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Articles by June Naylor
Where to Stay Among the Texas Wildflowers
The only downside to wildflower wandering is leaving the blooms behind. Why not build some overnights into your springtime jaunt and hunker down into cozy digs amid seas of bluebonnets, Indian blankets, and Mexican hats? These cabins and guesthouses in wildflower country provide temporary homes near bounties of seasonal color. Each is far from city life, so it’s just you and the flowers, with a big night sky to keep you company after dark.
Where to Stay Among the Texas Wildflowers
The only downside to wildflower wandering is leaving the blooms behind. Why not build some overnights into your springtime jaunt and hunker down into cozy digs amid seas of bluebonnets, Indian blankets, and Mexican hats? These cabins and guesthouses in wildflower country provide temporary homes near bounties of seasonal color. Each is far from city life, so it’s just you and the flowers, with a big night sky to keep you company after dark.
“A Playful Iteration”
Long before he prepares showstopping dishes, Antonio Votta dives deep into curating ingredients to use in his kitchen at the sublime new Bowie House luxury hotel in Fort Worth. The executive chef at Bricks and Horses the brand-new restaurant turning heads inside the latest Auberge property, Votta devotes as much attention to what’s going into his food as he does fashioning it.
Emilia's off to hot start thanks to Chef Preston Paine’s Mediterranean-inspired menu
As Preston Paine readies for a photo shoot at the white-hot new restaurant, Emilia’s, he finishes a quick email, closes his laptop and heads back into the kitchen to style a dish. “That was Bobby Flay asking if I want to do another Food Network show,” he explains. So what did he tell Chef Flay? “That’s a yes,” Paine confirms with a smile. Such is the executive chef life at one of Fort Worth’s two new luxury hotels, the dazzlingly contemporary Crescent.
Meet the newest Auberge Bowie House chef turning heads with his ‘familiar’ but ‘reimagined’ Texas food
Long before he prepares showstopping dishes, Antonio Votta dives deep into curating ingredients to use in his kitchen at the sublime new Bowie House luxury hotel in Fort Worth. The executive chef at Bricks and Horses, the brand-new restaurant turning heads inside the latest Auberge property, Votta devotes as much attention to what’s going into his food as he does fashioning it.
Where to Find the Best Mexican Food in Texas
AAA Magazines What’s as popular in Texas as pickup trucks and football? Mexican food! It’s everywhere, with half the convenience stores from Dalhart to Harlingen seemingly boasting in-house taquerias these days. But with so many choices, how to find the best spots? Ask gastronomy experts, of course. These 6 top chefs and 1 culinary director from across the state shared where they go for the tastiest Mexican food in their cities.
HGTV’s Grace Mitchell Shows and Tells How Fort Worth Is One of a Kind
Storytelling has always fueled Grace Mitchell’s creativity. Before she became an HGTV star, the Fort Worth interior designer was a teacher and language therapist for deaf children. In 2011, the Arlington native and TCU graduate began her blog, “A Storied Style,” and started writing for home design magazines, including Better Homes & Gardens. Her approach to creating spaces infused with personal stories gained traction, and she began serving clients in 2012.
Texas Food Halls You Must Visit
When you and your fellow diners can’t agree on a restaurant, food halls sure come in handy. The ultimate definition of “something for everyone,” food halls provide options to satisfy the pickiest palates and particular cravings. This popular concept typically features assorted take-away café counters assembled under one roof. You might find Asian, Mexican, Southern, African, burgers, seafood, sweets, coffee, and cocktails side by side.
How Dallas Chef Tiffany Derry Went From IHOP to TV Personality
To watch Tiffany Derry on high-intensity TV cooking competitions is to witness grace under pressure. On cable shows like Top Chef and Bobby’s Triple Threat, the Dallas-based chef makes it look easy—working at lightning speed, nailing each minute element of a nuanced dish, never breaking a sweat. How does someone learn to do that? Derry credits IHOP. The Beaumont native has built a stellar resume in the roughly two decades since she learned the ropes in the kitchen of the ubiquitous pancake chain.
How Dallas Chef Tiffany Derry Went From IHOP Cook to TV Personality
To watch Tiffany Derry on high-intensity TV cooking competitions is to witness grace under pressure. On cable shows like Top Chef and Bobby’s Triple Threat, the Dallas-based chef makes it look easy—working at lightning speed, nailing each minute element of a nuanced dish, never breaking a sweat. How does someone learn to do that? Derry credits IHOP. The Beaumont native has built a stellar resume in the roughly two decades since she learned the ropes in the kitchen of the ubiquitous pancake chain.
Join the Club for a Delectable Sunday Supper in Van
When the duo first launched the Supper Club, they were nervous. “We wondered what people would be willing to pay for a dinner like this, and would they like it?” Jennifer recalls. Nineteen guests came to the inaugural Sunday Supper in February 2022. The mother-daughter team offered guests a discount for the March and April dinners if they signed up that night, and much to the Ellisons’ delight, they all did. Most even brought new guests with them upon return.
Join the Club for a Delectable Sunday Supper in Van
Inside a converted barn with a rustic wood interior, 40 people gather just in time for supper in the tiny East Texas town of Van. Guests sip on wine, enjoying their five-course meal around three long tables adorned with tapered candles, fine china, and elegant flower arrangements. On this late October night, the menu includes paté paired with toasted pistachios, torched figs, and pomegranate reduction; followed by roasted quail with apple, leek, and fennel stuffing. The Farmhouse 1125 S.
With Its Healing Waters History, Mineral Wells Serves Up Relaxing Good Times
Driving west from Fort Worth into the rolling, woodsy hills known as the Palo Pinto Mountains, visitors to Mineral Wells see the behemoth Baker Hotel well before entering the city limits. A beacon since its 1929 opening, the 14-story Spanish Colonial Revival beauty hosted vacationers during Mineral Wells’ glory days as a resort in the ’30s to ’50s.
With its Healing Waters History, Mineral Wells Serves Up Relaxing Good Times
Merry Wells The annual holiday celebration Merry Wells begins Thanksgiving week with a festival and lighted parade, along with the debut of an outdoor ice-skating rink that will stay open for a month. Throughout the season, the city and local shops and businesses decorate to make revelers feel like they’ve landed in a Hallmark Christmas movie.
Texas Arts and Crafts Fair Celebrates 50 Years of Lone Star Talent
Edith Maskey had just begun her art practice 50 years ago when she took a chance and entered her work for consideration in the inaugural Texas Arts and Crafts Fair in Kerrville. “It was the first juried show I ever entered, and there were so many people applying,” recalls the San Antonio native who relocated to Comfort more than 40 years ago. “It was such an honor to get in. It was so exciting—I was next to an artist who drew cartoons for Disney.
In Granbury, New Offerings Energize a Classic Lakeside Retreat
A weekend getaway to the North Texas town engages visitors with culture, food, and water fun Written by , Photographs by Tiffany Hofeldt | From the August 2022 issue | Updated: July 27, 2022 | Filed Under: GetawaysTRAVEL Granbury is a perennial favorite among Dallas-Fort Worth weekend wanderers thanks to local efforts that began in the 1970s to revitalize the Hood County Courthouse square.
In Granbury, New Offerings Energize a Classic Lakeside Retreat
Granbury is a perennial favorite among Dallas-Fort Worth weekend wanderers thanks to local efforts that began in the 1970s to revitalize the Hood County Courthouse square. Located less than an hour’s drive southwest of Fort Worth, Granbury initially attracted visitors with antiques shops and tea rooms that brought new life to the town’s charming limestone buildings. Today, however, the quaint vibe has given way to a modern feel enlivened by wine tasting rooms, boutique inns, and live music venues.
The Dish - 360 West Magazine
Basque Cheesecake with Cherry Port Sauce Serves 10 to 12 2 tablespoons butter, room temperature 2 pounds (four 8-ounce packages) cream cheese, room temperature ¾ cup white sugar ¾ cup brown sugar 6 large eggs 1 teaspoon sea salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups heavy cream ⅓ cup flour Heat oven to 400 degrees. Butter sides and bottom of a 10-inch springform pan. Place parchment paper inside buttered pan; trim so edges extend about 2 inches above pan’s rim.
Three Danes Baking Company Finds a New Audience For Old World Treats
Treats like the hinderbaersnitte draw customers to Three Danes Baking Company. On the first Friday and Saturday of each month, a steady stream of customers parks at the back gate of a yellow Victorian bed-and-breakfast in Fort Worth’s Near Southside neighborhood. People walk past a big pecan tree and step inside the small storefront of Three Danes Baking Company to claim a box or tray laden with pastries bearing names they probably can’t pronounce.
Three Danes Baking Company Finds a New Audience For Old World Treats
The Fort Worth-based inn and bakery serves traditional European sweets like butter cake, Danish cookies, and a seasonal kringle Written by , Photographs by Eric W. Pohl | From the July 2022 issue | Updated: June 29, 2022 | Filed Under: Eat + Drink Treats like the hinderbaersnitte draw customers to Three Danes Baking Company.
Texas Road Trip Cheap Eats
In Houston, fans of Vietnamese cuisine point to Cali Sandwich and Pho as the place to enjoy an excellent bánh mì; a chef once told me this was his favorite in all of Houston. Yes, you can also order fine bowls of pho and vermicelli topped with stir-fried shrimp and egg rolls, but it’s the sandwich from this strip-center space that earns raves.
DESTINATIONS - 360 West Magazine
If you’re smart, you’ve already booked that dream photo safari in Africa or an eating odyssey in Italy. But for last-minute planners (count us in) or anyone looking for a short trip, we have a few ideas. You can stay in Texas to enjoy a sophisticated city getaway or relax at a riverside resort with stunning views. And everything old is new again in Salado. Revel in ship-to-shore activities when you book an adults-only cruise on Virgin Voyages’ sassy Scarlet Lady.
By June NaylorPhotos by Meda Kessler In addition to fresh Gulf seafood, Ben Merritt’s menu at The Fitzgerald, his newest restaurant in Fort Worth, features a fruit-fueled Southern cake we don’t get to enjoy often enough. The chef fell in love with a hummingbird cake he tasted recently, noting the similarities to its cousin, the carrot cake. “I tweaked my recipe till I found the perfect balance between banana and pineapple,” he says.
Texas Brunch Places
The intersection of virtuous cooking and indulgent flavors, Righteous Foods is chef Lanny Lancarte II’s ode to clean food that pampers the palate. A loyal following keeps the kitchen busy throughout the day, but brunch time is when a line forms at the door for the tables inside and on the patio.
Satisfy Your State Fair of Texas Cravings With New Series 'Deep Fried Dynasty'
Chef Cassy Jones, one of the stars of new show ‘Deep Fried Dynasty.’ Photo by Tramaine Townsend/A&E 2022. The allure of the State Fair of Texas—and particularly its renowned foods—extends well beyond the state borders. Some 800 miles west of El Paso, in fact, a production company in Los Angeles became fascinated with the s’mores, butter, lemonade, alligator, pancakes, PB&J, and other imaginative deep-fried delicacies enjoyed at the annual fall festival in Dallas.
CHEERS - 360 West Magazine
CheersEat DrinkFeatures By February 2, 2022March 1st, 2022 By June NaylorPhotos by Meda Kessler Lockwood Distilling Co.’s original home is in Richardson, where the distillery turns out whiskey, gin, vodka and rum, but they now also call Fort Worth home. At the new bar/restaurant on Magnolia Avenue, enjoy cocktails, wine and food; take-home bottles also are for sale. The Lockwood kitchen turns out hot dogs, sandwiches and shareables such as dips and grazing boards.
THE DISH - 360 West Magazine
By June NaylorPhotos by Meda Kessler This robust but simple vegetarian pasta dish comes from the new cookbook by The Defined Dish blogger Alex Snodgrass, a TCU alum and social media foodie phenom living in Dallas. Like all recipes in The Comfortable Kitchen: 105 Laid-Back, Healthy, and Wholesome Recipes, this one comes together quickly and delivers satisfying flavors and textures. Snodgrass prefers orecchiette pasta, little ear-shaped shells, as it holds the sauce nicely.
Books for CooksEat DrinkFeatures By June Naylor Photos by Kristen Kilpatrick With her second cookbook, Alex Snodgrass turns to family, past and present, in making memorable meals Alex Snodgrass proves that timing is everything, even when it looks like fate is not on your side. A TCU grad, Dallasite Snodgrass is the social media food star whose first book, The Defined Dish, was published before the pandemic’s arrival two years ago.
Texas Romantic Restaurants
AAA Magazines Perini Ranch Steakhouse in Buffalo Gap. | Photo courtesy Perini Ranch/Wyatt McSpadden By June Naylor 01-27-2022 Though the calendar lists February 14 as the official day to celebrate romance, true love knows no bounds and special date nights are a year-round affair. In the cold, winter months, why not revel in the warmth of sharing a lovely dinner with someone dear to your heart?
New and Old Ways to Get Your Black-Eyed Peas on New Year's Day
Chef Jose Arevalo’s Creole-inspired Hoppin’ John dish at Brennan’s in Houston. Photo courtesy Brennan’s of Houston It’s a bit odd that we Texans pay such great respect to black-eyed peas, a crop usually associated with summer, on the first day of the new year. The late food historian John Egerton traces the tradition back to the black-eyed pea’s African roots in his award-winning book Southern Food: At Home, on the Road, in History.
Recipe: Ratatouille
Published: December 23, 2021 at 8:00 am Written by Tyson Bird | Updated: December 15, 2021 | Filed Under: Recipes: EntreesRecipes: Sides & Sauces Recipe by June Naylor Serves 4 to 6 Ingredients: 3 Japanese eggplants 1 zucchini 1 yellow squash 1 green bell pepper 1 red bell pepper 1 yellow onion 1 to 2 cloves garlic 1 to 2 jalapeños, seeded (optional) 4 to 6 Roma tomatoes, depending on size 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil 3 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs, such as basil, oregano, thyme Salt and...
Recipe: Ratatouille
Recipe by June Naylor Serves 4 to 6 Ingredients: 3 Japanese eggplants 1 zucchini 1 yellow squash 1 green bell pepper 1 red bell pepper 1 yellow onion 1 to 2 cloves garlic 1 to 2 jalapeños, seeded (optional) 4 to 6 Roma tomatoes, depending on size 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil 3 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs, such as basil, oregano, thyme Salt and pepper to taste Directions: Dice the eggplant, zucchini, squash, bell peppers, and onion into 1/2-inch pieces.
An Ode to Cornbread, the Rustic yet Versatile Baked Treat Loved by Texans for Generations
Robertson, an assistant chief for the Fort Worth Fire Department, learned scratch-cooking from his grandmother. Hanging around the station kitchen with firehouse cooks, however, he realized a lot of folks like the Jiffy brand of cornbread mix. “It’s pretty sweet and can be good as a crust on a savory casserole, but I don’t want it to taste like cake.” Like me, Robertson leans toward yellow cornmeal but also sometimes opts for white corn meal.
An Ode to Cornbread, the Rustic yet Versatile Baked Treat Loved by Texans for Generations
With chili season upon us, my thoughts turn to a longtime passion—baking a decadent version of cornbread in my grandmother’s very old cast iron skillet. It’s so quickly made from scratch that I can’t find any reason to use a package mix, and incorporating ingredients like butter, heavy cream, and sharp cheddar cheese means you don’t want to cut any corners.
The best mocktails in Texas
Libations preside over much merriment during the holidays. But not everyone is on board with imbibing alcohol: Plenty of us are hitting the pause button to reassess what works best for our well-being. But just because we opt out of sipping traditional cocktails doesn’t mean we stop having fun or quit looking forward to refreshing beverages.
Pack Your Sweet Tooth and Walking Shoes for a Weekend Getaway in Hico
Located on the Bosque River, this town features chic boutiques, fine art, and impressive restaurants Photos by: Tom McCarthy Jr. Published: October 28, 2021 at 8:00 am Written by Tyson Bird, Photographs by Tom McCarthy Jr. | From the November 2021 issue | Updated: October 26, 2021 | Filed Under: GetawaysTRAVEL Jane Schornack (left) tours downtown Hico with friend Louise Clark.
Exploring the New Fort Worth With Magnolia Network Host Jonathan Morris
Illustration by Tofunmi Yosola In the decade he’s called Fort Worth home, Jonathan Morris has fashioned enough new roles for himself to make most of us a little breathless. In 2014, the social media manager-turned-entrepreneur opened Fort Worth Barber Shop near the Cultural District. Set in a former automotive garage made of cinder blocks, Morris’ shop offers a haircut and hot-towel shave along with an old-fashioned setting for conversation and connection.
Pack Your Sweet Tooth and Walking Shoes for a Weekend Getaway in Hico
For a town of around 1,500, Hico packs a wallop, drawing in city dwellers who enjoy small-town charm paired with urban amenities. Sitting at the tip-top of the Hill Country, where US 281 crosses State Highway 6, Hico (HYE-coe) first earned its stop-worthy reputation from the towering meringue pies at the Koffee Kup restaurant. These days, there’s far more than dessert to keep you amused for a full weekend (though Wiseman House Chocolates is still around to satisfy a sweet tooth).
Farmhouse Vineyards is Known Statewide For its Famous Grapes
In the wine business, little happens overnight. Just as wine is sipped and not chugged, vines take years to mature; a grape crop grows over a two- or three-season period; and, of course, many wines need to age for prime enjoyment. But at Farmhouse Vineyards in Brownfield, things happen at a speed rarely seen in Texas. The vineyard, just south of Lubbock, has exploded in just over a decade.
Farmhouse Vineyards is Known Statewide For its Famous Grapes
“When we had eight days of constant rain in August 2017, we worked indoors and completely converted our farmhouse into our tasting room,” co-owner Katy Jane Seaton says. This work ethic is necessary in the Texas High Plains: The region grows more than 80% of the state’s wine grapes. Aside from the drive to get things done, Katy Jane and her business partners—husband Nicholas Seaton and in-laws Traci and Anthony Furgeson—have deep agricultural roots.
Sarah Castillo expands her Fort Worth restaurant empire with new Taco Heads, Sidesaddle Saloon
A dozen years ago, Sarah Castillo landed back home in Fort Worth with $25 in her pocket. Having satisfied her post-college wanderlust, she was sure of just one thing: “I knew I needed to to start my own business.” Today, she owns four Fort Worth restaurants and bars, employs about 100 people, and harbors a headful of dreams yet to manifest. Everywhere she’d gone till then, Castillo banked experiences that might inform what’s next.
Meet the Winners of the 2021 State Fair of Texas' Big Tex Choice Awards
The Armadillo, winner of the Best Taste: Sweet category. Photo courtesy State Fair of Texas®. The countdown to the State Fair of Texas has officially begun, now that we know which new crazy-decadent fried food dishes took top honors in this year’s Big Tex Choice Awards. To find out more about the winning dishes, which emerged from a field of 43 concessionaires’ entries, Texas Highways chatted with the creators, Greg Parish of Gourmet Royale and James Barrera.
New Community Cookbook Celebrates Fredericksburg’s Food Heritage
Plus, two peach recipes to try before the season wraps up Published: August 17, 2021 at 11:59 am Written by Kimya Kavehkar, Photographs by June Naylor | Updated: August 17, 2021 | Filed Under: RecipesTravel News Upon opening a box of fresh Gillespie County peaches shipped to me from Burg’s Corner in Stonewall, two things happened: First, the whiff of just-ripening peaches inspired an instant nostalgic reverie of things that make me love summer in Texas; and second, I knew it was time to put a...
Buddy Holly Hall Puts Lubbock on the National Tour Map
From the exterior of Buddy Holly Hall, you can see Brad Oldham’s sculpture made of 9,000 aluminum guitar picks. Photo courtesy Visit Lubbock. At the Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences, which opened in downtown Lubbock in January, there is a sculpture that bears the name of one of Holly’s musical descendants: Sir Paul McCartney.
Revolver Taco Lounge returns to its iconic Fort Worth roots with newest location
Almost 10 years after opening the original Revolver Taco Lounge in Fort Worth, Regino Rojas returns to his iconic restaurant’s roots. And with significant style: His newest Revolver — his fifth opening — anchors one corner of Sundance Square Plaza with a renovated space formerly occupied by Taco Diner. The new interior comes from his super patron and landlord Sasha Bass, wife of Sundance founder Ed Bass.
Burklee Hill Vineyards Brings New Life to Kress Department Store in Lubbock
Burklee Hill Vineyards is located in the 1930s-era Kress department store. Photo by Casey Dunn. Chace Hill’s family has a history of farming sheep, cotton, and peanuts in Levelland since 1918. Hill introduced the High Plains’ most recent profitable crop—wine grapes—in 2002, planting 5 acres on the land. Now, the humble fruit’s impact has grown to 58 acres; 11 varietals; and a lovely new winery and bistro, Burklee Hill Vineyards, in downtown Lubbock, 30 miles east of Levelland.
WHAT A DISH - 360 West Magazine
By June NaylorPhotos by Meda Kessler Provender Hall, which opened last July in the Fort Worth Stockyards, is chef/restaurateur Marcus Paslay’s homage to the comfort of Southern cooking. This summer, the native Texan gets a better chance to share his favorite dishes of the season as dining traffic returns (Provender reopened for lunch in late May). His passion for cast-iron cooking is evidenced by his fruit crisp, a dessert that showcases whatever is fresh from the market.
BOOKSHELF - 360 West Magazine
BookshelfFeaturesLife Style By June Naylor Photos by Meda Kessler; author image courtesy of Chuck Scherrer East Texas provides a sultry backdrop for this seductive novel from native Texan May Cobb Perhaps because The Really Desperate Housewives of Longview didn’t exactly roll off the tongue, author May Cobb wisely titled her second thriller The Hunting Wives.
Recipe: Green Tomato Relish
Published: June 24, 2021 at 8:00 am Written by Cecilia Garzella | Updated: June 23, 2021 | Filed Under: Eat + DrinkRecipesRecipes: Sides & Sauces Big Pines Lodge's green tomato relish, a Southern condiment. Photo by Melanie Grizzel. Recipe: Green Tomato Relish When I asked the co-owners of Big Pines Lodge for the restaurant’s original green tomato relish recipe, I was disappointed to learn it had been lost to history.
Recipe: Green Tomato Relish
When I asked the co-owners of Big Pines Lodge for the restaurant’s original green tomato relish recipe, I was disappointed to learn it had been lost to history. The green tomato relish now served at the restaurant is made by Cajun Chef, a company in Martinville, Louisiana, so I decided to recreate the original recipe on my own. My quest for fresh green tomatoes led me to chef Mike DeHart at Tributary Café in Fort Worth, who generously shared his supply and recipe.
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