Fort Worth Double Checked

Each spring, I spend three nights at this hotel and often stay here at other times. It is very handy to the American Airlines terminal at DFW and also has a full range of facilities for very large meetings. Before I forget to mention it, please let me say that this hotel has the best large banquet food I have ever experienced. I don't know how they manage to feed over 1,000 people a really fine, hot meal and get the service done before the speakers start in.

Frankly, this is a standard hotel built in the 1980s and redone since. The rooms are large and have all the basics, with the exception of a mini-fridge. Wish they had those in all the rooms! I check in to this hotel for two reasons: I either have a several-days-long meeting there or I have a very early flight to catch, which makes staying overnight at DFW the logical thing to do. The hotel meets my needs.

What breaks this hotel out of the ordinary is the efficiency (and kindness) of the staff at all levels. The only fault we can find is that the newly designed bar on the main level is too small when large meetings are going on. We need a larger watering hole.

Easy in and out if you have flights to catch, with a free shuttle to all terminals every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day. If you know the way, you can walk over to the American terminal, but there are steep stairs, which makes hauling your luggage a problem. Take the shuttle!

My king-bed room (non-smoking) was extremely large, with a lot of empty space, certainly enough room for more furniture. A nice Lazy-Boy chair would be a fine addition. The bathrooms and small and basic. The in-room coffee service includes insulated cups that you can carry out of the room with you--an improvement and much appreciated.

Don't be put off by the risk of noise from an on-airport location. The building is very well-insulated. We didn't hear the planes or the automobile traffic. Soon, the brand new Grand Hyatt will open on the other side of the airport stem road, but we will still depend on this hotel for our big meetings. They are tried, tested, and true.

You can start a conversation quickly in Fort Worth about who makes the best barbeque, but be careful, as it can go from debate to argument. We prefer Angelo's, which is very traditional Texas barbeque with side dishes and cold drinks. No fuss and no feathers. A short drive from downtown, about two turns away from the spanking new headquarters of Pier 1 Imports and Radio Shack, Angelo's is always busy during their long opening hours of 11am to 10pm. Park where you can around the building, but you might want to keep your nice, clean car away from the smoke of the BBQ pits. That is, unless you want to carry the smell of Angelo's with you for a few hundred country miles.

The door is on the west side of the building, and you join the line where you gather up your own choices of cold side dishes, cold drinks, and chips. You can order draft beef with your meal. You will be hungry as you wait in the speedy line. Beef comes chopped and sliced, pork comes in ham and sausage, and turkey comes sliced. You can order sandwiches or plate meals with ribs, available after 5pm.

Founded by George Angelo in 1958, Angelo's has been our home base for barbeque for a very long time. We make most of our visits at lunch time but have been there in the evenings, when there is table service by waitresses. Long gone are the days when the floor was covered by ankle-deep saw dust, but the atmosphere is uncharged. Pure Texan.

During major events such as the Stock Show, Angelo's is very busy with party hosts coming in to purchase large orders of beef, ribs, and turkey; however, most of the year the pace is steady, so don't worry if you see a full parking lot, as there are dozens and dozens of tables inside. Let's call this traditional Fort Worth casual dining. Just don't put catsup on the meat.

We joined friends at Bistro Louise for the very special winter event called the "Italian Wine Dinner". This can only be called a fantastic way to spend an evening. For this event all of the dishes are prepared on a set menu of 5 courses, each served with appropriate wine. We stated with Truffle Pecorino and Gorganzola Dolce Cheese with a 2003 Masi Masianco wine. Generous, beautiful bites of a very impressive hors d'oeuvers.

I gave my appetizer course of grilled jumbo shrimp with white beans to my friends, but not the 2001 Villa Antinori Tuscana wine, which I could have drunk all night.

After a suitable pause during which Chef Louise discussed the food and the wine experts explained the wine, we ventured into the pasta course of rabbit with pommery pasta and black truffle vinaigrette dressing, served with a 2000 Bottega Vanaia "La Grein" wine. I'm not all that fond of rabbit, but this was a nice treat. Well, we were influenced by the wine. Very fine for sure!

The entree of pan-seared veal chop with risotto, sage, pine nuts, and cheese topped off the main part of our meal and was served with a very special 1997 Tomasi Viticoltore Ca' Florian Amarone.

A good time was had by all as we finished the evening with a selection a very rich desserts and a bottle of Marco Negri Moscato d' Asit.

This isn't the regular dinner menu at the bistro, but it is an example of what Louise can and does do for her customers. Set well into middle Fort Worth in a shopping center, this is a wonderful restaurant for a very fine evening. We save the Bistro for special evenings suitable for celebrations. On this evening, we had a designated driver who didn't have any wine so we all could enjoy the full selection and not worry about how to get home in one piece.

This extremely popular ice cream shop has the highest quality Italian-style ice cream in our area. They also sell a very high grade of rich brewed coffees, fruit drinks, and bottled water. The attractive seating area makes for a comfortable (and air-conditioned) munching experience. Plenty of free parking near the door.

The ice creams are displayed in trays and are almost too pretty to disturb by taking out servings. For eating in the shop you can have cups or cones, and for taking home, they have very effective miniature styrofoam containers that keep ice cream frozen even in Texas summer heat... if you drive home quickly.

The ice creams are made in the shop from fresh fruits and other ingredients. I am very fond of the banana custard-style ice cream, anything with chocolate, and the coffee flavors. My husband goes for the custards and flavors that remind him of his childhood, when his uncle owned a small dairy and made his own ice cream. Rich and creamy peach flavors with nuts and mochas are all okay with him.

This is special-occasion ice cream--the very best, with a full load of sugar and fat. This isn't a low-carb place, but now and then, just do it and enjoy yourself. Italians will tell you that great ice cream is part of a happy life.

We really enjoy this restaurant in the Univesity Village Shopping Center next to Barnes & Noble. They always have fresh and delightful food, the prices are reasonable for the large portions, and it's high-quality. My husband nearly always orders the Santa Barbara Turkey sandwich ($8.25), plus a cup of soup and iced tea.

I prefer the Bistro Turkey Salad ($8.25), which is too large and filling to even consider ordering with a sandwich. I like the plain iced tea, but some folks enjoy the fruit flavors.

There is a full selection of incredible desserts, but the only way I can manage one is to visit this restaurant for a 'dessert only' experience.

Remember this restaurant for its prime location, only minutes from downtown and Texas Christian Univerity and blocks from the Fort Worth Zoo and Forest Park. The 'line up, order, and pay' service means 'no tipping'. You can call in orders, take advantage of daily specials, and also order picnic boxes for one, a couple, or a large group. We have ordered sandwich trays for meetings in our office and are always pleased with the results. We are beyond double-checking this great little restaurant, as we have ordered food there many, many times. You can count on the quality. Open Monday through Saturday 8am to 6:30pm and Sunday 11am to 5pm. Especially fine for picnics in the park.

There are several above-average Abuelo's restaurants, but I believe this is the very best one. Do I make my point? It is a favorite stop of ours, as it is not far from DFW airport and also is close by a very good computer store. Don't mistake this cuisine for typical Mexican food, as it is very far from it. The recipes are varied, and the offerings include items that are healthful. My husband always goes for a fish dish, but I wander around the menu from eggs to much more elaborate dishes. Don't pass up having an order of extremely good potatoes.

We were ever so tired after leaving DFW airport, and I forgot to photograph the food, but take my word for it--the food was fantastic. Hubby had a new dish, 'Pescaddo en Hoja', which is a tilapia fillet covered with jumbo shrimp and baked in a corn husk. Served with rice and fresh vegetables, and of course, he also ordered the potatoes. His opinion was that it was 'the best fish dish I have ever had.' That from a man of few words who seldom praises anything.

Don't pass up your chance to dine at an Abuelo's restaurant, as the food is great, and the atmosphere is very pleasant. Although you are in an air-conditioned environment, you feel as if you are in the courtyard of a great home, as fountains splash and lights are reflected in the huge mirrors. Plenty of room for groups and families. As 'Abuelo' means 'grandfather' in Spanish, you are certainly invited to bring along your children.

Having said that, there is a separate bar and private party area. On the very few days of the year when our Texas weather is fair, you can dine out in the fresh air on a walled patio in the front of the restaurant. We left the restaurant much happier and feeling much better than the tired folks we were when we arrived.

This small restaurant is the best we now have in Fort Worth. It is absolutely top grade, with chef Tim Love and his wife, Emilie, running the show. The menu features all sorts of wild game and exotic offerings, but I went there for the beef tenderloin--without a doubt, the best I have ever had.

In the historic stockyards in north Fort Worth, you must make a reservation (they will telephone you to verify). The long bar on your right as you come in is a nice place to have a drink while you wait for your table. The lights are dim (perhaps a bit too dim for older folk), and the place can get celebration noisy. The 14 or so tables are close together on the left side of the vintage building. Chef Tim comes out of the kitchen often to make sure everyone is happy.

Check out their website for the full menu at www.lonesomedovebistro.com. A full three-course meal and wine set us back at least $75 per person, quite a total for Cowtown but well worth it. Several times my hubby visited Lonesome Dove without me for business dinners and came home testifying about the beef tenderloin, so that had to be my main course for the evening. In fact, all four of us made the same decision. It was so tender you can just about give up using your knife. On this evening the vegetables were asparagus and west plain hash added to a large order of fried onions we got to share. A second choice for me was the New Zealand red deer, but I likely will order the beef again. It was that outstanding. Something to brag about in a town where we have many very fine beef cookers, including those of us who fire up the barbeque at home. You have to do it really well in a restaurant to get our vote! The beef tenderloin is sold by the ounce, with an 8-ounce minimum at $3.20 per ounce.

For the first course, three of my companions ordered the lobster cakes and raved about how good they were. For dessert we ordered a shared a variety of things in the sweet and sticky category, but frankly, we weren't that hungry by the time we got to them.

If you want a fine steak in Fort Worth, come to my house or go to Lonesome Dove. You can walk around the historic stockyards and enjoy the atmosphere before or after your meal. This isn't a theme-park re-creation of the real West but our authentic hometown. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, but telephone ahead. Don't count on being able to walk in and get a table, even on a Wednesday evening. There is valet parking at the door.

Let's call the cuisine 'elegant Texas cuisine' with a bit of Mexican spice. Favoring dishes made from wild game (buffalo, quail, and elk are specialties) and fine cuts of pastured Texas beef, the menu varies by day and season. Leaning heavily on Texas graphic images and art works, the interior is on the dark and moody side in this restaurant by the side of Interstate Highway 20 as it heads through Fort Worth on its way west to Abilene. Exit Bryant Irvin Road and watch for the Bonnell's side that rides high up over the one-story restaurant building.

We save this restaurant for special evenings with friends, as it is a bit on the expensive side for an ordinary evening out. There is a full bar. I wouldn't call the atmosphere child-friendly, as it is a gathering place for adults. The lounge area is 'adults only' for sure.

I settled in to a spicy chili relleno with fresh grilled vegetables and mushrooms. At about $14 at this writing, it is one of the least expensive dinners on the menu. My husband wrapped himself around a buffalo tenderloin, $34, which was a heavy and large serving of tender buffalo, usually served with vegetables, but he had his with mountains of mashed potatos.

We started out with house salads, $5.50, and he finished up with a Black and White Chocolate Mousse, $6. Fresh-brewed coffee is $6, and there is a long wine list.

If the thought of eating wildlife bothers you, give this restaurant a pass, but if you enjoy such, it is a very nice place to have a fine dinner.

www.bonnellsrestaurant.com

See www.benjerry.com/campbowie.

This is an ice-cream shop of the highest quality both for the taste of the ice cream and the charitable goals of the shop. Ben and Jerry's has a handful of these shops around the country. They wave the franchise fees and other percentages so that a worthy nonprofit organization, in this case, the YWCA of Fort Worth, can use the profits for its own programs and goals.

As such, the goals of this project are to eliminate racism and empower women. In addition to providing you with a tasty treat, the shop provides job training and real wages to community youth who may face barriers to employment. The young folk learn to work under the supervision of highly trained staff and volunteers. This is a real business, one with delightful results.

With the goal of "making our community better one scoop at a time," this ice-cream shop is another one of the 500 good reasons to live in and visit Fort Worth. Located on Camp Bowie Boulevard a few miles west of downtown and the Cultural District, it is open late in summer, generally from 11am to 10pm 7 days a week. There is plenty of free parking by the door.

Come, buy, eat, and enjoy! We give our sincere thanks to Ben and Jerry's for giving the YMCA in Fort Worth this valuable opportunity. There are bunches of the famous Ben and Jerry's flavors for sale in cones, cups, sundaes, milk shakes, and other delights great on a hot day. They also sell a selection of Ben & Jerry's T-shirts, coffee cups, and other souvenirs.

Fort Worth has been called the "most liveable American city," and our parks are part of the reason for this description. Out here on the often dry prairie, we do love our carefully planted trees and flowers. The Botanic Garden complex is vast and a great break from city life, although it is located in the middle of our city, not far from downtown and the museums. The Japanese Gardens are my favorite haunt, although I love the rose gardens and the huge conservatory. I have visited Japanese Gardens all over the world, including a dozen in Japan, and believe this one to be among the best you will ever have a chance to visit.

Telephone for seasonal hours at 817/ 871-7686, or visit www.fwbg.org for plenty of information.

Food and alcoholic beverages are not allowed in the garden, but you can buy bottled water at the ticket building (or bring your own). There are restrooms and water fountains within the Japanese Gardens, and plenty of places to sit for awhile and consider what you can see. Several large ponds offer water views and refresh our spirits during hot weather. Photography is encouraged, but tripods are not allowed without a special permit. No swimming is allowed! The ponds are very deep, so keep an eye and a hand on small children.

This garden is mostly accessible to people who use wheelchairs. Although it is not possible to use some of the oriental bridges, there are alternate routes. You can see about everything. Some of the grades are steep, but the views are wonderful. There is a gift shop at the exit. This is a wonderful place to visit. Absolutely wonderful!