Around the World in 8 Ways

Around the World in 8 Ways

Dreaming of a thrilling vacation exploring far-off lands? Or maybe you’re dying to experience new cultures and cuisines but struggling with the lack of time or resources? Luckily for us Longviewites, local food establishments are offering culinary journeys to intrepid food tourists. So, expand your palate and dip into your imagination as we tour 8 different global cuisines right in our own backyard.

It’ll Do Deli - Hometown Americana

Cinco de Mayo has come and gone, but there’s nothing stopping us from celebrating in true Mexican fashion. The best place to don your sombrero and order a margarita is Papacita’s, a Longview landmark since the’80’s. Locals have hosted graduation parties, reunions, holiday gatherings, and all sorts of events in the roomy events spaces tucked in the upper floors of the restaurant and the owners are honored to be a part of so many people’s lives and celebrations. The open wood mesquite pit gives their signature fajita’s a distinctive and authentic flavor– something that’s hard to find elsewhere in Longview. An absolute local favorite is the world-famous seasoned chips and salsa that grace every table and are gobbled up just as fast. The original 1981 menu serves as the basis for what is still served today, but every now and again it’s remixed by kitchen and management staff. Together they experiment with new flavors or draw inspiration from authentic Mexican recipes from the kitchen manager’s childhood to add new and exciting menu items.

Papacita’s – For Whom the Taco Tolls, It's Fiesta Time!

Cinco de Mayo has come and gone, but there’s nothing stopping us from celebrating in true Mexican fashion. The best place to don your sombrero and order a margarita is Papacita’s, a Longview landmark since the’80’s. Locals have hosted graduation parties, reunions, holiday gatherings, and all sorts of events in the roomy events spaces tucked in the upper floors of the restaurant and the owners are honored to be a part of so many people’s lives and celebrations. The open wood mesquite pit gives their signature fajita’s a distinctive and authentic flavor– something that’s hard to find elsewhere in Longview. An absolute local favorite is the world-famous seasoned chips and salsa that grace every table and are gobbled up just as fast. The original 1981 menu serves as the basis for what is still served today, but every now and again it’s remixed by kitchen and management staff. Together they experiment with new flavors or draw inspiration from authentic Mexican recipes from the kitchen manager’s childhood to add new and exciting menu items.

Papacita's

The Cace Kitchen – Let the Good Times Roll!

With Mardi Gras fresh on our minds, we’re looking to traveltowards the bayous of Louisiana and the bustling streets ofNew Orleans. Cajun cuisine rules supreme here and you’llfind deep French roots intertwined with local culture. Flavorfulcrawfish étouffée and gumbo are just a few hallmarks of Cajunfare. In Longview, The Cace Kitchen is now in its 73rd year ofcooking authentic Cace creole dishes. Recently, they have beeninnovating the way that they do business. Regulars can now findtheir favorite New Orleans-style dishes such as Creole ShrimpGumbo, Crawfish Étouffée, Crab-Stuffed Shrimp, and Cace’sFamous Garlic Croutons topped with Sharp Cheddar CheeseSpread– now in a convenient grab-and-go format. Now locals canget any of these dishes and more to experience the hearty andheart-warming aspects of Creole cuisine.

Chelsea Cace, The Cace

The History of Johnny Cace’s

Johnny Cace, the son of Croatian immigrantswho had oyster beds in Buras, Louisiana inthe early 1900s, brought authentic Creolecooking to Longview, Texas in 1949. That isthe year Johnny Cace’s Seafood and SteakHouse opened in Longview, Texas as thefirst fine dining restaurant in the region, andover the years it became a beloved localinstitution for its wide variety of scratchmadeCreole classics. Johnny passed therestaurant down to his son Gerard, whoin turn passed it to his wife Cathy, whoran it with their daughter Chelsea until it,unfortunately, closed its doors in 2015. Butthat wasn’t the end of the story: the Cace’sfamily recipes were so beloved that, at theurging of longtime regular customers, Cathy and Chelsea formed The Cace Kitchen LLC as a continuation of the family’s legacy and opened The Cace Kitchen in 2016.

Tuscan Pig – Springtime Spritz in Italy

No tour of Europe would be complete without stopping in Italy. The land of rolling olive groves, romantic vineyards, and sparkling Mediterranean seas offers a wide variety of flavors that have enticed culinary tourists for ages. At the Tuscan Pig, you will find authentic Italian fare from Rodolfo Stefano, an Italian restaurateur originally from the Province of Caserta, just north of Naples. The eclectic dishes of the Tuscan Pig are inspired by Rodolfo’s childhood surrounded by his mother’s carefully simmered sauces. These influences are present in the Tuscan Pig’s handmade lasagnas, made from scratch ragù, alfredo, pink sauce, vegetarian marinara and pesto sauce. The gnocchi pesto topped with Tuscan-style pork is a particular favorite of regulars.

The Tuscan Pig embodies the family-run Italian restaurant with Rodolfo serving up tasty dishes that his wife-slash-chef cooks up in the kitchen. Patrons fill up the tables and the team looks on with appreciation as guests take their first bite and delight lights up their faces. On Saturday nights guests can enjoy extra ambiance at the restaurant when James Gosselin performs original arrangements from the American Standard Songbook. You can hear him on Saturday nights from 5-9 pm.

Scottie's Bistro

Scottie’s Bistro – Bienvenue en France

If there’s one thing that the French know how todo well, it’s knowing how to eat. And to them, foodis an art. Flavors should create a symphony ofthe senses and inspire discussion. Scotties Bistrolocated in Longview carries on the Parisian Bistroideal by featuring inventive dishes. During brunchimagine yourself on a Parisian cobbled street asyou enjoy the patio seating and sip on a mimosa.You’ll find that Scotties carries on the Frenchtradition of closing the restaurant between thehours of 3 and 5 in order to prepare for the dinnerservice, so prepare in advance. You know whatthey say… when in France do as the French do.

Brigitta’s Hungarian Restaurant – Hungary for More?

Continuing our tour of Central Europe, we’ll travel to Hungary and its capital city of Budapest. Hungarians place high cultural importance on their traditional dishes and heritage recipes. So much so that foreign cuisine didn’t fully reach the country until the ’90s. Most dishes are hearty affairs and stews like goulash are popular meals. But there’s one dish that particularly excites tourists. At Brigitta’s Hungarian Restaurant in Kilgore, you’ll find Langos, a traditional Hungarian street food. These pizza-like treats are fried dough coated with a savory garlic butter, slathered with sour cream, and topped with cheese– perfect for a blustery cold day in Europe (or Texas). Historic and tasty, Langos reach back to the medieval days of Hungary, but today you’ll find street vendors serving them up to curious passerby’s. If you like the Langos, you’ll want to try Brigitta’s other traditional dishes flavored with original spices from Szeged, Hungary.

Czech Please

Czech Please – Fresh Baked Treats that Rise Above the Rest.

Our next stop is The Czech Republic, tucked snugly in the middle of Europe and where tradition runs deep. Here, historical buildings seem untouched by time, and enchanting cobbled streets house bustling bakeries. Inside, you’ll find warm pastries called Koláče. Small, round, and flavorful baked treats filled with either a fruit, cheese, or poppyseed filling. Interestingly, these pastries create confusion among Texans. You see, “koláče” is the Czech word for “kolache” the donut shop staple featuring sausages baked in donut dough. Czech Please, a micro-bakery in New Diana seeks to educate locals about the truth, which is “kolaches are NOT pigs-in-a-blanket!” The truth is that what we call kolaches, are in fact really Klobasniky (a bit complicated, huh?). Both treats originated in the Czech Republic and were brought over by immigrants settling in West Texas. So why did they change the name? They found it wasn’t very catchy and a bit of a mouthful. So their solution was to call them kolaches as a tribute to their roots. Nowadays Czech Please offers both treats as intended– with their original names. You can choose from a wide variety of kolaches and the lovingly nicknamed “klobs”.

FilipinOut – Asian Delicacies with a Twist

Now let’s follow the Easterly wind from Europe towards Asia.Through your imaginary plane window, you’ll notice a sweepingarchipelago of thousands of islands. This is the Philippines andthe next stop on our culinary journey. FilipinOut, is a travelingfood truck making its rounds on the East Texas festival circuit.Mixing innovation and integrity for their multi-generationalFilipino recipes, these entrepreneurial ladies create Asian fusiondishes and additional traditional Filipino recipes. Through thewindow of their food truck, you can try traditional Lumpia —Filipino eggrolls wrapped in crispy fried dough and filled withsavory pork or beef. Also on the menu is their tenderly marinatedAdobo — a dish carefully stewed with a mixture of vinegar, soysauce, and garlic. Innovation shines through the Adoborrito, aburrito created by layering traditional adobo with their signatureslaw in a tortilla. Stop by FilipinOut at the Tiki Hut located inHughes Springs, Texas.

FilipinOut is the AmericAsian fusion brainchild of Cristina Maderia and Keri Fitzgerald, two inseparable friends spreading their love of Filipino cuisine nationwide.