I've had it on my list but haven't made it there yet. Thanks for the reminder.

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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According to that video, her daughter-in-law runs El Paraiso because her son passed away.

7th generation Texan from East Texas. My GGgranmother was born in the Republic. All farmers until my dad. our typical meal was speckled peas, turnip green, corn on the ob, okra, fried salt pork with hot water cornbread. Iced tea and pecan pie for dessert.

Frito pie (diced onions)

I think we've missed one that absolutely 100% traces its roots to Texas:

8th Generation Texan here. My GGGGGGGrandfatherwas a scout to the Republic before Austin dragged the Old 300 (297) over. A typical breakfast was a simple dough wrapped around a small link of sausage and baked in a dutch oven over a fire. Sometimes they'd substitute fruit with and without a cream cheese mixture on special occasions.

Bruce Almighty said:

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Chicken fried kolache stuffed with fajita meat and topped with smoked brisket chili, queso and crushed fritos. Dr. Pepper and pecan pie on the side.

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That. Is. Awesome.
Gimme!

Backyard Gator said:

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Bruce Almighty said:

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Chicken fried kolache stuffed with fajita meat and topped with smoked brisket chili, queso and crushed fritos. Dr. Pepper and pecan pie on the side.

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Dayum ......where is that served. If it tastes half as good as it looks it might be worth the drive.

Rattler12 said:

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Backyard Gator said:

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Bruce Almighty said:

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Chicken fried kolache stuffed with fajita meat and topped with smoked brisket chili, queso and crushed fritos. Dr. Pepper and pecan pie on the side.

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Dayum ......where is that served. If it tastes half as good as it looks it might be worth the drive.

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At the AI Cafe. BTW, this is some sort of Yankee crap -- beans in the chili.

HtownAg92 said:

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Rattler12 said:

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Backyard Gator said:

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Bruce Almighty said:

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Chicken fried kolache stuffed with fajita meat and topped with smoked brisket chili, queso and crushed fritos. Dr. Pepper and pecan pie on the side.

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Dayum ......where is that served. If it tastes half as good as it looks it might be worth the drive.

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At the AI Cafe. BTW, this is some sort of Yankee crap -- beans in the chili.

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In Houston?

HtownAg92 said:

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Rattler12 said:

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Backyard Gator said:

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Bruce Almighty said:

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Chicken fried kolache stuffed with fajita meat and topped with smoked brisket chili, queso and crushed fritos. Dr. Pepper and pecan pie on the side.

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Dayum ......where is that served. If it tastes half as good as it looks it might be worth the drive.

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At the AI Cafe. BTW, this is some sort of Yankee crap -- beans in the chili.

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No beans

HtownAg92 said:

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Rattler12 said:

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Backyard Gator said:

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Bruce Almighty said:

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Chicken fried kolache stuffed with fajita meat and topped with smoked brisket chili, queso and crushed fritos. Dr. Pepper and pecan pie on the side.

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Dayum ......where is that served. If it tastes half as good as it looks it might be worth the drive.

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At the AI Cafe. BTW, this is some sort of Yankee crap -- beans in the chili.

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Doesn't look like a bowl of chili so the beans are fine. Apparently your idea of chili might need some "adjustment"

Rattler12 said:

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HtownAg92 said:

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Rattler12 said:

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Backyard Gator said:

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Bruce Almighty said:

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Chicken fried kolache stuffed with fajita meat and topped with smoked brisket chili, queso and crushed fritos. Dr. Pepper and pecan pie on the side.

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Dayum ......where is that served. If it tastes half as good as it looks it might be worth the drive.

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At the AI Cafe. BTW, this is some sort of Yankee crap -- beans in the chili.

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Doesn't look like a bowl of chili so the beans are fine. Apparently your idea of chili might need some "adjustment"

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This is a thread about Texas food and the description included chili. No beans in chili is a universal, unassailable truth in Texas. Hence, the picture that included a bean falling out of the chili goes against the idea of the thread, and against the rules of Texas and God. Doesn't matter if it is a bowl of chili.

Are you saying that it would be okay to put chili with beans on a hot dog in Texas, because it isn't in a bowl?

Get a rope.

HtownAg92 said:

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Rattler12 said:

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HtownAg92 said:

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Rattler12 said:

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Backyard Gator said:

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Bruce Almighty said:

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Chicken fried kolache stuffed with fajita meat and topped with smoked brisket chili, queso and crushed fritos. Dr. Pepper and pecan pie on the side.

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Dayum ......where is that served. If it tastes half as good as it looks it might be worth the drive.

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At the AI Cafe. BTW, this is some sort of Yankee crap -- beans in the chili.

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Doesn't look like a bowl of chili so the beans are fine. Apparently your idea of chili might need some "adjustment"

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This is a thread about Texas food and the description included chili. No beans in chili is a universal, unassailable truth in Texas. Hence, the picture that included a bean falling out of the chili goes against the idea of the thread, and against the rules of Texas and God. Doesn't matter if it is a bowl of chili.

Are you saying that it would be okay to put chili with beans on a hot dog in Texas, because it isn't in a bowl?

Get a rope.

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But green onion tops, bell pepper, red bell pepper, cheese sauce and fritos do belong in chili......Ok I'll give you the fritos ....just cause frito pie

I left Connecticut, where I was born/raised, for Texas A&M when I was 18. Had NO clue what to expect when I arrived in Texas.

In no particular order....

• Thought Chicken Fried Steak was chicken. Can't say I loved it at first, but boy oh boy, I do miss it now that I'm in East Tennessee.
• Went to Tom's BBQ and fell in love with Smoked Sausage. Came to love brisket (to this day) too.
• Had my first Iced Tea when I was 18. It took me awhile before I became used to it.
• Thought I was going to die when I first ate Mexican food...it was so hot! Now I laugh, when I think of that.

Ruby red grapefruit broiled with honey on top and served with Texas toast and eggs. Used to be cheaper than orange juice.

Rattler12 said:

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HtownAg92 said:

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Rattler12 said:

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HtownAg92 said:

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Rattler12 said:

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Backyard Gator said:

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Bruce Almighty said:

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Chicken fried kolache stuffed with fajita meat and topped with smoked brisket chili, queso and crushed fritos. Dr. Pepper and pecan pie on the side.

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Dayum ......where is that served. If it tastes half as good as it looks it might be worth the drive.

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At the AI Cafe. BTW, this is some sort of Yankee crap -- beans in the chili.

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Doesn't look like a bowl of chili so the beans are fine. Apparently your idea of chili might need some "adjustment"

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This is a thread about Texas food and the description included chili. No beans in chili is a universal, unassailable truth in Texas. Hence, the picture that included a bean falling out of the chili goes against the idea of the thread, and against the rules of Texas and God. Doesn't matter if it is a bowl of chili.

Are you saying that it would be okay to put chili with beans on a hot dog in Texas, because it isn't in a bowl?

Get a rope.

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But green onion tops, bell pepper, red bell pepper, cheese sauce and fritos do belong in chili......Ok I'll give you the fritos ....just cause frito pie

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That's the fajita meat, queso, and Fritos, which was part of the original description

Speckled Trout said:

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King Ranch Casserole

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Great answer!!

Gnome Sayin said:

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T bone steak, don't want green beans

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We don't serve no *******ed trout

Read through the Reddit post from OP. Seeing what mid-west foods they wanted to eat is flat out depressing.

God bless Texas.

Where does buttermilk pie fit into this? I don't know if it's Texan or southern, just that it's a damn fine pie.

Slicer97 said:

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Where does buttermilk pie fit into this? I don't know if it's Texan or southern, just that it's a damn fine pie.

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Definitely southern and not sure if it was invented here, but became popular here. A good buttermilk pie is hard to beat.