Reata Restaurant is a Texas cuisine-based restaurant group founded by Al Micallef with operating interests in
Alpine
Alpine may refer to any mountainous region. It may also refer to:
Places Europe
* Alps, a European mountain range
** Alpine states, which overlap with the European range
Australia
* Alpine, New South Wales, a Northern Village
* Alpine National Pa ...
and
Fort Worth, Texas. The Reata Restaurant Group has operated its flagship restaurant in the old
Caravan of Dreams since May 2002. Reata at the Rodeo, Reata at the Backstage, and La Espuela Mexican Cantina are Reata-run restaurants at the annual
Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo
The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo (formally the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show) is the oldest continuously running livestock show and rodeo. It has been held annually in Fort Worth, Texas since 1896, traditionally in mid-January throu ...
for 3 weeks starting in mid-January through the beginning of February. In addition, they provide an event production catering service called Reata on the Road. Reata also produces a line of gourmet bakeware and a cookbook – "Reata: Legendary Texas Cooking".
History
The restaurant was founded by Al Micallef in Alpine,
Texas, in 1995. The name
Reata, Spanish for rope, was inspired by the novel ''Giant'' by
Edna Ferber
Edna Ferber (August 15, 1885 – April 16, 1968) was an American novelist, short story writer and playwright. Her novels include the Pulitzer Prize-winning '' So Big'' (1924), ''Show Boat'' (1926; made into the celebrated 1927 musical), '' Ci ...
. In 1996, Reata opened its second location
in Fort Worth, Texas, on the 35th floor of the
Bank One Tower. Following the
F3 tornado on March 28, 2000, Reata was hit and forced to close. Within 6 weeks, the restaurant was rebuilt and operational in the original location that was hit by the tornado. In January 2001, the restaurant was once again forced to close and re-opened in May 2002 in the building previously known as the Caravan of Dreams.
In February 2001, between the time Reata had to close in the
Bank One Tower and re-open in
Sundance Square, Reata started a catering division with a 3000sq. ft. commercial kitchen called Reata on the Road. In 2002, Reata opened a facility called Reata at the
Rodeo, located in the
Amon Carter
Amon Giles Carter Sr. (born Giles Amon Carter; December 11, 1879 – June 23, 1955) was the creator and publisher of the ''Fort Worth Star-Telegram'', and a nationally known civic booster for Fort Worth, Texas. A legacy in his will was used t ...
Exhibits Hall, to serve the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. In 2007, Reata took over the operation of the Backstage Club at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, renaming it Reata at the Backstage Club.
In the fall of 2008, a cookbook authored by Mike Micallef, was released called "Reata: Legendary Texas Cooking".
This cookbook is sold through Amazon and the Reata Store. In January 2010, Reata opened a Mexican cuisine-based restaurant at the Fort Worth Stock Show, and Rodeo called La Espuela.
Chefs
Notable chefs that started their careers at the Reata include Grady Spears,
Tim Love, Brian Olenjack, and Tod Phillips.
Locations
* Reata Fort Worth Sundance Square, Fort Worth, Texas
* Reata at the Rodeo (operated during the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo)
* Reata at the Backstage Club (operated during the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo)
* LaEspuela (operated during the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo)
* Reata Alpine, Alpine, Texas
References
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Companies based in Fort Worth, Texas
Restaurants established in 1995
Regional restaurant chains in the United States
Restaurants in Texas
1995 establishments in Texas