• 2 year unlimited miles full comprehensive warranty
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• 161 point inspection by a certified Lexus technician
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• Voted “Best Certified Program” many consecutive years
Bill Dante TRAVEL
Terlingua: The most famous ghost town in West Texas
24 DAY OF THE DEAD
Get ready for the beautiful symbols, traditions and imagery of Día de los Muertos
Lisa Dante CULTURE
33 MAD FOR PLAID
Few patterns can boast the same storied history as this criss-crossed band of color for fall.
Lisa Dante FASHION
47 GRAPE BY GRAPE RECOMMENDATIONS
Elevate your wine game with these quick picks. Book an at-home wine tasting with an expert. Cheers!
Jim Peterson WINE
A visually stunning and captivating oasis, the San Antonio Japanese Tea Garden is listed on the U.S. national register of historic places.
Bill Dante
CULINARY
Texas is home to world-class dove hunting! Tips and secrets on how to prepare and up your dove cooking game.
Gabe Spencer
GARDENING
One of the most popular fall garden flowers, Chrysanthemums can be found in hundreds of varieties and are easy to grow.
Marc Hess
COCKTAIL
This pumpkin martini is a fun, delicious cocktail to kick off the arrival of autumn.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
PHOTOGRAPHERS
CONTRIBUTORS
LISA DANTE
KEITH CHESTER
JOSH HUSKIN
LISA DANTE
MARC HESS
DR. JUSTIN PHILLIPS, L.Ac
LISA DANTE
MATTHEW HARVEY
BILL DANTE
DR. RICHARD BRUCE WINDERS
ALBERT FLORES
NANCY FOSTER
SHERIFF JAVIER SALAZAR
JIM PETERSON
DENISE PAYNE
GABE SPENCER
ILLUSTRATOR
JEREMIAH TEUTSCH
CONTRIBUTING PRODUCTION STAFF
JOSH LOPEZ, SAMANTHA MUSCAT-SCHERR, GABRIELA ALTAMIRANO
Who isn’t looking forward to fall? It officially starts on September 22nd. The long, hot summer temps have begun to fade, the days are getting shorter and the aroma of pumpkin spice is already in the air. Halloween will be here before you know it!
One thing synonymous with fall in Texas is the beginning of hunting season. For many, that activity has been the cornerstone bond of fami lies for generations. Check out “The Scattered Chef,” Gabe Spencer’s secrets to really tender dove recipe. The milder temps of fall are defi nitely motivating to get outdoors and explore. I hadn’t been to the Japanese Tea Garden in San Antonio in decades. We recently went to check it out. I was stunned! The serene beauty is unparalleled and that’s an understatement. There is a strong Zen connection that comes from bonding with nature.. AND it’s free!
We are featuring the iconic Texas town of Terlingua in our travel section. Have you been? There is something magical about the Big Bend area this time of year. Every visitor I spoke to all said the same thing, that you will experience a special connection to this legendary ghost town that integrates the mind, body and spirit. And most of the ghosts there are very friendly, by the way.
Thank you for checking out this issue! We are so grateful to our esteemed advertisers and our loyal readers. If you are new to Texan Magazine, we are sure glad to have you here!
Lisa Dante Editor-In-Chief
by BILL DANTE
The town of Terlingua is not a movie set, not a staged tourist attraction, but a real ghost town where you can roam around exploring the remains of the houses, destroyed vehicles and even a cemetery. Charm and history, outdoor activities, good restaurants and a saloon with a murderous past add to the uniqueness of this southwest Texas town. Did I mention a few ghosts?
Texas has more ghost towns than any other state. 511 to be exact! I know what you’re thinking, Texas is a big state and you’re not going to find many ghost towns east of the Mississippi River. You’re right.
Population growth occurred with the railroad moving across the wild west in the 1880s. Sometimes the railroad would say they were going one way and a town was built expecting to benefit from the railroad. But either the railroad changed their mind or someone paid off the railroad to have the tracks diverted. Oops...got a ghost town! Now with 511 ghost towns in the state you would think that a few would compete for the number one spot. Well buckaroo they don’t!
The most famous ghost town in Texas is Terlingua, located just outside Big Bend National Park in far southwest Texas. I mean far, 433 miles just from San Antonio. About a seven hour drive if you take the interstate. But if you go by way of the scenic route you would take highway 90 through Langtry, Texas (Judge Roy Bean) and add another 90 minutes to your drive. It’s not a day trip and definitely wasn’t a day trip back in 1886 on horseback. Terlingua is real close to the Rio Grande river and you will become enchanted by the magic of the desert.
Historically, the ghost stories started with Apache tribes, a very small Mexican trading post and the U.S. Cavalry patrolling the open border. Terlingua became a boom town in 1885 when mercury was discovered. Not the planet but a mineraloid that was named after the planet. Mercury was rare and is a liquid metal at room temperature. So a full fledged mining town popped up with over 2,000 people for about 60 years. Terlingua became the 3rd largest mercury producing area in the United States. BUT, here’s where the ghosts start again, liquid mercury on your skin can kill you. Mercury, depending on the type and amount can damage your nervous system, kidneys, liver and immune system. So vapors way down in the mining shafts eventually killed a lot of miners. By the 1940s they closed up the mine and the town, leaving behind 400 bodies and thus 400 graves. That’s a lot of unhappy ghosts!
They say that most of the ghosts are heard and seen in the fall. Maybe because there are more visitors in the cooler months. Plus the ghosts that died from mercury tend to glow brighter in the dark. You’ll have to go and see for yourself. In 1944 the Big Bend area was named a national park. Rafting, canoeing, star gazing, fossil hunting and camping became popular in the area which was all close to the ghost town of Terlingua. Then in 1967 the Terlingua Chili Cook Off began with two groups coming
in from the Austin area. That has continued every year with of course state wide chili competition, live music, drinks and hundreds of people. If you’re thinking of going this year, the 57th annual Terlingua International Chili Cook Off will start on Wednesday October 30th until November 2nd. The Chili Appreciation Society International, or CASI, a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt non-profit organization donates all of the entry fees for scholarships, while other dollars are donated to ALS and other non- profit organizations.
Every year at sunset on November 2nd, locals and visitors from all over celebrate All Souls Day. The tradition was brought to the America’s by the Spanish. As the sun goes down it becomes a beautiful family-friendly celebration with hundreds of candles glowing in and around the now over 500 graves and monuments. The cemetery is still active and some relatives come to pay their respects. A bonfire burns through the evening and some folks bring chairs just to enjoy the ambiance and to celebrate with old and new friends. Terlingua is an interesting contrast. On one side of the town everything has been repurposed. And then there’s the the other side, completely untouched and frozen in time. That’s the magic of a ghost town.
VIVA TERLINGUA!
A UNESCO RECOGNIZED CULTURAL EVENT
by LISA DANTE
Traditionally celebrated on October 31st or November 1st and 2nd, the Day Of The Dead is largely seen as having a festive characteristic. The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pay respects and remember friends and family who have died.
Traditions connected with the holiday in Mexico include honoring the deceased using calaveras (sugar skulls) and marigold flowers known as cempazúchitl , building home alters called ofrendas with the favorite food and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these items. Pan de Muerto, a special sugar-coated bread is often included in the celebration.
But today, the increasingly very popular celebration in the United States is not solely focused on the dead. Many participants see it as a celebration of life with families and friends and it is not limited to your cultural heritage. In fact, in 2008, the tradition was inscribed in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Of Humanity by UNESCO. What does that mouthful mean? Well, according to UNESCO, “This designation helps demonstrate the diversity of cultural heritage and raise awareness about its importance.”
As far as the origin of the celebration, it widely depends on which historical pathway you choose to research. Views differ on whether the festivity has indigenous pre-Hispanic roots, or whether it is a more modern adaptation of an existing European tradition, and then there is All Souls’ Day, observed by Christians on November 2nd. According to the History Channel, Día de los Muertos is a blend of Mesoamerican ritual, European religion and Spanish culture.
Images related to Day Of The Dead include skulls and skeletons. Inspired by the 2015 James Bond movie Spectre, which featured a large Day Of The Dead parade, Mexico City held its first-ever parade for the holiday in 2016. In 2017, a number of major U.S. cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, San Antonio and Fort Lauderdale, held Day Of The Dead parades. That November, Disney and Pixar released the blockbuster animated hit Coco, a $175 mil-
lion homage to the Mexican tradition in which a young boy is transported to the Land of the Dead and meets up with his long-lost ancestors. In recent years, the tradition has developed even more due to its visibility in pop culture and the scale of Day Of The Dead celebrations continue to evolve.
By the way, is it ok to wish someone Happy Day Of The Dead?
Yes! You can say, “Feliz Día de los Muertos.”
There are many events and parades planned around the state of Texas to celebrate this cultural tradition. National Geographic once named San Antonio’s Day Of The Dead celebration as one the best fall festivals in the country! If you want to check it out, San Antonio will come alive with the vibrant celebration, October 25-27 at the historic La Villita.
Celebrate and remember the lives and spirits of your loved ones!
by LISA DANTE
How do you transition your summer looks to fall when the temps are still soaring? Incorporating iconic plaid prints into your wardrobe is a good idea. In fact, many top designers are calling checks and plaids a major trend this fall. If you’ve lived in Texas for a while, then you know that early fall just means a few degrees cooler than summer. Mother Nature doesn’t always get the message. Plaid may not be exciting on its own, but when combined with other plaids, it becomes a totally eyecatching, statement-making look.
How do you accomplish plaid pattern mixing without looking like a clown ready for the circus? Well, it’s all about proportion and color.
For example, a large plaid pattern can be paired with a much smaller one, creating balance. As far as color, the other way to mix plaid patterns successfully is to keep things within the same color family. As long as you do this, two divergent patterns can work very well together.
Plaid has always been a staple in the fashion world, but the autumn and winter 2024 runway shows are presenting it with a new twist. Adding more layers creates depth. An explosion of tartans, checks, plaids and tweeds brought British country style and outdoor living chic to the forefront of fall 2024. For men, plaid shirts and jackets have long been a staple in men’s fashion, embodying a blend of tradition and contemporary style. When the occasion calls for something a tad more formal, such as a casual business lunch or a family gathering and you don’t want to look like a lumberjack, the same plaid can be elevated with chinos and a well-fitted blazer.
It’s a common misconception that flannel and plaid are interchangeable terms. In reality, flannel refers to a soft, warm fabric, whereas plaid is a pattern.
The look is sporty but can also work at the office. Lose the tie, unbutton the shirt and you’re good to go—casually dressed up. While it may seem simple, it’s also a closet staple and an effortless-go-to that every guy should own a few of. Easy to mix and match and pair with virtually everything.
Few patterns can boast the same storied history, global reach, and cultural significance as plaid. It’s unmistakable criss-crossed bands of color have dressed warriors, symbolized rebellion and graced runways.
For everyone this season and beyond, plaid is the pattern that never goes out of style.
by JIM PETERSON, WINE ENTHUSIAST &
WINE INFLUENCER
Iam often asked a question along the lines of, “Can you recommend a good (insert grape name) to try?” My first question back is almost always, “What is your price range?” The price range matters the most to me because I continually strive to recommend wines that meet or exceed the value of their cost. Sometimes, especially with local friends, I will find out where they are planning to shop because that also helps me narrow the selections. I even have friends text me pictures of store shelves so I can more easily tell them exactly which wines to buy.
I am grateful for their trust, but it also gives me some peace of mind knowing they and their guests are most likely going to enjoy the wines. With that in mind, I thought it would be fun to go through a lightning round of popular grapes and provide a few recommendations in varying price points for each. The only caveat I offer is I am only highlighting producers typically found in local stores. I tried to avoid those requiring special orders. Are you ready for these rapid-fire selections? Let’s go!
I’m starting with probably the hardest grape for me. That’s because Cabernet Sauvignon is not typically a go-to wine for my tastes. I do enjoy old-school Napa Valley Cabernet though, and at the high end of those my first choice would be the wines from Dunn Vineyards. Their pricing starts a little above $100. The Dunn wines are exceptional. Around the $50 mark, try the Clos du Val Napa Valley Cabernet. They are a third-generation family-owned winery with high quality. Finding good Cabernet under $30 is tough, so your best bet might be to head to South America where famed winemaker Paul Hobbs makes the Viña Cobos Felino Cabernet from Mendoza, Argentina. It doesn’t break the bank, and it’s well made and tasty.
The obvious move for a high-end Pinot Noir is Burgundy, where the most expensive Pinot Noir in the world can be found. Let’s be more reasonable and stick with American Pinot Noir. For California, trusted producers include Merry Edwards, Paul Hobbs, and Flowers. For Oregon, look for Beaux Frères and Domaine Drouhin Oregon. These producers have wines with varying price points, from general sub-region blends to high priced single vineyard wines. On the value side it’s hard to go wrong with a basic French Bourgogne from Louis Jadot (or any of the basic Jadot wines to be honest).
My fondness for Chardonnay began with wines from Chablis, so let’s head to France. The best Chablis are the Grand Cru, but there are many options on the value spectrum. My two go-to Chablis producers are William Fèvre and Marc Brocard. I also love white Burgundy, and a few favorites I often buy, cellar, and open are Pierre Yves Colin Morey, Domaine Joseph Drouhin, and Domaine Matrot (for Meursault). On the value side of white Burgundy try some wines from the Mâcon region and see what you think.
If you have read any of my prior articles on Riesling, you know I am all about German Riesling. Having lived in the Mosel region, and visited the Rheingau region last year, let’s start there. For Mosel wines, there is no better example than the wines of Joh. Jos. Prüm. Other producers with a more varied price range include Selbach-Oster and Dr. Loosen. For Rheingau Rieslings in whatever style you like, look for Leitz. There is something for everyone in the vast portfolio of Leitz wines. They have sweet wines, dry wines, value wines, expensive wines, and they even have non-alcohol wines. Another well-known Rheingau producer is Schloss-Vollrads. When choosing German Rieslings, remember that “trocken” means dry. The most common classified wines, from dry to sweet, are Kabinett, Spätlese, then Auslese.
Now here is a grape I have yet to write about! Tempranillo is the foundational red grape for Spanish red wines. As this is a lightning round, I will stick with the two most well-known regions in Spain – Rioja and Ribera del Duero. In Rioja, most producers will have a varied range of wines on the value scale. For top end and mid-range Rioja wines you won’t go wrong with La Rioja Alta, Marquis de Murrieta, Cune, or Muga. La Rioja Alta also makes the amazing value Viña Alberdi Reserva Rioja. In Ribera del Duero, the unquestioned king is Vega Sicilia, where the Unico Reserva Especial can sell for $400-$600. They also have a lower priced wine called Valbuena. For the more casual consumer some of my favorite producers are Pesquera, Condado de Haza, Emilio Moro, Protos, and Alion (a Vega Sicilia brand). Quick tip: The order of quality (and usually pricing) for Spanish wines goes Crianza, Reserva, then Gran Reserva.
In case you did not know, Syrah and Shiraz are the same grape by different names. The usage typically depends on where the wine is made. Shiraz usually means Australia, so let’s start there. The most prized collectible Australian Shiraz must be Penfold’s Grange, usually $700 or more. Penfold’s has a range of wines from high end Shiraz to some nice value wines. Other solid Shiraz producers you may find include d’Arenberg, Two Hands, and Mitolo. As for Syrah, some of the best is produced in France’s northern Rhône valley. Look for wines labelled Saint Joseph or Crozes-Hermitage and taste the elegance they offer. Remember the French often label their wines by region, not by grape.
My very first article was all about the Sangiovese grape of Tuscany. There is nowhere in the world that does it better. At the higher end of Sangiovese, Brunello di Montalcino is where I start. My longtime favorite Brunello producers are Altesino, Argiano, Banfi, Casanova di Neri, Fanti, and Poggio Antico. Most Brunello producers also have the lower priced Rosso di Montalcino. Then of course there is Chianti. My favorites are from the Chianti Classico region. Trusted producers include Fontodi (my favorite), Isole e Olena, and Volpaia. Finally, there are some excellent Sangiovese wines from Montepulciano, and I would never turn down a Vino Nobile di Montepulciano made by Avignonesi.
This Italian grape from the Piedmont region in northern Italy is most famously used in the wines of Barolo and Barbaresco. I favor Barolo and my favorite Barolo producer is Paolo Scavino. Other great producers are Pio Cesare, Aldo Conterno, Bruno Giacoso, Fontanafredda, and Massolino. When it comes to Barbaresco, anything by Gaja is sure to be great (and expensive). All wines by Produttori are usually fantastic, and producers like Pio Cesare and Bruno Giacoso also make Barbaresco. On the value end there are often “Langhe Nebbiolo” wines available. Fair warning: Nebbiolo wines must be decanted young. Top wines are notorious for taking 20 to 30 years to reach their full potential.
In major life news for me, I have retired from my full-time job. To further share my passion for all things wine, I have started a new small business, The Texas Wine Pilot, leveraging my wine expertise. For those who live in the San Antonio and surrounding South Texas area, I am now offering customized in-home wine tastings. There are multiple ways to take advantage of this – think how fun it would be to have a unique birthday party, anniversary celebration, or a work team-building event or holiday celebration. Also, if you just want to gather a group of friends, have fun, and enjoy a wine tasting experience, this is a
unique way to do it. My goal is to showcase wines you’ll love, at a price point that fits your budget, with an opportunity to acquire your favorites in the tasting.
I am also offering a service to strategize how to build and maintain a wine collection tailored to your taste and style. If you are unsure how to start a collection, which wines are truly collectible, how long to hold certain wines, or how to organize and track your wines, I can help!
Please visit my new website, txwinepilot.com, to learn more about this unique opportunity to elevate your wine game. Cheers!
Jim Peterson is a retired U.S. Air Force officer who mainly flew the A-10 fighter jet. He has ties to the wine business going back over 20 years and is an avid wine collector. His extensive wine knowledge includes travel to many wine regions, tasting many of the world’s top wines, and ongoing personal wine exploration. He has cultivated a large following on his Instagram account, @tx_wine_pilot. He now offers customized in-home wine tastings in the San Antonio and South Texas area. Visit txwinepilot.com or email me at jim@txwinepilot.com to learn more.
by BILL DANTE
There’s a serenely magical, tropical paradise with a majestic waterfall and lush blooming gardens right in the heart of River City. A secret garden in San Antonio? You would be surprised at the number of people who have no idea that such a hidden beauty exists. Then there’s the other group who may know about it, but have never gone, or they visited this calming and meditative place a long time ago..
The hidden garden is the newly renovated Japanese Tea Garden. Admission is free! It’s located downtown in Brackenridge Park, close to the San Antonio zoo. I’m guilty of not having been there in a while because the last time I was there was when I was doing a live weather broadcast in the 1990s. And somehow life happens and you wrongly believe that you have to travel far and wide to see such botanical beauty. I had been next door to events at the Sunken Garden Amphitheater many times, ….but that doesn’t count.. So recently I jumped in the car with my better half, the editor of Texan Magazine, to see for ourselves. On the drive there, we discussed how neither of us had been there in decades for one reason or another.
When we arrived, we parked across from Brackenridge Park on the street level and walked up the small hill towards the sign pointing the way towards the entrance to
The hidden place is the newly renovated Japanese Tea Garden. Admission is free! It’s located downtown in Brackenridge Park, close to the San Antonio Zoo.
the Tea Garden. When you reach the top of the hill you are truly not prepared for the stunning beauty that awaits you. The gorgeous landscape and the majestic waterfall absolutely takes your breath away! Looking down into the water-garden from the top of the hill, you immediately notice vibrant shades of green foliage and brightly blooming tropical flowers in every color nestled between the many pristine and expansive pools of crystal clear water.
Huge, colorful koi fish, some with shimmering metallic scales, glistened in the water as they gently glided by. The hypnotic, slow cadence of the way they swam immediately puts you in a meditative relaxing state of mind, as if you’ve been transported to an exotic tropical locale.
In the 1840s the area was way outside the city limits, especially on horseback, and a small limestone quarry was created by German masons for new home building. (The limestone from this small quarry was also used to build the Menger hotel back in 1859 for Mary and Bill Menger).
Rumor has it that the architect of the Menger used some of the same limestone to
repair portions of the Alamo. Now as San Antonio grew to the north it pushed the quarries further north. Think about it, the shopping areas near Alamo Heights and the Rim were all once quarries. Today, when you approach the Japanese Tea Garden you will notice a quaint, historic
row of small stone houses. During the late 1800s some of the quarry workers lived on site in a small Mexican type village. They sold hand made pottery, baskets and other unique items.
Dionicio Rodriguez, a well known artist, even created and copied an authentic Japanese Torii gate. His unbelievable groundbreaking unique style was way ahead of his time.
This is where it really started to take shape and begin to develop into the wonderful garden that we have today. In 1919 Kimi Eizo Jingu, a Japanese-American artist and his wife moved into the garden as caretakers and opened the Bamboo Room in 1926 for lunch and tea. They even raised eight children on the grounds.
Eventually World War II broke out and under public pressure the Jingus who had
lovingly and devotedly cared for the Japanese Tea Garden were evicted due to national temperament against all things Japanese.
The city feared the prospect of destruction and vandalism because of the name ‘“Japanese” on the garden entrance, so to protect the garden during that time, the name was changed to Chinese Tea Garden. That saved it from being destroyed by anti-Japanese vandals. However, in 1984 it was changed back to its original name with a special ceremony attended by the Jingu family and representatives of the Japanese government.
Fast forward. Years passed and it was in pretty bad shape. After a lack of care, vandalism and graffiti, the city finally spent over two million dollars and renovated the Japanese Tea Garden. The renewal was started in 2008 and finished in 2011 with a public dedication ceremony.
Typically, this type of Japanese Tea Garden is made from natural landscape and aged materials avoiding an artificial feel and ambiance.
Water is a special feature from ponds, waterfalls and beautiful exotic koi in a rainbow of colors.
Flowers are very important with placement of large Japanese and tropical trees. Thus giving the entire Tea Garden a pleasant, relaxing natural feel.
Remember, attendance is free and they are open from 7am til 5pm. To say it is beautiful is an understatement. Plan on taking your time, from one to two hours. It’s your schedule and time so you can stay as long as you want. There is the highly rated Jingu restaurant for lunch and refreshments, featuring authentically prepared Japanese dishes. (Bringing your own food onto the grounds is not allowed). Although right across the street in Brackenridge Park, you will find picnic tables. Next door to the gardens, you will definitely want to try some of the best BBQ in Texas. Augie’s Barbed Wire Smokehouse is legendary!
I hope you’ll go and enjoy a piece of San Antonio’s history. What started
as a small limestone quarry is now on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s not really a secret but fun to imagine that it’s our secret garden.
Enjoy!!
by GABE SPENCER, THE SCATTERED CHEF
Little did I know then that dove hunting is more than just a nostalgic pastime; it’s a deeply ingrained tradition in Texas, marking the true commencement of hunting season in the Lone Star State.
Dove hunting evokes vivid memories of my childhood, spent on a pond dam in Duval County, Texas. I remember sitting with my grandmother on one side of the dam while I took my place on the other, both of us eagerly anticipating the arrival of massive flocks of white-winged doves. Armed with a 20-gauge shotgun, I’d do my best to take the most accurate shot a 9-yearold could manage. The expansive South Texas brush country would come alive with thousands of doves during their annual migration southward, a journey that would eventually carry some all the way to Central America.
Little did I know then that dove hunting is more than just a nostalgic pastime; it’s a deeply ingrained tradition in Texas, marking the true commencement of hunting season in the Lone
Star State.
The tradition of dove hunting in Texas is steeped in history. The first known account appeared in October 1895, when the San Antonio Light reprinted a story titled “Tales of the Hunt,” originally published in a German magazine by “an old San Antonio nimrod.” This anonymous writer observed that during Texas falls, “hundreds and thousands of wild doves come flying from all directions of the globe and land in the sunflower and millet fields, near farm waterholes, or in post oak trees, where they delight the hunter’s heart with their simple but melodious song.” Doves, the writer noted, could be shot in abundance while flying or perched, and they were said to taste quite good “if prepared correctly.”
Texas has implemented bag limits for dove hunting since the 1890s, starting with a limit of 15 birds per person and a season that began in mid-July. By 1916, the state had moved the official start date of dove season to September 1, which is how most of us know it today. Presently, Texas allows each hunter with a valid hunting license to take up to 15 birds per day across all hunting zones, with a possession limit set at three times the daily bag limit. With these generous limits and the camaraderie of fellow hunters, enjoying a feast of these fast-flying game birds becomes a delightful reality.
As someone who enjoys experimenting with wild game recipes, I’m always seeking new ways to prepare dove. While traditional methods like grilling or wrapping them in bacon are certainly popular, I was determined to find something different and exciting for these flavorful birds.
As someone who enjoys experimenting with wild game recipes, I’m always seeking new ways to prepare dove. While traditional methods like grilling or wrapping them in bacon are certainly popular, I was determined to find something different and exciting for these flavorful birds.
Cleaning a dove reveals just how little meat there is on them, making the 15-bird limit seem quite reasonable.
A common traditional recipe involves marinating
dove breasts in Italian dressing overnight, then splitting and deseeding jalapeño peppers, slathering them with cream cheese, and wrapping the whole thing in bacon secured with a toothpick before grilling for 10-12 minutes. The punchline of this joke among those less fond of wild game is to eat the pepper and discard the dove breast. While this method is a staple, cooking wild game requires a nuanced approach—each type of game meat needs to be handled in a way that respects its unique qualities.
Take the Aoudad, for example. Known formally as the Barbary Sheep (Ammotragus lervia), this North African species was introduced to Texas and has since established a thriving wild population. My initial attempts to prepare Aoudad were met with frustration due to its toughness, which required several tries to make
it edible. Over time, I learned that Aoudad is best either ground or slow-cooked. This principle applies to doves as well. While many assume that birds must be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees to ensure safety, this is not always necessary for small doves. I prefer cooking them to an internal temperature of 130-135 degrees to achieve optimal flavor and tenderness. Overcooking can lead to an unpleasant “liver” taste, which some people find off-putting. The key is to experiment and find what works best for your palate.
One of my favorite ways to prepare dove is with a recipe I call Dove Bombers. This dish takes the traditional dove and jalapeño wrapped in bacon and reimagines it into a fun, shareable appetizer. It’s perfect for gatherings, especially when introducing guests to wild game.
Ingredients:
- 6-12 whole dove breasts, cleaned and washed
- 2-3 jalapeño peppers, finely chopped
- 2 packs of cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 bunch of green onions, finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic, finely minced
- 6 strips of bacon, diced and cooked crispy
- 10-12 wonton wrappers
- 3 tablespoons bacon fat or lard
- 1 egg white
Instructions:
Prepare the Dove: Pat the dove breasts dry and cut them into ¼-inch thick strips, ensuring uniform thickness for even cooking.
Sear the Dove: Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat and add the bacon fat or lard. Once hot and slightly smoking, add the dove strips. Cook, stirring frequently, for about 3 minutes to achieve a quick sear and begin browning the meat. Remove and let rest on a paper towel-lined plate.
Mix the Filling: In a bowl, combine cream cheese, chopped jalapeños, garlic, green onions, bacon, and the seared dove. Mix thoroughly until well incorporated.
Assemble the Bombers: Place about 2 tablespoons of the mixture in the center of each wonton wrapper. Fold in the corners, using a little egg white as glue to seal the seams tightly. Ensure there are no large air pockets inside the wonton. Fry the Bombers: Preheat your frying oil to 375 degrees. I
prefer peanut oil or lard, but any oil will work. Fry the filled wontons in batches of 2-3 to prevent cooling the oil and causing soggy wrappers. Fry until the wrappers are golden brown and crispy.
Serve: Serve the Dove Bombers with a variety of dipping sauces. This dish is a fun and flavorful way to kick off hunting season and is sure to impress guests who may be new to wild game.
As always, enjoy experimenting with food and be open to trying new preparations. If you don’t like a particular method, don’t give up—there’s likely another way to prepare it that you’ll enjoy. For more great recipes and culinary adventures, check out my YouTube channel, The Scattered Chef.
Gabe Spencer is a Texas native who’s passionate about adventure and good food. He runs Kimber Creek Media, where he captures the thrill of the outdoors and stunning landscapes through his camera lens. Gabe’s highly successful YouTube channel, The Scattered Chef, mixes his love for adventure with travel-inspired recipes. He believes food is a powerful way to connect people and celebrate different cultures. With a blend of Texas spirit and culinary creativity, Chef Spencer strives to make every adventure and meal unforgettable.
by MARC HESS, EDITOR, “GARDENING SOUTH TEXAS”
The Garden Mums, also known by their big name, Chrysanthemums, are the star of fall gardens throughout Texas. They’re usually the last plant to bloom before frost, ushering your garden into the big sleep of winter with a last bang of color. Mums come in a rich range of colors including white, yellow, orange, lavender, purple, red and bicolor. They’re easy-to-grow and can be used in beds, borders and containers. Mums grow from September until the frost gets them. They will grow up to three feet tall and up to two feet wide. The size of your mums will be dependent on the type of mum you have. They attract butterflies in the fall and make great cut flowers that will last up to two weeks indoors as a bouquet in a vase.
Mums are mainly planted in the fall for annual color, but in Texas they can also be used as perennials in your garden and they will grow and look better and better every year.
- Dr. Jerry Parsons, Retired Bexar County Extension Agent
Mums are ideal for container planting because of their shallow root systems. Although considered a perennial, you can use those pots of blooming mums sold in the fall as annuals to replace summer annuals that are past their prime. Tuck the mums in beds, borders or planters to keep the color coming until frost.
Garden Mums are one of the most sought-after garden additions of fall. Most varieties are easy to care for and grow with basic needs being full sun, welldrained rich soil, and good air circulation. There are literally hundreds of varieties to choose from that can provide blooms from
late summer through fall.
If you’re using a mum as a perennial, plant in early spring or in the fall at least six weeks before the first expected frost. You’ll find smaller plants for sale in the spring than you might in fall. They likely won’t be budded or flowering, and the color selection may be minimal. But if you plant hardy mums in spring, you’ll be rewarded with a strong color show in years to come because they will have a season of warm weather to grow a strong root system. That root system is key to their long-term survival.
Mums with big, showy flowers look beautiful now, but they won’t last long. Some pros recommend waiting until later in the season to buy. And whenever you buy, look for plants packed with buds or with flowers just starting to open. When properly cared for, these plants will provide color for at least a month. Use a container larger than the one the plant came in to give the roots room to expand. Loosen tangled roots before planting in a potting mix that drains well. Water properly and water gently so you don’t break or saturate the blooms because wet blooms fade faster. Try putting the hose or watering can under the blooms and watering the soil directly. You can also water from the bottom of the plant — self-watering pots are great for this. This gets the water where it needs to go, but it also keeps the blooms dry.
Mums come in a rich range of colors including white, yellow, orange, lavender, purple, red and bicolor. They’re easy-to-grow and can be used in beds, borders and containers.
Frosty blues of fall that tint ornamental kale and Russian sage, interact dramatically with other autumnal colors, including deep oranges, reds, and violets.
MARC HESS is an author whose latest novel, “The Gillespie County Fair,” is available on Amazon. It’s a riveting story about the gentrification of rural Texas. He is also the editor of Milberger’s Gardening South Texas newsletter, a monthly (except January) publication covering the challenges and solutions of gardening in South Central Texas’s unique growing zone. It’s available on-line at no charge at https://www.milbergernursery.com/newsletter-archive/
It’s that time of year again with all things pumpkin spice. If you’re all about fall flavors, make the most of the season with this fun cocktail!
Ingredients for two servings:
• 3 oz vanilla flavored vodka
• 2 oz Irish cream liqueur, such as Bailey’s
• 3 oz Pumpkin spice liqueur
• 2 Shots of espresso (chill in fridge)
• Pinch of ground nutmeg
• Pinch of ground cinnamon
• Pumpkin pie spice
• Thick whipped cream
• Caramel syrup for drizzle
• Chocolate covered coffee beans (just a couple)
• Two long stemmed martini glasses
TIP: If desired, coat rim of glasses with caramel syrup, then roll rim in finely crushed mixture of graham crackers, pumpkin spice and a pinch of brown sugar.
Instructions:
• Chill glasses in freezer 15 minutes
• Fill shaker with ice
• Add Vodka, Bailey’s, Espresso and Pumpkin Liqueur into shaker (shake until foamy)
• Strain into chilled glasses
• Top with a dollop of thick whipped cream
• Sprinkle Pumpkin Spice on top
• If desired, drizzle with Caramel Syrup
• Place 3 or 4 Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans on top
Enjoy and celebrate the changing of the season!
