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GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up
Coming July 22-28!
 Mark your calendars for the GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up, the only statewide, weeklong dine-out event that highlights restaurants across the state serving locally-grown products.
“The GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up brings together the best offerings of Texas farmers, ranchers, seafood producers, breweries, winemakers and chefs as they showcase local food,” Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples said. “And by dining out, consumers give back to our economy and help contribute to area food banks.”
Support restaurants in your area committed to serving menu items with ingredients sourced from local farmers, ranchers and producers. From shrimp and vegetables to wine and artisan cheeses, if it's from Texas, you can bet it's the freshest and most flavorful option around.
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Go here to find a participating restaurant near you to Go Out. Go Eat. GO TEXAN!
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RSVP on Facebook for the Restaurant Round-Up event and share with your friends.
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Follow the GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up on Twitter and look for #txdineout and #GOTEXAN hashtags.
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Enter to win one of our 11 Texas-sized giveaways, including overnight bed and breakfast stays, restaurant gift cards and delicious food products!
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Download the GO TEXAN mobile app to find GO TEXAN restaurants near you and support local farmers, ranchers and wine makers year-round by dining out at GO TEXAN restaurants.
Farm Credit has generously sponsored the statewide dine-out event since its inception six years ago. “The GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up is a great way to highlight the connection between the agriculture industry and the consumer,” said Stan Ray, on behalf of Farm Credit Bank of Texas. “As a lender to the agriculture industry, we’re proud to be part of an event that supports the hardworking farmers and ranchers we serve, while supporting local economies and food banks throughout the state.”
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What's Cropping Up: Summer Squash
 What would summer be like without the great taste of squash on your table? There are many types of Texas squash in season from yellow straight-neck and yellow crookneck to yellow and green zucchini.
Summer squash requires refrigeration and should be eaten as soon as possible after purchase or picking. Most consumers prefer small to medium-sized squash, because of its tenderness. However, larger squash can be used in many unique recipes and easily stuffed with your favorite creation. Fresh Texas squash is versatile — you can bake it, roast it, sauté it or even fry it. It tastes great grated or chopped, and can be a perfect addition to salads or sandwiches. The choices are endless as squash works great in combination with almost any other food.
Texas Fun Fact: Summer Squash
Even though most people identify squash with vegetables, from a botanical standpoint, they're considered fruits because they contain the seeds of the plant. Squash are divided into two categories — summer and winter squash. The blossoms are edible, and you can find them from late spring to early fall in many markets.
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Containing Your Growth
 Container gardening is an excellent way to enjoy plants when you have limited space or need to easily move them around to protect them from the tough Texas summers and cold winters. Containers work great for many flowering plants, tropical plants and grasses, as well as some small trees like the Satsuma Mandarin.
The popularity of container gardening is simple to understand: It's convenient and inexpensive to try and the results are so easy to measure and appreciate. Go here for a list of tips on starting a container garden.
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Close to Perfect. Close to Home
 Where does your shrimp come from? How far does it travel? Savvy consumers who know seafood ask these questions, because freshness matters. The bountiful Gulf of Mexico, framing 600 miles of Texas coastline, is an enduring source of fresh, natural, wild-caught shrimp. Don’t know what variety to choose? Texas wild-caught Gulf shrimp should be on atop your list. Three Texas varieties in particular are indigenous to Texas coastal waters.
Brown Shrimp — A nocturnal species caught in deeper, offshore waters. Brown shrimp have a bold, distinctive flavor.
White Shrimp — Tender white shrimp are usually caught near shore and have a sweet flavor.
Pink Shrimp — A less common variety in the Texas marketplace, pink shrimp have a firm, tender texture and mild sweet taste.
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Threadgill’s: Keepin’ It Weird Since 1933
 When bootlegger and music lover Kenneth Threadgill opened his Gulf filling station just north of the Austin city limits in 1933, he had more on his mind than pumping gas. After all, he had just stood in line all night long to get the first beer license in the county. And soon after, his joint would become a favorite for traveling musicians interested in grabbing a drink after their gigs.
The quintessential beer joint continued to flourish into the sixties, with folkies, hippies and beatniks coming together to share their collective love of music. One such patron was Janis Joplin, who developed her brassy style at Threadgill’s that would propel her to become the first female rock and roll superstar.
Eventually, the original Threadgill’s site was purchased by Eddie Wilson, who decided to make it a Southern- style restaurant using ingredients sourced close to home.
"Everything is bigger in Texas, and that goes for flavor, too," says Wilson. "If we could, we'd use Texas products in everything me make. Food just tastes better when it's grown closer to home. We're not quite at a 100 percent Texas-produced ingredients yet, but with the help of GO TEXAN, we just might get there!"
At Threadgill’s, you’ll find Southern cooking made from the finest ingredients around — many of which come from close by in Central Texas. While Threadgill’s is internationally-known for their chicken fried steak, they also have the largest vegetable selection this side of the Mississippi — and maybe the other side, too. Judge for yourself and stop by Threadgill’s next time you are in Austin.
Tomato and Cucumber Salad
 Try out one of Threadgill's special summery salads in your own kitchen with the following recipe. Use locally-sourced produce, and GO TEXAN.
Ingredients:
1 cup Texas-grown grape tomato
2 cups Texas-grown cucumber
½ cup Sliced Texas red onion
1 T Kosher salt
½ T Black pepper
1 T Sugar
2 oz. Apple cider vinegar
Preparation:
Cut the grape tomatoes in half. Peel the cucumber partially, leaving alternating strips of skin on for color and decoration, then cut it into large dice-sized pieces.
Cut the red onion in half, and then into thin slices.
Combine the tomatoes, cucumber and onion with the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Chill for an hour and serve.
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Grow Texan!
 The olive growers at the Caracara Olive Farm encourage Texans to grow and produce their very own Texas product — olives. Owners Bill and Beverly Kemp insist that any Texan can start her or his own small olive farm. Bill says, “We invite all who have an interest to take the time, energy and commitment to answer nature's call. Plant olive trees in your backyard or your back forty. Enjoy watching them grow year by year.” In the meantime, find someone with an olive press. Most olive growers with the proper equipment will gladly press your ripe olives for a percentage of the oil.
To learn more about the Kemp's farm and their pressing services, visit the farm’s website.
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Go Fishing. GO TEXAN.
 Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Outdoor Activity of the Month for June is fishing. Picking a place to go fishing is part of the fun. Whether you head to a state park or local neighborhood fishing lake, you and your family are bound to have a great time this summer. Several GO TEXAN Certified Retirement Communities are located close to state parks with fishing spots (including Atlanta, Lake Bob Sandlin State Park in Pittsburg, Palestine and Orange.
Fishing is a fun, affordable way for family and friends to experience nature. Plus, there’s a good chance your fish may be a keeper and provide a delicious, fresh-caught meal for your family.
To learn more about fishing licenses and what you’ll need for your adventure, click here.
What to bring on your fishing trip:
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Fishing pole/rod, bait, tackle
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GO TEXAN foods and drinks, ice chest
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Weather-appropriate clothing, hat
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Sunscreen, bug repellent
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Spot the GO TEXAN Mark Challenge
Want a fun way to share the best of 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 or 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 GO TEXAN mark on products, signs or printed materials, and let us know where you saw it. You can send us your pictures using the GO TEXAN Twitter hashtag (#GOTEXAN) and we can easily retweet your message, or send it to us via e-mail.
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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.
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Volume 2 Issue 10:
In This Issue
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Visit the GO TEXAN online store for great gift ideas that show off your Lone Star pride.
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