One part cookbook, one part tour guide, The Texas Hill Country: A Food and Wine Lover’s Paradise by Terry Thompson-Anderson is a must-read for people who travel to eat, and eat to travel. Along with recipes, dining recommendations, and scenes of rolling hills and spring-fed rivers, it ‘s packed with inspiration for dozens of foodie road trips in Central Texas.
The Texas Hill Country features more than 100 food-related venues from family farms to fabulous, upscale restaurants. The mix includes businesses such as Berry Street Bakery—an inviting bakery/lunch spot in Llano—as well as barbecue joints, bistros, and brewing companies. Recipes gathered from the proprietors or developed by the author to highlight local food products accompany most of the stories. For example, the description of Berry Street Bakery includes the recipe for its house granola.
Many of the sites covered in the book represent examples of “agricultural tourism,” which the author explains as “visitors … coming to the Hill Country to follow the lavender trails, pick peaches and apples, buy fresh-pressed olive oil, and visit the wineries.” After you read about Lavender Hill in Blanco, Marburger Orchard in Fredericksburg, Bella Vista Ranch in Wimberley, and Sister Creek Vineyards in Sisterdale, you’ll understand why Central Texas is a top agricultural-tourism destination. For information, call 800/ 458-3808; www.shearerpub.com.
