Slap on some spurs it’s time for the Fort Worth Stock Show.  This annual event begins January 16th and continues to February 8th.  Here’s some local restaurants near the Stock Show grounds in case you want something other than festival food.

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J&J Oyster Bar
612 N. University Drive
They make a mean Po’ Boy here.  Oysters and gumbo are also signature dishes, wash it down with a cold one. The grilled tuna is as healthy as it gets.  Kids love the popcorn shrimp.  Casual atmosphere. Check out the menu on their website.

Sardines
509 N. University Drive
Sneak in a little romance before or after the rodeo at this quintessentially romantic Italian spot with live jazz nightly. Expect traditional Italian favorites and don’t miss out on the crab stuffed mushroom appetizer.

Fred’s Texas Cafe
915 Currie Street
Grab a Fredburger with cheese and Fred’s handcut french fries.  The Diablo burger is for the adventurous.  The tacos are also tasty at this “divey diner” that was just featured on the Food Network.  Now featuring a full bar.

La Familia
841 Foch
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.

Montgomery Street Cafe
2000 Montgomery Street
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.

Angelo’s Barbeque
2533 White Settlement Road
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.

Lambert’s
2731 White Settlement Road
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. Small lounge area near the bar for enjoying cocktails.

Ol’ South Pancake House
1509 S. University
Another Fort Worth institution.  Stop by for breakfast  before heading to the Stock Show. Kid friendly as long as you’re there before the bars close.

Hoffbrau Steaks
1712 S. University
Classic Fort Worth steakhouse serves up steaks that won’t break the bank.  Don’t forget about the chicken fried steak, mmmm.  Kid friendly.

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

Wah! What’s going on at Fred’s!  The Food Network camped out at Fred’s this week to feature it on “Diners, Drive – Ins, and Dives” hosted by  Guy Fieri.  To top that excitement, Martin Sheen, stopped by Fred’s on Sunday for Brunch.

Get the rest of the scoop at the Fort Worth Weekly.  Here’s a photo from Fred’s website, there’s more in the photos section of Fred’s website.

Wow is Foch street getting fancy or what?  Times Ten Cellars has purchased 22,000 square feet at 1100 Foch Street, the site of a former pecan shelling factory.  The wine bar and tasting room will be a treat for Fort Worth winos.  The winery will even have an event space.

Times Ten Cellars already have a location in Dallas.  The winery cellars and bottles wine from select California regions as well as from their vineyard in Alpine, Texas.  Their Dallas locale has a tasting room with wine friendly snacks and they  allow you to order food from neighboring pizza joints.

According to GlobeSt.com construction will begin in December or January with an eye toward an August 2009 opening.  The winery will occupy 8,000 square feet and lease the remainder of the space to complementary businesses.  A new restaurant perhaps?

GlobeSt. also reports that Times Ten currently produces 120,000 to 200,000 bottles per year that are distributed to 45 restaurants in Dallas.  They are also expanding to include distribution in Houston.

Their vineyard is planted in the desert mountains about 18 miles south of Alpine, Texas.  The combination of sun, cool nights and mineral rich volcanic soil provide growing conditions for Spanish and Rhone style wines.  These wines include:  Syrah, Grenache, Petite Sirah, Mourvedre, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and my favorite Tempranillo.

It’s very exciting to see all the growth that has been happening around the Foch/Currie street area over the past few years.  I remember thinking Foch street was really starting to come into it’s own when the Black Dog moved there.  Well, that’s since closed down but the development has not stopped in what was a former industrial wasteland of an area.  I can’t wait to see who’s moved into the Foch as I’m sipping some Sauvignon. Cheers!

Chimy’s Cerveceria
1053 Foch Street
Fort Worth, TX 76107
(817) 348-8888

Oh Chimy’s I wanted to love you.  On paper you had all the qualities I look for.  First off you incorporated “cerveceria” into your name which reminds me of sitting at aluminum Carta Blanca tables in dodgy little dives in Mexico where faint breezes and slap your mama good tacos accompany your cerveza.  Next the casual tex-mexy menu gave me a notion that this might be like Fuzzy’s with a fresh and fast menu.  Finally, I’m always in search of good outdoor dining in Fort Worth, so I was eager to break in the patio at Chimy’s with some margaritas.

Nestled within “Foch Alley”, or what could be considered a really big parking lot you’ll find Chimy’s.  Despite being behind former fabric showrooms and under the shadow of the 7th Street Station apartments Chimy’s beckons with it’s neon lit lime and festive looking patio.   And yes, they have the requisite aluminum Mexican beer tables.

After placing your food and drink orders at the counter you pick up chips at a different counter by the kitchen.  This is also where you pick up your order once your name is called.  And if the disinterested girl who’s job it is to hand out the food decides to actually stop her conversation momentarily you’ll receive your basket of food.  Sorry, was my annoyance not thinly veiled enough there?

Despite the heat, I headed out to the patio to enjoy my margarita.  The margarita tasted perfect on a hot July day.  The patio did not disappoint.  There’s plenty of comfortable seating, some spots even have umbrellas that vainly try to defeat the summer sun.  Being set back from traffic gives the patio an almost tranquil feel.  Don’t despair though, folks enjoying their buckets of beers, beer signs, and a plasma TV keep the frat party spirit alive.  Not that there’s anything wrong with that, it’s a great vibe on the patio. The mix of students, families, couples, and the after work drink crowd gave me high hopes for the food.

Well, I tasted the grilled fish tacos and the green chile chicken soft tacos.  The flour tortillas they use are super thick, now I’m not expecting my abuelas flaky tortillas de harina here.  But come on, these tortillas did not add anything flavor or texture wise.  Now, if the filling is good who cares what they’re wrapped in right?  Well, I didn’t find the fillings to be so good.  The grilled fish looked a little sad in the tortilla.  I couldn’t tell if it was the sauce or the fish that had a strange aftertaste and the cheese was just kind of the useless glue that held the hot mess together.  I moved on to the chicken tacos and didn’t have much luck there either.  The green chiles provided the only flavor to a dry chicken backdrop.  Despite the ample topping bar, no condiment could redeem these two dishes for me.

I know this is a red plastic basket sort of spot.  Don’t get me wrong this is my kind of place.  I’m all about good cheap food that’s a good value.  I’m not expecting tear inducing greatness here, just a fresh taco, that’s all.  I guess I’m spoiled to Fuzzy’s which pumps out the same product at the same price point only it’s full of flavor and tastes fresh.

Now it wasn’t all bad.  The queso was good.  Maybe they’re just overreaching with some of the dishes.  The nacho dishes do look promising and the “gut rockets” that they so fondly advertise may be worth a try next time.  I will go again because I can’t truly judge on one visit and I think the patio is a score.  This is a good place to come to with friends and enjoy a bucket of beers and some margaritas, shoot after enough of those who cares what the food tastes like.

Price $
Ranges from $1.99 for chips with one free refill
to  $7.79 for fajita nachos

Eat This: Maybe, Two out of five panthers-one bucket of beers and a gut rocket away from a three

I Eat This: Queso and Chips