Thy and Matt Mitchell love to travel. They love to explore other countries and cultures – and bring what they’ve found home to Houston, TX. In 2019, the couple channeled their wanderlust into a pair of globally-inspired restaurants, Traveler's Table and Traveler's Cart – both in Houston with plans to potentially expand.
In October 2023 they added travel-inspired apparel line Foreign Fare to their portfolio. We met Thy when she did a Foreign Fare pop-up at The Ella Hotel and we were instantly smitten with her designs, passion and curiosity.
How many countries have you visited? About 30.
You worked in HR and your husband was a writer – then you pivoted to being restaurateurs with an apparel brand. We believe in the romance of travel and the spirit of adventure - values that are woven into Foreign Fare, Traveler’s Table, and Traveler’s Cart.
Our restaurant concepts were born from a deep love of exploring the world and the belief that food is one of the most powerful ways to connect with and understand other cultures. Through shared meals, we believe we can foster greater empathy, curiosity, and open-mindedness.
Share more about your two restaurant concepts. Traveler’s Table, opened in 2019, just before the pandemic. In October 2024, we expanded with our second concept, Traveler’s Cart, as a natural extension of the original. Traveler’s Table is a full-service restaurant featuring what we call "curated global cuisine" - more refined, complex dishes in an upscale setting with table service where reservations are encouraged. In contrast, Traveler’s Cart focuses on modern global street food in a more casual, counter-service environment. It feels modern and hip, with plenty of free parking, lunch, dinner, and late-night on weekends.
What’s been a highlight? Traveler’s Table has been featured twice on the Food Network – once on an episode fo Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive Ins and Dives where he enjoyed our Crispy Pork Belly in Pasilla Sauce and Caribbean Braised Oxtails and again when our executive chef beat Bobby Flay on Beat Bobby Flay with Duck Chilaquiles.
How did Foreign Fare come about? I focused on creating pieces that felt more chic compared to typical athleisure—designed for women who want to feel polished and put-together while on the move and lauched with four core styles: the Wrap Me Up Dress, Jetsetter Jacket, Flight Jumpsuit, and Hideaway Hoodie. Now, with the launch of our Soft Landings Collection, we’ve introduced plush, ultra-comfortable travel sets that I can easily see becoming every woman’s ideal travel day outfit.
Anything you’d like to add?
As we continue to grow, our goal is to expand our travel lifestyle brands - whether through the dishes we serve or the clothes that we design - bringing the beauty of global connection to more people, one plate or outfit at a time.