Tom Perini's love for ranch life began as a young boy, growing up and working on his family's ranch.   In 1973 he turned that passion into a career and has since become America's quintessential cowboy gourmet.   After perfecting the traditional cowboy cuisine and creating a few recipes of his own, Perini moved from the back of the chuck wagon into his own restaurant on the family's working ranch.  Since 1983, Perini Ranch Steakhouse has served as home to the best chuck wagon style food in America.   Perini Ranch Steakhouse is proudly located on the Perini Ranch in Buffalo Gap, Texas (population 463). 

Tom Perini's Food Philosophy

Perini's food philosophy is simple:  food should look good, taste good, and you should be able to recognize it!    He believes the only thing a good steak needs is a little tradtional Texas dry rub for seaoning and a very hot fire of mesquite coals.  However straightforward his take on beef may be, Perini's flavor is anything but.  Big, juicy steaks with robust cowboy flavor take center stage and other notables such as catfish, ribs, and hamburgers also share the grill.  Add his signature Green Chile Hominy (made with bacon, cheddar cheese and green chilies), Zucchini Perini (zucchini rounds baked in an Italian meat sauce and topped with pamesan cheese) and you have a meal to satisfy the heartiest appetite.  For dessert,  a must is the famous Bread Pudding made with sourdough bread and pecans, topped with Jack Daniels Whiskey Sauce or the homemade strawberry shortcake, topped with sweet cream.  Relax outside under the stars, listen to the band, watch the kids chase the cats and dogs, and enjoy ranch living and Texas hospitality at its finest. 

The steakhouse isn't just a favorite for locals.  Tom's unique style of cooking coupled with his natural Texas demeanor has gained him national and international attention.   Tom was named as one of the "24 Reasons Why We Love Texas" by Saveur (June/July 2009) and the destination steakhouse was listed by Texas Monthly as the third best steakhouse in Texas (December 2007).  Perini Ranch Steakhouse was also featured in Everyday with Rachael Ray "The Search for the Great Amerian Steakhouse" (March 2009), with numerous listings and features in Texas Highways, Cowboys and Indians, and Southern Living, to name a few. 

But steaks aren't the only thing Perini has perfected.   Food Network Magazine (June 2009) named Perini's hamburgers the best in Texas.  In July 2009, Perini appeared on TODAY to cook is acclaimed burger live on the plaza in a head to head burger challenge.  His "Ranch Burger" was unanimously the favorite!  In addition to TODAY, Tom has appeared twice on CBS' Early Show and also on Good Morning America.  He has also appeared on The Outdoor Channel, The Food Network, and Fox News show, "Fox and Friends."

The Perini Expansion

Tom Perini's culinary career quickly soared to a new level following the introduction of his Mesquite Smoked Peppered Beef Tenderloin, available Mail Orders, shipping fully cooked and flash frozen straight from the ranch in Buffalo Gap to your home.  Each individually selected and hand trimmed beef tenderloin is applied with a special seasoning of freshly ground pepper and herbs to enhance the rich, full flavor of the beef.   Each tenderloin is then gently roasted and mesquite smoked to the perfect medium-rare.

In 2000, Perini debuted "Texas Cowboy Cooking," a coffee- table style cookbook.   This book features a collection of 75 all-time favorite recipes served at Perini Ranch Steakhouse.   The book also includes cooking tips, such as Tom's secret to selecting and cooking the perfect steak.   Stunning photography and great western art, along with bits of Perini's Texas wit bring to life the romance, adventure, character and humor of life in cowboy country.  With 85,000 copies sold, the book is in its sixth printing. 

Perini Across America

Although not a classically trained chef, Perini has perfected his style of cooking to please even the most discerning tastes and has been cooked at the prestigious James Beard House in New York City six times, with an upcoming appearance in November.    And, since 2002 Perini Ranch has served its Mesquite Smoked Peppered Beef Tenderloin at the FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen.  

Perini has also catered for President George W. Bush on several occassions, including the 2002 Congressional Picnic, held at the White House and visits of President Putin of Russia and President Jiang Zemin of China - both of these dinners were held at the ranch in Crawford, Texas.  Other catering clients include Texas Governor Rick Perry, actors Robert Duvall and Fess Parker, The American Cancer Society, Texas Cowboy Reunion, Cowboy Artists of America, National Cowgirl Museum, and many, many more.

Perini Goes Global

In 2002, Tom traveled internationally promoting US Beef. In both Moscow and St. Petersburg, Tom conducted chef's seminars utilizing US Beef. Highlighted was first and foremost, the quality of US Beef and its safety. Brisket, 109 Export Rib, Flank Steak, Ball Tip, and Tenderloin were just a few of the cuts featured in the seminars. Tom also was featured on a Russian cooking show and met with many individuals in the restaurant and hospitality industry. In November of 2004, select chefs from Russia traveled to Perini Ranch Steakhouse to experience first hand Tom's work with beef and his chuck wagon cooking. In February of 2002, Tom and Lisa traveled to Poland on behalf of the United States Meat Export Federation and the Texas Beef Council.  The purpose of this trip was to work with Polish chefs and a Polish meat processor (Sokolow) with briskets. As a result of this adventure, the processor entered into the new product category at Eurogastro, a large food show in Warsaw, and the Texan style brisket won the prize for best new product.

With all this national and international exposure, Tom still remembers to keeps his roots close to home, staying involved in the community that helped him start his unique career. As part of his community involvement, he is active in the Abilene Restaurant Association, serving as a previous president. He is also active in the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, who named "Small Business Person of the Year" in 2002. The award is awarded based on several factors, contributions to the community's quality of life. Perini has also served as president of the Texas Restaurant Association and in 2005 named to the TRA Hall of Honor. Tom enjoys traveling, collecting, and history – with a focus on Texas, of course.