From the Editor | February & March 2019
Welcome to our “Food + Drinks” issue of Tex Appeal. When I asked folks what they appreciate about winter, many answered that visions of comfort food and intimate gatherings with friends and family came to mind. So here we gathered a collection of food- and drink-related articles designed to inspire you to get in the kitchen or head out for some local fare at a restaurant near you.
Our friends at Country Restaurant Supply in Temple graciously allowed us to gather a group of talented chefs and restaurant owners at their store for a photoshoot this month. You can see the results in our “On the Menu” article on p. 32. The best part of the shoot? Hands down, the leftovers! Our photographer, Justin Borja, happily went home at the end of the day with the spoils, arms loaded with multiple to-go boxes.
Another photoshoot, though, almost didn’t happen at all. The Brasher and Cobb families of Green Fields Farm in Rogers remained patient as we scheduled dates for a photoshoot there about a dozen times—all canceled due to inclement weather.
A day finally arrived, though, when the clouds parted and we gathered in their barn for a feast of home-grown pork roast. Next, we hopped on ATVs to venture into the pasture to capture images of the steers, who reluctantly posed for us as they stood in about a foot of mud. Jennifer Brasher took one look at my white sneakers, rolled her eyes and handed me some mud boots for our trek into the field. As we waited for the sun to set and create a lovely backdrop, family patriarch Leonard Cobb sidled over to me, hands in his pockets, also sporting mud boots.
“Do you mind if I call you in August, when we haven’t had rain for weeks, so we can schedule another photoshoot?” he smiled at me. You can read about their organic, sustainably managed farm on p. 52.
Writer Sharon White interviewed Carol Hajda, who met her husband working at her grandma’s flower shop (now hers), Woods Flowers. If you’re inclined to send a Valentine’s Day bouquet to your special someone, check out our charts on p. 30 explaining what various flower colors and types actually symbolize. You might be surprised by a few!
I was delighted to get to know country western singer-songwriter Holly Tucker over the last few weeks. To say that she is as gracious as she is talented would be an understatement. Since her appearance on TV’s “The Voice,” she’s been a star on the rise, but she’s remained grounded as well. As we dined at the new Palmeras Tex-Mex Con Sabor restaurant in Harker Heights, we discussed everything from her latest album to her opinions on women (and men) in the music industry today. See the story on p. 22.
And don’t forget to buy tickets at CentralTexasTickets.com for our annual Day for Women on Feb. 16 at the Frank W. Mayborn Civic & Convention Center in Temple. Holly is the featured luncheon speaker at our event that includes a fashion show, demonstrations and, yes, lots of shopping!
Happy Valentine’s Day, Erin go Bragh and Laissez les Bons Temps Rouler!
Stacy Moser
stacym@texappealmag.com
254-774-5266