Local Foods Kitchen opened in July. Photo courtesy of Facebook.com/localfoodskitchen.

February 1, 2016

She helped her family found City Café in Dallas. She trained with Julia Childs and even did a stint in Paris at the three Michelin starred L’ Arpege, but when veteran chef and caterer Katie Schma decided to open her own restaurant with a local food theme she chose a North Texas city known for its small-town feel – Fort Worth.

Last July, Schma opened Local Foods Kitchen in a strip shopping center off Hulen Drive as both a dine-in and carry-out venue. As its name signals, it’s all about cooking “responsibly grown, humanely raised local and regional products whenever possible,” said Schma.  

“Local Foods Kitchen tries to bring in local Texas farmers, however, due to weather highs and lows in produce, some ingredients are from out of state,” she explained. “The goal is to offer an evolving menu of small-batch meals, including soups, salads, sweets, sandwiches and home-comfort meals, featuring the highest quality farm-raised ingredients.”

Katie Schma is ready for the locals at Local Foods Kitchen in Fort Worth. Courtesy of Fort Worth, Texas magazine.

Local Foods Kitchen serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Every day a new menu item is featured so customers can enjoy a variety of fresh options.

The menu changes seasonally too.

Schma, who grew up in Carmel, California, has been involved with restaurants, catering and cooking food for others all of her life. Along the way, she learned about the simple principles of food.

“Always look for the best sources of ingredients and have local farmer connections for produce and meats. It just tastes better,” she said.

Local Foods Kitchen serves many unique dishes, with a good offering of vegetarian options. Featuring a farm-to-table vibe and an American Regional menu, the venue includes dishes such as Caramelized Brussels Sprouts, Roasted Butternut Squash, Tuscan Kale Salad with Ginger Dressing, Caesar Brussels Sprout Salad with homemade Cesar dressing. 

While Schma admits she isn’t treading new ground with Local Foods Kitchen, she’s passionate about serving fresh ingredients with a gourmet style.

And she’s got the chops for it.

In addition to her time in Paris serving under the primo chef Alain Passard, Schma has also served as the executive chef of City Cafe To Go and in California she was part of the opening of Nest Deli and Takeout with her mother Mardi Schma.

Local Foods Kitchen is located at 4548 Hartwood Drive in Fort Worth


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