culture y comida

Texas lawmakers celebrate San Antonio's culinary trailblazers

Johnny Hernandez, chef, La Fruteria, Mexican restaurant, February 2013

Johnny Hernandez is among the culinary stars being honored.

Johnny Hernandez/Facebook

A group of San Antonio culinary all-stars is receiving Texas honors — not for winning James Beard Awards or earning Michelin Stars, but for making Alamo City a better place to live. A Texas House Resolution will be presented on October 20, highlighting the city’s dynamic food culture. The honorees include:

Aaron Peña, Matthew Garcia, and Jacob Gonzales — Fajita Lounge
Brian Correa — Texas Dog Co.
Andy Palacios — Tony’s Siesta and Atlee’s Rally
Diana’s Burgers
Ernest Servantes — Burnt Bean Co.
Johnny Hernandez —La Gloria, Burgerteca

State Representative Trey Martinez Fischer, whose district is in Bexar County, spearheaded the resolution, which will be formally entered into the state record. The culinary arts are of particular interest to the local lawmaker. According to his office, he grew up working in his parents’ restaurant and cherishes the time he spends cooking with his two daughters.

Dozens of House resolutions are passed every year, covering everything from legislative rules to official congratulations. Although it is not unheard of for restaurants to be recognized by the state, they are usually acknowledged for specific achievements like milestone birthdays. Fischer’s resolution is unique in that it focuses on community building.

“Highlighting these stories is especially important as restaurant closures have sadly become commonplace since COVID,” says Fischer in a statement. “San Antonio benefits from these chefs’ and entrepreneurs’ sharing their love language of food, artistry, and community building. Being able to express themselves through this art while staying true to their cultural identity is a gift worth recognizing, and so often these community contributions go unrecognized.”

Fischer will give out the honors at 4 pm, October 20, during the Oktoberfest Festival at Maverick Plaza in La Villita Historic Village. The event, founded by Hernandez, is one of the highlights of San Antonio’s culinary calendar. Besides being able to meet their culinary heroes, guests can also sample bites from Southerleigh, Brasserie Mon Chou Chou, Little Gretel, and other top restaurants.

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OPENING ALERT

Famous frozen custard chain churns out first Cibolo drive-thru

Andy's

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Cult-favorite ice cream shop Andy's Frozen Custard is headed to the suburbs. The family-owned chain is opening its first Cibolo outpost at 933 Cibolo Valley Dr, with a soft opening planned for December 3 before grand opening celebrations running December 5-7.

John and Carol Kuntz opened their first shop in 1986 in Osage Beach, Missouri, after falling in love with frozen custard in Wisconsin. With help from the owners of Milwaukee's iconic Leon's Frozen Custard, they struck out on their own, naming their new business after their son.

The chain has now spread to more than 140 locations in 14 states, but Andy's has only been in Texas since 2016. It's even newer in San Antonio, having debuted at 17927 West IH-10 in The Rim shopping center in 2022.

The growing franchise has found success in the South and Southwest with a richer take on the summertime staple. Unlike ice cream, Andy's frozen custard adds egg yolks to the base mix for a denser, creamier texture. The extra butterfat and a slow churn time make for an even more indulgent treat.

The Cibolo location has playful 1950's architecture.Photo courtesy of Andy's Frozen Custard.

The custard is only offered in vanilla or chocolate, but the base flavors can be mixed with a variety of sweet and savory toppings like cookie dough, Oreos, almonds, and strawberries. Along with the familiar custard concretes, the chain also scoops seasonal specials, sundaes, splits, packed pints, and Jackhammers — blended creations filled with a center add-on of choice.

According to a press release, the new shop will feature Andy's bright, signature design along with a speedy drive-thru and walk-up windows. But local franchise owner Joseph Shields, who operates several locations with his wife, Andrea Shields, says he hopes to make his new store unique to the Schertz-Cibolo community.

"Every new store opening is special, but this one feels like we're really reaching people close to home," he says in a statement. "One mom I spoke with said she could walk to our stand from her house, and that's such a warm feeling. Cibolo has such a vibrant, welcoming community, and we can't wait to become part of its daily rhythm — whether that's after-school treats, date nights, or a quick custard run after dinner."

To celebrate Andy's debut, the new shop will roll out opening weekend giveaways. From December 3-7, the first guest of the day will receive a "Golden Spoon," a keepsake reserved for that day's first customer. The outpost is also promoting a "free Andy's for one year" contest via its social media accounts, with entry details available on Instagram.

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