San Antonio—San Antonio is a city unlike any other in Texas. The Alamo, the Riverwalk, and the missions are some of the most popular stops, but when it comes to places to get a taste of Tex-Mex cuisine, Mi Tierra has been on top of that list since 1941.

“Tex-Mex food in San Antonio, it’s really kind of where it started and culminated,” explained Cariño Cortez, part of the third generation of Cortezes to care for this San Antonio staple.

Cariño grew up within the walls of Mi Tierra because her grandfather, Pedro Cortez, is the one who started it all. Over 75 years ago, Pedro purchased a small restaurant for $150.  That original restaurant is at the center of the sprawling eatery that has expanded over time to make Mi Tierra what it is today— a destination for a bunch of really hungry Texans.

“It’s over a million…” Cariño commented on the number of customers they receive each year, “It’s nuts.”

How can they cram in that many meals in a year? They NEVER close.

“The sign outside literally says, ‘We never close,’ and people still ask, ‘What time do you all open?'” she said, “24/7, 365, we’re here.”

At Mi Tierra, it all starts with the comida, a culinary creation that combined chili con carne merged with Mexican influences.

“Tex-Mex—it’s not trying to be Mexican food; it’s not trying to be Texas food. It’s really its own cuisine,” Cariño explained. “It’s the Mexican guiso and stews that your grandmothers made from Mexico, but it’s also crispy tacos that came out of a certain time and era… that’s what’s really special about it. So, we are one of the founders of Tex-Mex cuisine.”

Being the third generation of Cortezes to care for this San Antonio institution is no easy matter.

“I think it’s a lot of pressure just on our third and fourth and fifth generations and so on… We’ve got a lot of work to live up to, and it’s also something that you can’t let go by the wayside,” said Cariño. “It’s definitely pressure, but I think it’s the right kind.”

That being said, there are a few benefits.

“I’ve never had to wait here for a table, so that’s one thing,” she said.

The rooms of this restaurant have seen all sorts of history and to celebrate their story and the heritage of San Antonio, a sprawling mural was commissioned.

“After my grandfather passed away, my dad really wanted a way to commemorate the American Dream, so this mural’s named ‘The American Dream,’” explained Cariño. “You’ve got my grandparents in the middle…and then around them are their five children…and then you’ve got all these different Latino figures who’ve contributed either to our community, our family, or society, to help preserve our culture and help move us forward.”

Most of these actors, icons, and pillars of the Alamo City have eaten at Mi Tierra and that includes some presidential company.

“So, when [Bill Clinton] was president, he put us in his book… It’s the only place he’s ever eaten all three meals at,” she said.

Then there’s the bakery, another iconic San Antonio stop that always earns 100 percent of the popular vote.

“There’s a reason we put the bakery right up front when people walk in,” she said “It kind of gets your appetite going.”

No matter what kind of Mexican pastry makes your mouth water, it can be found in the bakery’s massive case.  Some of which include a few original offerings that put the dulce in the pan.

“Our original baker…made this pan dulce. It’s a sweet bread…stuffed with vanilla custard… topped with cajeta, which is goat’s milk caramel, and then topped with pecans. So, he had made this, named it after himself,” continued Cariño, “then his wife, whose name is Sylvia, was like, ‘Okay, you’re going to name something after yourself. What about name something after me?’…So, the daintier version, he made…for her. So…They’re always next to each other.”

Mi Tierra has found itself as a national landmark and a cornerstone of San Antonio culture.

“We feel really blessed to be able to share this legacy from not only my grandparents, but also to the second generation, third generation. We now have fourth-generation family members working here,” said Cariño.  “It’s a huge responsibility, but at the same time, it’s a lot of fun.”

Bastrop—With 130 historic sites, Bastrop has earned the title of “Most Historic Small Town in Texas”.  On main street, you will find one of those particularly old buildings built in 1836, making it the same age as Texas.  Inside, you can toast to our great state!

Copper Shot Distillery is owned by husband and wife team, Stephen and Cheri Todee.

“My wife and I, we were constantly trying to figure out a business that we could do, that we would enjoy and work together doing,” explained Stephen.

Turns out nothing brings together a budding bride and her man like booze.

“I mean, who doesn’t like to drink? Happy, sad, celebrating. We can make money doing that, and it’s something that we could both have a part in,” said Cheri.

“It was kind of weird,” Stephen added.  “It just came together.”

Stephen has an eclectic background—he’s a smokejumper, a certified fire fighter, and a master of heavy equipment.

“I’ve got so many certifications it’s unreal,” he said.

His day job happens to be at the oil company, making separating equipment for refining.  Sound familiar?  Kind of like making alcohol.

“All it is is a form of separation,” said Stephen. “You’re separating different elements out of a liquid. It just whatever you are trying to separate. You know? In our case, we’re trying to separate out ethanol.”

A lot of libations are to be found in this little distillery, including moonshine! The process all starts in a shack in the back that feels like you’ve been pulled backed to prohibition.

“It’s not original here, but she’s 150 years old…The still itself was a design of my own that I had built,” Stephen explained. “This is my bourbon. It’s made with a red and blue corn, and then the moonshine is made with natural yellow corn. It, actually comes from the Bryan-College Station area.”

In fact, all of the ingredients at Copper Shot come from Texas.

“We make it all with rainwater, Texas grains, and sugar, and that is it,” he confirmed.

Stephen forgot to mention, the local honey too!

“We literally take our 120-proof White Lightning and blend local raw honey into it. So the honey hasn’t been pasteurized, filtered, processed in no way. So once we’ve blended it [in], you got to let all the paraffin and minerals fall out,” he explained.

It’s not all just straight shots at Copper Shot.

“The local ladies have dubbed us the Willy Wonka of spirits because of our rainbow, our different fusions that we do,” said Stephen.

Some of their spirits include Blood Orange ‘Rita, 120 Lightning with peach slices and juice, and a mixture known as The Godfather.

“It’s half amaretto that we make with our moonshine and the pecan shine…You get that sweet end on the whiskey,” Cheri commented on The Godfather. “Sip it with a cigar.”

Well if you want to sip on some sensational spirits in a shop as old as the Lone Star State, then Copper Shot Distillery in Bastrop is well worth a stop!

Hico—At the northern edge of the hill country, you’ll find a town named Hico with a unique eatery dedicated to food and fitness.

Linda McDowell opened Flacas Fitness & Brews after moving from California with her husband, Mike, back in 2010.  It didn’t take long for her to make an impression.

“’Oh yeah, that crazy kid from California…'” mimicked Linda, “‘You know the girl with the dreads.’”

“The dreads. I don’t know,” said customer Brian Hale, “I’m used to it now.”

Though they may have been wary at first, Hico locals and Flacas Fitness & Brews customers have come to accept Linda into their community.

“Linda’s super cool,” remarked Brian.

“She’s just brought a new flavor to Hico,” commented Monica McDonald.

“They are from California,” said Chris Goevel. “But we…don’t tell a lot of people that.”

Maybe it’s because Linda has embraced the Lone Star State way of life. When asked her opinion on fellow Californians moving to Texas….

“No! No! Don’t invite them!” she said. “You’ll be sorry.”

Linda’s unique style makes her little eclectic eatery different from the rest, along with the combination off food, fitness, and frothy beverages.

“Cafe, beer and wine bar, and yoga studio… It goes together,” she confirmed.  “Beer, wine, and yoga. It goes together.”

The food is a combination of healthy and delicious, something one may not see too often.

“We try to use really high quality ingredients. No preservatives. It’s all just ingredients that you can pronounce and read,” she explained.

Everything from the dressings, the smoked meats, to the salsa, are made in house, giving the food fresh flavor.

“The tacos are awesome. Their salads are awesome,” listed Monica.

“Tacos are great,” Brian raved, “The pork tacos. Oh my gosh.”

“Well, it’s great food…You get your taco, your nachos, whatever you really want. They’ll make you a pita,” Chris continued,  “you want a banana, you can go over and get you a banana.”

“You don’t always need fried food. I mean, fried food definitely has its place, but… Mix the salad in there. It’s good for you,” said Linda.

Along with the healthy food options, yoga and exercise classes are also offered.

“I think it works,” claimed customer, Danielle Mills. “You get the best of both. Drink the beer, [then] you go work it off.”

“Go exercise and then come out and have a drink,” said Monica.

“A lot of the women here in town do the exercises up here,” said Chris, “and they all seem to enjoy it.”

“Nothing better than going for a yoga class and then coming out and having a nice glass of wine to further relax,” said Linda.

If sweating it out with some savory snacks while sipping on some suds sounds like your Shangri-La, you’ll want to check Flacas Fitness & Brews off The Texas Bucket List.

“It’s a little bit different every time, but it’s always fun. It’s always amazing,” Danielle explained. “You always feel better leaving this place than when you got here.”