Brisket Is Named Texas’ Must-Try Food

A recent article on Thrillist shows that I've got some traveling to do as it outlines the best thing to eat in every state of the USA. What does it say about Texas?

According to the website's map, Texas' must-try food is brisket. To which I say: duh!

I have no idea why a lot of my posts revolve around food. I'm not terribly overweight. I'm not a junk food junkie. I'm just passionate about everything that involves living 'The Good Life:" art, music, history, cigars, fine spirits, wines and beer, and, of course, FOOD!

My upbringing in San Antonio, Texas exposed me to a wide variety of various food styles. And I'm fortunate to have a son-in-law who owns several restarurants in and around San Antonio that include such luminaries such as the upscale Tre Tratorilla and the more casual Two Bros. BBQ. In fact, Anthony Bordain used a picture of food from 'Two Bros' for the cover art of one of his recent books!

While it's no longer a secret and may very well be trendy or passe to say, the brisket from Franklin's down in Austin tops the Texas list. I've eaten the brisket and the legend is 100 percent  truth! While many have ventured, only the lucky ones with perseverance of steel actually succeed in obtaining the best, most moist, flavorful brisket I've ever tasted (and I've tasted a LOT!).

You see, the line at Franklin's starts at about 8 a.m. The darn place doesn't even start allowing folks inside until after 10 a.m., and the brisket is likely sold out by 11:30 a.m. on a daily basis.

So, unless you get there early and are prepared to wait in line for a few hours in hopes of a chance of sinking your fangs into some of this amazing meat, chances are you'll be outta luck. Insider tip: call in your order a few days before and ask for it to go!

Other highlights from the list, and from states I've actually spent some time in, include the Bering Sea Red King Crab up in Alaska at Tracy's King Crab Shack in Juneau. (Think bigger than ballpark frank style crab meat portions and sweeter than the best snow crab meat you've ever eaten.)

California has mastered the art of the burrito, and nobody does it better than La Taqueria in San Franciso's Mission Burrito. I lived in Iowa for a spell too, and their state slogan should be 'Corn and Pork- The Ones You Love.' Never have I had pork (or corn for that matter) as good as what they raise in Iowa. The Pork Tenderloin sandwich from Breitbach's Country Dining in Sherrill is the bomb!

If you're gonna go gumbo, Louisiana is the state for it and New Orleans the place -- namely, the gumbo from Dooky Chase's Restaurant.

And finally, while Nevada isn't famous for much aside from Silver, brothels, 24-hour drinking and gambling, the casinos are known for massive buffets and a slant toward sea food.

While the survey indicates Golden Gate Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas (Lost Wages, as we locals in the north referred to our much more famous sister city) and their shrimp cocktail as the state winner, I beg to differ.

Nothing -- absolutely no thought or imagination -- goes into a shrimp cocktail. Large shrimp, great cocktail sauce -- that's it. Anyone can do it! Instead, I'd opt for the combo shrimp and crab pan roast as done in the Oyster bar at Spark's Nevada's John Ascuaga's Nugget as one of the best binge meals I've ever eaten. Heavy cream, tomato, lots of Chardonnay wine, some secret other spices and spirits go into this heavy calorie bowl of love. It's a must-try if you're ever in the Reno area.