here. We're running currently about a 72% tourism dollar, and so that's all from outside of. I consider tourism to be outside of a 30-mile radius. Okay, because if you have to drive 45 minutes to get someplace and with traffic that's what you're at, I feel like you're coming in someplace that you don't normally go. Yeah, and we have, um, currently we have a book on our display cabinet because we have a historical display on loan until the fall and we're having everybody sign where they're coming in from, and they're coming in from all over the country and we need to find her, the old sign-in book from the museum down at the crazy. They are coming in from all over the country and we need to find her, the old sign-in book from the museum down at the Crazy. They are coming in from all over the world.

Speaker 2:

We definitely did not leave mineral wells empty-handed.

Speaker 1:

No you can't.

Speaker 2:

We bought the pretzels, we bought gallons and gallons of. Crazy Water, which you have heard about in a previous episode. And then what's super cool is Rose, our guide, Rose Jordan.

Speaker 3:

She's an author so.

Speaker 2:

I was able to snag her book at the market at 7607.

Speaker 1:

There's a really cool story behind the book.

Speaker 2:

Yes, so you'll want to check out Rose's book. She has a podcast, all that stuff, so we'll put links to those in our show notes too, if you want to check out more of what she's up to.

Speaker 1:

And don't forget the shops inside the Crazy Water.

Speaker 4:

Hotel.

Speaker 1:

Seriously, you could spend an afternoon exploring all the finds in there. There's a men's shop that oh, you walk in. It smells of leather and just so many man things in there, and coffee things, yeah, just super.

Speaker 2:

It was neat so cool, yeah, very cool. We really love supporting the local makers and shops, and all of these shops just really support that, and so it's not just about buying stuff but it's connecting with the people and the stories behind all of the things that they're making available to their town.

Speaker 1:

Love the way their community is connected to each other and helping each other's business prosper, as opposed to a competition thing going on. It's supporting each other, so everyone thing going on. It's supporting each other, so everyone prospers. It's really cool, so they buy from each other. That's why it's all a lot of local stuff.

Speaker 2:

Right, right, it really matters, and when you buy local, you're pouring into communities, dreams and history with every dollar you spend. Yeah.

Speaker 1:

Plus you come home with way cooler souvenirs. Yeah, no offense to any airport key chains, right?

Speaker 2:

Right.

Speaker 1:

Maybe Offense.

Speaker 2:

So we then like so we've been talking about food and shopping, and so of course, we have to tell you about our very cool dinner at the second bar and kitchen.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, it's inside the Crazy Water Hotel and it's got a great atmosphere. First of all, the hotel is so historic. It's really cool just being in their lobby and from their lobby.

Speaker 2:

Which we talked about in our previous episode.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, we did. From this lobby you can just walk right into this restaurant and it's got all of the oh gosh, the great historic vibe. But they've updated it so that it feels really nice, great atmosphere.

Speaker 2:

And they have a famous chef from New York. They do so he is gracing their kitchen with his wonderful delicacies. So for appetizers we started out. Rory got this.

Speaker 1:

This chowder. It was one of their specials of the day. And we're not talking like clam chowder or anything. This is, you just have to try it. Okay, I mean, it's got bacon on top, so what more is there to?

Speaker 2:

say Wasn't it like?

Speaker 1:

potato and cheese or something. I mean it's got bacon on top. What more is there to say? It's so good. I actually had them bring four spoons. So when it got to the table, we all put our spoons in and tried it Well, everyone but you because there was bacon in it. Right, yeah, and you know that if you eat bacon you're going to fall all off that wagon Gateway meat, oh yeah.

Speaker 2:

Well, speaking of being vegetarian, I had plenty of choices there. What I ended up getting? I got the beet salad, and I enjoy beets. I'm not like a total beet girl, but this had a nice different blend of them and it was just really good beets and greens and it was deliciousness altogether, is that?

Speaker 1:

why Beetnik's got their name.

Speaker 2:

I have no idea what you're doing. Okay, no-transcript. It's green chili, like hominy. It was like grits, but not but like. It was like I had to get it because, being from New Mexico, I got a green chili fix Sure If you like a bad crawfish, I'd have to get that Right. Right. So I got the green chili, like hominy type stuff and to satisfy your green chili taste buds. Yes, yeah, it was really good, very well done.

Speaker 1:

Yep, taste buds. Yes, yes, very well done, yep. I ordered a pizza and of course there was meat on my pizza. Of course there was Really good. It was a 12 inch pizza, so I shared, I shared my pizza and I still had like three or four pieces to bring home.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, really good, that was good. Yeah, another thing we took, another souvenir we brought home.

Speaker 1:

Yes, that's right, so I can recommend their pizza. Yeah, and it was really good the second time.

Speaker 2:

The other side that I got was a nice blend. I just got their seasonal veggies, and so it was like parsnips and sweet potatoes and the fun colored carrots all mixed together, and so that was a bit of loveliness as well, so we really enjoyed that. Now we started off the meal even before our food came. We got the cider shot or something like this. So this is a fire cider.

Speaker 1:

Yes, so it's a non-alcoholic it's made locally. I mean it's again, it's a local thing.

Speaker 2:

One of their local people makes this fire cider it's with apple cider vinegar is the main ingredient, and then they add all of these frou-frou things to it that make it spicy and sweet and all of the flavors of all the things.

Speaker 1:

Listen it is so good. I was expecting to fire my head up, but it's not just the straight fire cider, so it doesn't fire your head up at all, but it is, so I could have drank a whole glass of that. It comes in little shots, and so we all had the shots. They were so good. You've got to try and they're super good for you like there's a lot of goodness, yeah, yeah, that's why they put all these things.

Speaker 2:

We are talking about the wellness capital of texas.

Speaker 1:

Yes, that's right, they put all these things in that shot that are so good for your body, yes, but you've got to try that shot when you go there.

Speaker 2:

So good, it was good, oh yeah and we didn't even do dessert or anything, because we didn't need it?

Speaker 1:

No, we were stuffed. The food was very satisfying, although my heart wanted it, my stomach couldn't take it. We did got to meet the chef too. He's a friend of Rose and her husband, so that was really fun.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, he came out and said hi to us and we got to chat with him a little bit.

Speaker 1:

Yep, and they're really great about doing specific dietary things for your order. And we know that because you always have specific dietary things for your order.

Speaker 2:

I think I kind of ordered the things as they were. I don't think I had to make changes.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, that's a good menu.

Speaker 2:

So that was nice Yep. And just like City Meats and Market, they really pride themselves at the second bar and kitchen of using a lot of local vendors.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah, well, that's what I was saying, like the fire stuff and so on.

Speaker 2:

the menu you can see like they like to share where things are sourced from We've got this at Farmer.

Speaker 1:

Brown's place and stuff like that.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

And they have this, of course me a bone-in ribeye that I've got to try sometime.

Speaker 2:

Oh man, yeah, you've got to save up for that one.

Speaker 1:

Locally sourced again. Yeah.

Speaker 2:

So it's like you know, the whole healthy grass fed, whatever stuff, beef, Right. So you know we have talked about mineral wells being the wellness capital of Texas and I would say, like, from our food experience, the healthy in my opinion, comes from it being so clean and so local and just finding things that are going to plug into local. Your food's going to be much more fresh, less processed and that's like that's a really good way to approach food.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and it's you know, and there's the food side of the wellness capital of Texas. But the way that their whole system works there in their little town all working together with such community, there's a really great feeling to that town. Yes, for sure. And talk about wellness. That's a big side of it, I think. Yeah, really great the water, the food, the people, the way they're working together in community. Definitely the wellness capital of Texas.

Speaker 2:

So we hope you will visit as well. Plan your visit, go to visitmineralwellsorg and get all of the info. Listen to our episodes, check out our socials, and we hope that we have inspired you to plan your visit to Mineral Wells, yes, so you can have an awesome wellness experience.

Speaker 1:

You must.

Speaker 2:

Texas style.

Speaker 1:

That's right, baby, and if you've got favorite foodie shops or hidden gem shops that we need to check out, let us know too. So ours to you is go to mineral wells, texas, check it out.

Speaker 2:

They got all that we'll see you next time. We hope we've inspired you this episode, so join us next time. Please subscribe to rate and share our podcast with your friends or you know whome? And please like and follow us on Instagram, youtube and Facebook.

Speaker 1:

We are also on X and on all social platforms. We are at TheRomies, that's T-H-E-R-O-A-M-I-E-S, and our main hub is our website.

Speaker 2:

At wwwtheromiescom, that's right, that's. T-h-e-r-o-a-m-i-e-s dot com. We'll be there until next time. Yeah, thanks for listening. Bye.