Linda Bauer - Recipes from Historic Texas

LINDA & STEVE BAUER

Copyright 2003 by Linda Bauer and Steve Bauer

First Taylor Trade Publishing edition 2003

This Taylor Trade Publishing hardcover edition of Recipes from Historic Texas is an original publication. It is published by arrangement with the authors.

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote passages in a review.

Published by Taylor Trade Publishing

A Member of the Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group

4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200

Lanham, Maryland 20706

Distributed by National Book Network

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Bauer, Linda.

Recipes from historic Texas : a restaurant guide and cookbook / Linda and Steve Bauer. 1st Taylor Trade Publishing ed.

p. cm.

Includes index.

ISBN 1-58979-048-0 (cloth : alk. paper)

1. CookeryTexas. 2. RestaurantsTexasGuidebooks. I. Bauer, Steve, 1943- II. Title.

TX715 .B34923 2003

641.509764dc21

2003005843

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information SciencesPermanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.
Manufactured in the United States of America.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to our sons Michael and Christopher, who share our love of travel and good food. Your presence has made our journeys infinitely more fun.

We also want to thank all of the wonderful proprietors and staff at the restaurants featured in this book. Your creative cuisine and excellent service are surpassed only by your concern for your patrons.

STATE OF TEXAS OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

Greetings:

Welcome to the wonderful world of dining in historic Texas.

Americas most beautiful and unique restaurants make a home in our great state, home to the finest of culinary traditions and an industry of professionals focused on excellence.

Home to unique cuisine, renowned the world over for its distinctive flair, Texas culinary delights reflect the diversity of the Lone Star State.

Eat and enjoy!

Sincerely,

Rick Perry
Governor

The lure of Texas is world renowned because it is the largest state in size in the contiguous United States. An area of 266,807 square miles encompasses beaches, forests, mountains and lakes. At 21 million, it boasts one of the highest populations in the country, and includes some of the largest cities in the nation such as Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio. Friendly Texans have a howdy neighbor attitude and it shines through at every opportunity.

The saying, Texas: Its like a whole other country, is a true statement considering the vast expanses and travel opportunities available. In 1999, travel and tourism accounted for a whopping $36.7 billion of the states economy. Where else could one tour some of the oldest missions in the New World, visit a working cattle ranch bigger than the state of Rhode Island, enjoy all types of professional sports, play on challenging golf courses, view the worlds most prestigious piano competition and dine in the best restaurants? Its no accident when they say dining out is a regular pastime in Texas.

Only Texas has the armadillo as the state mammal, the bluebonnet as the state flower, the mockingbird as the state bird and the pecan as the state tree. This uniqueness, combined with great weather, many historic sites, diverse land formations and friendly people beckon snowbirds from the North to spend the winters in the Lone Star State and, perhaps, stay forever.

Texas has been blessed with Mexican, German, Polish and Czech immigrants, who built the state. The Lone Star State is uniquely comprised of 27 cultural and ethnic groups, all working together to provide a special form of southern hospitality. In fact, Texas is a derivation of tejas, meaning friendship. This attitude is evident throughout the state and especially at the historic restaurants, where generations have lovingly passed down the properties. Owners want to share their stories with patrons and are eager to aid others in enjoying their often award-winning cuisine from barbecue and Tex-Mex family secrets to elegant dining.

Why not please your palate, nourish your mind and enjoy a bit of unique Texas history? From a sanitarium, to a winery, to a church, to a funeral home, the rich fabric of Texas has been preserved and is available to diners in some of the best restaurants in the country. Recipes from Historic Texas combines stories from the past with enticing recipes and information for travel, cooking and contacting the establishments. Elegant homes, warehouses, factories and mercantile stores have taken on a new life as restaurants, preserving their historic qualities and providing diners a bit of nostalgia with their meals.

In our eighteen years of writing international food and travel columns, we have been amazed at the way an excellent restaurant with a special atmosphere enhances any dining experience or vacation. The combination of a historic venue combined with interesting cuisinewhether it is ethnic, Southwest, classic or family styleis a dining adventure of immense proportions. How exciting it is to visit a former stagecoach stop, bank, historic hotel, ranch or exclusive Victorian home and enjoy a delicious meal.

To Texans the bumper stickers are serious business that extol, TEXASI wasnt born here, but got here as quick as I could! Texans are proud of their colorful and important history. This volume is an effort to help visitors, locals and gourmands enjoy some of the finest food, and the most interesting restaurants in our country.

Simply choose an area in one of the seven regions and decide which historic restaurant to visit. Black-and-white, pen-and-ink drawings, or pictures of the property are included to depict the past. The restaurant is then described with a page or more of history. The location and method of contact is also offered and several recipes, which are on the menu, are included. After a visit, the diner may wish to recreate the dish at home. Our experience has shown that many people love to read cookbooks while others like travel guides. This book is a way to please both and allow singles, couples and families to learn a great deal of information about Texas history and enjoy the bounty of Texas-grown produce, livestock and chefs.