Cowtown Comfort

Fort Worth's legacy as the largest livestock-trading center in the Southwest led to its nickname of "Cowtown" in the late 1800s, a moniker that's stuck ever since. With a food scene largely driven by beef, Fort Worth's four basic food groups could be considered steaks, burgers, barbecue, and Tex-Mex (with a platter of sizzling beef fajitas at the top of the last category). But the food-loving locals know Cowtown cuisine spans well beyond brisket, tacos, and rib eye. In her first cookbook Cowtown Comfort, author and Fort Worth native Celestina Blok aims to showcase her adoration for the chefs, pitmasters, bakers, and makers whose beloved creations--from top shelf margaritas to Texas sheet cake--define her hometown. Across 60 Fort Worth-based recipes, readers will find home versions of some of Fort Worth's most beloved dishes--many served with a heaping side of history. Think Paris Coffee Shop biscuits and gravy, Reata Restaurant's carne asada topped with cheese enchiladas, H3 Ranch's chicken fried steak, and even Heim Barbecue's bacon burnt ends. Readers might be surprised to find global flavors, from dishes such as boeuf bourguignon from Paris 7th Restaurant Français, yakisoba from Tokyo Cafe, homemade pasta from Emilia's, and paella from Magdalena's. Chapters like "Cowtown Cocktails" highlight important libations like the grapefruit-infused paloma and a local take on the classic old-fashioned. Brunch and desserts are covered, as are "Fort Worth fancy dishes" like crab cakes with remoulade sauce from Winslow's Wine Cafe and Texas shrimp and grits from Bonnell's Fine Texas Cuisine. So, whether you're new to town or a lifelong resident, flip through these pages with a pen in hand and start planning your next shindig dish with Fort Worth flavors in mind. Or simply sit back and delight in the detail behind some of Cowtown's most treasured tastes.