Brisket

I am about six months behind reading my Texas Monthly magazines. The July issue's main lead was "The Top Fifty BBQ joints in Texas." For those of us who love bbq brisket--this article brought out the taste buds.

Warning: the following descriptions of brisket will cause you to jump in the car and drive to find the nearest good brisket (very few places exist in Nashville, unfortunately); here are some of the descripions of the meat the committee found:"swoon-inducing", "perfectly balanced bite of meat, fat, smoke and fire", "flavorful and savory", "delectable hickory-smoked","served in a broth of beef juices and spicy sauce","tender, salty, fall-off-the bone succulent", "perfectly crispy, yet moist", "the fat melted and the tender slices could be cut with the fork edge", "the marbled edges were as soft as warm butter", " a char that crunches slightly", etc. This is definitely not pulled pork.

There were also odes to white bread, potato salad, slaw and peach cobbler. By the way, they selected as the best Snow's BBQ in Lexington, Texas. Harold's in Abilene was highly rated, as well. It is almost blasphemous to say this, but I really do not like Harold's--too dry and the sauce is too sweet. Joe Allen's is not even mentioned. I think Joe's ex-wife's BBQ place has pushed his aside.

Hey, let's take a road trip to Texas!

Texas Monthly

Reading Texas Monthly is like a visit home. The magazine is so thick and full of stuff to read, I usually put it at the back of my pile waiting for a longer span of time. Today, I just sat down and finally read the August '06 issue. Yes, I am behind on my other magazines too.

From the editorials to the advertisements, the Monthly shouts Texas and all it uniqueness. A review of the last governor's race and interview with an illegal immigrant who has been in Texas for 16 years lead the articles. My favorite feature now is a series of columns "Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch" detailing what it is like to live on a Texas ranch in the 21st century. The advertisements beckon one to Mexican restuarants in San Antonio and Austin, and try mightly to see buyers expensive condos in Horseshoe Bay. Texas furniture is displayed and lighted as if it were works of art. Paul Burka, another favorite writer, writes challenging columns on Texas politics which pretty well help me sort out my belief that no state in the Union has such strange bedfellows serving in state government. At least I thought that until I moved to Nashville!

Recipes for Southwestern dishes abound and make me yearn for Perini Ranch in Abilene.

Oh, well I am in the land of trees and gorgeous springs now, and I do enjoy that.