Occasionally when I am surfing the world of social media, I see posts from other local historians and “old timers” talking about businesses that used to be here, and what they miss the most from the old days.
Yesterday, as I was looking through my cookbook collection for dinner inspiration, I came across a favorite cookbook and was reminded of a woman I had the pleasure of meeting several years ago, Martha Robinson Johnson. Her restaurant, Raleigh House, was a fine dining experience that was only offered during the summer months. The restaurant was such a success that locals and tourists eagerly anticipated the restaurant’s opening each summer. Raleigh House even garnered rave reviews from Houston food columnists, causing many a Houstonian to make a pilgrimage to Kerrville each year.
kAm|2CE92 t2DE>2? #@3:?D@? H2D 3@C? pF8] e[ `h_d[ 😕 z2?6[ !6??DJ=G2?:2] $96 H2D E96 @=56DE @7 E9C66 49:=5C6? 3@C? E@ %9@>2D t5H2C5 2?5 u=@C2 t2DE>2? #@3:?D@?] |2CE92 D2:5 D96 8C6H FA =62C?:?8 E@ 4@@< 7C@> 96C >@E96C[ H9@ 2=D@ E2F89E 96C E96 =@G6 @7 4@@<:?8 2?5 E96 ;@J :E 3C:?8D E@ 4@@< 7@C @E96CD]k^Am
kAm(96? |2CE92 H2D `b[ 96C 72>:=J >@G65 E@ %6I2D[ H96? 96C 72E96C H2D @776C65 2? 244@F?E2?E’D A@D:E:@? H:E9 2? @:= 4@>A2?J E92E 7C:6?5D H6C6 7@C>:?8 😕 w@FDE@?]k^Am
kAm|2CE92 D2:5 @7 E96 >@G6[ “|J >@E96C’D 7C:6?5D 4@F=5 ?@E F?56CDE2?5 H9J H6 H@F=5 49@@D6 E@ 8@ E@ E96 H:=5 DE2E6 @7 %6I2D H:E9 2== E96 4@H3@JD 2?5 x?5:2?D]”k^Am
kAm$96 25565 E92E E96 72>:=J H2D 2>2K65 2E 2CC:G:?8 😕 w@FDE@? 2?5 5:D4@G6C:?8 2 4:EJ H:E9 2 A@AF=2E:@? @7 b_[___ A6@A=6 2?5 E96 =FIFCJ @7 E96 `a\DE@CJ #:46 w@E6=[ H96C6 E96 72>:=J =:G65 7@C 2 H66< F?E:= E96:C 9@>6 H2D C625J]k^Am
kAm|2CE92 2EE6?565 $2? y24:?E@ yF?:@C w:89 $49@@= 2?5 H2D 2 4=2DD>2E6 @7 7FEFC6 EJ4@@? w@H2C5 wF896D[ H9@ >256 96C 2H2C6 @7 96C F?FDF2= 2446?E[ “x H2D ?@E 4@?D4:@FD @7 2 *2?<66 2446?E[ 3FE w@H2C5 =62?65 @G6C @?6 52J 😕 t?8=:D9 4=2DD 2?5 2D<65 H92E 4@F?ECJ x H2D 7C@>]”k^Am
kAm|2CE92 >6E 96C 9FD32?5[ #2=6:89 (] y@9?D@?[ H96? D96 H2D `f J62CD @=5[ 2E 2 }@>25 r=F3 52?46] $96 H2D :>AC6DD65 H:E9 E96 J@F?8 >2? 3642FD6 96 H@F=5 E2<6 E:>6 E@ E2=< E@ 96C 2?5 E6== 96C 23@FE E96 G2C:@FD 8F6DED 2EE6?5:?8 E96 52?46]k^Am
kAm%96 4=F3 >6>36CD9:A H2D >256 FA 6?E:C6=J @7 32496=@CD @7 >2CCJ:?8 286[ 2?5 E96J H6C6 G6CJ D6=64E:G6 23@FE E96 8F6DED E96J :?G:E65 E@ 4=F3 52?46D] |2CE92 5:D4@G6C65 7C@> #2=6:89 E92E :E H2D 4@?D:56C65 2 AC:G:=686 E@ 36 :?G:E65 E@ E96 52?46D]k^Am
kAmp H66< 27E6C E96:C >66E:?8[ #2=6:89 :?G:E65 |2CE92 E@ 5:??6C 2E E96 qC2K@D w@E6=[ H96C6 E96J 925 DE62>:?8D]” |2CE92 D2:5 D96 >256 2 8@@5 :>AC6DD:@? @? 96C ?6H 362F “2D x 4=62?65 >J A=2E6] w6 4@F=5 ?@E 23:56 E96 52E6D H9@ A:4<65 2E E96:C 7@@5] %96 ‘5:6 H2D 42DE’ D@ E@ DA62<] x? EH@ >@?E9D[ H6 H6C6 8@:?8 DE625J[ 2?5 😕 D:I >@?E9D H6 H6C6 6?82865]”k^Am
kAmp7E6C 2 E9C66\J62C 4@FCED9:A[ |2CE92 2?5 #2=6:89 H6C6 >2CC:65 @? s64] `h[ `had] %96J 925 EH@ 49:=5C6? 2?5 2 3=:DD7F= >2CC:65 =:76] w6C =@G6 @7 4@@<:?8 2?5 H:K2C5CJ 😕 E96 <:E496? AFE >2?J 362FE:7F= >62=D @? E96 72>:=J 5:?:?8 E23=6 2?5 >@DE =:<6=J H2D 2 9F86 4@?EC:3FE:@? E@H2C5 E92E >2C:E2= 3=:DD]k^Am
kAmw6C =@G6 @7 4@@<:?8 =65 E@ 96C 364@>:?8 24E:G6 😕 E96 (@>6?’D pDD@4:2E:@? 2E %C:?:EJ tA:D4@A2= r9FC49 😕 w@FDE@?[ 2 8C@FA E92E 42E6C65 5:??6CD E@ 7F?5C2:D6 7@C E96 49FC49] $96 BF:4<=J 3642>6 2 =6256C 😕 E96 8C@FA 2?5 @G6CD2H E96 C6>@56=:?8 @7 E96 <:E496? 😕 E96 49FC49’D 76==@HD9:A 92==[ 6BF:AA:?8 :E H:E9 2==\6=64EC:4[ DE2:?=6DD DE66= 4@>>6C4:2= 8C256 2AA=:2?46D]k^Am
kAm%96 (@>6?’D pDD@4:2E:@? D6CG65 >62=D E@ >2?J @C82?:K2E:@?D[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 #65 rC@DD[ *|rp 2?5 @E96C 49FC49 8C@FAD E@ C2:D6 7F?5D 7@C E96:C 3F586E] (:E9 E96 ?6H <:E496?[ E96 8C@FA H2D 23=6 E@ DE6A FA :ED 42E6C:?8 3FD:?6DD 2?5 364@>6 @H? 7@C 362FE:7F= >62=D]k^Am
kAm|2CE92 D2:5 :E H2D 2 492==6?86 2E 7:CDE =62C?:?8 9@H E@ FD6 E96 ?6H <:E496? 6BF:A>6?E 2?5 4@?G6CE:?8 96C 72G@C:E6 72>:=J C64:A6D :?E@ BF2?E:E:6D 3:8 6?@F89 E@ D6CG6 2 =2C86 8C@FA @7 A6@A=6]k^Am
kAm“%96 6IA6C:6?46 H2D G6CJ G2=F23=6 😕 6DE23=:D9:?8 #2=6:89 w@FD6[ 2?5 x 92G6 2=H2JD 366? G6CJ 8C2E67F= E@ >J 49FC49[” D96 D2:5k^Am
kAmx? `hd`[ EC2865J DECF4< H96? #2=6:89 5:65 F?6IA64E65=J]k^Am
kAm“(6 925 ae 92AAJ J62CD E@86E96C[ 2?5 E96? 96 5:65 DF556?=J @7 2 962CE 2EE24<] x H2D @?=J ce J62CD @=5] ~FC D@? 2?5 52F89E6C H6C6 3@E9 >2CC:65[ 2?5 >J 9@>6 2?5 72>:=J 925 366? >J =:76] w@H6G6C[ 56DE:?J DE6AA65 :?] x =@G65 E@ 4@@<[ 2?5 E92E =65 >6 E@ 2 H9@=6 ?6H H2J @7 =:76]k^Am
kAm$9@CE=J 27E6C #2=6:89’D 562E9[ |2CE92 564:565 E@ DA6?5 2 DF>>6C H:E9 7C:6?5D 😕 z6CCG:==6] $96 BF:4<=J 76== 😕 =@G6 H:E9 E96 w:== r@F?ECJ[ E96 7C:6?5=:?6DD @7 E96 A6@A=6[ E96 62DJ A246 @7 =:76 2?5 E96 4=:>2E6] q67@C6 =@?8[ D96 H2D >2<:?8 C68F=2C DF>>6C G:D:ED E@ z6CCG:==6]k^Am
kAmpE E96 6?5 @7 96C G:D:E 😕 `hdd[ 96C 42C A24<65 7@C E96 C6EFC? EC:A E@ w@FDE@?[ |2CE92 H2D 92G:?8 2 7:?2= =F?49 H:E9 7C:6?5D 2E E96 q=F63@??6E w@E6= — 2 3F:=5:?8 E92E @?46 8C2465 5@H?E@H? z6CCG:==6 — 367@C6 8@:?8 9@>6] ~?6 @7 96C 7C:6?5D DF886DE65 D96 >@G6 E@ z6CCG:==6 2?5 DE2CE 2 42E6C:?8 3FD:?6DD[ 255:?8 E92E E96 3FD:?6DD H@F=5 <66A 96C 7C@> >:DD:?8 96C 72>:=J 😕 w@FDE@? E@@ >F49]k^Am
kAm|2CE92 564:565 E@ 24E @? E92E 25G:46] $96 C6EFC?65 E@ z6CCG:==6 H:E9 96C 49:=5C6? 2?5 E96:C 72>:=:6D @G6C {23@C s2J H66<6?5] p7E6C 2 7F== 52J @7 D62C49:?8 7@C 2 9@FD6[ D96 76== 😕 =@G6 H:E9 2 @?6\2?5\2\92=7 DE@CJ H9:E6 4@EE286 36EH66? z6CCG:==6 2?5 x?8C2>[ D6E 324< 7C@> E96 9:89H2J 😕 2 8C@G6 @7 @2< EC66D]k^Am
kAm“W%96 9@FD6X 925 9@?6J 4@=@C65 H@@5H@C<[ (:==:2>D3FC8 3=F6 H2==D 2?5 2 362FE:7F= C@4< 7:C6A=246 H:E9 C@D6 D2E:? 8=2DD D4@?46D[” D96 C6>6>36C65[ ?@E:?8 E96 62C?6DE >@?6J H2D A2:5 “AC@?E@” 7@C E96 AC@A6CEJ]k^Am
kAm$96 564:565 E96 9@FD6 H@F=5 ?@E @?=J >2<6 2 8@@5 9@>6 3FE H@F=5 2=D@ D6CG6 2D 2 8@@5 32D6 @7 @A6C2E:@?D 7@C 96C 42E6C:?8 3FD:?6DD] $96 ?2>65 E96 AC@A6CEJ “#2=6:89 w@FD6” 😕 >6>@CJ @7 96C 9FD32?5 2?5 D6E E@ H@C< 3F:=5:?8 2 42E6C:?8 3FD:?6DD]k^Am
kAmpD |2CE92 >256 >@C6 7C:6?5D 😕 96C ?6H 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 96C 6I46AE:@?2= 4F=:?2CJ E2=6?ED H6C6 5:D4@G6C65[ 96C >@DE=J 76>2=6 4=:6?E6=6 DE2CE65 2D<:?8 96C E@ D6CG6 $F?52J 5:??6CD 7C@> ?@@? E@ b A]>] D@ E96:C 9FD32?5D H6C6 23=6 E@ E2DE6 E96 H@?56C7F= 7@@5 2E #2=6:89 w@FD6] uC@> E9@D6 $F?52J 5:??6CD[ E96 C6DE2FC2?E 3FD:?6DD H2D 3@C?]k^Am
kAmqJ E96 ?6IE DAC:?8[ E96 42>AD 2?5 >@E6=D 😕 E96 2C62 E92E 5:5 ?@E 92G6 C6DE2FC2?ED @7 E96:C @H? DE2CE65 2D<:?8 |2CE92 E@ 36 @A6? 5FC:?8 yF?6[ yF=J 2?5 pF8FDE 7@C E96:C A2EC@?D]k^Am
kAm“x 6H 23D@=FE6=J ?@E9:?8 23@FE E96 C6DE2FC2?E 3FD:?6DD[ 3FE H:E9 2 ?F4=6FD @7 2? 6IA6C:6?465 DE277[ =@ED @7 92C5 H@C< 2?5 =@?8 9@FCD @? >J A2CE[ H6 DFCG:G65 E96 7:CDE DF>>6C[” D96 D2:5] “%9FD 3682? bc H@?56C7F= J62CD]” k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ |2CE92[ H96? E96 #2=6:89 w@FD6 H2D 6DE23=:D965[ z6CCG:==6 5:5 ?@E 92G6 >F49 E@ @776C 😕 E96 H2J @7 7:?6 5:?:?8[ =6E 2=@?6 2 A=246 E@ 86E 2 8@@5 DE62<] |2CE92 49@D6 E96 >6?F @7 qF5 q:86=@H’D C6DE2FC2?E 😕 w@FDE@? 2D E96 >@56= 7@C 96C @H? >6?F] $96 D6CG65 49@:46 8C256 p?8FD DE626>256 5C6DD:?8D] $96 DF3DE:EFE65 9@>6>256 @C2?86 C@==D 2?5 3=F636CCJ >F77:?D 7@C E96 uC6?49 3C625 D6CG65 2E q:86=@H’D[ 2?5 E96 5:?:?8 6IA6C:6?46 H2D E@AA65 @77 H:E9 2 D6=64E:@? @7 9@>6>256 56DD6CED] (9:=6 E96 56DD6CED H6C6 5:G:?6[ :E H2D E96 @C2?86 C@==D E92E <6AE 3C:?8:?8 E96 5:?6CD 324<] %96C6 2C6 A6@A=6 😕 z6CCG:==6 E@52J H9@ DE:== H2I A@6E:4 23@FE E9@D6 @C2?86 C@==D]k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 E96 >@?E9D H96? E96 C6DE2FC2?E H2D 4=@D65[ |2CE92 H@F=5 2EE6?5 4F=:?2CJ D49@@=D[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 r@C5@? q=6F[ {2’2C6??6 r@@<:?8 $49@@=D 😕 !2C:D 2?5 6G6? 2 4967’D D49@@= 😕 y2A2?] $96 H2D 2=H2JD =@@<:?8 7@C H2JD E@ :>AC@G6 96C C64:A6D 2?5 56G6=@A ?6H D<:==D 😕 E96 <:E496?[ 2?5 E92E H@C< A2:5 @77 — 4C62E:?8 2 DF446DD7F= 3FD:?6DD E92E =2DE65 >@C6 E92? E9C66 564256D]k^Am
kAmpE ga[ |2CE92 H2D :?E6CG:6H65 😕 %96 z6CCG:==6 s2:=J %:>6D 23@FE 96C 3FD:?6DD 2?5 DE2J:?8 G:3C2?E 2E 2? 25G2?465 286]k^Am
kAm“x7 D@>6E9:?8 =@@ 92D E96C6 366? 2 J62C H96? x 92G6?’E 5:D4@G6C65 2 ?6H H2J E@ 4@@< D@>6E9:?8] tG6CJ >62= 2E E96 C6DE2FC2?E 😀 2 72>:=J @C:8:?2=[ >256 7C@> D4C2E49]”k^Am
kAmx? `hgh[ |2CE92 564:565 E@ 4=@D6 E96 C6DE2FC2?E 27E6C 92G:?8 66 DFC86CJ] u@C 96C[ E96 564:D:@? E@ 4=@D6 H2D?’E 2 C6E:C6>6?E[ :E H2D 2 492?86 😕 AC@76DD:@?] pE E96 FC8:?8 @7 96C 72>:=J[ |2CE92 E@@< @? E96 492==6?86 @7 HC:E:?8 2 4@@<3@@<]k^Am
kAm“x 925 2=H2JD 366? 3FDJ 2?5 6H E92E x H@F=5 36 3@C65 H:E9@FE 2?JE9:?8 E@ 5@[ D@ x 3682? D6=64E:?8 2?5 EJA:?8 72G@C:E6 72>:=J C64:A6D H:E9 E96 E9@F89E @7 =62G:?8 E96> 2D 2 =6824J E@ >J 72>:=J[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm(92E DE2CE65 @FE 2D 2 AC@;64E 7@C 2 72>:=J <66AD2<6 BF:4<=J 3642>6 2 7F==\3=@H? 4@@<3@@<[ 2?5 |2CE92 DE2CE65 =@@<:?8 :?E@ 92G:?8 E96 3@@< AF3=:D965]k^Am
kAm“(96? x E2=<65 E@ AF3=:D96CD[ x 7@F?5 E92E E96 @?=J H2J E96J H@F=5 2446AE E96 >2?FD4C:AE H2D @? 2 4@>AFE6C 5:D<] $@ 2E gd x =62C?65 E@ FD6 2 4@>AFE6C[” D96 D2:5] “xE H2D C@F89 8@:?8 2E 7:CDE] x E9@F89E E96 4@>AFE6C H@F=5 DFC6=J H:? @FE 367@C6 x 5:5]”k^Am
kAm%96 4@>AFE6C 5:5?’E H:?] |2CE92 4@>A=6E65 96C 7:CDE 4@@<3@@<[ “#2=6:89 w@FD6 r@@<3@@<” 😕 `hh` 2E E96 286 @7 ge] w6C D64@?5 4@@<3@@<[ “#2=6:89 w@FD6 r@@<3@@< xx[” H2D AF3=:D965 😕 `hhd]k^Am
kAmx? 2 `hhg :?E6CG:6H D96 D2:5[ “x =@G6 4@@<:?8 7@C >J 72>:=J 2?5 7C:6?5D] x C6;@:46 😕 >J 8@@5 962=E9[ H9:49 2==@HD >6 E@ 6?;@J E96>] x DE:== 4@@< E96:C 72G@C:E6 4@@<:6D 2?5 @E96C 72G@C:E6 5:D96D 7@C E96> 2D H6== 2D 7@C E96 H9@=6 72>:=J]k^Am
kAm“yF=:2 r9:=5[ H9@> x 25>:C6[ D2JD E92E @?6 ?6G6C 86ED E@@ @=5 E@ 4@@<] r@@<:?8 ?6G6C 86ED 3@C:?8] %96C6 2C6 2=H2JD ?6H 7@@5D 2?5 ?6H >6E9@5D @7 4@@<:?8 E96>] }@E9:?8 42? >2E49 E96 E9C:== @7 7:?5:?8 2 ECF=J 8C62E C64:A6[ @C 36EE6C J6E[ E96 E9C:== @7 A6C764E:?8 2 C64:A6 @7 J@FC @H?]k^Am
kAm|2CE92 y@9?D@? 5:65 s64] `[ a__b[ 2E E96 286 @7 hg] w6C H:==:?8?6DD E@ C6:?G6?E 96C =:76 H96? 4:C4F>DE2?46D 492?865 2?5 96C C67FD2= E@ DE2?5 DE:==[ 6G6? 2E 2? 25G2?465 286[ 2C6 2 9F86 :?DA:C2E:@? E@ >6] k^Am
kAmp? 2?:>2= D96=E6C ?@H DE2?5D H96C6 |2CE92’D C6DE2FC2?E @?46 H2D[ 3FE E96 >6>@CJ @7 2? :?4C65:3=6 H@>2?[ 2 7:CDE\4=2DD C6DE2FC2?E 2?5 E96 2>2K:?8 @C2?86 C@==D D96 D6CG65 E96C6 =:G6D @?]k^Am
kAmk6>mp =@?8E:>6 C6D:56?E @7 z6CC r@F?EJ[ {2?K2 %628F6 😀 E96 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 z6CC pCED 2?5 rF=EFC2= r6?E6C 2?5 😀 2 >6>36C @7 E96 z6CC r@F?EJ w:DE@C:42= r@>>:DD:@?]k^6>mk^Am

Dining and Cooking