Inspired by this post, because apparently Midwestern food is bland and flavorless

I'm thinking chili with cornbread on the side

Tex-Mex BBQ fusion, barbecue brisket in a corn torilla with pico

BBQ brisket, corny dogs, and chili are all Texas originals

If someone asked for an authentic Texas meal, what would you recommend?

dustin999 said:

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Chicken fried steak over mashed potatoes with gravy and green beans with a sweet tea or a shiner bock.

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I thought about chicken fried steak, but that isn't a dish identified as originally created in Texas.

I think German settlers are credited with it, adapting schnitzel from veal to the widely available beef here.

HTownAg98 said:

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You're kind of making the point that I don't think you can point to a truly authentic Texas dish. Everything more or less evolved from something else. Chili has its roots in Mexico. Smoked brisket is an amalgam of Spanish-Eastern European meat cookery. Kolaches definitely came from Eastern Europe.

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Chili, corny dogs, BBQ brisket, Tex-Mex all are identified as foods that were created in Texas, though.

I've read claims that klobasnek was invented by Czech-Texans, even though we know it is an evolution of kolaches. Wendel Montgomery is credited with creating it.

I'm not trying to gatekeep on what is authentic Texan cuisine, just pointing out why I didn't mention chicken fried steak in my original post.

This is a fun thread.

T bone steak, don't want green beans

jja79 said:

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I live in an area with a lot of North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, etc people and can confirm they hate flavor and delicious food. Bland can't begin to describe how horrible the food they eat is.

Legitimate melt in your mouth brisket or chicken fried steak would be my picks.

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Have you been to TexAz Grill? Off 51 at Bethany Home. It tastes like Texas. I think they even have Blue Bell now.

Corn bread and ranch style beans.

Backyard Gator said:

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Max Power said:

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There's an argument to be made for several of the suggestions above.

These feel the most universal to me, not necessarily in this order:
1 - Chili with cornbread or Frito Chili Pie
2 - Cheese Enchiladas
3 - Brisket
4 - Chicken Fried Steak
5 - Breakfast tacos

Honorable mention:
Though not unique to Texas the desserts I associate with home are banana pudding and pecan pie, even more than a Texas sheet cake to me.

A meal of Frito Chili Pie with a Dr. Pepper followed by a bowl of banana pudding feels about as Texas as you can get.

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When I was researching this topic earlier, both pecan pie and Dr Pepper were mentioned as foods invented in Texas.

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After thinking about that some, I can go with pecan pie and Dr. Pepper. Might as well add Big Red as well. Frito pie is something else that could go on a list.

Can't go with breakfast tacos though. Those came out of the guisados of Northern Mexico. A chorizo con papas taco is puro Mexicano.

HTownAg98 said:

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Backyard Gator said:

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Max Power said:

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There's an argument to be made for several of the suggestions above.

These feel the most universal to me, not necessarily in this order:
1 - Chili with cornbread or Frito Chili Pie
2 - Cheese Enchiladas
3 - Brisket
4 - Chicken Fried Steak
5 - Breakfast tacos

Honorable mention:
Though not unique to Texas the desserts I associate with home are banana pudding and pecan pie, even more than a Texas sheet cake to me.

A meal of Frito Chili Pie with a Dr. Pepper followed by a bowl of banana pudding feels about as Texas as you can get.

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When I was researching this topic earlier, both pecan pie and Dr Pepper were mentioned as foods invented in Texas.

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After thinking about that some, I can go with pecan pie and Dr. Pepper. Might as well add Big Red as well. Frito pie is something else that could go on a list.

Can't go with breakfast tacos though. Those came out of the guisados of Northern Mexico. A chorizo con papas taco is puro Mexicano.

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Gotcha, I just figured breakfast tacos were a Texas thing because of how many people I've known from other states that have heard of and eaten breakfast burritos, but had never had breakfast tacos until they came to Texas. I associate pecan pie with Texas but since pecan trees grow in so many states (from Arizona to the Carolinas) I had no idea where the pie itself originated from, but I'm glad to hear it's from Texas since it's probably my favorite dessert.

Big Red makes sense as well, but I've never been a fan of it. My dad was the only person in our house that liked it, and it was rarely found in my friends houses either, but Dr. Pepper was always around.

Doing a little research it appears that banana pudding has roots from the English trifle, then found in the North and Midwest USA before it eventually made its way to the south.

I'll amend my most Texas meal to Frito Pie, still with Dr. Pepper, followed up with pecan pie.

Rattler12 said:

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dustin999 said:

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Chicken fried steak over mashed potatoes with gravy and green beans with a sweet tea or a shiner bock.

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At Antlers Cafe on 46 east of 281....

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I haven't heard of this. I'm up the road in Dripping Springs so may have to check this out.

HtownAg92 said:

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Being in Arkansas for a couple of years, I would say the Texas food I miss (because you can't get it here) is brisket and Tex-Mex. So that would be what I associate most with Texas.

That said, I think a perfect Texas meal would include CFS.

CFS, two cheese enchiladas, rice and beans and a side of brisket. I'm going with Big Red too instead of DP.

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I think they have you covered in Zapata

Backyard Gator said:

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HtownAg92 said:

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Being in Arkansas for a couple of years, I would say the Texas food I miss (because you can't get it here) is brisket and Tex-Mex. So that would be what I associate most with Texas.

That said, I think a perfect Texas meal would include CFS.

CFS, two cheese enchiladas, rice and beans and a side of brisket. I'm going with Big Red too instead of DP.

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I think they have you covered in Zapata

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That looks awesome.

Ag83 said:

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dustin999 said:

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Chicken fried steak over mashed potatoes with gravy and green beans with a sweet tea or a shiner bock.

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You forgot that it needs to be cream gravy over the CFS and mashed potatoes (both; and not some little "dollop" ****). Cover those things. Otherwise spot on.

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Too much cream gravy ......as in a little bowl of it on the side just in case they didn't put enough on the CFS and the tators.

Yes, yes, yes... gravy on the side (with mashed potatoes and fried okra).

Brisket, cheese enchiladas, fajitas and pecan(less) pie round out my top 5.

My mom would make a special one for me at Thanksgiving and Christmas. What made it special? No pecans. Just crust and goo!

MarylandAG said:

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Now you all hit me where it hurts, Zapata, TX is HOME it is where I was raised! We referred to El Paraiso as Tencha's because that was Doña Hortencia's nickname name and yes the CFS is all that and a bowl of grits! If I am not mistaken her kids run several restaurants in town. There used to be a place called the Hawk'Landing that had the best fried chicken I have ever had and I am well traveled and you could get a cheeseburger con frijoles, don't knock it till you try it!!! Damn the memories.

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Damn you, now I need to make this.

One of the things I would order at our local Tex-mex joint when I was a kid was cheese enchiladas with fries and a glass of milk. You used the fries to sop up all the cheese and sauce. The owner almost put it on the menu. Might also explain why I'm a fatass.