“The artists that are performing tonight have written compositions or have been influenced by compositions written in Spanish, traditional Mexican music, and what’s called border music, if you will, a marriage of Tex-Mex. And so tonight they are celebrating that acoustically, singing the songs they’ve learned.”— Susan Charney, co-producer of
“Cake is a great band. It’s soulful music. It’s food for the soul.” — Krys Holland, audience member, watching Cake at the Austin Music Hall.“When I say go, turn that s—t all the way up.” — Wayne Coyne, lead singer of the Flaming Lips, having passed out cassette tapes to
Don’t miss your ’cue: We pick the top joints in Texas for brisket, ribs, sausage, and all the sides. Plus, the godfather of barbacoa, the biggest free feast in the state, and more.
ABILENE Betty Rose’s Little Brisket Briskets generally don’t get prettier by closing time, so at 4 p.m. Betty Rose’s juicy, tender, well-marbled, mesquite-smoked brisket and meaty, black-pepper-rub-encrusted pork ribs were nice surprises, expertly held through the long, post-lunch slump. Not so the wrinkled pork-and-beef sausage. We helped ourselves to above-average
For Specialties of the HouseABBOTT: the Turkey Shop, for steamed cabbage, black-eyed peas, and cornbread dressingABILENE: Joe Allen’s, for yeast-risen whole-wheat breadAUSTIN: ArtZ Rib House, for country pork ribsBRADY: Mac’s Barbecue, for crisp-skinned chickenCUERO: Barbecue Station—B&D Catering and Smolik’s Quality Meats, for exemplary brisketDEL VALLE: Dan’s Bar-B-Q, for exceptional
On our first-ever quest for the state’s best burgers, we covered more than 12,000 miles, ate at more than 250 restaurants, and gained, collectively, more than 40 pounds. Our dauntless determination (and fearless fat intake) was rewarded with a list of 50 transcendent burgers—and you’ll never guess which one ended
Mail from our readers.
Angel Fire resort, a town of 1,200 twenty-two miles northeast of Taos near Eagle Nest Lake, is the planned-resort version of Red River, conceived in the Moreno Valley between Eagle Nest and Taos 32 years ago—Angel Fire is to Red River what Vail is to Aspen on a New
I’ve been told that Santa Fe is a pretty good town for food, art, and plush hotel bars with roaring fireplaces. I wouldn’t know. I’ve come here to sit on my rear—I’ve come here to snowboard.I’ve been a skier for more than twenty years, and over the past five
Like Aspen, Breckenridge, and Telluride in Colorado, Red River is a mining town that, through a few parallel quirks of geology, geography, luck, and timing, happened to evolve into a ski town. But that old mining town, unique to New Mexico as it might be, isn’t what lends Red
Ski Apache is a mountain of the unexpected. Nestled on the northern flank of the 12,003-foot Sierra Blanca peak near Ruidoso, it is one of America’s southernmost ski resorts, so you can simultaneously enjoy mild winter temperatures and alpine snow. The high elevation, generous acreage, and steeply pitched chutes
No skiing experience has been quite as intimidating as the first time I saw Al’s Run, driving up to the base of the Taos ski area. A narrow alley shooting up the lift line and angling almost straight up toward the heavens, Al’s brought on instant acrophobia. An exceptional
Pajarito Mountain If you really want to get away from the crowds, scoot over to Los Alamos, thirty miles west of Santa Fe. The nearby Pajarito ski area is almost as top secret as the town was when the Manhattan Project begat the atomic bomb there in the forties. Four
Besides books and my own mistakes, I’ve learned almost everything I know about wildflowers from volunteering at the National Wildflower Research Center, Lady Bird Johnson’s visionary gift to Texas. Perhaps my inexperience was evident on my application, because the volunteer coordinator wisely placed me where I couldn’t do much harm,
1Find Yourself Texas has a range of soils and climates. To know what to plant, you have to know where you are among its ten vegetational regions.2Flower Plot Pick a sunny, well-drained site for your meadow. When choosing which flowers to plant, think about bloom times, size, and color.3Go
During the infamous drought of 1996, roadside wildflowers frizzled and fried. But at the National Wildflower Research Center, just southwest of Austin, blossoms, shrubs, trees, and grasses were sleek and sassy. Why? Because 1995’s rains watered 1996’s flowers, thanks to the largest rooftop rainwater-collection system in North America. One of
Recipe from Ellerbe Fine Foods, Fort Worth.
A handsome young president, a convertible limousine, a sniper, three shots (we think), and our lives were changed forever. A special report on what is, for many, the defining event of the past fifty years.
1 three-ounce package Jell-O (any flavor; cherry is traditional) Your choice of the following (whatever you prefer or have on hand): 1 banana, sliced 1 can sour cherries or 1 small jar maraschino cherries, well drained 1 small can pineapple chunks, well drained 1/2 cup miniature marshmallows slivered almonds grated
1 three-ounce package lemon or orange Jell-O 1/2 cup grated or shredded carrots 1 small can crushed pineapple or pineapple chunks, well drainedPrepare Jell-O as directed on package. When Jell-O is about half-set (approximately an hour or so), add carrots and pineapple.Editor’s note: Pineapple is one of the few fruits
Crust 2 dozen crushed graham crackers 1/2 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup chopped pecans Mix thoroughly and pack tightly in oblong 9 x 13 Pyrex dish. Filling 1 package each lime, lemon, and cherry Jell-O 1 package plain unflavored gelatin 1/2 cup cold water 1 cup pineapple
1 three-ounce package black-cherry Jell-O 1 twelve-ounce can Coke 1 to 2 cans Bing cherries, well drained 1/2 cup pecans, chopped Using a large bowl, prepare Jell-O as directed on package, substituting the Coke for 1 1/2 cups water. The Coke will foam up; be prepared! Pour mix into pan
Chop House Burger1/2 pound fresh ground hamburger patty (we use a 77/23 blend) pinch of kosher salt and cracked pepper ciabatta bun 2 slices applewood-smoked bacon 2 slices cheddar cheese 1 1/2 ounces shredded iceberg lettuce 2 slices tomato 3 rings red onion 4 pickle slicesSeason hamburger patty with salt
We hear that it all starts with the patty.
1 1/2 pounds coarse-ground chuck 1 1/2 pounds coarse-ground sirloin 2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus some to taste 2 tablespoons coarse-ground pepper 4 tablespoons brown sugar 6 quality hamburger bunsPreheat grill to medium high and lightly grease the grate. In a mixing bowl, combine chuck, sirloin, salt, pepper, and brown
Cucumber Mintini1/4 cucumber 5 fresh mint leaves, plus 1 sprig for garnish 2 lime wedges 2 sugar cubes 2 ounces simple syrup (one part sugar dissolved in one part water) splash of fresh lime juice 1 1/2 ounces Tito’s Handmade Vodka splash of club sodaMuddle cucumber, mint leaves, 1 lime
Recipe Courtesy of Tyler Treharne, 2900 Restaurant, El PasoBeing an avid gardener myself, I like to utilize the fruits of my labor in every culinary experience, and drinks should be no exception. Basil is a nice herb that is easy to grow, and most of all, loves the West Texas
2 ounces jalapeño-infused Republic Silver Tequila 3 jalapeños (for tequila and garnish) 1/3 kiwi, peeled 6 fresh mint leaves 3/4 ounce ginger syrup (such as the Ginger People) 3/4 ounce fresh lime juice 1 ounce 7UPTo infuse the tequila: Slice 2 large jalapeños and remove seeds. Insert peppers in a
2900 Sangria Photograph by Adam Voorhes1 navel orange wedge, peeled 1 half-inch slice fresh pineapple 3 fresh strawberries, stemmed and sliced in half 3 red seedless grapes 1 slice Red Delicious apple 1 ounce Paula’s Texas Lemon 1 ounce Paula’s Texas Orange 5 ounces 2005 Zin
3/4 ounce homemade rosemary syrup 5 sprigs of fresh rosemary (for syrup and garnish) 2 ounces Treaty Oak Platinum Rum 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice 1 egg whiteTo make rosemary syrup: Combine one part sugar and one part water in a pot. Bring to a
Recipe from Chef David Bull’s interactive cookbook, Bull’s Eye on Food.
Recipe from Chef David Bull’s interactive cookbook, Bull’s Eye on Food
Get a taste of what's going on with Texas wines.
AustinBig Top Candy Shop 1706 S. Congress Ave., 512-462-2220 or myspace.com/bigtopcandyshop.By George 1400 S. Congress Ave., 512-441-8600 or bygeorgeaustin.com.Continental Club 1315 S. Congress Ave., 512-441-2444 or conti nentalclub.com.Feather’s 1700B S. Congress Ave., 512-912-9779 or myspace.com/31622902.Home Slice Pizza 1415 S. Congress Ave., 512-444-7437
Pamela Colloff, Barry Blitt, and Andy Anderson
Is the Texas economy just late to the downturn, or are we insulated from the rest of the country’s woes? To answer this and other pressing pocketbook queries, Texas Monthly sat down with the state comptroller, the chairman of the UT Board of Regents, a legendary community organizer, a distinguished
Build more schools, clone Willie Nelson, get everyone high-speed Internet, raise chickens, hold nonpartisan primaries, curb sprawl, and 76 other serious, inspiring, far-fetched, and provocative ideas about how to make Texas an even better place from some of the brightest bulbs we know.
Nate Blakeslee “This story was not driven by a bad personal experience. Well, I once had to use a motorized Roto-Rooter at my house, but that had nothing to do with it,” says senior editor Nate Blakeslee about “Everyone’s Poop”, his study of one of the great marvels
Karen Olsson, Kenny Braun, and Edwin “Bud” Shrake.
Politically motivated hit job or serious work of art? That’s the looming question about Oliver Stone’s W., his new movie about the life and presidency of George W. Bush. To answer it—or more accurately, to speculate about the answer—we convened a discussion between two Hollywood pros, an eminent historian, an
Kinky Friedman, Andi Beierman, and Brent Humphreys.
Why cigar haters make ashes of themselves.
Prudence Mackintosh, Mike McGregor and Jan Jarboe Russell.
Bruce McCorkindale, Patricia Busa McConnico, Marc Burckhardt
It was a year of angry Aggies, Baptist bravado, confused Cheney, death row drollery, enemas in evidence, fetid feet, ghetto gobbledygook, helicopter hunts, insurance idiocy, jerk judges, kin kidnappers, lawbreaking Longhorns, meshuggener misfires, NASA nimrods, Oswald online, pooped-on presidents, quick quarrels, requested roaches, scrotum-scarring Sooners, taped teenagers, unhinged urinators, visible
Reed received her Ph.D. in marriage and family therapy from Texas Woman’s University and has been practicing in Dallas for nearly 25 years. She counsels as many as 25 couples per week.I can’t save a marriage. Only the couple can do that. My job is to help people create the
Recipe from chef Jack Chaplin, Chaplin’s, Dallas.16 small red new potatoes 2 pounds fresh asparagus spears 1/4 cup olive oil 12 tablespoons butter, softened 1 teaspoon each of chopped fresh rosemary, parsley, and garlicIn 4-quart pot of boiling water, blanch potatoes for about 15 minutes, until they can be pierced
Gingerbread PancakesAsk the folks queued up at the Magnolia Cafe what their favorite breakfast dish is, and nine times out of ten the answer will be gingerbread pancakes. You can put syrup on these fat, fluffy beauties, but they’re great just by themselves. Recipe from Magnolia Cafe, Austin.Buttermilk BiscuitsRolled,
Recipe from Bistral, DallasDressing1 cup plain yogurt (low-fat if desired) 1/2 cup sour cream (low-fat if desired) 2 to 4 tablespoons sugar 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint 1 tablespoon lemon juiceMix all ingredients together.Fresh Fruit1 cup halved green grapes 1 cup diced cantaloupe 1 cup diced pineapple 1 cup quartered
