Frito Pie

There are a few things you should know about Texas. First, everything is bigger in Texas. Second, the barbecue. And third but not least, turns out one of my favorite snacks is from Texas, Fritos Corn Chips. Fritos were born in the 1930's in San Antonio, TX. I can only imagine that not too much later we got the best way to eat a Frito known to mankind, the Frito Pie.

Some of you may be familiar with the version of Frito Pie that involves a small bag of Fritos, a scoop of chili and a handful of cheese. That is the version I got when I ordered it at Fox Brothers BBQ in Atlanta. Not bad at all.

Fox Brother's BBQ Frito Pie

I recently had the chance to try a local Texas version of this wonderful dish. I was having lunch at a place called Kelley's Country Cookin'. That bit right there should tell you all you need to know about Kelley's. There's a section on the menu called J.W.'s Chili Favorites. Two things stood out: the Texas Special for the Real Texan (how could a person NOT order that?) and Kelley's Chili Pie. What follows may not be pretty, may seem way over the top and unhealthful in the extreme. Yes, yes, it's all of those things but, oh my is it good. So, so good, and awful and wonderful. A plate full of guilt and hard arteries and awesomeness.

Kelley's Chili Pie

Texas Special for the Real Texan

A big plate of delicious

In case I haven't made it clear, I love this stuff. Really. It's a guilty pleasure I just can't quit. So, while I can't in good conscience tell you to, you know, go out and try it, let me state for the record that if you do, IF you do, you won't be sorry. At least not right away.

Happy dining!

Killen's Barbecue - Pearland, Texas

There's a big stir happening in the local barbecue scene. Ronnie Killen is/was most  known for his fine dining steakhouse. (A place that is on our short list to visit) A while back Mr. Killen started offering barbecue at his steakhouse. He ran it as a pop-up and served on the weekends. Word spread, like it does when good food is in the mix, and before you know it Killen's Barbecue was underway. To appease the BBQ hoards Ronnie started serving BBQ at the site of the new restaurant on weekends. People came from all over, lines formed, barbecue was served.

Finally the actual restaurant was opened. People came from all over, the lines were long. 

A little bit ago the Dining Companion, the 4 Pound Wonder and I headed to Pearland to see what all the fuss was about. We got in line about 10:30am and were served at about noon give or take. On my way to the counter I had the chance to check the place out.

Dining room awaiting the hungry masses

There's also an outdoor dining area. Or the start of one at least. I hope it gets a nice cover before the south Texas summer rolls in.

As I headed toward the counter I passed the menu board (scroll down for menu).
(Sorry no pic, it was hand written on a piece of brown butcher paper and showed meats and sides for the day)

Ronnie Killen carving brisket

Brisket ready for the lunch crowds

Sides

I made my way to the counter and placed our order. We decided on the brisket, beef rib, pork ribs, and sausage. No sides. I'm sure the sides are fine but given our druthers we usually just stick with the main event, the barbecue.

That's a serious beef rib

Sausage, Brisket, Pork Rib, Beef Rib (L-R)

 

The food was good. The brisket was moist and tender, well smoked. The sausage was great, it was my favorite item. The beef rib, while good, brought home to me once again that I am just not a fan. If you like a "pot roast" like flavor the beef rib is for you. It is melt in your mouth tender and has that certain something that brings to mind a Sunday roast. The pork ribs had good flavor but were just a shade off of being perfectly cooked. A little too much chew and not quite coming off the bone.

Barbecue sauce is available but you really won't need it. All I remember about the sauces are that one is a bit sweet, one is a bit spicy and one tastes like coffee.

If you're in the Houston area and don't want to, or can't, make the 3 hour plus drive to Austin, by all means, give this place a try. You'll have good barbecue and the fun(!) and excitement of waiting on line with several other BBQ enthusiast. The food is good, maybe on its way to being great, but, for my money, if you want to experience the best barbecue the state has to offer, Austin is still the place to be. 

Happy dining!

Rudy's Country Store and BBQ - Webster, TX

There's a lot of BBQ in Texas. Everything from mom and pop joints to more widely available chains. Rudy's is one of those chains. I know what you might be thinking; a chain, how good can it be? Well, as it turns out, surprisingly good for a place that also sells gas. Rudy's started life as a gas station and grocery store located in the Texas Hill Country town of Leon Springs. They added barbecue in 1989 and the rest as they say is history. Rudy's has expanded from its small town origins and now locations can be found all over the southwestern United States.

Rudy's is set up as what I've come to know as a typical "meat market" style barbecue spot. You stand in a snaky line and wait for your turn at the ordering counter. You then order the meats you want by the half pound or on a sandwich. (The menus are posted on the walls)

We ended up ordering some pork loin, turkey and links of sausage. There was also prime rib available the day we were there so we grabbed some of that.

The only side we got was Rudy's Green Chili Stew. The stew is a blend of chilies, potatoes, carrots and pork. I think it's pork anyway; full of flavor in any case. They offer several different sides and desserts too.

Green Chili Stew

We've been to Rudy's a few times and I have no doubt that we'll be going back. Ice cold beer and good barbecue, it doesn't get much better than that. If you're in Texas or the southwest don't hesitate to give Rudy's a try. It's the real deal.

Happy dining!

Note: A new BBQ place has opened nearby that is being compared to Franklin Barbeque in Austin. As some of you may have read here Franklin has the best BBQ we've ever had. We'll be heading to the new spot to see for ourselves. Stay tuned for the results.

Let's Eat!

If there is a best part of being on the road it just might be the chance to try some great food. Over the years the Dining Companion and I have had the good fortune to dine all over the country. Today I'm going to run down some of the best places we've tried. Places worth seeking out if you're in the area and some places worth a journey all their own.

I've written about this before but my hands down favorite breakfast place is the Red Eyed Mule in Marietta, GA. A small breakfast and lunch spot run by a great group of people. The food is fresh and imaginative and doesn't disappoint.

Sometimes finding the goods means getting out of the city. One of the best places to find something good to eat is along the Buford Highway that runs from Atlanta to Buford, GA.The Crawfish Shack had some of the best Cajun style seafood we've eaten anywhere. A trip out to the Buford Highway is a must do when in the Atlanta area.

Our vote for the best barbeque is still Franklin Barbeque in Austin, TX. We can't compare this to anything else because it's in a class by itself. All we can say, is that if you love BBQ and want to experience the best, head to Franklin in Austin.

Having eaten at many Brazilian Steakhouses it was a revelation to eat at a restaurant that served other traditional Brazilian food. On the recommendation of our server at Fogo de Chao we tried Sao Paulo's in Austin. The food we had was flavorful and interesting. It brought another ethnic food to our awareness and something else to seek out in our travels.

One of my favorite things to eat has got to be a cheeseburger. Cheeseburgers are pretty ubiquitous and we've eaten them everywhere. The ones that stand out are not necessarily the fanciest or most gourmet. One of my favorite places to get a cheeseburger is the Northgate Soda Shop in Greenville, SC. A nostalgia filled diner that serves up some regional favorites. Specifically the Carolina Slaw Dogs and the Pimento Cheeseburger. Worth seeking out. A local favorite and a fun stop.

An honorable mention here for The Vortex in Atlanta. It served up one of the most memorable burgers for sheer size and ridiculousness. Grilled cheese sandwiches for buns, multiple patties, bacon and cheese. A crazy over the top plate of goodness.

In the last but not least category we have Corea Kalbi in Newport Beach, CA. This was our first encounter with Korean BBQ. All types of meats are grilled at your table and served with a large variety of condiments. We'd never had anything quite like it and haven't really since. If you're lucky enough to have a Korean BBQ restaurant in your area you should give it a try. One of the most fun and interesting dining experiences we've had.

These are just of a few of the places that have stood out for us over the years. Places that I would return to again given the opportunity.We're looking forward to more interesting and exciting dining in the future. When we find the gems, whether hidden or smack in the middle of the tourist districts, you'll read about them here.

Happy dining!