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What is so special about food from Texas? There are many possible answers to that question.
What is undeniable is that the great state of Texas produces lots of delicious specialty foods from both large and small
companies all over the state.
Austin writer Rhonda Cloos has brought together information on 118 different companies, most
creating delicious delectibles that can be ordered from anywhere in the world via their
website. These foods burst with personality, and Cloos does nicely in capturing not only
information about the business, but the people behind it.
The New York, Texas Cheesecake Co. in Athens, Texas is a great little cheesecake shop that has
captured the attention of national newspapers and been featured on the Food Network. Among their
many choices, owner Bud Hicks sells his cheesecakes in the shape of the state of Texas.
Where else can you find the local food companies creating their cheesecakes or cookies or
fruitcakes in the shape of the state? Only in Texas.
Some of the companies are small, however others are large businesses like Blue Bell Creameries.
Since 1907, the creamery in Brenham, Texas has expanded its delivery to thirteen different states.
Their most popular flavor, Homemade Vanilla, was specifically designed by CEO Howard Kruse to
posses that real home hand cranked porch flavor.
Perhaps that is why many consumers of Blue Bell feel that they are eating a scoop of
nostalgia. Besides nineteen year-round flavors, Blue Bell produces a host of revolving
favorites using seasonal items, like Texas peaches.
Another famous company represented in the book is the Colin Street Bakery of Corsicana, Texas.
World-famous for its fruitcakes, it dates back to the 1890s. In fact, the original
Ringling brothers of circus fame tasted the fruitcake in Dallas, and wanted to order it
after leaving town. From that request, the company started its now-famous mail order
business.
At the heart of the system were the fines collected from lawbreakers for a standard list of offences
ranging from being drunk and disorderly to prostitution, fighting, carrying a gun and so on. For
non-violent crimes, the typical fine handed down by the local courts was either $5 or $10. In a
wide-open town like Fort Worth, fines against prostitutes, dance houses and gambling dens were collected
so routinely that the practice amounted to virtual licensing.
This style of law enforcement, which became characteristic of Fort Worth for many years afterwards is
well-documented by Selcer. The reader sees how this practice worked:
If you have driven down through Fredericksburg during the summertime you have seen the colorful peach stands lining the main highways.
People come from all over to bite into those fresh, sweet, and succulent Fredericksburg peaches. If you drove through the
area back in 1969, you might have stopped at a roadside peach stand owned by Mark Wieser and his
family.
The Wieser's peach business was a popular one, and eventually the family bought a log cabin situated
on a farm. Total cost was one hundred fourty dollars, plus ten dollars for some rocks on the
property!
That location was and still is called Das Peach Haus, which sits on sixty-five acres of beautiful
Hill Country land. In Das Peach Haus, Mark's mother made her delicious peach preserves.
Fischer & Weiser's first product was - take a guess - peach preserves. The company has ripened faster
than peaches in the summer, offfering over one hundred products in their modern 32,000 square-foot production
facility. A test kitchen is the hub of experimentation where new products get their start. The
owners are inspired by everything from restaurant chefs to everyday consumers and believe that
innovation is important... and fun!
Fischer & Wieser's products reflect a deep knowledge of foods and a refinement of
flavors. Their most popular item, Roasted Raspberry Chipotle Sauce, has received rave reviews and
top honors. When it was introduced in 1997, consumers were immediately drawn to the distinctive pepper-raspberry combination with its
unique sweet and smoky flavor. A versatile sauce, it can be blended with cream cheese and served as
an hors d'oeuvres or brushed onto beef tenderloin, pork or fish.
The FW Gourmet line features a range of distinctive sauces giving any home a gourmet touch.
Specialty items include cooking sauces, unique preserves, mustards, salsas and soups. The
line includes products such as Whole Lemon Fig Marinade, Seville-Orange Cranberry Horseradish
Sauce, Sweet Sour and Smokey Mustard Sauce and Jalapeño Sauce.
Speaking of gift giving, Fischer & Wieser offers a number of delightful sets. Like their products,
a lot of thought and creativity goes into developing them.
Everyone knows that firefighters make great chili. In Corpus Christi, these heroes make theirs
available on the grocery shelves with their Texas Firehouse Chili and Salsas. Products include
a liquid chili mix, salsas and barbecue sauces. The Search and Rescue Chili Mix
label states that if you're searching for the perfect chili, you've just been rescued.
Texas Food Companies also includes information on which operations offer tours and visits, great
stops for the family. There is also list information on the state's many busy non-profit
food advocacy organizations, like the Texas Beef Council and the Texas Pecan Growers Association.
Tea For Texas
A handy guide to tea rooms around the state
Texas foods can arguably be a saving grace to the increasing amount of similar, national foods.
We get requests at Texas Cooking and Texana all the time from folks around the country
looking to purchase their favorite foods from the days they lived in Texas. This book is a great
collection of what is available, and easy methods to order what you like conveniently, no matter where
you live.
