This post is sponsored by Taste of Texas. All opinions are mine alone.
#TasteofTexas
The Taste of Texas:
Steaks, History & Hospitality
Before Houston became known as a food destination, restaurateur visionaries, Edd and Nina Hendee, opened Houston’s first high-quality, family-friendly steakhouse in November 1977 called the Taste of Texas.
Since opening, the Taste of Texas has employed over 15,000 young people, served more Certified Angus Beef® than any other independent restaurant in the world, and is the highest-grossing independent restaurant in the state of Texas. The restaurant is known around the world for its exceptional steaks and wine list. However, it’s the Taste of Texas’ legendary Texas hospitality and unique dining experience that keeps people coming back!
Tonight, We Drink Champagne, Feast on Steak & Eat Cake!
When I received the invitation to the Taste of Texas VIP celebration dinner, I knew it was going to be a dining experience of Texas-sized proportions! My prior dining experience at the Taste of Texas included milestone celebrations with my family for anniversaries, birthdays, and graduations. With these fond memories in my heart, I was honored to be a part of the Taste of Texas feast.
As guests arrived, we sipped champagne in the renowned wine room and nibbled on Texas Quail Bites served with two sauces, a Dr. Pepper BBQ sauce and a spicy ranch dressing. Owners Edd and Nina Hendee, their daughter Kristin, and son-in-law Corbin Blackford, General Counsel & Director of Business Development, graciously greeted us and made us feel welcome in their award-winning restaurant.
After our pre-dinner cocktails, we began our Taste of Texas 3-course dining adventure!
First Course: Mixed-Green Salad
The first course was a fresh mixed field green salad topped with avocado, spicy candied almonds, marinated red onions, and a medallion of fried blue cheese served with a cilantro-lime vinaigrette. It was bright, zesty, and colorful! It was served with a generous pour of 2008 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and an assortment of fresh-baked bread.
Second Course: Certified Angus Beef Steak
For my entrée, I ordered the 38-ounce Tomahawk Ribeye Steak, the serious steak for the serious steak lover! Since I’m a Texas girl who loves Texas beef, I couldn’t pass up on the opportunity to dive into a grilled-to-order, certified Angus steak with a 14-inch bone hanging off the plate topped with 4 jumbo grilled shrimp!
You ask, “Oh my gosh, Michelle! How in the world are you going to finish that steak?” Well, eat what you can and take the rest home for tacos!
Trust me, take one bite of the Tomahawk Ribeye Steak, and you’ll believe you’ve experienced a little taste of heaven! Order this steak for a truly fantastic experience. Nina said that people order the Tomahawk for birthday and promotion celebrations! It’s one of my top ten dining experiences!
Third Course: Texas Tower Chocolate Layer Cake
Before you drift off in a delicious food coma, you must have a few bites of the Texas Tower Chocolate Layer Cake! It’s four layers of chocolate fudge cake drizzled with a chocolate sauce that serve two to four people. Or, take it home and graze on it for days, as I did!
A Taste of Texas History
At dinner, I sat next to Nina Hendee. She is the epitome of elegance and style: gracious, giving, and business savvy. Nina enjoys working in the restaurant, giving back to the community, and being a positive influence on the restaurant’s young staff.
Because many of their employees are working towards a degree, Edd and Nina offer bonuses for each A and B earned in school, flexible work schedules, and personal development workshops in personal finance, computer training, and language lessons. Also, the proceeds from special events at the restaurant go toward the Annual Employee Scholarship Program.
In 1985, Nina started hosting fourth-grade Texas history tours at the restaurant, featuring her extensive collection of Texas history artifacts, which are displayed throughout the restaurant. Since then, the Taste of Texas has welcomed 400,000 area school children on these complimentary tours.
The Million Dollar Tour
The Taste of Texas recently completed a million-dollar renovation that includes an Austin stone facade; expanded kitchen, dining room, and corporate event space; and, the Grill-At-Home store, offering fresh steaks and meal kits to go.
With the Taste of Texas’s new partnership with Certified Angus Beef® and Shipt, a same-day Houston delivery service, you can enjoy certified Angus steaks, sides, and desserts for hassle-free dinner at home!
Next, we toured the expanded kitchen and peeked inside their new walk-in cooler. The Taste of Texas kitchen is immaculate, and all their refrigeration systems are high-tech to ensure the food you eat is always kept at the proper temperatures!
Don’t forget to pick up a copy of the Taste of Texas award-winning cookbook called Perfectly Aged: 40 Years of Recipes and Stories from the Taste of Texas. They published it last year, and since then, it has garnered more than 30 honors!
Don’t worry, and I’ll feature a few recipes from the Perfect Aged cookbook in my “Recipes Every Girl Should Know Series”!
Taste & See for Yourself
Since 1977, proprietors Edd and Nina Hendee have created a recipe for success by providing memorable, high-quality, family-friendly dining experiences for their guests. Their passion for providing the best quality food and service, giving back to the community, and hospitality make them leaders in the Houston restaurant industry.
It’s the only place where you can truly experience Texas Certified Angus Beef ®, Texas history, and Texas hospitality. That’s what makes the Taste of Texas so special to me!
Thank you, Edd and Nina Hindee, Corbin and Kristin Blackford, and Taste of Texas staff for allowing me to partake in your magnificent celebration dinner. I loved all the renovations and the new Grill-At-Home store. I can’t wait to dine with you again with my family and friends. Especially during the Christmas season when your restaurant is decked to the halls!
Friends, go taste and see for yourself and let me know what you think! To learn more, visit tasteoftexas.com.
Taste of Texas | 10505 Katy Freeway | Houston, Texas 77024 | 713.932.6901
