West Texas: The Epicurean Birder Puts Reata at the Top of Our List!

Naturalist Journey’s Big Bend journey includes the Davis Mountains, prized in West Texas for their scenic beauty, bounty of birds (including some species not readily found in Big Bend, like Montezuma’s Quail), and fascinating biogeography. But our guides will confess, without time in the Davis Mountains, there’d be no opportunity to have lunch at Alpine’s REATA Restaurant, a driving factor for them as they suggest they lead this tour. Owner Peg Abbott found the Reata in its opening year, 1995, on a tip from Grady Spears (now the famous Chef Grady Spears), who worked then at the Gage Hotel.  Up late and cooking, he made some wickedly good margaritas for our staff as we all poured over Big Bend maps between stirrings. We learned of some great hikes in the park, and none of us have ever matched those margaritas.

Every year since we’ve been taking birders to this restaurant, one we savor for its really well-crafted cowboy cuisine. On arrival, our clients ask “What’s a reata?” as they slide into the heavy wooden and leather chairs. We recite our favorites from the menu – cajoling them to try Jalapeno and Cilantro Soup (with heavy cream, smooth and delightful!), Tenderloin Tamales with Pecan Mash, Field Greens with Texas Goat Cheese, San Saba Pecans and Sherry Wine Vinaigrette, or Carne Asada with Reata’s Cheese Enchiladas. We plan ahead (signature quality of a guide) – just how much can we eat and still drive 110 miles to Big Bend… As we’ve aged, we choose the Saddleback Combination (cup of soup, and half of one of their wondrous creations…).

No trip to Big Bend country is complete without a meal at the Reata. You can find them at 203 N. Fifth Street, Alpine, Texas 79890, and if it’s a nice day, try the back porch, decorated with western murals. Reservations are a good idea: 432-837-9232. Or do some armchair savoring at http://www.reata.net/. If you go at dinner, try one of their “refrescos”, such as a Texas Margarita Azul with Cointreau and Tarantula. Grady Spears has moved on to other things (a new restaurant outside of Fort Worth at Tolar) but the Reata still carries his margaritas… When’s our next trip? April 20-28, 2012. And by the way, if you want to go in-the-know, a reata is a “long noosed rope to catch animals (i.e. cattle),” another word for lasso…

Photo: A great header on the web at www.reata.net

Naturalist Journeys, LLC is a nature and birding company offering fine experiences – with great eats! around the Planet. They are based in Portal, Arizona. info@naturalistjourneys.com. Guide Woody Wheeler gets to eat at Reata this year!

 

Tags: Alpine, Best Restaurants, Big Bend, birder, birding and dining, cowboy cuisine, Davis Mountains, epicurean, Grady Spears, Naturalist Journeys, Reata, Restaurant, Texas