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Published by the Hill Country Sun.
Dripping Texas For Springs, advertising, call 512-484-9716
or email julie@hillcountrysun.com
September 2014
LOCAL INFORMATION & ADVERTISING
The Mercantile serves up wine, tapas, more
B
By Laurel Robertson
rought to you by the same people who named a brew pub “The Barbershop,” comes Dripping Springs’ new wine and tapas bar, The Mercantile. What owners John McIntosh and Dave Niemeyer may lack in naming exactitude, they more than make up for in creating atmosphere and cuisine. Their newest venture has a distinct style and menu very different from its sibling business just two doors down on Mercer Street. The focus of The Mercantile is wine and food, with an emphasis on national and global selections, says John. “We wanted to fill in the wine bar gap after Dudleys Wine Bar closed,” he says. The addition of tapas (small snacks or appetizers, well-known in Spanish bars) to the business plan came after that. “There are so few places in Dripping that serve
late,” he observes. “And I’m a small plate eater. I like to try small amounts of different things, and not be married to a huge serving of a single $25 entree.” The interior of the limestone building has been totally remodeled to make room for a full commercial kitchen where chef Chris Hoffman (of The Goodnight Diner and, most recently, Blair House in Wimberley) cooks up the price-friendly small wonders. These delights feature ingredients such as shiitake chicken liver pate with fig port marmalade and crostini; dolmas stuffed with bulgar, apricots and mint w/ tahini aioli; red wine braised beef short ribs with rosemary polenta and arugula pesto; and shallot croustade with house smoked bacon jam, sunny-side-up quail egg and micro greens. The menu changes seasonally, and locally sourced ingredients figure promi-
The Mercantile on Mercer Street. Photo by Melanie Cambron. nently in it, as do Chris’ own customsmoked bacon and sausage (from a smoker on the patio of The Mercantile). His wife, Jana Muniz, prepares specialty
desserts worthy of the main dishes. Patrons of the Barbershop also benefit from the new full kitchen at The MercanSee THE MERCANTILE, page 2
LY PROUDEN T!
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THANK YOU for supporting one of Dripping Spring’s locally owned businesses! at Dripping Springs
100 Commons Rd, #1 • 512-858-7935 • 512-894-0285 • www.martinscompoundingandwellness.com
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