Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo
January 13 – February 4, 2012

This is the last full weekend to check out the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo which runs until February 4, 2012. My family and I visited last weekend and had a great time. This year the Stock Show has a free app for smartphones which provides helpful maps and schedules of the daily events.

We started off with the Rodeo at 10AM and then worked our way through all the exhibit halls. I’m as “city mouse” as it gets but it was fun to check out all the livestock and I especially loved seeing all the different varieties of roosters and chickens.

Of course you won’t go hungry at The Stock Show there’s food and snacks and beverages at every turn. We enjoyed our fair share of corn dogs, burgers, and funnel cakes. If you’re looking for a spot to eat nearby pre or post Stock Show or Rodeo check out my handy list of spots.

No Stock Show visit is complete without at least a walk through the midway.

Ok folks it’s that time of year again to shine your boots and get to the Fort Worth Stock Show. The Fort Worth Stock show begins this weekend (January 13) and runs through February 4, all the details can be found at the Fort Worth Show and Rodeo website. For smartphone users they even have an app this year. If you want something other than festival food when visiting the Stock Show or the Rodeo check out one of the many restaurants or Food Trucks near the Stock Show grounds. Here’s a list of spots (most withing walking distance of the event).

Food Trucks:
Fort Worth Food Park
Check out Fort Worth’s only food truck park if you’re headed to the Stock Show with kids or a crowd. With a choice of 6 food trucks there’s something for everyone. Very kid friendly. Check their schedule for details on the trucks. 2509 Weisenberger St. (behind the Target in Montgomery Plaza)

Taco Heads
Taco Heads Food Truck would be my go-to spot for after Rodeo munchies. Wash down their delicious tacos with a beverage from 7th Haven. Carnitas are the way to go. 2700 W. 7th Street (behind 7th Haven).

Sassy Hot Dogs
For late night food swing by Sassy Hot Dogs Food Truck behind Poag Mahone’s Pub for Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, and other yummy treats. 700 Carrol Street

Mexican Food:
Revolver Taco Lounge
One of my favorite spots. BYOB or BYOTequila (for a mean margarita). Order up a couple of rounds of tacos to go with their delicious guacamole and chips. 2822 W 7th St

Hacienda San Miguel
Hacienda San Miguel brings Modern Mexican cuisine to the W7th development. My favorites include the Seafood Chile Poblano, Flautas de Pollo. Don’t worry they also serve a mean ribeye. 2948 Crockett Street

La Familia
Home of the famous handshake as you walk in. La Familia’s cheese enchiladas and other Mexican specialties satisfy your Tex-Mex cravings. Kid friendly. 841 Foch

Gloria’s
Tex Mex dishes as well as Salvadoran dishes can be found at this popular spot. Nice Margaritas too. 2600 W. 7th Street.

BBQ:
Angelo’s
The Stock Show and barbeque go hand in hand. Angelo’s is a Fort Worth barbeque institution and some say Angelo’s is the best in town. You be the judge, try out a combo platter and be sure to include ribs. Don’t worry there’s beer to wash it all down with. Kid friendly. 2533 White Settlement Road

Railhead
This perennially popular barbeque spot serves up barbeque classics in a fun atmosphere. 2900 Montgomery Street

Upscale Texas Cuisine
Lambert’s
Lambert’s is the perfect spot for all you urban cowboys. Modern decor with cowboy touches such as saddles from the ceiling. The food is unmistakably Texas with grilled and smoked meat selections. The t-bone with enchilada and sea bass are my faves. If you’re really hungry check out their impressive Sunday Brunch. Small lounge area near the bar for enjoying cocktails.

Tilman’s
Tilman’s fun spin on cowboy cuisine makes it a perfect spot to hit before or after a visit to the Stock Show. Don’t forget to save some room for their table side s’mores. 2933 Crockett

Fast Casual/ Kid Friendly
Sweet Tomatoes
You’ll find soups, salads, pasta, and pizza at this family friendly spot. Kids will love the pudding and soft serve ice cream dessert options. 2901 West 7th Street

Great Outdoors
If you’re looking for a quick meal the sandwiches at Great Outdoors fit the bill. Kid friendly. 3204 Camp Bowie

Pie Five
Also in the family friendly and quick category check out Pie Five. The individual size pizzas are all priced $6.49 no matter what or how many toppings. Kids pizzas are $3.49. Look for their buy one get one free coupon here.

Italian/ Meditteranean
Patrizio
You’ll find hearty pizza and pasta options at Patrizio’s. 2932 Crockett

Fireside Pies
Fireside makes some of my favorite pizza in Fort Worth. Get here early because there’s always a wait. 2949 Crockett

Terra Mediterranean Grill
During the week they have an amazing lunch buffet. Their other menu items are delicious as well including the lamb chops and the roasted chicken. 2973 Crockett Street

Burgers:
Love Shack
Burgers get the Tim Love treatment and are delicious as well as a good deal. Kid friendly and appealing to adults as well with specialty cocktails. The outside space has plenty of heaters going during cold weather. 817 Matisse, Ste. 445

Magnolia Motor Lounge
You’ll find live music, burgers, and beer at this lively spot. 3005 Morton

M&O’s Station Grill
M & O serves up some tasty burgers. Thin grilled patties pack a lot of flavor, the California is my current favorite. Kid friendly and check out the Leonard’s Museum next door while you’re there. Evening BYOB. 200 Carrol Street, #110

Fine Dining:
Lanny’s Alta Cocina Mexicana
Lanny’s is one of my favorite spots for fine dining and a great stop before heading out to the Rodeo. 3405 W 7th Street

Cafe Modern
This impressive spot inside The Modern serves up a delicious brunch on Saturdays and Sundays (10AM – 3PM) and dinner on Friday nights. Also check them out during the week for lunch. 3200 Darnell Street.

Eddie V’s
Eddie V’s serves exquisite seafood dishes (the Crispy Cashew Calamari appetizer is a favorite) but don’t worry there’s plenty of steak options as well. 3100 West 7th Street

Bailey’s
If you’re looking to spend big bucks on a big steak this is the place. 2901 Crockett

Brownstone
Hungry cowboys can go for The Chicken Fried Beef Tenderloin or the Brownstone Strip (12oz New York Strip). Also look for late night specials from 10PM-2AM on Fridays and Saturdays.

Sushi:
Blue Sushi Sake Grill
This visually impressive restaurant serves up delicious and creative sushi as well as grilled dishes. I usually go with the server’s recommendations. 3131 W. 7th St.

MK’s Sushi
Solid sushi options available at MK’s. The Tuna Tower is a favorite. Kid Friendly. 2801 W. 7th Street

Breakfast:
Ol’ South Pancake House
A Fort Worth institution. Stop by for breakfast before heading to the Stock Show. Kid friendly. 1509 S. University

Montgomery Street Cafe
If you get an early start on the Stock Show, the Montgomery Street Cafe serves up a fine old fashioned breakfast. Homemade biscuits and anything topped with gravy will be mouthwateringly good. 2000 Montgomery Street

Wine:
Winslow’s
Winslow’s makes a perfect stop for a post rodeo glass of vino. Pre-Rodeo check out their delcious wood fired pizzas. 4101 Camp Bowie Blvd

Times Ten
Times Ten’s lush atmosphere makes for a great spot to enjoy some of their delicious vino. I’m in love with their Malbec. 1100 Foch Street

Walter Kaufmann Chef Holiday Pantry
Saturday December 17, 2011
10AM-4PM
Ridgmar Mall (in front of Macy’s)
Twitter: Twitter.com/ChefsHoliday

Ever wonder what a bake sale with Fort Worth’s best chefs would be like? Wonder no more and come visit the Walter Kauffmann Chef’s Holiday Pantry this Saturday from 10AM-4PM at Ridgmar Mall (in front of Macy’s). This year’s Chef’s Holiday Pantry is sponsored by Fort Worth Foodie Magazine.

Local chefs prepare and donate just about any sweet confection you can imagine: pies, cakes, cookies, gingerbread houses, baklava, desert tamales, alfajores, and yule logs to name just a few. The list of participants is long and includes Black Rooster Bakery, Bonnell’s Fine Texas Cuisine, Reata Restaurant, Artisan Baking Company, Lanny’s, Stir Crazy Baked Goods, Red Jett Sweets, Blue Bonnet Bakery, Z’s Cafe, Colonial Country Club and many many more.

Proceeds from items sold benefit the Cooking Matter program of Tarrant Area Food Bank and the Education Fund of the Texas Chefs Association (Fort Worth Chapter). If you don’t plan on indulging on any of these goodies yourself these make great gifts for co-workers or easy items to bring to holiday potlucks and parties.

In case you’re wondering the namesake of this event is local culinary luminary Walter Kauffman who was chef and owner of The Swiss House for many years.

Keep on Truckin’ Fest
Saturday October 22, 2011
6PM – 10PM
Behind Poag Mahone’s Pub (700 Carrol Street)

It’s Fort Worth’s FIRST official food truck festival. So come check out some of the best food trucks in town all in one place. You’ll have a great selection of food to choose from:

Gourmet hot dogs from Weiner Man ( I recommend the crunchy dog)
Mexican Street Tacos from Salsa Limon ( Go with the El Capitan)
Fusion Latin food from Crazy Sister’s ( Their Mexican Grits are to die for!!!!)
Damn Fine Tacos from Tacoheads ( The Carnitas Tacos won’t let you down)
Cupcakes from Red Jett Sweets ( for your sugar fix)

There will be live music by Brandon Thomas, Antonio Wicker, Wicked Messengers, and Dirty Pool. What a great way to get out and enjoy some of the cooler weather we’ve been having and support our growing food truck movement in Fort Worth.

P.S. I haven’t given up on my quest to check out all the food trucks in town. I’ve been checking out many food trucks over the last few weeks and can’t wait to share my experiences with y’all. In the meantime you can read my reviews on Salsa Limon and Tacoheads.

Cold Spring Farms CSA Fall Festival and Market
Saturday October 15, 2011
11AM – 4PM
3309 W. 4th Street
Fort Worth, 76107

Join Cold Spring Farms CSA this Saturday for a celebration of wonderful fall produce.

CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture and is a great way to get local produce by partnering with area farmers. Our family has been a member of Cold Spring Farms for several seasons and we love the high quality, organic produce we receive each week. I also enjoy knowing my farmer, in this case, the lovely and hardworking Beverly Thomas. We never quite know what we will get each week but that is part of the adventure and fun of being in a CSA.

If you’d like to see what a CSA is all about and pick up a few other goodies make sure and stop by the Fall Festival this Saturday. Check out the delicious sweet treats from Stir Crazy Baked Goods. There will also be plenty of pumpkins, cooking demos, and face painting. Bring the kiddos and the pets for family and pet friendly fun. The event benefits REAL School Gardens in the DFW area. Also donations of canned goods and blankets are requested for the benefit of the Tarrant Area Food Bank.

Camp Bowie District and Rahr Brewing Company Pub Crawl
Thursday July 14, 2011
5:30 – 9:00PM

Eat and drink your way through Camp Bowie while helping spruce up Fort Worth’s beloved boulevard. This Thursday (July 14) enjoying a tasty brew from Rahr along with food pairings from participating restaurants for $10 per location.

The restaurants include Camp Bowie favorites: Winslow’s Wine Cafe, Lucille’s Stateside Bistro, and Kincaid’s Hamburgers. The proceeds go towards sprucing up the 9 miles of Camp Bowie with landscaping.

Winslow’s Wine Cafe
The Beer
Rahr Bucking Bock (A traditional German Bock Beer that is golden
in color and mildly hopped with a smooth malty character.)
The Food
Wood-fired Margherita Pizza with Italian tomatoes, fresh basil and Buffalo mozzarella, carefully drizzled with olive oil. Hand-made Pepperoni Pizza with an artisan tomato sauce and a melted blend of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.

Lucile’s Stateside Bistro
The Beer
Rahr Buffalo Butt (A rich, amber lager that doesn’t require months on a dusty trail gazing at a buffalo’s posterior to enjoy. With notes of caramel and spicy hops, this beer goes great with American classics.)
The Food
Rich, creamy lobster bisque. Wood-roasted salsa specially blended with chili peppers, onion and cilantro. Served with fresh-made corn tortilla chips.

Kincaid’s Hamburgers
The Beer
Rahr Ugly Pug (A black lager, but unlike most dark beers that are often described as “heavy” or “chewy”, this one has a surprisingly light body that’s easy to drink on even the hottest Texas summer
days.)
The Food
Choice of an 8 oz. juicy, old-fashioned hamburger or cheeseburger freshly cooked with hand-sliced vegetables. Go for the 4 oz. USDA Black Angus chuck patty and get crinkle-cut fries on the side.

FREE TICKETS
If you’d like to win 2 free tickets that get you into all 3 restaurants. Just leave a comment below or on Eat This Fort Worth’s Facebook Page. You may enter on both the blog and Facebook page (once on each). Good Luck! I’ll announce the winner Wednesday night.

beyond} Simple: Furniture, Foliage, Food Trucks
Tim’s Landscape and Garden Center
7319 West Vickery Boulevard, Fort Worth
Friday July 8 & Saturday July 9: 9AM – 8PM
Sunday July 10: 9AM – 5PM
Brought to you by Texas Toast Culinary Tours and beyond} Simple

If you’ve been wanting to try one of the Food Trucks in Fort Worth you’ll want to visit Tim’s Landscape and Garden Center ( 7319 West Vickery Blvd.) this weekend for the Furniture, Foliage, and Food Trucks event. Texas Toast Culinary Tours has brought together some of the best food trucks around for this event: Central Market’s HEAT; Yes! Taco; Wiener Man; Il Cane Rosso; Yum Yum; and Salsa Limon.

In addition to all the great eats you can tour the lush green grounds at Tim’s Garden and Landscape. Also check out some gorgeous furniture from beyond} Simple. I can’t wait to see what Sherry Griggs has in store with her new venture beyond} Simple. I remember her beautiful and inspirational shop, Simple Things, and I’m sure she’ll feature a similarly amazing selection of furniture and accessories.

Here’s the Food Truck Lineup:

Friday July 8, 2011
o Central Market’s H.E.A.T. (Herban Eatery Assault Truck) (11 am to 2 pm)
o YES! Taco (2 pm to 5 pm)
o II Cane Rosso’s Mobile Oven (5 pm to 8 pm)
o Wiener Man’s Fabulous Dogs (5 pm to 8 pm)

Saturday July 9. 2011
o Central market’s H.E.A.T. (Herban Eatery Assault Truck) (11 am to 2 pm)
o YES! Taco (2 pm to 5 pm)
o Salsa Limon (5 pm to 8 pm)
o Wiener Man’s Fabulous Dogs (5 pm to 8 pm)

Sunday July 10, 2011
o Salsa Limon (11 am to 2 pm)
o Yum Yum Truck (2 pm to 5 pm)

There will also be beer and wine tastings from Summer Love Ale and Lange Twins Winery along with others. You can find more details on the Facebook Event Page.

I you’re curious about the Food Trucks check out my reviews of Il Cane Rosso and Salsa Limon. Central Market’s H.E.A.T. will be serving tacos; Yum Yum truck brings tacos, burritos, and burgers; YES! Tacos serves tacos, tostadas, quesadillas, and burritos; you’ll find gourmet hot dogs at the Wiener Man’s Food Truck.

One Cool Cowboy

The Fort Worth launch of Foodways Texas on Sunday February 20 welcomed a full house of folks ready to eat and have a good time. A short drive west of Fort Worth, the Culinary Charreada took place at Clear Fork Station in Willow Park. Some of the area’s best chefs and food artisans served up Texas and Mexican inspired food.
Mariachi and country music added to the lively atmosphere as everyone buzzed around sampling the food and beverages.

We kicked off the eating frenzy by trying the dishes from Chef Lanny Lancarte of Lanny’s Alta Cocina Mexicana first. He presented a nice take on chips and salsa along with 3 styles of ceviche: a lobster ceviche, hamachi, and Acapulco style with black cod. The lobster ceviche stood out as a favorite. To complete the dishes Chef Lanny offered 3 different types of aguas frescas: watermelon, hibiscus, and horchata.

Chef Lanny Lancarte

Chef Dena Peterson from the Modern Cafe served an all time favorite – Frito Pie. She used Ladybird Johnson’s chili recipe as the base and then you could add your own toppings. Another crowd favorite came from The Wild Mushroom in Weatherford which served shrimp, grits, and spicy mac and cheese. I heard many raves about Chef Gerard Thompson’s maple-glazed Texas quail. The wines from Fall Creek Vineyards matched up nicely to all the dishes we tasted.

Shrimp, Grits, and Mac from The Wild Mushroom

Paula Lambert provided an exquisite selection of artisinal cheeses from The Mozzarella Company that took me and my dining companions on quite a flavor journey. The pulled pork sliders with jalapeno relish from Chef Lou Lambert from Lambert’s Steak Seafood and Whiskey paired perfectly with Rahr Beer. Everyone at our table also enjoyed Chef Molly McCook’s (Ellerbe’s) take on Mexican Street Corn topped with lime, cilantro, house made creme fraiche, ground red pepper, and queso fresco.

"Esquite" or Mexican Street Corn

The long line for Chef Grady Spear’s latest restaurant Clear Fork Station was worth the wait to try the firecracker shrimp, cilantro rice, and cornbread. We couldn’t neglect our sweet tooth and the sweets from Gwin Grimes of Artisan Baking Company really hit the spot, especially the pecan pie bars.

Firecracker Shrimp from Clear Fork Station

Outside the scene could have been from another time, with chuckwagons, grizzled cowboys and Dutch Ovens cooking away.

Chuckwagons

Terry Chandler of Fred’s along with others cooked up some serious cowboy cuisine over open fire that included beans topped with roasted jalapenos, fire roasted beef tenderloin, and cobblers. Republic Tequila provided tequila tastings. Many kids and grown-ups enjoyed the s’mores from Tillman’s.

Whole lotta Jalapenos

The kickoff for the Fort Worth chapter of Foodways Texas exemplified its mission of preserving, promoting, and celebrating the diverse food cultures of Texas. I saw many happy attendees in the crowd and with the quality of food and drink and entertainment at the event you couldn’t help but have a good time. Just before sunset I heard a violin playing which was a beautiful end to a great evening.

A little music

Chef Point Cafe, the gourmet restaurant inside a gas station in Watagua, brings it’s nationally recognized food to the streets of Fort Worth. Literally to the streets, they have gone mobile with their Chef Point on Wheels concept.

Whether this is a nod to the food truck trend or just a way to help spread the word about their downright good, down home cuisine, it’s worth the trip to the Medical District to check them out.

Every Wednesday you can find Chef Point on Wheels at 1220 Pennsylvania Avenue from 11AM – 3PM (across the street from Harris Hospital and in the parking lot of Gordon Boswell Flowers). My husband and I went last Wednesday to try out Chef Point on Wheels. We were pleasantly surprised that by 11AM people were already placing their orders. Even though the sun was out and in full swelter mode that didn’t stop folks that work at Harris from checking out this novel lunch spot. Several had heard about Chef Point on Wheels through Facebook.

The menu is an abbreviated version of their gas station menu and looks to be focused on their “greatest hits”. We placed our orders of the “Sexy Chicken” and Creamy Pasta Primavera. The Bread Pudding looked tempting and a lot of people were ordering it. If you’re looking to eat on the cheap, the Burgers fit the bill at $5. The prices go on up from there.

Once our order was ready we took our food to our car and dug in. There was no place to sit outside, not that we would want to in the heat of the midday sun. Let me just say that it was one of the best car meals ever. The “Sexy Chicken” which was proclaimed to be “better than sex” on the side of the truck had a perfect crust and the most tender chicken inside. The fried chicken was beyond perfect. As if it couldn’t get any better the mashed potato with gravy proved to be a worthy accompaniment to the fried chicken.

The Pasta Primavera was equally sublime with nice chunks of summer squash and zucchini bathed in a beautifully rich asiago cream sauce. The portions were fairly large and we ended up with leftovers. Next time I will bring my own drink because I would have loved some sweet iced tea instead of the canned and bottled drinks they offered.

All in all a fantastic meal and a great example of “gourmet to go”.

Chef Point on Wheels
1220 Pennsylvania Avenue
Wednesdays 11AM – 3PM

Chef Point Cafe in Watagua serves up Southern specialties as well as Italian dishes. Chef Franson Nwaeze has also introduced an “Acquired Taste” menu that includes adventurous dishes such as oxtail and and goat meat.
Chef Point Cafe
5901 Watauga Road
Watauga, TX 76148
817.656.0080

I’m loving Central Market’s celebration of Argentinian wine, culture and food going on now through May 25th.  Central Market is showcasing the food, wine, and culture of Argentina with special classes, celebrity chefs, and a variety of other events.

Check out the prepared foods area for a whole section dedicated to Argentinian goodies.  The Tartas, similar to a quiche, and Empanadas I sampled over the weekend were delicious.  They also are featuring meats topped with generous portions of chimicuhurri sauce.  The wine section features a nice selection of Malbecs and other Argentinian wines.  Also look for Yerba Mate tea and the special gourds Argentinians use to sip on this special tea known for its healthy properties.

The Central Market website lists the daily events highlighting Argentinian culture.  Tuesday May 18 from 10AM – 7PM they will host a mini San Telmo market featuring Argentinian crafts and gifts.  The original San Telmo market takes place every Sunday in Buenos Aires in the San Telmo district and is a gathering place for tourists and locals alike.

Later that evening Francis Mallman, famed South American chef and TV host, provides a rare opportunity for an intimate view on his cooking philosophy and cuisine.  Discover the different varieties of grilling and sample dishes from his cookbook, Cooking with Fire.

On Wednesday May 19th Central Market presents a Picada or a happy hour.  The Picada will feature an Argentine wine maker, Tango Dancers, a commemorative wine glass, meats and cheeses from Argentina, and Argentine appetizers.  Wednsesday’s Picada takes place from 6:30-8:30PM with Gonsalvo Bertelsen from Finaca El Origen.  $30 per person.

These are just a few highlights, take a look at the Central Market Event calender and Cooking School calender for all the other events and classes.

Photo of San Telmo Market courtesy of Wes and Rebecca Frierson.