Los Angeles-based sandwich and salad shop Mendocino Farms will open its first Houston location at 5510 Morningside Drive, on July 18, featuring a one-time partnership with award-winning local chef Chris Shepherd for the first month after the opening. Proceeds from the "Charity Sandwich"—pecan wood smoked bacon sausage, wedge slaw, red onions, tomato, and roasted garlic aioli and served on a toasted brioche bun—will benefit Shepherd's Southern Smoke Foundation. The restaurant offers a seasonal menu and will use locally sourced ingredients. "There is so much about Houston that resonates with our passions and our values and reminds us of home—the hospitality, the diversity, the respect for time-honored traditions like you see in BBQ,” co-owner Mario Del Pero said in a release. Another location is slated for the Heights M-K-T development. www.mendocinofarms.com