Former Plonk Chef Erin Smith to Consult For Blacksmith Coffee Shop

In a press release issued today, former Plonk chef Erin Smith announced that her first job since leaving the Garden Oaks wine bar will be to serve as a chef/consultant to Blacksmith Coffee Bar, the coffeeshop being opened by Greenway Coffee's David Buehrer and Ecky Prabanto in collaboration with the same group that operates Anvil, Hay Merchant and Underbelly. Although work only began to transform the space that previously housed iconic bar Mary's, they expect to open by the end of the year.

Of Smith, Buehrer says "We're happy to bring Erin Smith on board to make sure the food is as good as the coffee is going to be. I think that the full breakfast experience with amazing coffee and awesome food is going to be unique and exciting for Houston."

Blacksmith Coffee Bar to Open In Late December
ERIN SMITH, RECENTLY OF PLONK BEER & WINE BISTRO, TO SERVE AS CHEF/CONSULTANT

Blacksmith Coffee Bar, the fourth Montrose-area venture from Bobby Heugel and company, announces a late-December opening date. Around Christmas of this year, Houston will be able to enjoy Blacksmith's offerings at the second location featuring the curated selection of coffees offered by Greenway Coffee & Tea owners Ecky Prabanto and David Buehrer.

The original Greenway Coffee & Tea location, in Greenway Plaza Building #5's underground food court, quickly became a cult favorite among coffee aficionados, leading to Greenway's expansion into coffee roasting with Greenway Coffee. For the past few months, Montrose residents have been seeing the transformation of iconic gay bar Mary's Naturally (1018 Westheimer Road) into Blacksmith Coffee Bar, which pays homage to the "Kindred spirit among baristas and the antiquated laborers who sought to craft something by hand with uncompromising quality and attention to detail."

As things are changing in and around the building, exciting changes within Blacksmith's menu and staff are occurring, as well. Erin Smith, recently executive chef at Plonk Beer & Wine Bistro, has signed on as chef/food consultant for Blacksmith, and is sure to bring her innovative palate and groundbreaking vision to the menu. As David Buehrer said, "We're happy to bring Erin Smith on board to make sure the food is as good as the coffee is going to be. I think that the full breakfast experience with amazing coffee and awesome food is going to be unique and exciting for Houston."

Although Blacksmith will cater to the everyday coffee-on-the-way-to-work crowd with a full menu of traditional coffee shop offerings, of course, it will offer a little something extra. "We're excited to offer two separate menus; one featuring things people will be comfortable with, traditional coffee shop stuff, then a sit-down menu for people who want to spend a little more time with their coffee and experience something new," said Buehrer.

Montrose residents are always ready for something new, and the personalities behind Blacksmith are ready to offer this iconic Houston neighborhood just that—something new. New tastes, new experiences, and a new place to sit, sip, and watch Montrose go by.

· Blacksmith Coffee Bar [Facebook]
· Lindsey Vanarsdel Replacing Erin Smith At Plonk! Bistro [-EHOU-]