Thai Isan mixes spicy, traditional Thai dishes with the down-home smoke of locally beloved Lone Star favorites like brisket and catfish.

The background: The concept was born at home, when Co-owner Suriyawadee Phapa began cooking traditional Thai dishes that quickly impressed her husband and business partner, Todd Ratajik.

After nearly a year of recipe testing—including video calls with family in Thailand to refine techniques—the husband and wife duo opened Thai Isan in March 2025, Ratajik said.

Both owners have lived in Texas for 12 years and wanted to tailor the menu to reflect the region they now call home, Ratajik said.

Ratajik handles much of the front-of-house work, as well as marketing and social media. Meanwhile, the kitchen is led entirely by Phapa, who oversees all back-of-house operations and recipe development.

“Her influence is unbelievable, and she's a monster in the kitchen,” Ratajik said.

French Cowboys has reopened the former Heidelberg Lodges property on the Comal River as Petit Cowboy—located at 1020 N. Houston Ave.—following a property-wide restoration of the historic riverside retreat, according to a news release March 2.

The details: The 23-cabin, 48-room property has welcomed guests since the 1930s, according to the release.

The Pool House and Bar also serves as the property's lobby and social hub, offering an all-day food and beverage menu, the release states.

French Cowboys, a Texas-based hospitality brand founded by Franklin Dusserre and Dylan Petrich, acquired it in February 2025 and spent the following year modernizing amenities while preserving its historic character, Co-founder Dylan Petrich said.

“The Petit Cowboy property has been part of New Braunfels summers for generations. Our role is to preserve what makes it special while making it functional for how people travel today,” Petrich said in the release.

Updates include refreshed interiors, new kitchenette appliances, smart locks and year-round pool maintenance, the release states.

• 1020 N. Houston Ave., New Braunfels

More than 229,000 students have applied to receive state funds for private education or homeschooling under Texas’ education savings account program, according to the state comptroller’s office.

By the numbers: State data indicates that the most applications have been submitted on behalf of students living in urban areas and the surrounding suburban communities. As of March 8, students living in Houston ISD’s boundaries led the pack with over 8,900 applications, followed by 6,700 applicants in Dallas ISD.

The data reflects how many students living in each district's boundaries have applied, including those not currently enrolled in a public school.

The background: State lawmakers created the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program in 2025.

Students accepted for the 2026-27 school year will receive $10,474 for private education or up to $2,000 for homeschool. Students with disabilities can receive up to $30,000 each.

More details: Of the first 152,000 program applicants, nearly three-quarters were not enrolled in a public school during the 2025-26 school year, data obtained by the Texas Center for Voucher Transparency shows.