Reata is the name (after the ranch in the movie Giant) of the restaurant Spears opened in Alpine, TX, part of the trans-Pecos region, in early 1995; since then, he and his partner have opened another booming Reata in Forth Worth.  Spears thought he wanted to be a modern cowboy, but he ended up in restaurants instead, where he serves hearty, satisfying dishes like Grilled Strip Steak with Cilantro Butter, Jalapeno Beef Stew, and Creamed Spinach with Texas Tarragon.   Enjoy both the wonderful stories and all the great recipes in this one book!  What a deal!