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STEAK CALF FRIES

In 1927, Mary and Joe Riscky moved from Poland and opened a grocery store in the historic stockyards area of Fort Worth, Texas. Little did they realize that they were starting what was to become a Texas dining legend.

Just prior to that time, in the early 1920’s, The Saddle and Sirloin Inn opened at 120 East Exchange Avenue. The Saddle and Sirloin Inn soon became a historic legend in its own right, know for its excellent steaks, calf fries and Kapusta.

Originally frequented by visiting ranchers, cowboys and cattlemen involved with the stockyards and livestock business, the clientele soon grew to include bankers, businessmen, presidents, dignitaries and celebrities. A trip to Fort Worth was not complete without stopping by The Saddle and Sirloin Inn.

Great care has been taken in preserving the original style and décor. Many of the original items have been combined with outstanding favorites of the Riscky family to once again provide Fort Worth with a dining tradition at Riscky’s Sirloin Inn on Exchange Avenue. LEGEND OF THE BRANDS

BACKWARD D – W.T. Waggoner Estate, Vernon, Texas. Original MASHED O – Halsell Cattle Co., Muleshoe, Texas. When W.E. brand in 1849 was Three Backward D’s. One story says a blacksmith Halsell and Glen Halsell broke up their partnership in 1889, in the made the D’s backward by mistake; another says the reversed letters Cosweesooosee District, Indian Territory, W.E. took the brand and were easier to see when looking at a cow from the front. flattened it. His grandson, James Powell, uses the brand now. CIRCLE – Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving, trail drivers. MATADOR V – Matador Land and Cattle Co. Motley County, Texas. Brand was only burned on cattle destined for the cattle trail, they Originated in 1879. When Matador Land and Cattle Co., Ltd. the established from Fort Belknap, Texas to Fort Sumner, New Mexico, Scottish company, bought the ranch in 1882, the brand went with it. in 1866. By 1936 the brand was run on 50,000 head of Hereford cattle. CROSS D – Joe H. Baker, Caldwell, Texas. In 1870, Baker bought a herd of cattle from a man named Deaver. The D brand was cross MILL IRON – Mill Iron Ranches. Texas Panhandle. Registered 1870. burned with a straight iron to show the change in ownership. Used For many years, the Mill Iron was one of the best known registered today by his grandson, J.H. “Hub” Baker. Hereford operations in the country. ENGLISH POUND – George Beggs, Jr., Aledo, Texas. Registered in MULESHOE – Muleshoe Cattle Co. Jolly, Texas. William Richardson 1941 as result of relationships in England. Only brand of its kind branded the Muleshoe on the left hip in the 1880’s. Legend has it that registered in Texas and New Mexico. Dan Waggoner once used the brand when he made two cast-off mule shoes serve as the iron he forgot to bring. FIVE – Scharbauer Cattle Co., Midland, Texas. George Crosson brought the brand from Ireland in 1866, where his father had N U G – J. C. Loving, Jermyn, Texas. Created in 1865, by Dave Terrell, branded sheep with the number Five in the early 1800’s. whose inspiration was the initials of his girlfriend. FIVE POINTS – John B. Armstrong Ranch, Kingsville, Texas. O SIX – J.L. Kokernot Ranch, Alpine, Texas. Registered 1837. Used Represented five desirable points; fertility, milk production, large today on the sprawling 06 holdings between Alpine and Fort Davis. frame up to market weight, high yield of trimmed retail cuts, and easily gathered and herded. ONE HUNDRED ONE – 101 Ranch Lamont, Oklahoma. Legend has it that Col. George Washington Miller got the brand from the 101 FOUR J – Pete Riscky, Fort Worth, Texas. Goes back decades. A Saloon near San Antonio. Miller’s men wrecked it and the colonel prominent brand seen frequently in and around Tarrant County and paid the damages. He branded his cattle with the name to remind Las Vegas, Nevada. Now owned by Jimmy Riscky, the Steakhouse them of what had happened. and Barbeque magnet of Fort Worth. FOUR SIXES – Burnett Ranches, Fort Worth and Guthrie, Texas. PITCHFORK – Pitchfork Land and Cattle Co., Guthrie, Texas. Samuel Burk Burnett bought the brand in 1871. A popular but Registered 1843. First used upside down without a middle prong. In untrue story is that It represented a winning poker hand he had 1879 it was turned upright with an added prong. while playing for larger stakes. RAFTER T – Tom Beard, Alpine, Texas. Beard stocked the Leoncita FRYING PAN – Glidden and Sanborn, Texas Panhandle. Located on Ranch, inherited by his mother, with cattle that had a Rafter on the an old Indian camping grounds next to the XIT Ranch. First run in left hip. Beard added a vertical burn to create the T. 1885. Also called the Skillet and the Pan Handle. ROCKING CHAIR – Rocking Chair Co., Ltd., Collingsworth County, HALF CIRCLE or “QUIEN SABE” – Henry M. Halff, Midland, Texas. Texas. Registered In 1879. Purchased by Texas Ranger Capt. George Brand is made with two half circle irons. When cowboys were asked W. Arrington in 1882, who came to the area to get rid of cattle thieves. what the half circles signified, they replied “Quien Sabe?” (who knows). RUNNING W – King Ranch, Inc. Kingsville, Texas. Probably begun by turning over an “M” brand, acquired by Capt. Richard King when HALF CIRCLE 10 – George Saunders, San Antonio, Texas. Began he bought the land and livestock of William Mann in 1862. The main ranching in 1871. Received his brand as a present on his tenth breed of cattle to wear this brand has been the Santa Gertrudis. birthday. HORSEHEAD or R – Jim Reno, Kerrville, Texas. Reno sculptured SEVEN UP – First used in Virginia and brought to Texas in the the life-size bronze, “The Brand Inspector”, in front of the Texas and 1830s. Used by several cattlemen over the years. J.W. Carter bet Southwestern Cattle Raisers building in Fort Worth. his wife, Ellen, while playing “Seven Up”. Mrs. Carter won, and her husband designed a branding Iron to commemorate her win. J A – M.H.W. Ritchie, Clarendon, Texas. Charles Goodnight selected the JA brand in 1876 to honor his partner, John Adair. His grandson, SEVEN SIX – McFaddin Enterprises, Victoria, Texas. In 1933, James M.H.W. Ritchie, operates the JA Ranch today. Welder and Claude McCan forgot to bring an Iron, so they turned a year iron with the number 2 over, which made a connected 7 and 6. J Y – Masterson Ranch, King County, Texas. Buffalo hunter Frank Collinson sold the brand to Frank Masterson in 1896. In 1936, his S M S – SMS Ranches, Stamford, Texas. In 1882, Eric and W.A. son ran the brand on the largest Angus range operation in the world. Swenson selected their father’s initials as their brand. Legend says L X – Miles Childers, Amarillo, Texas. In 1910, Lee Bivens, bought a the S’s were backwards due to a blacksmith’s error. portion of the LX Ranch, founded in 1877, from the English owned SPADE – Spade Ranches, Colorado City and Lubbock, Texas. American Pastoral Company and gained use of the LX brand. He Registered 1880. Isaac Ellwood, one of the inventors of barbed wire, became one of the largest cattle operators West of the Mississippi. purchased cattle from J.F. “Spade” Evans, that carried the Spade His great grandson operates the LX Ranch today. brand. He continued its use. LONG S – C.C. Slaughter, Dallas, Texas. Registered 1879. One of TWO J O – James B. Owen, Tyler, Texas. Original brand was a Ram’s the first cattlemen to use English bulls to upgrade Taxas Longhorn Horn. Owen formed a partnership with his son, turned it upside cattle. Sir Bredwell, the first $5,000 Hereford bull, came with him to down, and added on “O” at the top. Texas in 1898. LONG X – Reynolds Cattle Co., Fort Worth, Texas. Brand originated TURKEY TRACK – Oliver Loving and Son, Jermyn, Texas. Used in about 1882 on the Reynolds’ 225,000 acre ranch. The Reynolds since about 1900. Two irons are used, a half circle and a bar. were founders of the Texas Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association X I T – XlT Ranch, Texas Panhandle. In 1885, the state gave the in 1877. Chicago firm of Taylor, Babcock and Co. (the Capitol Syndicate) M SIX – J.A. McFaddin Estate, McFaddin, Texas. William McFaddin, 3,050,000 acres for the construction of the Texas Capitol. The a veteran of the Texas War for Independence and Battle of New owners formed an English company and stocked the ranch with Orleans, began the brand in 1837. With his son, they burned 6,000 cattle. Abner Blocker, who brought in the first cattle, created the head of cattle with the brand. brand know as one of the hardest brands for a thief to alter.

Courtesy of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Foundation. Source: Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Museum, 1301 West Seventh Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76102