March 2003 Issue

The Alamo Should Never Have Happened

Yes, we should remember the battle at the center of the Texas Revolution. But we should forget everything we think we know about it.

Where to Eat Now

In our annual roundup of the restaurants everyone's talking about, you'll find a bare-bones taquería, a bastion of cowboy chic, a snazzy deconsecrated church—and dishes that range from soup (squash blossom) to nuts (toasted cashews with chocolate-swirled bread pudding). Not to mention a little French place in San Antonio that's

Chasing Shadows

Why is James Evans so good at photographing the mavericks and renegades who make Big Bend one of the most interesting places on earth? Because he is one himself.

Houston

Aries 4315 Montrose Boulevard 713-526-4404 A Taste of Portugal 11650 Jones Road 281-469-8691 Azuma Sushi and Robata Bar 5600 Kirby Drive 713-432-9649 Boulevard Bistrot 4319 Montrose Boulevard 713-524-6922 Cafe Annie 1728 Post Oak Boulevard 713-840-1111 Café Rabelais 2462 Bolsover 713-526-6841 Da Marco 1520 Westheimer Road 713-807-8857 Damian’s 3011

San Antonio

Azuca 713 S. Alamo 210-225-5550 Biga on the Banks 203 S. St. Mary’s 210-225-0722 Bistro Vatel 218 E. Olmos Avenue 210-828-3141 Bob’s Smokehouse 1506 S. St. Mary’s 210-532-5711 Boudro’s on the Riverwalk 421 E. Commerce 210-224-8484 China Latina 1014 S. Alamo 210-271-3103 Club Cohiba Havana Riverwalk Inn 1015 Navarro 210-222-2008

Fort Worth

Angeluna 215 E. Fourth 817-334-0080 Café Modern Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth 3200 Darnell 817-840-2157 Chisholm Club Renaissance Worthington Hotel 222 Main 817-210-2222 Lonesome Dove Western Bistro 2406 N. Main 817-740-8810 Railhead Smokehouse 2900 Montgomery 817-738-9808 Reata 310 Houston 817-336-1009 Silver Fox Steakhouse 1651 S.

Austin

Ararat Middle Eastern Restaurant 111 E. North Loop Boulevard 512-419-1692 Asti Trattoria 408 E. Forty-third 512-451-1218 Chez Nous 510 Neches 512-473-2413 Eddie V’s Edgewater Grill 301 E. Fifth 512-472-1860 El Mesón Taquería 5808 Burleson Road 512-416-0749 Hudson’s on the Bend 3509 Ranch Road 620 North 512-266-1369 Jean Luc’s

Dallas

Abacus 4511 McKinney Avenue 214-559-3111 Bistro Latino 6112 Luther Lane 214-360-0922 Bob’s Steak and Chop House 4300 Lemmon Avenue 214-528-9446 Ciudad D.F. 3888 Oak Lawn Avenue 214-219-3141 Dragonfly Hotel ZaZa 2332 Leonard 214-550-9500 Green Room 2715 Elm 214-748-7666 Hattie’s American Bistro 418 N. Bishop Avenue 214-942-7400 La Duni Latin Café

Bard of the Border

The most promising young fiction writer in Texas is Oscar Casares, whose tales of life in Brownsville have put him and his hometown on the literary map.

Oaf of Office

Kinky Friedman for governor?!?

Weather

CLIMATE CONTROL In other parts of the world, March may enter as a lion and exit as a lamb. Here, the weather can be lamb-gentle in Dallas and positively leonine in Lubbock—all on the same day. To the uninitiated—and especially children—the vagaries of Texas weather can be scary. But never

Lecture

POLITICAL PARTY Ready for a break from television news-talk shows? This month, instead of tuning in to Face the Nation, you can get out and listen face-to-face—without interruptions from the talking heads—to several distinguished public figures who will speak around the state on everything from the economy and the military

Straight Talk

HIGH FIDELITY Daniel Lanois was born in Hull, Quebec, Canada, in 1951 to French-speaking and musical parents. In addition to being an acclaimed solo artist, he is one of the top record producers in the business, working on albums with U2, Peter Gabriel, Bob Dylan, and Willie Nelson, among others.

A Great Weekend

THREE-DAY PASS This month the “most promising weekend” award belongs to Dallas March 21 through 23. On Friday, stop by the sixteenth annual Dallas Video Festival, which, over the course of the weekend, will premiere playwright Octavio Solis’ Prospect Avenue, showcase a juried compilation of short films and videos by

Brands That I Love

When I was a kid, my grandmother was partial to Imperial sugar and other products made in Texas. You know what? I'm still sweet on them.

Back to the Future

Lured by the lucre of tourism, many small towns can't resist quainting themselves to death—which is why true-to-itself Fayetteville is such a pleasant place to visit.

Lines in the Sand

Is Austin artist Jack Jackson's illustrated history of the Alamo too unconventional to be sold at the Alamo gift shop? Draw your own conclusions.

Mr. Speaker

Speaking of the Speaker.

Prodigal Son

After years of ignoring Woody Guthrie's time in Pampa, residents of the tiny Panhandle community are finally singing "This Land Is His Land."

Talking Tuna

Grilling the experts about Bill Parcells.

Facing the Music

Michael Morales' guilty plea doesn't answer the most interesting question about his attempted extortion of Tony Sanchez: Who else knew about his cockamamy plot, and when did they know it?

A Time to Drill

Drilling for answers on Padre Island.

On the Road

THIS BUG’S FOR YOU Thanks to plenty of rain last summer, Cajun country should be crawling with crawfish this year. The good news for Texans is that we don’t have to go all the way to Louisiana to get our fix of mudbugs. There are plenty of Cajun-oriented restaurants in

What’s In Store

BOTTOMS UP It’s a good thing no one ever convinced Hamilton Rousseau that soft drinks would ruin his appetite, rot his teeth, and nuke his health. Otherwise, the cigar-chomping owner of Ifs Ands & Butts might be selling insurance or cell phones instead of the largest variety of exotic, hard-to-find

Café Modern

EDIBLE ART I had braced myself for crowds the Sunday I visited the new Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. But, no—I breezed through the galleries, only to come to an abrupt halt outside Café Modern, the museum’s spacious, sunlight-filled restaurant. Joining the fast-moving queue, I soon found myself sitting

Museum-Quality Chocolate Pudding

1/2 pound dark chocolate chips or pieces (Café Modern uses Valrhona brand) 5 cups milk, divided 1 cup cornstarch 1/4 pound butter, diced 4 eggs 4 egg yolks 1/2 tablespoon salt 3/4 cup chocolate powder, such as Valrhona or the European-style chocolate powder 1 cup heavy cream 2 cups sugar

Boy Wonder

Executive editor S. C. Gwynne talks about Karl Rove and this month's cover story, "Genius."

Brand Loyal

Senior editor Anne Dingus sweet-talks about sugar, Elsie the Cow, and peanut patties.

Grand Dames

International opera divas Susan Graham and Laura Claycomb haven't forgotten their Texas roots. They came back to star in two productions by the Houston Grand Opera.

Texas Tidbits

You learned all about the Alamo in school. Or did you?

Texas History 101

What was early San Antonio really like?

Happy Trails

On a recent trip to the Huntsville area, I came across a wonderful new museum, some great barbecue, and the perfect campsite.

Books That Cook

Tuxedos to Tailgates: A Celebration of the Seasons

Sports Fan

Writer Skip Bayless talks about the Dallas Cowboys, Bill Parcells, and his pick for next year's Super Bowl winner.

Around the State

Restaurant Guide