In the upcoming July issue of D, we’ll be discussing all things suburbs: best schools, lowest crime, and home values among others. Ambiance factors in as well, and, in my opinion, McKinney’s downtown historic square is about as charming as it gets. Pretty tasty too. Great restaurants (Rick’s Chophouse, Spoons Cafe with its amazing homemade coconut cream pie) and one epicurean shop that’s worth the 40 minute drive from my modest Oak Cliff abode: Loco Cowpoke. Does dirty jalapeno olive relish sound tasty? Then jump for the savory details.
Owners Randy and Jeanine Abshier’s tiny shop is packed with more than 400 different products, all from Texas. Two walls are each stacked four shelves high with various salsas alone. Many are available to taste. I’m a sucker for all things condiments — jams, jellies, relishes, sauces, mustards — and I fell hard for this shop. Cowpoke’s proprietary sweet potato butter was my favorite purchase. Thick, rich, and not too sweet, it’s perfect on morning toast. I also love the blue cheese stuffed jalapenos (“Those things gotta kick,” Randy warned), apricot-ginger preserves, raspberry truffle peanut butter (don’t wrinkle your nose — it’s not as pungent as it sounds), and Fredricksburg Farms Guadalupe Valley cilantro and garlic salsa. Like I said, Cowpoke is worth the drive. It’s tasty and charming.
