Local, Near and Far: Our journey of exploring the world.

Tag: Texas (Page 3 of 8)

Pacific Table Review – Fort Worth

After moving back from Chicago to the DFW area and with a newborn doing newborn things , Rachel and I were looking to have a nice date night. This was our first date night since the baby was born, so we wanted to do something special. Rachel did some research and we decided on Pacific Table.

Tucked away in the back of University Park Village, not far from Blue Mesa, is the wonderfully unique Pacific Table.  It is a restaurant that as you guessed, celebrates the Pacific Northwest. With a main focus on seafood, including sushi, Pacific Table also offers a variety of sandwiches, salads, and a few chicken and beef dishes.

Upon stepping into the restaurant, the modern interior and feel celebrates the Pacific Northwest. The option for  covered patio seating  is available which can be used in the winter and summer months as well as a communal table that is offered in case you want to get cozy with some strangers.

After arriving and being seated, we were greeted with wonderful service throughout the night. The waiter was knowledgeable and shared his recommendations. Because the sushi does not have a description of all that is in it, we had to ask several questions but the waiter was fantastic in knowing the answers and helping us decide. There were several people walking through the restaurant to make sure glasses didn’t get empty. Overall, the prompt and courteous service was a positive and helped make this an enjoyable experience.

Pacific Table sushi

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NASCAR: My First Experience

A few months ago, some friends, James and Dixie, invited David and I to the Duck Commander 500 NASCAR race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, TX.  I had never been to anything like a NASCAR race before.  Since I loving experiencing new things, we said we would love to join them.

With friends James and Dixie

With friends James and Dixie

My Experience at the Duck Commander 500

I had no idea what I was getting into…Our friends are seasoned fans and had been many times before.  The whole day was new to me: the rules, the culture and the full sensory experience.  It amazed me that we actually felt the vibration of the cars go by, which was so cool!  The race was unique because it was an evening race.  The cooler temperature was great appreciated by everyone!  The time of the day also affects the tires and how they grip the road due to the temperature of the asphalt.  The cheap seats we purchased were just a few rows from the bottom at the first turn as the cars exited pit row.  So when the cars entered back into the race, they accelerated right in front of us!

If you are a NASCAR novice like me, here are some tips for those who have never been before.

Opening Ceremony

Opening Ceremony

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Firestone & Robertson Distilling Company

What exactly is bourbon? Being a beer guy, I don’t know much about liquors. But on a Tuesday night, I was going to get a lesson in bourbon at a local distillery in downtown Fort Worth! Joining Chris, Ray and some other friends for a tour of Firestone & Robertson Distilling Company, I was ready to learn and in this amazing environment, I picked up a basic education in bourbon.

Column Distiller

Column Distiller

Firestone & Robertson Distilling Company is housed in a renovated 1920s prohibition-era warehouse just south of downtown. This convenient location comes complete with plenty of street parking, making for easy logistics. The tour begins in the warehouse area, which is full of bourbon barrels, stacked neatly along the walls. The atmosphere is stellar!

It amazes me how distilleries operate. For at least 2 years, they don’t sell their product. After 2 years of aging, the product can be sold as bourbon. However, to be considered straight bourbon, the liquid must age at least 4 years. Firestone & Robertson (F&R) wants to bottle straight bourbon, so they must wait. FOUR long years.

The distillery opened its doors in 2012, and has since barreled their Texan take on bourbon. Outside of the staff, no one has tasted their aged bourbon since.

Before you can begin aging, you must first make the bourbon base. So, what makes bourbon, bourbon?

Fermentation Tanks

Fermentation Tanks

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Kids Who Care

Every Friday we take a break from our regular blogging schedule to allow the authors an opportunity to feature a certain topic they are passionate about. In the past you’ve read about art, studying abroad, experiencing culture through food, and the great burger adventure. Through this and other future posts we hope you’ll enjoy reading, we hope to share with you our personalities, passions, and interests on a more personal level.

When you can’t travel overseas, bring the world to you!

Here at From Texas to Beyond, we love to travel overseas; but as we all know, sometimes money, time, and other responsibilities limit these opportunities.  That does not have to stop you from experiencing and learning about our world.  In the DFW area there are hundreds, if not thousands of opportunities to meet people from around the world, feast on their traditional cuisine, encounter art, and experience music and dance performances that introduce you to different instruments and rhythms.

Arrival of the International Students

Arrival of the International Students

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8th Wonder Brewery

While visiting Houston a few weekends ago, I wanted to meet with some friends on a Sunday afternoon.  Rebekah was practicing for a choir concert, so I had some time to kill.

I thought it would be fun to meet Isaac and Jessica in downtown Houston for a beer.  Wanting to find a brewery that was open on a Sunday afternoon, I used my newly-created Texas Craft Brewery List.  Within a few clicks, I had found a match.  8th Wonder Brewery met all my requirements, mainly, a brewery open on a Sunday producing Texas Craft Beer.  While I came in with low expectations and knowing nothing about the brewery, I quickly found this place to be awesome!

If you love Houston, you will love this brewery.  If you don’t love Houston, you will still probably love this brewery.  But if you love Houston sports and Texas Craft Beer, you will be in heaven!

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