Press Release: GO TEXAN RESTAURANT ROUND-UP OFFERS WEEK OF LOCALLY-FOCUSED MENUS AT MORE THAN 200 RESTAURANTS STATEWID

Commissioner Todd Staples                                         1-800-TELL-TDA

Texas Department of Agriculture                 

www.TexasAgriculture.gov

For Immediate Release:                        

Sept. 14, 2009                              

Contacts: Bryan Black

Veronica Obregon

(512) 463-7664

GO TEXAN RESTAURANT ROUND-UP OFFERS WEEK OF LOCALLY-FOCUSED MENUS AT MORE THAN 200 RESTAURANTS STATEWIDE

Restaurants across the state serving Texas food and wines,

special menu items, fixed-price meals, Sept. 28-Oct. 2

AUSTIN – As the start of the second GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up, presented by Farm Credit, approaches on Sept. 28, restaurants are developing creative Texas-focused menu items and special promotions to encourage consumers to dine out in support of local chefs, food banks and Texas producers.

“We’re proud to see how chefs across the state are showing off fresh ingredients grown and raised right here in the Lone Star State,” Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples said. “Through the GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up, restaurants and their diners can celebrate the best Texas-grown products while supporting local farmers and ranchers.”

Building on the success of last year’s inaugural dine-out day, Round Up expanded to five days in 2009. During the weeklong dine-out, more than 200 restaurants—from cafes and diners to five-star, fine dining establishments—will celebrate Texas food and wine. A portion of the Round-Up’s proceeds will also benefit local food banks, which are seeing heavier demand due to current economic challenges.

“Some of the highest quality ingredients from produce to seafood to wine can be found right here in Texas,” said Chef James Robert of Eddie Vs restaurant group. “Using these terrific local products while supporting local producers and food banks is a win for everyone.” The Eddie Vs family of restaurants is participating statewide, including Eddie Vs in Austin and Fort Worth, Roaring Fork in Austin and San Antonio and Wildfish in San Antonio.

Below are several ways GO TEXAN restaurants will showcase locally sourced items during Restaurant Round-Up:

• Fixed-price Texas meals
• Special Texas menus paired with Texas wines
• Texas wine tastings with special pricing to celebrate Texas Wine Month in October

There is still time for establishments interested in becoming GO TEXAN restaurants and participating in the dine-out week to sign up. For details, visit www.GOTEXANRestaurantRoundUp.com.

Click here to download a list of select participating restaurants and their GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up specials. A Full listing is available here.

Follow the GO TEXAN Restaurant Round-Up on Twitter @GoOutGoEatGOTXN.

All TDA press releases are also available via the Internet at www.TexasAgriculture.gov/newsroom.