National Spotlight Shines on Texas' Diverse and Dynamic Cuisine

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Everything is bigger in Texas, including the Lone Star State's tantalizing culinary experiences. To celebrate Texas' unique flavors, which are showcased on this season of Bravo's Emmy® award-winning culinary competition series "Top Chef," Texas Tourism has launched a culinary microsite (http://www.traveltex.com/culinary) that features delicious tours, videos, "Top Chef" filming locations and other helpful resources for Texas-bound food lovers.

"From barbecue, Tex-Mex and seafood, to upscale restaurants and down-home Southern comfort food, Texas cuisine is as storied as our history and as varied as our culture," said Julie Chase, Tourism Director for the Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism.  "Our world-class destinations allow visitors to experience innovative culinary offerings from a broad spectrum of cuisines in every region of the state."

Texas has long been famous for Gulf seafood, barbeque and steaks, and is the birthplace of Tex-Mex; the hamburger (Athens) and its quintessential companion, onion rings (Dallas); chili (San Antonio), Dr Pepper (Waco) and the corn dog (Dallas). Home to the Hill Country Wine Trails, Texas is the nation's fifth largest wine producing state, with more than 220 wineries. But this is just the tip of the culinary iceberg: Texas' dynamic cities are national hotspots for creative fine dining, where renowned chefs showcase innovative culinary skills in exciting new restaurants.

Thanks to this rich history and emergence as a culinary powerhouse, the Lone Star State was selected as the location for the ninth season of "Top Chef," which premiered on November 2. Dubbed "Top Chef: Texas," this season is the first to showcase an entire state, including three separate cities, and features a variety of Texas locales and cuisines. San Antonio – which is home to The Culinary Institute of America, San Antonio, one of only four CIA campuses worldwide – serves as the season's host city, with the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and Austin also featured throughout the season.

For more information about Texas culinary experiences and news, as well as details on "Top Chef: Texas," please visit www.traveltex.com and find us on Twitter (@texastourism) and on Facebook.  

About Tourism in Texas
Tourism is one of the largest industries in Texas, supporting 529,000 jobs across the state. In 2010, travelers spent an estimated $57.5 billion in Texas. Travel expenditures generated $2.9 billion in state taxes and $1 billion in local taxes.  For more information on Texas travel events and vacation destinations, or for a free Travel Guide, visit TravelTex.com.

SOURCE Texas Tourism