Cowboys & Indians / June 2010 / Lou Lambert's Ft. Worth

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Lou Lambert's Ft. Worth

Texan through and through, Lou Lambert grew up in Odessa, went to college in Fort Worth and Denton, lived in Austin for 12 years, and has now resettled—happily—back in Cowtown. Why did he choose Fort Worth over Austin? Lambert says Fort Worth today is like Austin was 15 years ago: “Great laid-back people who don’t take themselves too seriously and an easy lifestyle. What could be better than riding your bike on the Trinity River in the morning, getting a big plate of stellar enchiladas for lunch at Benito’s, and then catching a world-class music act at the Bass Performance Hall that evening, all within five miles of the house?”

But in addition to the surprisingly progressive nature of the city, Lambert can’t resist its old school charm. “The influence of the Old West is a great part of what gives Fort Worth its identity and character,” he says. “To me, it’s not as much about the spurs, boots, and ‘Howdy, howdy, I’m a cowboy,’ but about the values that the culture gives us—a work ethic, caring about your neighbor, love of country and state, self-reliance, and a connection to the land. The people of Fort Worth have a sense of the city’s strong Western heritage, which, I believe, gives them a feeling of responsibility for the city’s growth and future.” Here are a few of his favorite Cowtown picks:

 

BEST CYCLING —From my home in Ryan Place, one of the first neighborhoods to be developed outside of downtown (in 1911), I can cut down to the Fort Worth Zoo and jump on the Trinity River Trail (www.trinityrivervision.org). There are more than 40 miles of biking and walking trails that go from the zoo to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden to Sundance Square to the Stockyards National Historic District.

BEST HOTEL FOR OUT-OF-TOWN FRIENDS —I have always loved The Worthington Renaissance Fort Worth Hotel (www.marriott.com). It’s a great example of how Fort Worth embraces the new and modern while retaining its sense of classic style and service.

BEST MUSEUMS—It’s tough to pick a favorite. The Kimbell Art Museum (www.kimbellart.org) has great architecture and a classic Old World art collection, and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth (www.themodern.org) always inspires me with its contemporary work, but there is something about the grand American artwork at the Amon Carter Museum (www.cartermuseum.org) that touches and deeply moves me every time I am there.

BEST ART SCENE —Artspace111 (www.artspace111.com) is a small gallery on the edge of downtown that showcases emerging Texas artists; I’ve seen some great shows there. I also love to catch live music shows at McDavid Studio (www.basshall.com/mcdavidStudio.jsp) on Fifth Street by the Bass Performance Hall. It’s an intimate setting where you can catch some great national musicians.

BEST DAY/NIGHT OUT IN COWTOWN —Everyone should visit the Fort Worth Zoo (www.fortworthzoo.com)—the oldest zoo in Texas—and the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District (www.fortworthstockyards.org) to see the daily longhorn trail drive. If I’m entertaining folks from out of town, I also love to take them to Cattlemen’s Steakhouse (www.cattlemenssteakhouse.com) in the Stockyards to get a big taste of Fort Worth’s heritage, and then to Billy Bob’s Texas (www.billybobstexas.com) for its over-the-top size and Western music.

BEST BURGER—I’m biased about where to eat a great hamburger. Dutch’s Hamburgers (www.dutchs-hamburgers.com), which I own with my Lambert’s cohort and front-of-house man Grady Spears, was recently ranked Number 8 in Texas for best burger in Texas Monthly’s burger roundup.

BEST DINER —I eat at the Rosebud Cafe (1519 W. Rosedale St., 817.338.4012) every Sunday afternoon with a couple of guys from the restaurant after we’re through with brunch service. Formica tables, vinyl booths, smart-mouthed waitresses, greasy eggs, and fluffy biscuits—what more could you ask for from a diner?

BEST CUSTOM BOOTS —When I need any leather work done, I go and see Jose at the Ponder Boot Company (www.ponderboot.com) in the Stockyards. He just built me a custom leather knife bag that will last a lifetime. For top-of-the-line boots, the folks at Luskey’s (www.luskeys.com) are hard to beat.

BEST REASON TO VISIT DALLAS —Fort Worth is for living; Dallas is for raising hell.

BEST SUNDAY BRUNCH —Lambert’s, of course. We were voted “Best Sunday Brunch” two years’ running by Fort Worth Weekly.

Issue: June 2010

Filed under: Food-Wine, Food