We're home from a weekend in Texas, and it was so good to be back in "God's Country" as we so humbly call it. On Friday, we hung out in Ft Worth with my beautiful friend Alison, who I grew up with in Paris. We jokingly refer to each other as "friends from the womb," as our mothers were best friends (and our grandmothers are friends). Then my parents drove down from Paris to spend Saturday and Sunday with us. We ate good food, soaked up the warm (read: hot) Texas sunshine, sipped local Texas beers and craft cocktails, went to a Rangers game at the Ballpark in Arlington, and got caught up on all the local gossip. Below are highlights from the trip!
Dinner and Texas Brews at The Live Oak in Ft Worth:
With a downstairs dining area featuring an impressive line-up of taps and a live music hall, they also have a rooftop patio overlooking the Ft Worth skyline.
Live Oak trees border the patio, branches strung with white lights. It was a gorgeous evening, warm with a breeze, so we opted for the rooftop. We were seated just as the sun was setting.We particularly enjoyed trying beers from the local Martin House Brewing (specifically the Imperial Red Ale and the Saisaon), and with a plate of Frito Pie topped with spicy pork chili verde, it felt like home.
Cocktails at The Usual Bar in Ft Worth:
(logo from The Usual Bar website)
Breakfast at The Black Rooster Bakery in Ft Worth:
Sitting out on their patio, my husband dug into a pecan cinnamon roll, while I enjoyed an outstanding roasted garlic and cheese quiche. The crust was buttery and flaky, and the sweet taste of roasted garlic was prominent but not overpowering.
Signs You're Back in Texas:
Tex-Mex at Mariano's in Arlington:
Texas Rangers Baseball at The Ballpark in Arlington:
We spent a fun (and very hot) afternoon watching the Rangers play the Kansas City Royals. It was my first time at the Ballpark in Arlington since high school (over 10 years ago) and my first time with my parents since I was a little girl.
Despite our best efforts cheering them on, the Rangers lost in extra innings. But we still had a great time! After all, no afternoon spent at the ballpark with a cold beer, an even colder Lemon Chill, and your family is a wasted afternoon.
Real Texas BBQ at David's Barbeque in Arlington (technically Pantego):
I got a chopped beef sandwich with a side of their smoked beans and fried okra. The chopped smoked brisket (enough for two sandwiches) was piled high on a buttery bun. I poured sauce over the meat until it ran down the sides, but the meat is so perfectly smoked that the delicious sauce is unnecessary. It's just icing on the cake. While the beans weren't my favorite, my husband loved them. But the fried okra was the best I've had outside of my mother's kitchen.
They even had a soft-serve machine for an after-dinner ice cream cone! I haven't seen soft serve at a BBQ restaurant since Rockin' W closed its doors in Paris when I was a kid.
Brunch at Brownstone in Ft Worth:
We spent Sunday morning back in Ft. Worth for brunch at Brownstone. We passed on outdoor seating and opted for the air-conditioned interior, bright and sunny thanks to the large windows. What caught my eye first was a little card to make your own mimosa. This is such a good idea! I opted for the house sparkling wine with orange juice, cranberry juice, and apricot nectar. Crisp and refreshing, it did not disappoint.
I couldn't resist ordering the chicken fried steak blanketed in jalapeno white gravy and topped with an egg. Chicken fried steak, TexMex, and BBQ make-up the Texas Tri-fecta, so my weekend was now complete. We also shared a side of pepper jack cheese grits, because, well, they were pepper jack cheese grits. The homestyle potatoes were a bit mushy, but I was too busy enjoying the chicken fried steak to care. I loved the hint of heat from the jalapeno white gravy (technically green gravy) and the perfectly oozy egg.
Fond Farewells:
Now we're back home ready for graduation festivities to start! My husband's parents arrive this evening, and graduation events are right around the corner, on Thursday and Friday! Let the celebrating begin (...err, continue)!
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