Go for Gold at the Sandy Pickle Beer Olympics on Saturday, September 27th! From 12 PM to 8 PM, Sandy Pickle will host its first-ever Beer Olympics, bringing together teams, fans, and neighbors for a full day of spirited competition and celebration filled with live music, ice-cold beer, and bites. Tickets are $75 per team of two, covering entry, three beers per player, food, and country face paint.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
Long before San Antonio became the well-known tourist hub, the heart of the city belonged to the Chili Queens. Beginning in the late 1800s, as the sun dipped behind the horizon, the plazas transformed into living theaters of food and culture. Lanterns flickered, guitars strummed, and the air filled with the intoxicating aroma of chili con carne—beef stewed with fiery dried chiles, onions, and spices. The women behind these makeshift stalls, dubbed “Chili Queens,” were as much cultural icons as they were cooks.
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Dallas has a new reason to look up. High above the city on the 11th floor of the JW Marriott Dallas Arts District, the newly opened JW Steakhouse is reshaping the classic steakhouse experience with a Texas spirit, a global pantry, and a view that rivals the food.
“Dallas knows steak,” says Executive Chef Miguel Antonio, “but we wanted to push the conversation forward.” The menu certainly does that—yes, there are the traditional big cuts seared at 1,200 degrees in a Montague broiler, but they arrive brushed with garden herbs, finished with artisanal salts, and garnished with clippings from the hotel’s rooftop garden. The result: plates that balance power and precision, indulgence and restraint.
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In Dallas, Tex-Mex isn’t just food—it’s tradition, family, and memory rolled into one. And no restaurant has shaped that story more than El Fenix. Mention the name to anyone who grew up here and you’ll likely get a smile, a story, and probably a craving. The original McKinney Avenue location has been around since 1918, and the city even honored its founder by renaming the cross-street Miguel Martinez Way. For over a century, El Fenix has been more than a restaurant—it’s been a gathering place.
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In Texas, barbecue is a battleground. Plenty of joints sling brisket and ribs, but only a handful deliver the kind of meal that makes you slow down, lean back, and just nod in appreciation. Slow Bone Dallas, in the Design District, is one of those places. It doesn’t just serve meat—it puts on a masterclass in smoke and fire.
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Texas stretches wide across piney woods, rolling hills, rugged mountains, and endless deserts. Traveling from one far corner of the state to the other can take nearly 14 hours and cover close to 900 miles.
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The drive into Marathon near the Glass Mountains feels like entering another world. Miles of open desert stretch endlessly in every direction, the horizon marked only by distant mountains and the shimmer of heat rising off the road. Marathon itself appears almost suddenly—a handful of streets, a scattering of adobe-style buildings, and the unmistakable quiet of a town that seems untouched by time.
At first glance, it doesn’t look like the kind of place where you’d find a destination restaurant. But hidden in the heart of town is the historic Gage Hotel, and within it, the 12 Gage Restaurant—a dining room that has become a beacon for travelers and locals alike in this remote corner of Texas.
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Gastronomic tourism, often referred to as “foodie travel,” offers an immersive experience that allows travelers to explore a destination’s culture through its cuisine. Mazatlán, a coastal city in Sinaloa, Mexico, is a prime example of how food can serve as a gateway to understanding a region’s heritage and lifestyle. Known for its rich seafood offerings, Mazatlán provides a plethora of dining options that showcase the freshness and flavors of the Pacific Ocean.
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