Family Heirloom

If you've found your way here across the vast internet sea then odds are you have heard of the famous Collin Street Bakery in Corsicana.  Their fruit cakes are world renowned and are a hugely popular gift every Christmas season.  (Don't get me wrong, their other stuff is great too but the fruit cakes are easily the most celebrated.)

Even if you haven't had one of their celebrated confections, you might have seen their signature red tin.  For many, long after the fruit cake is gone, the round metal container holds sewing supplies, toys and anything else that needs to be kept decoratively secure.

So it should come as no surprise when one of these beauties shows up in a famous setting.  In fact, one of them shows up in one of the most acclaimed films of all time:

Take a close look at the scene around the 48 minute mark.  As Sonny takes a phone call, you can see the signature red tin in the background:

Looks like the Corleone family received a nice dessert treat for Christmas and, like so many others, kept the tin around to store stuff (possibly, connoli?  That's my guess.)  This was such a coup for Collin Street Bakery that they use it for marketing:

So the next time you want something sweet that comes with a collectible tin and a mafia pedigree, you know where to go.

Scenes From a (Closing) Mall

Originating in Dallas, Sanger-Harris was a hugely successful department store...until it wasn't.  It was bought out in the 80's but the distinct murals and arches that made up their stores were left behind and inhabited by other stores.

Recently, the news broke that the Valley View Mall location was scheduled for destruction.  The mall itself is a shadow of what it used to be, seemingly choosing to go out with a whimper.   The tear-down process of the iconic Sanger-Harris exterior began the other day and I went to check it out:

The rest of the mall is on its way out to.  I took the opportunity to take a look around at what's left and snap some pics.  Enjoy:

Time is running out for you to stop by and pay your respects before this little piece of Dallas history is gone forever.

Top 5 Things For Sale at Texas Treasures

Previously: Top 5 Items for Sale at the Alamo Gift Shop  

I recently found myself in the unusual (for me) position of having to waste time in a mall.  While in the Galleria in Dallas, surrounded by clothing stores and pretzel/cookie/yogurt places, I stumbled across the only store that could hold my attention:

I'm not sure if other states have these kind of stores but most Texas malls seem to have the obligatory "Texas Store" packed with "Texas Stuff."  So, for the sake of the blog, let's head inside and countdown the top five things they have for sale!

5.  Texas Lip Balm

Looks like they haven't forgotten about you, West Texas!  If that hot weather and dry air is making you feel a little chapped then why not keep some Texas Lip Balm in your pocket...or holster.  It works waaaay better than the New Hampshire stuff.

4.  Lone Star Pasta

Need a side dish for all that barbecue?  Then why not whip up some macaroni and cheese with some Lone Star Pasta?  Shapes seem to include the state of Texas, cowboy boots and Lone Stars.  In Texas, mac & cheese counts as a vegetable.

3.  "Come and Take It" Cuff Links

It wouldn't be a Texas themed gift shop without a wide variety of "Come and Take It" accoutrements.  This time we get cuff links...for the well dressed AND well armed gentleman.  These also have the added feature of being difficult to photograph while trying to look casual in a store where you're not buying anything. 

2.  Texas Postcard With Bluebonnet Seeds

If you've ever wanted to send a little bit of Texas to your peeps in other parts of the world then now there is a convenient way to do just that.  These bluebonnet seed packs are in postcard form so just a few stamps are all you need.  Just let your friends know their not supposed to pick them or step on them.  And that they are required to take pictures of their kids surrounded by them once a year.

1.  Texas Baseballs

What's more Texas than baseball?  Well, football I guess.  But they didn't have any of those so check these out. I can't imagine anything better than throwing on your favorite Nolan Ryan jersey and tossing one of these around.  Extra points for the vintage postcard motif!

So there are my picks for a Texas Treasures shopping list.  Feel free to pick up some of the many novelty hot sauces and barbecue sauces while you're there too!

The Ultimate Fate of the Starship Pegasus

Hardcore Trekkies know the unfortunate fate of the fictional Federation Starship Pegasus but unbeknownst to many, a real life Starship Pegasus also lays in ruins as a reminder to travelers of the subtle whims of fate and of how far the stars can be.

Much like Trek's "Great Bird of the Galaxy," this ship was also helmed by a true visionary: Andy Gee, a man who brought his unique vision in for a landing in Italy...Italy, TX.


"I had hoped it would inspire the next kid to grow up and create the warp drive that would take us to meet an alien civilization," said architect and entrepreneur Gee. His vision became a reality when the Starship Pegasus Restaurant opened for business in 2005. Unfortunately two years later the doors were closed and the ship was docked.


As it sits along I-35 in Italy (approximately 45 miles south of Dallas), unkempt weeds scrape the hull and the once lustrous facade fades like starlight at dawn. But this vision of the future shares Star Trek's optimism.


Starship Pegasus Associates Community Enterprises, or S.P.A.C.E, has used the building as a flea market/farmers market but the ultimate rescue for the Pegasus can come from Trek's biggest fan: you!


It's true, the Starship Pegasus is for sale and for the right amount of gold pressed latinum you can own it! You always wanted a novelty, sci-fi themed restaurant haven't you? Then make it so!

UPDATE:  Sadly, the Pegasus was ultimately torn down.

Tickets to Ride

The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is in full swing right now, as it is every January, which brought back childhood memories of bundling up and showing Black Angus heifers in the cold weather, in between taking in all the events and exhibits that the Fair puts on every year.

So after digging through the old shoe box where the memories, souvenirs and keepsakes are stored, we found some old passes and tickets.  These are from 1988 (which, believe it or not, was almost 30 years ago):

Just a couple of mementos from a Texas institution...don't forget to save yours when you go this year.  Stay warm and enjoy the show folks!

Chicken & Somethin'

Dairy Queen didn't start in Texas and they certainly aren't exclusive to Texas but somehow over the years the fast food chain has really dug its heels into the Lone Star culture.  Imagery of Friday night noshing at the local small town DQ before heading out to the high school game flood the small screen during commercials every fall.

And now they've taken it to the next level by introducing an unusual menu item.  Sure, lots of fast food chains like Taco Bell and Pizza Hut get the headlines but stuffing something into something or taking an odd flavor and incorporating it into your favorite snack but DQ has taken it up a notch by going after Grandma's beat.

Chicken and Dumplings from the drive thru?  Sounds like something that could easily go horribly wrong.  Would you forgo the Hunger Buster for a warm bowl of old school comfort food?  We decided to find out and here's what we got:

So what's the verdict?  They're actually not too bad.  Certainly not in the same category as Grandma's home cooking but better than what you'd expect from a fast food chain.  Not that you would necessarily expect chicken and dumplings at a fast food chain though.

The creamy broth has enough flavor to be acceptable and make up for the obviously processed chicken.  But salt lovers may want to grab an extra packet or too.

The dumplings could have been a little firmer.  As it is, they are slightly mushy.  The dish is probably on the same level as what you might get at a Luby's or Golden Corral type restaurant.  So not great, but definitely a nice and convenient lunch during the 10 days per years of cold weather that we get here in Texas.

But for me personally, Dairy Queen will also be known as the best fast food tacos on the road.  Yeah, that's right.  Try some next time.

Review: Bamboo House

Previously:  East Texas Burger Company 

Typically in Texas (or across much of the U.S.) "Asian Cuisine" is usually found in strip mall buffets filled with radioactive red sweet sour & sauce and deep fried shrimp that would best be used as packing material.  Occasionally though, you can find the rare cherry blossom tree among the thorny briar patch of subpar "Take All You Want, Eat All You Take" establishments.  Which brings us to the Bamboo House in Bonham, TX:

The outside windows boast "Sushi" and "Pho" so that's what we decided to try.  But the menu was fairly extensive and could surely provide enough options for the most eclectic groups of dining companions.  So let's head inside:

The mellow, intimate atmosphere easily lends itself to cozy conversations regarding menu selections and topics like: "Wow, that looks good!  Let me try some!"  We got there a little after the lunch rush so the crowds had gone which makes it hard to gauge the quickness of service with very few other patrons needing to be served.  But everything came out in a timely manner.  So let's start with the first course:

Let's start with something simple:  "Salmon Sushi."  It's a simple starter that's reasonably priced but it sets the scene for a satisfying meal in the simplest way: with the high caliber ginger and wasabi.  You might not think that there is a big difference between great garnishes and mediocre ones but the sinus clearing effect of even the tiniest amount of this wasabi proves that the good stuff makes a big difference.  Let's keep eating:

Course #2: "Tuna Roll"!  Sure, we're keeping it simple as far as sushi goes but it's not too hard to be hesitant when ordering raw fish this far away from the ocean.  But fortunately this one was also a winner and could easily go toe to toe (or fin to fin) with the equivalent from some fancy pants place.  Onward we go:

Final Course: "Pho Dac Biet"  We finished off our meal with a big bowl of their famous pho described in the menu as "Rice noodle soup w. special combination of steak, well done brisket, & meatballs"

The great tasting, flavorful broth compliments the three types of meat, each with their own unique taste.  It's a great finish to a not so common Texas meal and a great way to refuel on the road to your next adventure.