As a rising star in Texas, McAllen, located in southern Texas along the 100-mile expanse of the northern bank of the Rio Grande River separating the United States from Mexico, possesses a rich arts and culture scene and gastronomic landscape, both of which delight and surprise visitors and denizens alike.

ARTISAN EXCELLENCE

Artisan excellence can be found almost everywhere you look throughout the city. Along Main Street there’s the McAllen Arts District, a collection of over two dozen galleries and studios displaying a wide range of art genres and focuses.

At the center is Nuevo Santander Gallery, achieving international acclaim for its exquisite finds, including colonial relics, Native American beadwork, vintage saddles and spurs, works by both Texas and American cowboy artists, antique furniture, religious artifacts, Spanish Colonial art and other works, but the gallery itself is a work of art.

Built from scratch 15 years ago using Caliche Caprock stone mined where the building now stands, the owners took great care in every detail of the gallery, which features stunning mesquite floors, Mexican Talavera tile, Mexican ironwork and a set of elaborately carved 150-year-old wooden doors.

During the First Friday Art Walks (September through May), art lovers can explore and enjoy the works at galleries and studios, including Art Studio by Design, Santa Anita Gallery, McAllen Stained Glass, Douglas Clark Sculpture Studio and Hinovations Art Gallery, among others.

There is also a new Art Village, a Tuscan-style retail facility spanning 30,000 square foot and encompassing four buildings comprised of studios, creative firms, art galleries and restaurants.

EAT YOUR HEART OUT!

McAllen’s creative side crosses over into its culinary arts as well, where you can find over 600 restaurants within the city limits. At the city’s first alehouse and eatery, Roosevelt’s at 7, the menu reads like a who’s who with dishes such as Andy Warhol’s Chicken Platter, Clark Gable’s Stuffed Mushrooms, Frank Sinatra’s Spring Fettuccini and John Gotti’s Thai Chicken Pizza, just to name a few, plus some 45 beers on tap.

What started 30 years ago as a selling door-to-door, out of the back of her car necessity has become a phenomenal, six location enterprise called Delia’s Tamales. Today, hardcore tamale fans (56,000 of them on Facebook) start flocking through their doors at 6 a.m. for their amazing, gluten-free, 160 calorie, half-dozen or dozen orders of pork, chicken, bean, cheese and jalapeno, beef, spicy pork with green sauce and pork or chicken Veracruzano (wrapped in a banana leaf) tamales that will knock your socks off! They also offer outstanding corn and sweet cream cheese (vanilla, walnuts, coconut and cream cheese) dessert tamales and have a huge shipping clientele.

For a relaxing mix of a laid-back southwestern flair and urban sophistication, try Santa Fe Steakhouse & Cantina. Voted as the top steakhouse in the Rio Grande Valley and garnering numerous awards from Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast magazines for their over 700 wine offerings, diners here enjoy a wide array of divine dishes such as mini Beef Wellington, sashimi tuna and lump blue crab cake appetizers, main beef cuts including filets, T-bones, rib eyes, prime rib and New York strips and unique side dishes such as the pastry-wrapped twice-baked potato.

Some of the best, authentic Mexican fare in the country can be found at Palenque Grill (two locations, plus two each in Laredo and San Antonio). The chicken with mole sauce is outstanding, as are the borracho (drunk) beans, an unusual and irresistible combination of refried beans, chorizo and spices. There are also several varieties of ceviche, empanadas and a melange of meat, chicken, pork and seafood main entrees, just to name a few.

Another popular restaurant in town is House Wine and Bistro. Set in a former warehouse turned comfy urban oasis, the restaurant uses primarily local Rio Grande Valley ingredients, including Texas Gulf shrimp (“24 hours from Gulf-to-Plate”), only grassfed beef, fresh produce, dairy and Rio Red Grapefruit (an area agricultural gem), to create their adventurous specialties.

Try the Farmhouse Pasta, made with penne, garlic, oil, smoked pork loin, grilled artichoke hearts, spinach, Kalamata olives, basil and mild goat cheese, or the button mushrooms stuffed with fennel sausage, fontina cheese and spicy marinara or choose from the six varieties of risotto, including sauteed butternut squash with toasted almonds, sliced garlic, fresh basil and your choice of grilled chicken, salmon or Texas Gulf shrimp.

The Patio on Guerra features fine dining through upscale appetizer, border favorites, steaks seafood and exotic specialties. Among the exceptional dishes are oven-roasted duck with a white wine, orange, marmalade glaze served on a bed of wild rice and grilled semi-boneless Texas quail marinated in an Italian sweet glaze and served with wild rice and brandy peppercorn sauce.

Favorites include the Joselo Snapper Papillote—a snapper fillet covered with slices of lemon, vegetables and chopped herbs, then wrapped in a banana leaf and slowly baked with wine and garlic, and the USDA Prime Tomahawk Rib Eye for two, served with Lyonnaise potatoes, roasted compari tomatoes, grilled green onions and your choice of sauce. The Patio has also received a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for their 130 U.S., European and South American wines.

ALL AROUND MCALLEN

From artistic excellence, the amazing epicurean adventures, a world-class international draw for its 120 miles of bird habitats and a historic and culturally rich landscape, McAllen is a worthwhile travel destination.

Lysa Allman Baldwin is a freelance writer and the publisher and editor of Amazing Escapades, offering “adventures for the mind, bod and belly” (www.amazingescapades.com).