Go Local. GO TEXAN. Volume 2 Issue 11

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Help Feed Hungry Texans:

Go Out. Go Eat. GO TEXAN.

Restaurants across Texas are busy planning menus featuring locally-grown products to serve July 22-28 during the annual GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up, sponsored by Farm Credit. This event is a great opportunity for you to satisfy your craving for Texas-grown products, while also helping generate thousands of dollars in donations for Texas food banks. Participating restaurants pledged a total of $43,000 to local food banks last year, which helped provide more than 100,000 meals for hungry Texans.

“Meals at your favorite restaurant always taste better when they are created with Texas ingredients,” Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples said. “The abundance and quality of products produced by our farmers, ranchers, winemakers and fishermen provide Lone Star chefs with the perfect opportunity to feature fresh, flavorful Texas fare. The GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up celebrates that connection.”

Join us for the 2013 Restaurant Round-Up, and show your support for local eateries that are committed to serving ingredients sourced from Texas farmers, ranchers and producers. When you’re dining out during Restaurant Round-Up, be on the look-out for restaurants serving fine Texas wines in special GO TEXAN wine glasses, as well as Cheesemakers’ cheeses, featured at many Restaurant Round-Up locations around the state.

• Click here to find a participating restaurant near you to Go Out. Go Eat. GO TEXAN.
• RSVP on Facebook for the Restaurant Round-Up event and share with your friends.
• Follow GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up on Twitter and look for #txdineout and #GOTEXAN hashtags.
• Enter to win one of our 11 Texas-sized giveaways, including overnight bed and breakfast stays, restaurant gift cards and delicious food products!
• Download the GO TEXAN mobile app to find GO TEXAN restaurants near you, and support local farmers, ranchers and winemakers year-round by dining out at GO TEXAN restaurants.

The Blessing of the Fleet

July marks the start of something tasty—the official opening of the Texas commercial shrimp season.

With this comes the Blessing of the Fleet—a long-standing and cherished tradition where prayers are issued to eager shrimpers and their vessels to bid them a safe and prosperous fishing season. From Galveston to Palacios to Port Isabel, the blessing helps shrimpers prepare for their long days at sea. Their boats are fueled, their rigs are reset and expectations are sky-high for what they anticipate to be a banner harvest year.

Did You Know? Texas shrimpers are responsible for nearly one-third of all shrimp harvested annually from the Gulf of Mexico. It’s a GO TEXAN way of life that creates jobs and supports a healthy Texas economy.

Texas Gulf Shrimp — better by a nautical mile!

Pappas Restaurants:

Serving the Community for the Better

The Pappas chain of family-owned restaurants has built a fine reputation as a popular and crowded restaurant in Texas. You’ve probably eaten at one of their more than 75 restaurants spread across the state (or perhaps even one of their eight out-of-state locations). Pappas restaurants feature vastly diverse ranges of cuisines from Tex-Mex at Pappasitos Cantina to Louisiana Cajun at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen to steakhouse favorites at Pappas Bros. Steakhouse or fine Texas BBQ at Pappas Bar-B-Q. Pappas is committed to providing their customers with a high-quality fine dining experience. Their drive to serve the best food is one reason they often choose to feature Texas-grown products on their menus and one reason they are a proud GO TEXAN member.

Pappas is participating in this year’s GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up. Locations across the state will be serving up a hearty sampling featuring locally-sourced products, including:
• Grilled shrimp bruschetta with warm Texas goat cheese at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen and Pappas Seafood House;
• Handcrafted Tejas margaritas at Pappasito’s Cantina;
• Warm pecan pie featuring Central Texas pecans at Pappas Bar-B-Q;
• Shiner Bock beer straight from the brewery in Shiner paired with juicy offerings at Pappas Burger;
• Duchman Family Winery Vermentino served at Yia Yia Mary’s, Pappas Greek Kitchen; and
• Barbeque quail and venison loin at Pappas Bros. Steakhouse.

The Pappas GO TEXAN specials for the Restaurant Round-Up can be found online.

To find a 2013 GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up participant, click here. We hope to see you dining out July 22-28!

Pappas Bros. Steakhouse’s

Beefsteak Tomatoes

with Blue Cheese and Onions

Pappas Restaurants Executive Chef Michael Velardi suggests choosing large beefsteak tomatoes that are ripe and deep in color.

“When in season, heirloom or locally-grown tomatoes from the farmers market will work well in this salad. Brazos Valley Blue cheese is a favorite when it comes to creamy and earthy blue cheeses.”

Ingredients
• 4 large beefsteak tomatoes, each cored and sliced horizontally into 3 pieces
• ¾ cup best-quality extra-virgin olive oil
• ¼ cup red wine vinegar
• ¾ cup crumbled blue cheese
• 12 large (¼-inch thick) rings from a sweet yellow onion
• Kosher salt
• Coarsely ground black pepper, to taste

Preparation
1. Arrange tomato slices on four individual serving plates. Sprinkle salt evenly over the surface of tomatoes.
2. In a medium-size bowl, whisk together the oil and vinegar. Pour half the vinaigrette mixture into a separate bowl, and mix the cheese with the remaining half of the vinaigrette. Distribute the cheese and vinaigrette mixture evenly over the tomatoes.
3. Place the onion rings on top of the tomato slices.
4. Drizzle remaining red wine vinaigrette over the top.
5. Finish by sprinkling with freshly ground black pepper. Serves 4 as an appetizer.

Pappas Bros. Steakhouse Perfect Ribeye

Chef Michael Velardi says, “Prime beef can be purchased from your local butcher; ask for a cut that is 1 to 1½ inches thick with predominate marbling. Choice ribeye steaks can be used if prime is unavailable.”

Ingredients
• 4 prime ribeye steaks
• Kosher salt to taste
• Coarsely ground black pepper
• Salted butter, softened

Preparation
1. Preheat the grill to high. High heat is important for searing and browning the meat, and this will contribute to the flavor of the finished steak.
2. While the grill is heating up, pull the meat from the refrigerator to remove some of the chill.
3. Just before grilling, season the steaks generously with salt and pepper. Do not pound or press the steaks before or during cooking; this will cause toughness and reduce juiciness.
4. Place the steaks on the grill, keeping the lid open throughout the grilling process. Gently flip the steaks every 2 to 3 minutes to achieve an even sear on both sides. Pappas chefs suggest grilling to medium rare, which takes about 8 to 10 minutes total, depending on the grill temperature and thickness of the steak.
5. Once the steaks are cooked to your liking, remove from the grill and let rest for 5 minutes. This will allow the meat to relax and retain its juices.
6. Finish by lightly brushing the top of each steak with butter. Serves 4 to 6, depending on the size of steaks and guests’ appetites.

Legislative Session Brings Changes

for Texas Brewmasters

Texas brewmasters like Ted Stewart, Jim Sampson and Shane Bordeau of Twisted X Brewing Company were excited when the

83^rd Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 518, which allows craft brewers to sell beer to visitors touring their facility. This bill had unanimous support from legislators and is now helping brewmasters all across the state.

“Like wineries have been doing for years, this bill allows us to sell our customer a pint of beer in our tasting room,” said Bordeau. “It is for on-site consumption only. You can’t buy a six-pack and walk away yet. That's another change we hope to see happen in the future.”

The bill comes at the perfect time for Twisted X Brewing. The small, Central Texas company will soon relocate to a new facility outside of Dripping Springs, which will allow them to expand their production from three barrel fermenters to a 30-barrel brewhouse in a beautiful new setting. In the near future, the new facility will allow for the production of upwards of 20,000 barrels annually.

“Jim and I have been working on this project for almost four years,” Bordeau said. “Now it’s full speed ahead with much more capacity to serve the Austin market, then San Antonio and eventually the rest of the state. We’re now able to produce enough beer to make an impact.”

Twisted X Brewing hopes to move into their new facilities in August and be production-ready in September. Their new digs will be a “purpose-built” brewery that is both an attraction and destination. To learn more about Twisted X Brewing, visit their website today.

Texas Company Stands Up to Bat,
Hits Home Run

Baseball season is in full swing, and that means GO TEXAN member Warstic Wood Bat Company’s products can be seen and heard at ballparks across the state. Founded in Dallas in 2011, Warstic has grown to be an impressive operation. One visit to their lathe shop and you’ll see what we mean. Gazing at the large round dowels of ash, maple and birch wood that, with great skill and artistry, become baseball bats is quite memorable.

“We sell craftsmanship, design and performance,” founder Ben Jenkins said. “We believe design matters; craftsmanship isn't a choice, it's part of the job; the only wood used is the good wood; and that baseball is better when wood is at the heart of the game.”

Another company motto is: “Warstic seeks to connect with players who battle.” This reflects not only the type of performance they want to see with their end-users and customers, i.e. baseball players, but also the way they run their business.

Jenkins is a native Texan, so staying in his home state seemed the most natural fit for his new business.

"I wanted to keep it local and convenient. Texas also is a good brand and (has) good baseball at every level. We joined GO TEXAN to more emphatically highlight that we are a Texas-made product. I felt, for my brand, this was a positive part of our story."

This is certainly the kind of hard work and quality of excellence mentality that does a state like Texas proud. Learn more about Warstic online.

Enjoy Your Texas Summer:
Go Out. Go Paddle.

Texas Parks and Wildlife has deemed paddling the Outdoor Activity of the Month for July. With 15 major rivers and 3,300 miles of tidal shoreline along the Gulf, Texas is a great place for a variety of paddling activities. It's a fun way to get outside and enjoy nature!

So, you’re ready to go paddling … what’s next? You can either rent or buy your own kayak. GO TEXAN member Diablo Paddlesports designed their kayaks to work in the shallowest of Texas waters and offer several options that cater to standing up or sitting down, fishing or relaxing. If you do not want to make a permanent commitment, renting a kayak can be an affordable alternative. Of course, canoes are a great option and so are paddleboards, which are becoming very popular due to the full body workout they provide in addition to the relaxation of gliding across the water.

There are two types of paddling trails: inland and coastal. When paddling on inland trails, you’ll need to pay attention to the river’s flow rate, i.e. how fast the water is moving. Kayak rental services are a great resource for information on flow rate and waterways. For coastal trails, be sure to check the wind and tidal movements. For more information on tidal movements, click here.

Make sure to bring a few necessary items with you on your outdoor paddling adventure, including: a personal flotation device, food, water, sunscreen, hat, camera, binoculars and your cell phone.

Kayaking is a fun, popular summertime activity. Safety comes first, so be sure to follow these simple tips.
• Never go paddling alone.
• Check the weather before heading out.
• Always tell someone where you are going and when you will be back.

To locate a paddling trail near you, visit Texas Parks and Wildlife online today. Many of our GO TEXAN Certified Retirement Communities are located near paddling trails, including but not limited to: Euless and Duncanville (located near the Dallas Trinity River), and Lufkin and Nacogdoches (both near Caddo Lake).

Use Mulch to Boost Plants,
Vegetable Gardens

Mulch is a very important component in planting and gardening, as it helps conserve water, limits weed growth and protects from erosion. Mulch is often used to maintain soil moisture by reducing evaporation and can be helpful in the prevention of some plant diseases.

A wide-range of mulch types exist in today’s marketplace and includes materials like bark, recycled rubber and straw. Place bark mulch around trees, bushes and your front side walk. You’ll want to use bark mulch in areas that have annuals or perennials that won’t be moved or changed often, as its density and texture can be difficult to manipulate once placed. Recycled rubber mulch also helps retain moisture in the soil and is nontoxic, so it won’t attract insects or termites when it gets wet. Straw is one of the most popular mulches used for vegetable gardens. Since it decomposes slowly, straw can last for a long time. Plus, it’s also home to many spiders and good insects that can help keep your plants’ pest problems down.

Knowing just how much mulch to use can be tricky. If you are using mulch around trees or shrubs, make sure to leave room so the base of the trunk is still visible. Too much mulch around the base of the tree could make it susceptible to root rot.

For more information on mulching, click here.

Spot the GO TEXAN Mark Challenge

Want a fun way to share the best things in Texas with the world? It’s easy!

GO TEXAN uses social media tools like Facebook, Twitter and Google+ to post GO TEXAN events, share member news and increase awareness of the wide-variety of products grown and made right here in the Lone Star State.

Challenge: If you spot the GO TEXAN mark, let us know. Send us a picture of the mark on a product, sign or printed materials, and tell us where you saw it. Send us your photos using the GO TEXAN Twitter hashtag (#GOTEXAN), so we can easily retweet your message, or send an e-mail.

About GO TEXAN

Launched in 1999 by the Texas Department of Agriculture, GO TEXAN, with its signature mark in the shape of Texas, celebrates, promotes and supports the business savvy and plainspoken grit Texas agriculture is known for throughout the world. Whether it's grown, sewn or served up on a plate, more than 25 million Texans shop, travel and dine out in support of Texas business, agriculture and communities looking for the GO TEXAN mark to light the way. To learn more about the GO TEXAN program, call (877) 99-GOTEX or visit the GO TEXAN website.