Canadian World Traveller Fallr 2016 issue American World Traveler Fall 2016 issue | Page 66

66

A City on a Mission

Artisanal Adventures in San Antonio
Article & Photography by Steve Gillick

om Castanos stands waste deep in
what he refers to as the Mother
Ditch and explains that because of
this irrigation canal or ‘acequia’ the city of
San Antonio is here today. Using technology from the Moors who invaded the Iberian
Peninsula in 711, the Spanish used a system of boards to block and unblock smaller ditches connected with the main canal in
order to irrigate their fields in the New
World in the early 1700’s. This was the
technological equivalent of the ipad and it
totally revolutionized the ability of in-land
settlements to thrive and grow.

T

Missions began the melding of Spanish and
Native American culture that is so apparent
in the city today.

And with the ability to channel water 2 ½
miles from the San Antonio River, the four

But beware! If you brand everything in San
Antonio as ‘Tex-Mex’ you may receive some
incredulous stares and even a few ‘corrective’ suggestions. San Antonio, one of
Texas’ most attractive destinations, has
steadfastly followed the artisanal path that
began in the 18th Century, at a time when
necessity was the mother of invention, and
continues to this day in the trendy districts
that include King William, the Pearl
Brewery, Riverwalk and even at Culinaria,
the renowned, annual Food and Wine
Festival.

In San Antonio’s King William Historic
District, Chef Justin Richardson of Brigid
talks about ‘informal elevated cuisine” and
then wows us with an Asian Fusian/Texas
Bistro/Mexican sampler menu of Baby
Octopus with Wakame Salad and Wasabi,
chicken fried quail, short rib with pappardelle pasta, fried green tomatoes and
seared striped sea bass, paired (for those
who love craft beers) with Black Butte Porter
from Oregon. We only questioned Justin’s
veracity when he suggested that the incredible dessert of Mango Bavarian Cream with
coconut cream, crumble and fruit, with
sprinkles of walnut, pecan and pumpkin
seeds, only had two calories!