With New Apparel Line, the Cool Couple Behind Traveler’s Table Has More Worldly Wonders on the Menu

IN HIS 20S, Matt Mitchell lived in Europe, working as a writer and journalist. “I didn’t speak the language, but I felt like I spoke the food,” he says. Cuisine was a gateway to other cultures, and drove him to open Houston’s Traveler’s Table restaurant in Montrose.

Born in D.C., Mitchell moved to Houston as a kid, when his dad got a job with Baylor College of Medicine. Later, he helped his father start a medical-research company, but the food world lured him: He enrolled in culinary school, and was a CEO by day and a student by night. Just a couple years later, he opened his first restaurant with his wife, Thy, who focuses on the marketing, social media and administrative operations. “We stay in our lanes, and know each other’s strengths,” she says.

Another of Thy’s strengths is style. Much like their globally inspired restaurant, Thy’s new online boutique Foreign Fare strives to nourish appetites for discovery with clothes that are comfortable and adaptable. Foreign Fare was the natural next step for Thy after working in retail and hospitality, her journey through motherhood, as well as her passion for seeing the world. “Over the last decade, we’ve been traveling all over the world researching food in different regions for our restaurants,” she explains. “In doing so, I realized there was no brand specifically designed to provide stylish yet functional clothing tailored for travelers.”

Foreign Fare’s first collection, which draws from cultures in Morocco and Japan, is comprised of six hero silhouettes. A few staples to consider include the Jetsetter Jacket, a modernized blazer with a twist — lightweight, water-repellent, and equipped with a zip-off hood, front pocket, interior hidden pockets, and even a top pocket for your AirPods. There’s also a wrinkle-resistant jumpsuit and wrap dress. The entire collection is on display at a pop-up boutique in Montrose Collective through mid-January.

Nearby, the couple is readying their second restaurant — global-street-food-inspired Traveler’s Cart, a casual café with delicacies eaten by hand or with chopsticks. It’ll be open late, with a great cocktail menu.

“The counter-serve side of the restaurant industry is expanding, and we plan to open 4-5 locations around town,” says Matt. “Everything about our brand was born from a love of exploring exotic cultures and global flavors, and we want to share that.”

Foreign Fare’s wrinkle-resistant wrap dress

Steamed bao buns at Traveler’s Table