Texas Hill Country - October 2006
Hill Country Photo Gallery
I never knew that Texas had a wine region until reading a 2005 article in Wine Spectator magazine. We were instantly intrigued about this
unknown and unexpected wine region so when we were looking for a long weekend away we decided to head off to Texas. Before this trip my own
Texas experience had been the Dallas/Fort Worth airport.
We decided to follow the Wine Spectator article pretty closely based on their hotel, restaurant and winery recommendations. We flew into Austin and
spend one night doing some sightseeing in the city. My first reaction of Austin was “when can we come back”? It seems like a very fun and livable
city.
The rest of our trip was spent out in Texas Hill Country near the town of Fredericksburg. Below I will be highlighting the restaurants, hotels and
wineries we enjoyed.
Restaurants:
Driskill Grill (in the Driskill Hotel): Austin, Texas
At the time of our visit David Bull was the executive chef at The Driskill Grill. Chef Bull appeared on Iron Chef America and was a 2007 James Beard
Finalist for Best Chef in the Southwest Region. Chef Bull has since moved on from the Driskill Grill. Our meal was fabulous; it was easy to see why
Chef Bull was receiving national recognition for his work. The dining room was elegant and had the feel of a classic steakhouse with lots of deep wood
and banquets providing a lot of dining privacy. At the time Driskill Grill was considered one of the top restaurants in Austin and I certainly agreed.
From recent articles it sounds like the high standards set by Chef Bull are still being met by current Executive Chef Jonathan Gelman.
Las Manitas Avenue Café: Austin Texas
We were looking for a local breakfast spot and received a recommendation from the concierge at The Driskill Hotel to checkout Las Manitas which
was only a few blocks away. Little did we know that this place has reached legendary status in Austin. I had a breakfast taco with fresh tortillas.
Probably one of the best breakfasts I ever had. The tortillas were like no other that I had experienced on the east coast. They were so good you wanted
to eat them on your own. If you are in Austin this place is a must. Keep in mind you might have wait to get seats. It’s no secret in Austin.
Salt Lick BBQ: Driftwood, Texas
The Salt Lick is a legendary BBQ joint in Texas. I became aware of it from several features in magazines and on the Food Network. It’s located about
20 miles outside of Austin but it feels like more because of the country setting surrounding the Salt Lick. The other great thing about the Salt Lick is
that you smell it before you see it. As we drove up the road the unforgettable scent of burning hickory wood set our expectations. The Salt Lick has
been around since 1969 leaving locals and tourists happy every time. In Texas BBQ is all about brisket. I ordered the combo plate which included
Brisket, Sausage and Pork Ribs with potato salad, cole slaw, beans, bread, pickles, and onions. Pretty good meal for only $12. The meat was cooked to
perfection with a perfect balance of seasoning and smoky flavor. The smoke ring, which is a pinkish coloration of the meat around the outside, was
well defined and even. And most importantly it was tender and moist. The Salt Lick is a must visit if you are in the Austin area.
August E’s: Fredericksburg, TX
August E’s is right in Fredericksburg which is the main town in Hill Country. The cuisine is defined as Nuevo Texas and the restaurant received a 27
food rating in Zagat. We both agreed that the high ratings were deserved. The dining room is modern with interesting pieces of artwork adorning the
walls. The menu includes everything from ‘Cowboy Rib-eye’ to ‘Mixed Grill: Vietnamese Style’.
Rose Hill Manor: Stonewall, TX
Our first night in Hill Country we stayed and ate at the Rose Hill Manor. They offer a $40 four course prix fixe menu. The small intimate dining
room with great views of the expansive front yard and sunset was a perfect way to end our first day. The food lived up the Texas sunset with four well
prepared courses by Chef Seth Bateman.
Navajo Grill: Fredericksburg, TX
Navajo Grill was also featured in Wine Spectator magazine. The menu includes everything from gulf coast red fish to smoked grits tamales. The
atmosphere is upscale casual.
Accommodations:
Rose Hill Manor: Stonewall, TX
Rose Hill is one of the few luxury bed and breakfasts in the Fredericksburg area. They offer rooms within the main house and also separate cottages
on their property. We opted for the Primrose cottage which included a large bedroom with skylights, bathroom and small sitting area. Each cottage
also had outdoor space for enjoying a nice glass of Texas wine.
Settlers Crossing: Fredericksburg, TX
Settlers Crossing is one of the most unique bed and breakfasts in the country. It’s actually a collection of seven antique homes from around the
country that have been moved to the property in Fredericksburg. Your room is actually an old house. We stayed in the Von Heinrich Home, circa
1787 from Pennsylvania, features a wood burning fireplace, jacuzzi tub and full kitchen. We had the entire house to ourselves including our own
yard. It was really like stepping back in time. I would highly recommend it for a family with kids.
Wineries: Map of Texas Wine Trail
Fall Creek Vineyards: Tow, TX
Becker Vineyards: Stonewall, TX
Torre di Pietra: Fredericksburg, TX
Gape Creek Vineyards: Fredericksburg, TX
Sister Creek Vineyards: Sisterdale, TX
Texas Hills Vineyard: Johnson City, TX
Hill Country Photo Gallery
I never knew that Texas had a wine region until reading a 2005 article in Wine Spectator magazine. We were instantly intrigued about this
unknown and unexpected wine region so when we were looking for a long weekend away we decided to head off to Texas. Before this trip my own
Texas experience had been the Dallas/Fort Worth airport.
We decided to follow the Wine Spectator article pretty closely based on their hotel, restaurant and winery recommendations. We flew into Austin and
spend one night doing some sightseeing in the city. My first reaction of Austin was “when can we come back”? It seems like a very fun and livable
city.
The rest of our trip was spent out in Texas Hill Country near the town of Fredericksburg. Below I will be highlighting the restaurants, hotels and
wineries we enjoyed.
Restaurants:
Driskill Grill (in the Driskill Hotel): Austin, Texas
At the time of our visit David Bull was the executive chef at The Driskill Grill. Chef Bull appeared on Iron Chef America and was a 2007 James Beard
Finalist for Best Chef in the Southwest Region. Chef Bull has since moved on from the Driskill Grill. Our meal was fabulous; it was easy to see why
Chef Bull was receiving national recognition for his work. The dining room was elegant and had the feel of a classic steakhouse with lots of deep wood
and banquets providing a lot of dining privacy. At the time Driskill Grill was considered one of the top restaurants in Austin and I certainly agreed.
From recent articles it sounds like the high standards set by Chef Bull are still being met by current Executive Chef Jonathan Gelman.
Las Manitas Avenue Café: Austin Texas
We were looking for a local breakfast spot and received a recommendation from the concierge at The Driskill Hotel to checkout Las Manitas which
was only a few blocks away. Little did we know that this place has reached legendary status in Austin. I had a breakfast taco with fresh tortillas.
Probably one of the best breakfasts I ever had. The tortillas were like no other that I had experienced on the east coast. They were so good you wanted
to eat them on your own. If you are in Austin this place is a must. Keep in mind you might have wait to get seats. It’s no secret in Austin.
Salt Lick BBQ: Driftwood, Texas
The Salt Lick is a legendary BBQ joint in Texas. I became aware of it from several features in magazines and on the Food Network. It’s located about
20 miles outside of Austin but it feels like more because of the country setting surrounding the Salt Lick. The other great thing about the Salt Lick is
that you smell it before you see it. As we drove up the road the unforgettable scent of burning hickory wood set our expectations. The Salt Lick has
been around since 1969 leaving locals and tourists happy every time. In Texas BBQ is all about brisket. I ordered the combo plate which included
Brisket, Sausage and Pork Ribs with potato salad, cole slaw, beans, bread, pickles, and onions. Pretty good meal for only $12. The meat was cooked to
perfection with a perfect balance of seasoning and smoky flavor. The smoke ring, which is a pinkish coloration of the meat around the outside, was
well defined and even. And most importantly it was tender and moist. The Salt Lick is a must visit if you are in the Austin area.
August E’s: Fredericksburg, TX
August E’s is right in Fredericksburg which is the main town in Hill Country. The cuisine is defined as Nuevo Texas and the restaurant received a 27
food rating in Zagat. We both agreed that the high ratings were deserved. The dining room is modern with interesting pieces of artwork adorning the
walls. The menu includes everything from ‘Cowboy Rib-eye’ to ‘Mixed Grill: Vietnamese Style’.
Rose Hill Manor: Stonewall, TX
Our first night in Hill Country we stayed and ate at the Rose Hill Manor. They offer a $40 four course prix fixe menu. The small intimate dining
room with great views of the expansive front yard and sunset was a perfect way to end our first day. The food lived up the Texas sunset with four well
prepared courses by Chef Seth Bateman.
Navajo Grill: Fredericksburg, TX
Navajo Grill was also featured in Wine Spectator magazine. The menu includes everything from gulf coast red fish to smoked grits tamales. The
atmosphere is upscale casual.
Accommodations:
Rose Hill Manor: Stonewall, TX
Rose Hill is one of the few luxury bed and breakfasts in the Fredericksburg area. They offer rooms within the main house and also separate cottages
on their property. We opted for the Primrose cottage which included a large bedroom with skylights, bathroom and small sitting area. Each cottage
also had outdoor space for enjoying a nice glass of Texas wine.
Settlers Crossing: Fredericksburg, TX
Settlers Crossing is one of the most unique bed and breakfasts in the country. It’s actually a collection of seven antique homes from around the
country that have been moved to the property in Fredericksburg. Your room is actually an old house. We stayed in the Von Heinrich Home, circa
1787 from Pennsylvania, features a wood burning fireplace, jacuzzi tub and full kitchen. We had the entire house to ourselves including our own
yard. It was really like stepping back in time. I would highly recommend it for a family with kids.
Wineries: Map of Texas Wine Trail
Fall Creek Vineyards: Tow, TX
Becker Vineyards: Stonewall, TX
Torre di Pietra: Fredericksburg, TX
Gape Creek Vineyards: Fredericksburg, TX
Sister Creek Vineyards: Sisterdale, TX
Texas Hills Vineyard: Johnson City, TX
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