I am sitting here thinking that it was 15 years ago that we published the first issue of Edible Dallas Fort Worth. I can’t believe it’s been that long! Along the way, I have met so many amazing people that have become close friends and new acquaintances. The memories of visiting the farms and ranches, the chefs and restaurants, and the wineries and breweries will forever stay in my thoughts. And I know we have many more to share in the future.
At this juncture, I must give a shout-out to Maria Whitworth, who was with Edible Dallas Fort Worth for five years and has just recently taken a position with the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance. I’m so happy for her in her new position. Her contributions to the magazine as head of advertising and marketing as well as other roles have been tremendous. Her presence will be missed.
And we have a new member of the Edible Dallas Fort Worth team! Meda Kessler is now our art director, layout designer, and more. She is a joy to work with! Welcome! You’ll notice her beautiful designs on each page of the magazine.
One of our features this spring profiles Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman of the restaurant José. Written by Eve Hill-Agnus and photographed by Teresa Rafidi, it captures her at a moment when she has just been acknowledged by the James Beard Foundation Awards with a nomination for Best Chef: Texas. She does this while upholding a commitment to seasonality. Dive into her precious recipes—we’re tearing them out and adding them to our repertoire!
If you’ve been puttering in your garden, waiting for new inspiration to strike, look no farther than Daniel Cunningham’s feature on herbs, which will bring vitality to your cooking and perhaps also offer some soothing remedies.
Meda Kessler paid a visit to Heirloom Garden Cafe, photographing and telling the story of a new eatery inside Archie’s Gardenland in Fort Worth. Built on collaboration, it’s worth the visit.
We have so many things to share in these spring pages. And as fits the season, we’re eager to share the breath of renewal even as we pay homage to what has been.
Nanci Taylor, Publisher
NANCI TAYLOR is a third generation Texan whose family came to the state in the 1800’s to pursue cattle ranching and Texas has remained her home. She was born in San Antonio, but ended up in North Texas where she nurtured her Texas roots while attending college and raising two sons in Dallas. Proudly following in her parent's footsteps, Nanci plants and harvests the bounty of her own backyard garden in Old East Dallas. She keeps a busy calendar attending local food and ecology events, and on weekends she spends her time visiting with growers and food artisans at farms, shops and farmers markets around North Texas.
