Get A Taste Of Texas With Lisa Fain At Powerhouse Saturday
I’ve been following Lisa Fain’s blog, Homesick Texan, for years now, and when it was announced that her latest cookbook, The Homesick Texan’s Family Table, would be featured in the Powerhouse on 8th cookbook tasting series, my native Lone Star heart skipped a little beat.
So, we decided to sit down with Lisa to talk about Texas, her life in New York City, and of course, those delicious recipes.
SSN: Where in Texas are you from?
LF: I grew up in Houston, though my family has been in the Dallas area since the 1840s.
What brought you to NYC?
When I was young I always wanted to live here and work brought me here when I was 25.
Do you live in the Slope?
I do not live in the Slope, but I have a dear friend who does, and he has a wonderful backyard where he smokes brisket and ribs then has everyone over for barbecue in the summer. If I squint, it almost feels like home.
Tell us about the genesis of your blog.
When I moved here in the 1990s, despite having always wanted to live in New York, I soon discovered that there was a dearth of Texan food. This was a total surprise to me as I just assumed you get could Tex-Mex and Texas barbecue everywhere! Because I couldn’t find these things in restaurants, I started cooking them in my kitchen, as I wanted to share the foods that I loved with my new New York friends.
Of course, this was a long time ago and things are a bit better in New York now. For instance, you can find breakfast tacos, kolaches, and good Texas barbecue. But many other things, such as excellent Tex-Mex that tastes as it should, are still elusive.
How does your new cookbook, The Homesick Texan’s Family Table, differ from your first cookbook?
The first cookbook was sort of a greatest hits of Texan cuisine. And while this one also contains a lot of Texan classic dishes, I feel the tone is a bit more personal. For instance, the most memorable meals in my life have been spent at my family’s table, where after eating we’ll just sit and talk and enjoy each other’s company.
The dishes in this book are connected to those memories, whether its jalapeño fried chicken or lemon pie, beef enchiladas or pecan lime French toast casserole. This book has a good balance of solid classics that my great-grandmothers made, which I haven’t changed one bit, and recipes where I’ve tweaked the standard by using whole, fresh ingredients instead of canned stuff, along with adding some spices and chile peppers.
What is your favorite recipe in The Homesick Texan’s Family Table?
I love them all!
When you’re not cooking your own Lone Star recipes, where in the city do you go for Tex-Mex?
You know, I still haven’t found a place that I really like for Tex-Mex, so when I go out to eat I usually eat other cuisines.
Did you tear up a bit when it was announced that Shiner Bock was coming to New York?
I whooped so loud you could probably hear me back in Texas. And yes, I took a photo of the first six-pack I saw at the store.
What do you miss the most about Texas?
That’s a hard question because I miss a lot. But most especially, I miss my family and friends, but I also miss bluebonnets in the spring, big sky, stunning sunsets, vast-open spaces where you can drive for hours and not see anyone, and, of course, the food.
If you’d like to meet Lisa, and try out some of the recipes from her latest cookbook, The Homesick Texan’s Family Table, make your way to Powerhouse On 8th (1111 8th Avenue, between 11th and 12th Street) this Saturday, April 5, from 4pm to 5pm, for their latest Cookbook Tasting, hosted by Melissa Vaughan. Admission is free, but RSVP is appreciated. To secure your spot, email RSVP@POWERHOUSEon8th.com.
Photo by Jan Cobbsmall
