Culinary Sojourns

Situated on 313 acres, the Inn at Dos Brisas features fresh pastries and fruit preserves for breakfast, one-on-one cooking classes and organic-gardening workshops.(Photo: Inn at Dos Brisas)

April’s wildflower outing is a ritual for Texans. Droves of cars venture into the countryside on delightful, sunny days for the thrill of driving over a rise to catch a glimpse of an expanse of bluebonnets as thick as a shag rug. It’s also an ideal time to visit nearby culinary destinations.

“About 95 percent of our guests come from the Houston area,” says Carol Davis, who owns Blisswood Bed and Breakfast (blisswood.net) in Cat Spring. An hour west, friends, families and couples come to fish or go horseback riding around Enchanted Lake, followed by a gazebo picnic lunch. In the evenings, they linger over wine and upscale ranch fare at the warmly lit Carol’s Restaurant.

About 50 miles west of Houston, the restaurant at the luxurious Inn at Dos Brisas (dosbrisas.com) is the only Forbes Travel Guide five-star eatery in Texas. Executive chef Zachary Ladwig utilizes fresh organic produce from the inn’s 26-acre garden and fruit orchards. The menu is seasonally driven. In April, Ladwig harvests bushels of beans (five varieties), along with 13 kinds of cucumbers, 14 heirloom tomatoes, 13 types of lettuces, and the list goes on. Tasting menus range from five to 15 courses. In the mornings, a continental breakfast is served with homemade pastries, such as cheddar biscuits and muffins, accompanied by fresh, hand-crafted fruit preserves.

Messina Hof (messinahof.com) in Bryan is a longtime, favorite wine destination. This romantic getaway frequently hosts programs for oenophiles. And guests staying in one of 11 bed-and-breakfast suites get a winery tour, along with a champagne breakfast and evening wine-and-cheese reception.  Short on time? Simply dine at the Vintage House restaurant, which offers cooking classes. Since 2011, Messina Hof also has run a Hill Country tasting room/bed and breakfast in Fredericksburg.