Shopping in the Foggy Foggy Dew

Have I mentioned before that some of the most interesting shops in Galveston are in the 500 block of 23rd Street? No? Well, I dropped by the area on a very foggy Saturday afternoon and hit both The Kitchen Chick and Galveston Coffee Roasters which are conveniently located next door to each other and near the oldest drug store in Texas. All are locally owned, quirky and worth visiting.

First up: The Kitchen Chick. This shop sells kitchen gadgets and housewares galore and is stuffed chock-a-block with unusual finds like the reusable oyster shells that I couldn't resist because they can be used in the oven or on the grill and then popped into the dishwasher ready for the next time. A great find for oyster lovers like me who don't try to shuck their own. The Kitchen Chick also has a tempting schedule of cooking classes which I would love to try, but they are almost all scheduled during the week when we aren't in Galveston. Maybe when Mike retires!

Second up: Galveston Coffee Roasters. Nestled on the corner conveniently next to The Kitchen Chick, this little shop sells coffee roasted by the proprietor. I had a nice chat with him and he told me he doesn't sell lattes, mochas, cappuccinos--just straight up coffee with a number of different roasts and/or flavored coffees. The coffee is sold as beans but he will grind it for you. So after tasting, I bought a pound of his Rainbow Roast which has an equal mixture of light, medium and dark roasted beans. Smells and tastes divine.

Third up: Star Drug Store, just a few steps down from The Kitchen Chick. It claims to be the oldest drug store in Texas and you can stop by its retro lunch counter for a nostalgic bite to eat. The rest of the store is stuffed with more vintage kitsch than its possible to absorb. Talk about sensory overload!

So next time you are in the Strand area, venture a few blocks west and check out these local favorites. Now I need to make a run to Katie's Seafood for some shucked oysters.......