Patriot chef fries birthday fish

Texan delivers gourmet thanks to post Soldier

By Daina Dowdy
Army Flier Staff Writer

The aroma of fried fish permeated the air at the home of CW4 Kyle Hill and his wife, Kelly, Sunday during a birthday fish fry catered by a well-known Texas restaurant.

Jack Gilmore, founder of the southwestern-cuisine restaurant, Z'Tejas, drove more than 800 miles from Austin, Texas, to cater Kyle's birthday as a goodwill gesture.

"I think it's absolutely generous of Jack and his family to come," Kyle said. "To drive that far for a day - that's special. It shows that there still is a lot of goodness out there."

The fish fry was originally supposed to be a simple, family birthday surprise for Kyle, Kelly said, but ended up being much more.

"I emailed (Z'Tejas) for the (Z'Jalapeno) tartar sauce recipe," said Kelly. "Honestly, I didn't even expect to get a response."

Through several following e-mails, Kelly learned that the founder and corporate chef wanted to visit and cook for them to show his gratitude for military families, not just send a recipe.

Kelly said she was surprised when she received an email from the marketing manager of Z'Tejas.

"Can I tell you when our feet touch the ground?" Kelly wrote back to the marketing manager of Z'Tejas when asked about how they felt when they heard Gilmore was coming to their house. "After all, I just wanted the recipe, and now 'The Chef' was coming to my home!" Gilmore started his restaurant 16 years ago in Austin, Texas, and it has grown to 10 locations throughout the Southwest.

"I'm very proud and humbled to be here," Gilmore said. "If I could just give a little bit back, then I'm happy."

A recipe would not be good enough, he said, so he decided to visit Alabama and cook for the couple's party.

"I felt like she deserved a day off and let somebody else do the work," Gilmore said. "I believe that behind every good man, there's a good woman."

Kelly said that to her, Gilmore is showing his patriotism by his action.

"The least I could do is come here and have a fish fry," Gilmore said. "What (Kyle) does for us is nothing compared to setting this up."

Though she may not be able to ever top this gift, Kelly said, she would let her husband try to do more for her birthday.

"It's absolutely, without a doubt, the best birthday gift," said Kyle. "It's got more heart in it than anything I've ever experienced."

Kyle shared his birthday gift with neighbors, friends and family.

"I think it's just great that these people are doing this for Kyle," said Wayne Hill, Kyle's father.

Nancy Hill, Kyle's mother, agreed. "We don't give enough support for our Soldiers, and I think it’s just wonderful for Jack to do," Nancy said. "We're proud of our boys - all of them."

However, the guests were not the only important thing at the fish fry. Most said the food was 'the best they'd ever had.

"I'm speechless," Kelly said. "I really can't even describe how good the food is."

Guests were treated to fried catfish, fried shrimp, boiled shrimp, Texas-style pinto beans, coleslaw, potato salad and Fredericksburg peach cobbler. Also included was the famous Z'Jalapeno tartar sauce recipe that Kelly originally requested.

"It's out of the goodness of (Jack's) own heart," Kyle said about his visit. "We're all lucky to be on the receiving end."

Both Kelly and Kyle could not say enough about Jack Gilmore's kindness.

"It's been and incredible experience for everybody," Kelly said. "We are really so blessed."