I would LOVE to write a review about the actual products from South Texas Heritage Pork…read more Unfortunately, all I can write about is my customer experience, and here's why.
STHP sets up a booth at the Pearl Brewery Farmers Market each Saturday. The first time I stopped by looking for some pork belly, I was told that they sold out and that you have to get there early to get some. However, the lady working gave me a flyer with their contact info and told me that I could e-mail ahead to reserve whatever I wanted.
The first time I tried to e-mail to reserve some pork belly, Kelly told me that they wouldn't have any that weekend, but that they should have some the next. I e-mailed back and said that was cool, and asked her to reserve me a pork belly for the next weekend.
I e-mailed AGAIN earlier this week because I never heard back, asking to reserve the pork belly a second time. She e-mailed back and said that it wouldn't be a problem.
That about brings us up to today. Early(ish) this morning, I dragged my hungover hubby out of bed and rounded up the dogs. We live in the Stone Oak area, so it's quite a drive to downtown.Our only objective was to pick up the pork belly that I had reserved. When I got to the booth, I waited politely behind two people who seemed to want to chat with the woman working about the farm, the pigs, the pictures, et cetera. It felt like I waited for at least ten minutes before the woman working acknowledged me. I explained that I had e-mailed to reserve a pork belly, and she said, "Oops! Oh no, we sold it! And you e-mailed and I confirmed it and everything!"
Boyfriend is an easygoing dude. He said, "Well, it happens," and dragged me away to have lunch. HOWEVER. I'm not as easygoing, and I am PISSED. Seriously, the only reason I got up and drove across town with my dogs in tow was to pick up that pork belly. We left the farmers market empty-handed. We stopped at Central Market on the way home and got a pork belly there. Would have been a LOT easier to just go there in the first place, and that's what I'll be doing next time I want to make pork for dinner.
The farm sure looks nice, and apparently they treat the animals very humanely (which is the only reason I went with two stars instead of one). But since I wasn't offered any sort of discount or really ANYTHING for the massive inconvenience they put me through, I'll never know if their stuff is good or not, because I will never attempt to do business with them again. My patience is officially exhausted.