Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1162043
112 F ull disclosure: I am addicted to gardening. The small patio of my apartment is overgrown with cucumbers, basil, mint, rosemary, kale, jalapeños, lavender, and a generous array of bee-friendly plants. My goal is to one day live the life of a glorious gardener, à la C.Z. Guest or Bunny Williams. But, I digress. When I heard about Gemelle, the new Fort Worth restaurant from chef-restaurateur Tim Love, my first response was: Genius. Brilliant. I will eat nowhere else. Gemelle, which is housed in a darling reconstructed bungalow, is all about the backyard — the focus being its sprawling 10,000-square-foot herb and vegetable garden. A professional horticulturist tends to the garden, and many of the ingredients on the menu come straight from the soil. You can even pick your own, should you require a dash of something fresh. The restaurant, designed by Justin Seitz, can seat 40 on the backyard patio (which also boasts a lawn, lounge cabanas, and custom bocce ball courts) and fits 38 diners inside. Reservations are not accepted, making a table even more covetable. Named for Love's twin daughters (gemelle twin in Italian), this is your quintessential casual neighborhood eatery. With stylish breeze blocks, hand-painted floors, and a bright orange shipping- container-style al fresco bar, the vibe is lively and laid-back. Love's mixed menu of comfort food and healthy, vegetable-forward dishes is set to match. Celery-root carpaccio — topped with apple-cider and walnut vinaigrette, parmesan, and spiced walnuts — is a must order. For something less light, opt for baked penne with tomato cream and spicy Italian sausage, mozzarella, and basil. Detroit-style pizzas have become fast favorites: Order the Boomtown pizza topped with baby Portobello mushrooms, hen of the woods, taleggio, fresh black truffle, and parsley salad. Cocktails come by way of mixologist Anna Warren, Love's VP of beverage and cultural development. The Bellini — served with peach sorbet, Prosecco, and gin or vodka — is a dangerously delicious al fresco sip, as is the frozen Aperol Spritz, a fun update to the beloved Italian cocktail. Gemelle, 4400 White Settlement Road, Fort Worth, 817.732.9535 gemelleftw.com. BY CHRISTINA GEYER INTO THE GARDEN CHEF TIM LOVE MARKS THE OPENING OF HIS NINTH RESTAURANT WITH A REINVENTED SPIN ON URBAN-WESTERN CUISINE — AND THE DEBUT OF AN ENVIABLE 10,000-SQUARE-FOOT GARDEN. Gemelle's al fresco bar Gemelle's garden and bocce ball courts The garden's outdoor cabana lounge