Hey there,
On Tuesday, I was a judge for the Big Tex Choice Awards. Thirty local food reporters and such worked through 15 different fair foods: five savory, five sweet and five sippers.
Longtime CBS sports producer Lance Barrow sat next to me. He lit up talking about food. He told stories about the simple delight of eating out, and how he learned to appreciate it after spending time with John Madden back in the day.
Early in the competition, I lamented the feast ahead of us, and he said to me, like he was talking to a kid who had their heart broken for the first time, “Sometimes ... you gotta eat hurt.”
Eat hurt we did. The problem was that the first dish we tried was so good: a taco burger with a shell made from smashed tater tots and cheese, grilled together. I knew I shouldn’t have more than three bites, but couldn’t stop. Same thing with a slice of cheesecake covered in matcha and strawberry sauce (most creative winner). The last thing we tried was an agua fresca drink with coconut snow and fruit. You’d think I’d be too full to finish it, right? Nope. I ate hurt.
There was only one fried food that won a prize: Fletcher’s chocolate corny dog. It's like a regular corndog, but chocolate instead of a weiner in the middle. Feels like an idea that’s been hiding in plain sight, right? It's only $7, and I’m glad it won best sweet.
In other food news, I tried the new spot Alara in the Design District. I really wanted to love it. I simply didn’t. A service glitch resulted in an uncomfortably long dinner. And the chicken shish tawook plate was just uneventful, and the $40 price tag felt outrageous. I don’t think they’re making the pita there. The idea is basic: leavened bread, rice, roasted vegetables and protein. Sometimes that can be beautiful, but gentrifying staples rarely lands well.
There’s also a possibility that I’m absolutely ruined by Fattoush in Pantego; it’s the best Mediterranean food I’ve ever had. I’ll fight about it. I eat there often. (In part because it's so affordable.)
This week we’re working on a piece about a trip to the Texas wine country (yes, still). And we also have some local mom-and-pop Thai spots you should visit.
Eat hurt,
