At the end of next month, Elizabeth Gilbert is coming to Victoria. Specifically, she’ll be speaking as a guest lecturer at Victoria College’s Lyceum Lecture Series and her visit is eagerly anticipated by all who have read her bestselling memoir, Eat, Pray, Love.
The great news is that while I’m sure Gilbert will share more great stories about her travels while writing Eat, Pray, Love and her journey toward spiritual awakening and self-discovery, I have done some research and I know that she also has some very original observations about the process of creativity and the nature of inspiration.
Inspiration is a tricky thing, it works differently for each individual, but it’s something we’re all familiar with in one way or another. In her book, Gilbert’s journey of spiritual exploration began with a visit to Italy and a month-long indulgence in all the culinary delights Italy has to offer. Her uninhibited enjoyment of food and the way it brought her together with friends she met there served as the beginning of her spiritual healing and transformation. That food played such a starring role speaks strongly of the importance of food in how humans create and maintain culture along with its power to bring us together.
Recently, the Advocate began a photo essay contest related to Gilbert’s visit inviting us all to submit photos of food that we find inspirational. This could be anything: food we make for our families or that we traditionally eat while celebrating with family; food that exemplifies our family or personal culture; food we ate with someone special or on a special occasion or in a special place. Food that was simply memorably exceptional. I take pictures of food nearly every day, because I love food and I love to cook. I love the beauty of food and the challenge of capturing that with my camera. Feeding my family is one of the many ways I love them and sharing meals brings us together.
All of these considerations put an important spin on the fact that Gilbert will want to eat while she’s here visiting with us and I wondered: if she asked me where she should eat here, what would be a good example of the “taste” of the Crossroads? What type of cuisine could I recommend that would best represent our local culture to Elizabeth Gilbert as someone who is clearly sensitive to the powerful role food plays in shaping human culture and providing individual fulfillment and even inspiration?
Victoria is South Texas, but our culture here is very diverse. My first reaction would be to recommend Mexican cuisine as representative of local food culture; we’re so fortunate to have so many excellent Mexican food restaurants here in the Crossroads area. But there is so much more we have to offer: TexMex, Texas barbecue, seafood, Southern homestyle.
So, I thought I’d ask all of you what you think. Where would you recommend Elizabeth Gilbert go to eat while she’s here? What type of cuisine most exemplifies the culture of the Crossroads? What would you say is the true “taste” of South Texas? And which is the best local restaurant serving that style of cuisine?
by Katy Long, Writer/Photographer at Victoria College
Southern homestyle dinner I made for my family on November 17: Slow cooked brisket, warm bacon-y potato salad, homestyle green beans.
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A big greasy breakfast taco
February 24, 2011 at 9:01 a.m.Katy, you should cook for her. I know it would be better than any restaurant in the area.
February 24, 2011 at 7:11 a.m.That makes me a chicken fried steak from Hungry Jacks.
February 23, 2011 at 12:03 p.m.I always feel like I'm stepping back in time when I eat at Fossati's. They have great soups and sandwiches, and it is so cool to eat at the oldest deli in Texas!
For Mexican food, I think my favorite is Ventura's. Their homemade taco shells are awesome! Siesta and La Hacienda are great for Mexican food as well.
The best catfish in the Crossroads isn't at a seafood restaurant. It's at Frontier Bar-B-Q in Edna. They have great barbecue, but I always love their catfish and homemade hushpuppies.
February 22, 2011 at 11:16 p.m.Until this past Saturday, I would have said Mumphord's for Bar-Be-Que. I've change my mind. Saturday, I went to Aunt Jo's on Hwy 77 near Coleto Creek. I got some pork that was so good it makes you weak in the knees. It's absolutely wonderful and I have a new favorite.
February 14, 2011 at 12:17 p.m.Las Palmas or Guadalajara for Mexican food, locally Baytown for Seafood, (Barkett's for seafood if your willing to make a road trip), and Empresario's in Goliad for anything and everything! (On the square in Goliad) Excellent lunch menu!
February 14, 2011 at 9:15 a.m.La Tejanita for their green sauce alone. Real live Mexican like Momma made!
February 13, 2011 at 6:31 a.m.I have to side with those that mentioned Barketts for seafood. I may have to go to Memphis for those biscuits soon and to Goliad as well!
February 12, 2011 at 4:47 p.m.These are great suggestions! It looks like Mumphord's is the front runner for great South Texas barbecue. I'll definitely have to try there sometime, I hear the barbecue chicken is to die for.
Mexican food seems to be the runner up here and for the most part, it sounds like most people like La Hacienda. I must admit the food there is great. I also like Las Palmas, the jalapeno poppers there are perfect. My favorite Mexican food restaurant here is Siesta. I'm a huge fan of the salsa and chips.
Southern homestyle? My boyfriend claims that Hungry Jack's has the best chicken fried steak.
What about seafood? Where do we go to get great seafood? I like the fried shrimp at Baytown. I also love the grilled salmon at Greek Brothers.
Keep the suggestions coming!
February 12, 2011 at 3:20 p.m.This is a tough one. I've decided to go with the best biscuits and gravy I've ever had in my life. I first had them at Panache on the Square in Goliad. The restaurant is now at the Berclair Mansion. I recommend the road trip for the author.
February 12, 2011 at 12:28 p.m.Yes, there are places where you can go to taste real South Texas food, which would be to actual residents' homes and backyards. How about starting with Myra Starkey and some of her foodie friends? My husband makes chili and beans and cornbread that I'd challenge anyone to surpass. My liver and onions will make you swoon from cholesterol overload. Surely somebody makes a mean tamale. I'd be willing to bet that you could find plenty of people who'd love to share their specialties. Isn't that what Ms. Gilbert's book is about--sharing local cuisine with the locals? It'd be an experience she'd certainly appreciate.
February 11, 2011 at 10:24 p.m.@Rebecca, you nailed it! La Hacienda, I would be the fajitas with the avocado sauce on it! My wife and I at the Mexican food place on Main (the name escapes me) and they really great tortillas. The appetizer sampler at Athena's and chicken fried steak at Double J's which all makes me 1/4 fajita, 1/4 tortilla, 1/4 dolmades, and 1/4 chicken fry with trace amounts of klobasnek from Cimarron Express/Junction and many Trini delights.
February 11, 2011 at 1:51 p.m.If we are what we eat, I would love to be a fried stuffed eggplant from La Hacienda...
February 9, 2011 at 10:44 a.m.I love Barkett's in Seadrift!
Also, when someone comes in from out of town, they should eat at (Old Victoria) The Oak Room. Sit at one of the tables in the bar and look out over the city while you eat.
February 9, 2011 at 10:34 a.m.Don't forget the local seafood places.
February 9, 2011 at 7:52 a.m.That was one snoozer of a movie!
February 8, 2011 at 8:07 p.m.Unfortunately, she will not be able to taste "South Texas" because there are no places you can go to actually get the real deal backyard BBQ...
I know I know Mumphords and such but it is not the same...
February 8, 2011 at 4:05 p.m.