I’ve heard about it here and there since my re-birth as a Texan two years ago. “Olive trees,” whispered seductive voices, “can grow in Texas…” “So-and-so’s someone makes their own olive oil…” The voices have come and gone, always enticing, but never revealing. I couldn’t have any, the message always ended. [...]
The stars were many and bright today at San Gabriel Park in Georgetown, where a day-long event called Sunday Fair wrapped up the 23rd annual Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival. Inside three vast tents, signs heralded our familiar Texas foods and wines… Becker… Téo… Tito’s… Freixenet… Ecco Domani… Wait! Many of [...]
If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve probably heard that Texas wines are getting better. From the panhandle to the coast, grape growers are learning the terroir and winemakers are localizing their techniques. In the Hill Country, especially, some great vintages are emerging. The biggest impediment to the industry? Pierce’s Disease. [...]
You might not expect local food to be on the menu at a sushi restaurant in central Texas. But Uchi executive chef Tyson Cole makes an effort: The “micro greens” (that’s teensy leaves from flavorful herbs) with which he seasons and garnishes his awesome creations come, still in their bitty pots (above), from [...]
Flat Creek Estate, known for its rockin’ “Super Texan” Sangiovese, has a new winemaker. Its esteemed former winemaker, Vicky-Louise Bartier, returned to her native Australia, co-proprietor Rick Naber told me at the “Set a Course” event in Dallas Monday night. She was – literally – allergic to Texas, it turns out; our various pollens and [...]
Well, duh — of course Texans produce and eat eggs. Doesn’t everyone? The point here isn’t that Texas eggs are better than other eggs. Rather, it’s that you should know how the hens that laid your eggs lived. Why does that matter? If you don’t care whether the hen that laid [...]
After last night’s tastebud-pleasing “Set a Course” wine and food event at the Dallas Contemporary, I headed to Grapevine for the night. I plan to explore the downtown a bit today, perhaps visiting a winery, too. First things first, though: un café et un croissant aux amandes at the torn-from-the-guidebook French cafe, the [...]
