FRONT OF BOOK TEXAS with Kristie Ramirez

Texas Food Culture: Michelin, Food Trucks, Hidden Gems & The Future of Texas Dining | Courtney E. Smith

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2608509/fan_mail/new] Are restaurant influencers changing where Texans eat? Host Kristie Ramirez explores the future of Texas food media, restaurant culture, and the forces shaping dining across the Lone Star State. Influencers can fill a dining room overnight, but can they earn lasting trust? In this episode, Kristie Ramirez and food journalist Courtney E. Smith unpack the changing relationship between restaurant influencers, traditional food journalism, and the business of dining in Texas. They explore why restaurants increasingly value measurable results from social media while editorial coverage continues to shape long term reputation, industry recognition, and consumer confidence. The conversation travels beyond headlines and into the restaurants that define Texas. Courtney shares the story of Jerry’s Cafe in Onalaska near Lake Livingston, where honey yeast rolls, purple hull peas, and legendary chicken fried steak have made the restaurant a destination worth the drive. It is a reminder that some of the state’s most memorable meals are still found far from the major cities. Kristie and Courtney also examine the biggest food trends shaping Texas today, including the growing appreciation for Indigenous cuisine, changing dining habits driven by rising food costs, and the shift toward smaller shared plates. They discuss how restaurants are balancing tradition, sustainability, and changing consumer expectations while preserving the stories behind the food. The episode also explores what diners should pay attention to beyond the menu. Who owns the restaurant? How are employees treated? Are businesses investing in their communities? The conversation highlights why supporting independent restaurants and understanding where your dollars go has become part of the modern dining experience. Plus, learn why food truck regulations still vary across Texas, how statewide licensing has changed opportunities for entrepreneurs, and why food trucks remain one of the most important entry points into the restaurant industry. If you love Texas restaurants, food culture, travel, and the stories behind the people shaping the state’s culinary future, subscribe to FRONT OF BOOK TEXAS, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who loves discovering the very best of Texas. Thanks for listening to FRONT OF BOOK TEXAS with Kristie Ramirez  New episodes drop every two weeks.  FOB TEXAS explores the people shaping lifestyle & culture and the place shaping them.  For culture seekers, gadabouts, and the Texas curious. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @FrontOfBookTexas.  FOB TEXAS A Podcast Where Texas Culture Gets Loud Georgianna Moreland | Executive Producer                                                                            A Landmore Media Production

Big Bend, Marfa & Terlingua | The Ultimate West Texas Road Trip Guide

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2608509/fan_mail/new] West Texas looks empty on a map. On the road, it is the most vivid part of the state. In this episode of Front of Book Texas, host Kristie Ramirez maps a five-day West Texas road trip she actually drove: from Dallas through Glen Rose, Hico, Llano, Marathon, Terlingua, Big Bend National Park, Cibolo Creek Ranch, and Marfa. These are the real-world details you need to plan it well. With FIFA World Cup 2026 bringing the world to Texas, this episode spotlights a side of the state that no stadium can hold. Open desert, mountain passes, the Rio Grande, and the kind of silence that resets something in you. What's covered: Day-by-day itinerary from Dallas to Marfa with drive timing and cell service warnings. La Palmilla Resort and Retreat in Glen Rose, including the Casa del Rey Chapel by Granbury artist Cody Stromberg. A quick Hico detour and why it is one to watch. Cooper's BBQ and road timing strategy through the Hill Country. The Gage Hotel in Marathon and a classic Texas night at the White Buffalo Bar. Kristie's pick for the best chicken fried steak in the state: the 12 Gage Restaurant at the Gage Hotel. Willow House in Terlingua, one of the most design-forward stays in the region, with a two-night minimum. The Starlight Theatre in Terlingua and Local Chapter for the local scene. Big Bend National Park drive notes covering winding roads, no reception, and carsickness cautions. Lajitas Golf Resort first impressions. Cibolo Creek Ranch: communal dining, room selection, and what makes or breaks your stay. Hotel Saint George in Marfa, Wrong Marfa for shopping, and a reality check on what is actually open. Save this route, share it with your road trip crew, and subscribe to Front of Book Texas for a new conversation every two weeks. Thanks for listening to FRONT OF BOOK TEXAS with Kristie Ramirez  New episodes drop every two weeks.  FOB TEXAS explores the people shaping lifestyle & culture and the place shaping them.  For culture seekers, gadabouts, and the Texas curious. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @FrontOfBookTexas.  FOB TEXAS A Podcast Where Texas Culture Gets Loud Georgianna Moreland | Executive Producer                                                                            A Landmore Media Production

Austin Vintage & The Old Texas Money Aesthetic | Lauren Owen of Texas

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2608509/fan_mail/new] There's a look that's uniquely Texas. Worn in, intentional, quietly expensive. Lauren Owen of Texas built an entire brand around it. Lauren Mahoney and Matt Owen, the married creative duo behind Lauren Owen of Texas, are redefining Austin vintage shopping with their signature late 20th century old Texas money aesthetic that feels nostalgic, intentional, and completely their own. In this episode of Front of Book Texas, they share the long runway behind the brand: high-level careers at Urban Outfitters mastering buying, merchandising, and creative direction, followed by a life-altering leukemia diagnosis, the chaos of COVID, and a pivotal stint at Outdoor Voices that finally pushed them to build something of their own. This is a masterclass in what it takes to create a vintage brand with a genuine point of view. From Texas style icons to the ways outsiders misread Texas fashion culture, Lauren and Matt break it all down including the one wardrobe essential they recommend for anyone new to the Lone Star State: cowboy boots. Whether you're passionate about Western style, vintage clothing or the craft of building an authentic lifestyle brand, this conversation delivers the kind of insider perspective you won't find anywhere else. If you love Texas fashion, Western aesthetics, and real talk about building a brand from scratch, subscribe to Front of Book Texas, follow us on your favorite platform, and watch the full episode now and if this one hit home, leave a review so more listeners can find us. Thanks for listening to FRONT OF BOOK TEXAS with Kristie Ramirez  New episodes drop every two weeks.  FOB TEXAS explores the people shaping lifestyle & culture and the place shaping them.  For culture seekers, gadabouts, and the Texas curious. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @FrontOfBookTexas.  FOB TEXAS A Podcast Where Texas Culture Gets Loud Georgianna Moreland | Executive Producer                                                                            A Landmore Media Production

West Texas Illustrator Designing for Global Brands | Rob Wilson

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2608509/fan_mail/new] Brand illustrator Rob Wilson, West Texas–born and raised, now creating work for global brands across the U.S. and Europe, went from sketching in Ralls to shaping visual identities for some of the biggest names in media, fashion, and design. His roots have never left his work. In this episode, Rob breaks down what it truly takes to build a sustainable creative career, how a strong creative brief fuels better work, and why a deep sense of place can become your greatest competitive advantage as an artist. From his landmark Victory Park mural in Dallas to his work for Todd Snyder New York, Rob's approach to brand and editorial illustration is rooted in authenticity and the human touch logos can’t replicate. He also gets personal about the life behind the art — his favorite tools, sketching in cafes while traveling, what he misses most about Texas (real Tex-Mex and breakfast tacos), and what he's building next with books and animation. This episode is filled with style and substance. Hit play, get inspired, and share this episode with every creative and Texas lover in your circle. Subscribe so you're always first in line, and leave us a review to help the show grow. The conversation doesn't stop here. Tell us: who’s the next creative you’d like on Front of Book Texas? Thanks for listening to FRONT OF BOOK TEXAS with Kristie Ramirez  New episodes drop every two weeks.  FOB TEXAS explores the people shaping lifestyle & culture and the place shaping them.  For culture seekers, gadabouts, and the Texas curious. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @FrontOfBookTexas.  FOB TEXAS A Podcast Where Texas Culture Gets Loud Georgianna Moreland | Executive Producer                                                                            A Landmore Media Production

Travel Photography | Antarctica to Mallorca, Art Director Korena Bolding

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2608509/fan_mail/new] Photographer and art director Korena Bolding pays attention on purpose — and it shows in everything from her Dallas studio work to assignments that take her to Antarctica. She shares how a graphic design foundation at the University of North Texas shaped her editorial eye, and how a weekly practice of photographing flowers, inspired by Dutch still life at the Rijksmuseum, helped her build a signature style worth keeping. Korena also gets real about the unglamorous side of travel photography - hauling 60 pounds of gear, surviving the Drake Passage, and a cliffside near-disaster in Mallorca that somehow ends with three German cyclists. She wraps with career advice you can use now: side hustling without panic, staying curious through old books and research, and letting analog hobbies like knitting quietly fuel your creative work.  If her story resonates, share this episode with a creative friend, subscribe so you never miss a conversation like this, and leave a review so more people can find Front of Book Texas. Thanks for listening to FRONT OF BOOK TEXAS with Kristie Ramirez  New episodes drop every two weeks.  FOB TEXAS explores the people shaping lifestyle & culture and the place shaping them.  For culture seekers, gadabouts, and the Texas curious. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @FrontOfBookTexas.  FOB TEXAS A Podcast Where Texas Culture Gets Loud Georgianna Moreland | Executive Producer                                                                            A Landmore Media Production