Category Archives: Texas

by | November 6, 2012 · 11:15 am

Terlingua Is A Spicy Party In The Texas Desert

by Steven Doyle

It’s the right of passage for seasons; merging Summer into Fall in a spicy mélange set in a bowl of stewed meat. Chili gives us pause to celebrate, and many do as 8,000 people have qualified internationally to cook at one of two cook offs set in the desert near the Mexican border in Terlingua, Texas.

I wrote up the history of the cook off last week, detailing the highlights that produced the legendary event set in the Chihuahua desert. We just celebrated Terlingua’s 46th cook off in grand style with near perfect weather. The final night a gale-force wind swooped in, but otherwise you couldn’t ask for better weather.   Continue reading →

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Filed under Chili, tamales, Terlingua, Texas

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by | November 5, 2012 · 10:35 am

There’s Something About Mary’s Cafe

by Steven Doyle

Just a few weeks back we celebrated Texas Chicken Fried Steak Day and had a great week gnawing our way through the vast amounts of fried meat the city has to offer. This weekend we were flying down I20 out west and had Mary’s Café on our radar. If you recall, Mary’s made our jumbo list of favorites even though it is nearly 90 minutes outside of Dallas.

We pulled in curbside 30 minutes before Mary opens her doors, but were invited in none the less. Our waitress was busy making her tables ready and offered up a tall glass of iced tea she had just brewed and that took some of the road dust off our palates as we stared down the menu.          Continue reading →

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Filed under Chicken Fried Steak, Crave Travel, Steven Doyle, Texas

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by | October 31, 2012 · 9:44 am

The Colorful History Of The Chili Cook Off

by Steven Doyle

The first weekend in November over 10,000 people, fondly referred to as chili-heads, converge onto the tiny former mining town in the Texas desert called Terlingua. Each year at this time the town with a population of no more than a few dozen play host to two of the largest chili cook-offs in the world. That’s right, two.

What first began in 1967 and organized by Texas historian and chili aficionado Wick Fowler and car manufacturer Carroll Shelby as a means to settle a storied feud between two journalists; namely Frank X. Tolbert who wrote for the Dallas Morning News, and a gentleman by the name of   H. Allen Smith who wrote a scathing article in Holiday Magazine entitled “Nobody Knows More About Chili Than I Do”.    Continue reading →

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Filed under Chili, Steven Doyle, Terlingua, Texas

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by | October 4, 2012 · 2:34 pm

Fine Dining on the Texas Coast

by Joey Stewart

On our quest to seek out the “finer dining” gems along the south Texas coast we present GLOW, the second restaurant reviewed in as many weeks located in the town of Rockport, Texas.

Chef/Owner Karey B. Johnson showcases locally caught seafood in a restored boathouse just off the water in this fishing and vacation town.  “Our role at GLOW is to present the ingredients in a simple, elegant way that showcases the essence of the dish.  We wouldn’t want to muddle the flavors,” she explains.  “They speak for themselves.” Along with über fresh seafood, Karey also brings in meats such as antelope from Broken Arrow Ranch in the Hill Country and local goat for a featured slow-braised cabrito and masa dish.   Continue reading →

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Filed under chefs, Joey Stewart, Texas, Travel, Travels in Texas, Visit Texas

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by | September 12, 2012 · 11:29 am

Helicopter To The State Fair Compliments Of The Palomar Hotel Dallas

by Steven Doyle

As the State Fair of Texas approaches we will start hearing about all sorts of deals and attractions with the Big Tex theme. This one from the Palomar Hotel Dallas is more delicious that a box of Fletcher’s Corny Dogs. They are actually offering two Big Tex packages.

The package for $189, which is a good value, offers a room, DART rail passes to the fair, chef Graham’s triple fried potatoes and cotton candy in the room.  Every room gets use of the corporate gold fish regardless.       Continue reading →

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Filed under Party!, Pie, State Fair of Texas, Staycation, Steven Doyle, Texas

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by | March 13, 2012 · 12:07 pm

Keller: The Land of Milk and Honey

by Steven Doyle

Just days ago I aimed my car west and headed to Keller, which until now has been known for its Babe’s Chicken, at least in my mind. Stepping into boutique restaurant Milk and Honey is like walking up onto the back porch of an Amish couple at supper time, which for the uninitiated, that is a very good thing.

The restaurant actually has a southern gentility to it, and is stocked with trinkets that your grandmother coveted so much. I am talking the needle-point, the glassware, and all the photos that could be stuffed into a trunk. It’s actually very quaint and comforting.            Continue reading →

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Filed under Bacon, chefs, Crave, fun with food, Music, Pie, Steven Doyle, Texas, Wine