On the Menu

Cafe 290
Beef for breakfast, and other wonders of roadhouse food.
by Meredith Phillips

Wildfire
An upscale cookout on Georgetown's Square.
by Jen Scoville

Earl Abel's
Open early, closed late in San Antonio.
by Meredith Phillips

Threadgill's
One of those places that a city has to have if it's got any gumption at all.
by Helen Thompson

West Lynn Cafe
Eat your vegetables.
by Helen Thompson

Rosario's
Authentic Mexican cuisine in historic San Antonio.
by Helen Thompson

The Landmark
Eat at a landmark.
by Helen Thompson

The Best Pecan Pie On Earth
This recipe for pecan pie will make you nutty.
by Jane Dure

Las Manitas
Where Austinites go for a power lunch or a hangover breakfast.
by Helen Thompson

Goode Co.
Houston restaurateur Jim Goode took the three Texas food groups — barbecue, Tex-Mex, and burgers — and built an empire.
by Helen Thompson

Johnny B's
A soda fountainof youth in Marathon.
by Jen Scoville

Kim Son
Houston's Kim Son leads the spring roll revolution in Texas.
by Patrick Earvolino

Nero's Italian
Tucked-in and cozy in Dallas.
by Jen Scoville

Josephine Street Cafe
San Antonio's classic Texas roadhouse.
by Helen Thompson

Cafe Highland Park
Escape the hubub at this Mediterranean-style bistro.
by Helen Thompson

Castle Hill
Eat like a king at this Austin restaurant.
by Helen Thompson

EatZi's
More than a restaurant — in fact, they call it a concept.
by Helen Thompson

La Griglia
Good enough to eat.
by Helen Thompson

Cappyccino's
A neighborhood eatery with a worldly flair.
by Helen Thompson

The Kid is Alright
Fall is the time to get your goat.
by Helen Thompson

Liberty Bar
San Antonio's historical landmark offers a new "lean" look at some old favorites.
by Helen Thompson

Lemon Napoleon-Almond Crema-Olive Oil

From Bolla, Dallas

4oz. Lemon Napoleon
2oz. almond crema
1oz. olive oil
Sprinkle powdered sugar, for dusting.

Assembly: Dust the plate with powdered sugar. Place napoleon on the plate with a dollop of almond crema on top. Garnish plate with olive oil.

Puff Pastry

1 sheet puff pastry

Roll out puff pastry to a thin layer and cut in desired shape. Place on lined or greased baking sheet and cover with parchment paper and another sheet pan. Par bake (half bake) at 375 for 8 minutes and remove top sheet pan to finish baking until golden brown.

Lemon Curd

3/4 cup lemon juice
6 tbsp. sugar
4 egg yolk
1 egg
zest of 1 lemon
1/2 sheet of gelatin
1/2 cup whipped cream
6 tbsp. butter

Combine all ingredients into bowl and whisk constantly over double boiler until thick. Stir in butter. Stir in bloomed* gelatin. Let cool. Build napoleon with 3 layers of puff pastry and 2 layers of curd.

Notes:If you do not have a double boiler, place a bowl over a simmering pan of water.

*If you do not have sheet gelatin, you can use 1/4 tsp and add 2 1/2 T of water to “bloom” (gelatin in both sheet and powder form needs to be softened in cold liquid for a few minutes).