How Texas revived black-eyed peas: Start off 2025 lucky in Fort Worth restaurants

Bud Kennedy
·3 min read

Texas wildcatters Sid Richardson and Clint Murchison ate black-eyed peas and quail for breakfast, and their oil fortune added up in the billions.

You might not be so lucky. But luck starts with black-eyed peas.

The centuries-old West African and Black American tradition of peas became a Texas ad campaign in 1937, when East Texas agriculture promoter Elmore Torn taught the world why to eat peas.

He sent cans to President Roosevelt, politicians and celebrities nationwide to promote eating peas for good luck.

It was definitely lucky for East Texas.

Black-eyed peas with collard greens at Beacon Cafe 287 at the north edge of Fort Worth.
Black-eyed peas with collard greens at Beacon Cafe 287 at the north edge of Fort Worth.

Black-eyed pea sales doubled within five years, and Torn became an international spokesman known across the U.S. and Europe.

As for Torn’s own luck — well, in 1937 his son was 6. He grew up to become actor Rip Torn. A niece is movies’ Sissy Spacek.

If you’re ready for oil millions or movie fame and fortune, here are a few places to start with black-eyed peas:

▪ The Southlake-based Cotton Patch Cafes have put black-eyed peas back on the daily menu at all seven area locations. They are either served alone or as a side on the new $10 daily specials; cottonpatch.com.

Carleton Dunn holds a handful pf fresh black-eyed peas May 11, 2004, at Dunn Produce, then off U.S. 180 in Weatherford, Texas.
Carleton Dunn holds a handful pf fresh black-eyed peas May 11, 2004, at Dunn Produce, then off U.S. 180 in Weatherford, Texas.

▪ Luby’s. on Interstate 20 at 3312 SE Loop 820, Forest Hill, traditionally serves black-eyed peas on its rotating menu. It;s open Dec. 31 and Jan. 1; lubys.com.

▪ An original Black-eyed Pea restaurant, last in the 45-year-old chain, remains open and serves black-eyed peas daily in the Arlington Highlands shopping center; theblackeyedpea.com.

▪ Catfish & Co., 900 Airport Freeway in Hurst, will serve complimentary black-eyed peas Jan. 1; catfishandco.com.

The Catfish & Co. restaurant in Hurst advertises its black-eyed peas, served as a side on New Year’s Day.
The Catfish & Co. restaurant in Hurst advertises its black-eyed peas, served as a side on New Year’s Day.
Addie Ruth Harris, two-and-a-half-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Otis O. Harris of Paradise, Texas, sits barefoot on a large pile of black-eyed peas brought to the Bridgeport market July 7, 1940.
Addie Ruth Harris, two-and-a-half-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Otis O. Harris of Paradise, Texas, sits barefoot on a large pile of black-eyed peas brought to the Bridgeport market July 7, 1940.

▪ Enchiladas ¡Olé!, 5473 Camp Bowie Blvd., will serve complimentary black-eyed peas and champagne Dec. 31. It’s closed Jan. 1; enchiladasole.com.

▪ Skillet’N Grill, 1801 W. Division St., Arlington’s breakfast and plate-lunch landmark, is serving black-eyed peas through the weekend. It’s open for breakfast and lunch Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

▪ Old Neighborhood Grill, 1633 Park Place Ave. near the hospitals and zoo, serves black-eyed peas for lunch and dinner every day all year. It’s open Dec. 31 but closed Jan. 1, so pick some up to go; ongwebsite.godaddysites.com.

Black-eyed pea soup with jalapenos as served in the State Fair of Texas food court, as seen in a 2014 photo.
Black-eyed pea soup with jalapenos as served in the State Fair of Texas food court, as seen in a 2014 photo.

▪ Beacon Cafe 287, 12701 U.S. Business 287 in far north Fort Worth, will serve black-eyed peas on its Jan. 1 brunch buffet; thebeaconcafe.com.

▪ All three Blue Mound Cafe locations in Fort Worth, North Richland Hills and Saginaw will serve black-eyed peas until 3 p.m. both Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

▪ Both Dixie House Cafe locations in Fort Worth will serve black-eyed peas, cabbage and cornbread at lunch Jan. 1; dixiehousecafes.com.

Actor Rip Torn, left, is a son of East Texas business promoter Elmore Torn, who in 1937 revived sales of “lucky” black-eyed peas for New Year’s. Actor Sissy Spacek is a niece.
Actor Rip Torn, left, is a son of East Texas business promoter Elmore Torn, who in 1937 revived sales of “lucky” black-eyed peas for New Year’s. Actor Sissy Spacek is a niece.

▪ Vickery Cafe, now in its new, shiny location in the 800 block of Matisse Drive off West Seventh Street near Trinity Park, will serve complimentary peas on New Year’s Day. Park in back near the railroad; vickerycafe.com.

▪ Benbrook Cafe, 4902 Benbrook Highway; JR’s Cafe, 300 S. Saginaw Blvd.; and Moe’s Country Kitchen, 7420 N. Beach St., all jointly owned, will be open for lunch Jan. 1 and serving black-eyed peas.

▪ The Paris Coffee Shop, 704 W. Magnolia Ave., will give away black-eyed peas at lunch Dec. 31 but is closed Jan. 1; pariscoffeeshopfw.com.

▪ Both Ol’ South Pancake House locations in Fort Worth and Burleson will serve complimentary black-eyed peas Jan. 1; olsouthpancakehouse.com.

Elmore Torn, right, at a 1939 agriculture meeting: When his future actor son Rip Torn was a little boy, Elmore Torn promoted black-eyed peas to promote East Texas.
Elmore Torn, right, at a 1939 agriculture meeting: When his future actor son Rip Torn was a little boy, Elmore Torn promoted black-eyed peas to promote East Texas.
L.C. Bird, an East Texas buyer, weighs in black-eyed peas from the 1940 harvest.
L.C. Bird, an East Texas buyer, weighs in black-eyed peas from the 1940 harvest.
By 1940, three years after East Texans started a commercial promotion for black-eyed peas, sales had doubled. A crew unloads 1,575 pounds of peas
By 1940, three years after East Texans started a commercial promotion for black-eyed peas, sales had doubled. A crew unloads 1,575 pounds of peas

Latest Stories