by Phil Houseal | Aug 24, 2018 | All Articles, Food, People of the Hill Country, Philosophy
Aug 23, 2018–Last Saturday night, my 3-year-old granddaughter asked for a snack of popcorn. “Who do you want to make it?” asked her mom, knowing full well the answer. “PopPop!” came the response, and I was on deck. PopPop is my “grandpa name,” bestowed by her when she...
by Phil Houseal | Jul 26, 2018 | All Articles, Events, Food, People of the Hill Country, Venue
July 25, 2018–Back in high school, Cherry Graham and her friend Brian Came couldn’t buy alcohol, so they started making it. “Basically, we’re nerds,” said Cherry, who is now one of the “Home Team” of owners of Hye Cider Company, along with high school buddy Came, and...
by Phil Houseal | Apr 12, 2018 | All Articles, Food, Music, People of the Hill Country, Venue
April 11, 2018–Wouldn’t it be fun to find a place away from the crowded downtown, where you can share a four-course fixed-menu meal with interesting companions, while listening to live acoustic music? Those are the reasons Joe and Sharon Grimes started their Second...
by Phil Houseal | Apr 5, 2018 | All Articles, Food, Music, People of the Hill Country, Venue
April 3, 2018–Whenever family from north of Willow Creek came to town looking for an authentic Fredericksburg Main Street experience, I took them to the Altdorf Restaurant. Nothing said “gemutlichkeit” like the outdoor biergarten, shaded barrel tables, smiling...
by Phil Houseal | Nov 17, 2017 | All Articles, Food, Philosophy
Nov 15, 2017–As Thanksgiving brings its predictable menu of comfort food, dispensed in your family tradition, I started thinking about how as we grow older we tend to seek out stronger flavors. The pungency of goat cheese and truffles. The tang of red wine and black...
by Phil Houseal | Oct 5, 2017 | All Articles, Events, Food, Music, People of the Hill Country, Venue
Oct 4, 2017–When we first moved to the Hill Country, there was a small rodeo arena on Hwy 16 south of Fredericksburg. I remember pulling in with the kids and letting them experience the dust, grit, and bellowing of bulls, broncs, and barrel racing. There is no greater...
