Galveston's Winter Forecast: SMOKIN!!
Written by Marsha Wilson Rappaport
 The weather outside is indeed frightful. You get up in the morning clutching your blanket and racing across your cold wooden floors to the semi-warm rugs in your bathroom. Then by noon you’ve forgotten your coat in a restaurant downtown because it’s warm and sunny. Yet, the island is buzzing and business folks here aren’t taking this “slow season” lying down. Everyone’s working on new ways to keep the locals out, about and cheerful as we march our way though winter.
Case in point are the efforts  being made by Guy Taylor , owner and operator of The Stork Club . However before we talk about Guy’s new recipes , I want to remind you that he was one of the very first restaurants to open after the “I” word – so that earns him extra loyalty points.
Back to the subject. The Stork Club is adding some great new smoked products to its regular menu. Taylor, who opened this island mainstay 8 years ago, wanted to introduce smoked foods to his eatery but really wasn’t thrilled about the idea of standing in the middle of alley trying to pull it off.
“We bought this custom smoker, said Taylor, “It’s air tight, so we can vent it inside while we cook. We can smoke a chicken at about 190 degrees for hours over real hickory chips.”
The addition of smoked foods and more seafood to his menu is a work in progress. However, if you’d like to discover how it makes a difference you need to try  his Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya. His recipe for Jambalaya is Cajun based, however the spices are more savory and subtle. It doesn’t hit you over the head with heat so you can really taste the smoky flavor of the chicken.
Of course the Stork Club is one of those places that locals love. The food is fresh, the prices low and the ambience is well – kinda like “Cheers” – everybody here really does know your name. Taylor points out that The Stork Club is kinda legendary for its handmade burgers:
“These aren’t premade burgers, everything is fresh,” he said.
Also legendary are their tender, but totally massive Chicken Fried Steaks with rich, homemade gravy. Although Taylor admits, that both his Grilled and Southwest Chicken Salads are “flying out  the door” at lunch.
While there, I decided to get out of my “local Stork Club” comfort zone and try both the great Jambalaya and a 12 ounce Rib Eye Steak with a Baked Potato. It really is a great excuse to try the Stork Club for dinner. The steak was flavorful, tender and perfectly cooked. It was also a great value and so good I may have to give up my regular Chili Cheeseburger once in a while. Other dinner menu items will include a larger seafood selection, as well as standard items such as their Cajun Style Spicy Fried Catfish.
The Stork Club is located on the corner of 21st and Postoffice Street at 2101 Postoffice Street, Galveston, Texas 77550 (409) 750-9136. http://www.galveston. com/storkclub// It’s open from 11 am to 10 p.m. on Monday through Thursday. And from 11 am to 11 p.m. Friday Saturday and Sunday’s. Closed on Sunday.
 In case you’ve forgotten The Stork Club also has a full bar and its open until 2 am on Saturday Night.
“We have a really nice selection of imported Vodkas and Single Malt Scotches.” said Taylor. It’s a great place to bring friends. Moreover, Taylor a big fan of Mardi Gras has a really great collection of Mardi Gras memorabilia. The walls are now covered with festive trains from the Treasure Balls that are a historic tradition at O’Connell High School. He has some other great souvenirs from old Mardi Gras events as well. In short, you don’t have to barricade yourself inside this winter. You can drop into the Stork Club for the best of old and new Galveston.
Local Hot Bites: St. Augustine’s was “smokin’ for a good cause. BOI Neil Strawder, owner of successful Barbecue Vending and Catering in Long Beach, California came home to BBQ in order to help his hometown folks build a community garden. Strawder has done so well that he was featured on TLC’s popular television series BBQ Pitmasters. Strawder, who grew up in St. Augustine’s was pleasantly pleased to see the big turnout for the event:
“We’ve already run through 100 or so chickens, he said, “and it’s only been an hour. But I’m so glad it’s going so well. I was really happy to come back home and give something back.”
 The proceeds of the event went to the creation of St. Augustine’s new Margaret Biehl Memorial Community Garden. And…old friend Gary Cartwright, looking well, attracted a SRO crowd for the signing of his new book, “Hotel Galvez – Queen of the Gulf.” If you haven’t contacted the hotel to buy the book don’t hesitate. It’s a wonderful addition to any Galveston Island History collection.
Marsha Wilson Rappaport is a local author and free lance writer who is really looking forward to Mardi Gras this year… in honor of Danny Morgan – I think I’ll go “Sari Shopping”..he would have approved. Happy New Year Galveston! |
