91160 Sun Jan 25 12:46:02 -0800 2004 10 5 Texas 0 501088 Wondering what traditional foods Houston is famous for, as we need to offer Super Bowl specials. Boston is famous for lobster, clam chowder and baked beans, etc, N.O. jambalaya, S.F., Ciopino Thanks, Sun Jan 25 12:46:02 -0800 2004 0 Patsfan 1 501089 Fajitas, Chili, BBQ and Shiner beer. Sun Jan 25 13:59:20 -0800 2004 501088 0 John Scar 2 501090 By bbq, I assume beef? What about the chili. Beans or no? I know I'll get reamed for this one. Mon Jan 26 08:46:08 -0800 2004 501089 0 Patsfan 3 501093 In Texas, BBQ generally means slow-smoked beef brisket. If it's not brisket, then it's German-style smoked sausage. In my opinion, ribs are third in the scheme of things here in Texas. As for chili...well, you were right. Why would you even ASK THE QUESTION?!?!? ;^) No beans. Just beef, spices and beer. Maybe some saltine crackers on the side. When you say "traditional" Houston food, keep in mind that we're not exactly a "traditional" city. We like to tear down our history (which is very short compared to you up north...Houston's been here almost 170 years) and replace it with the new and modern. As a port city (at least for the last 100 years, since they dug the 50-mile ditch, errr, Ship Channel from the Gulf) Houston's been influenced by a number of different groups. Italians, Greeks, Germans, Cajuns, Creoles, and today it continues with Vietnamese, Middle Easterners, Indo-Pak... I guess I can't really answer your question about "traditional" Houston food...it's a good one! The only thing I could really add to John Scar's response is seafood...boiled shrimp, fried shrimp, blue crabs, plenty of freshwater and deep sea fish. Mon Jan 26 09:38:19 -0800 2004 501090 0 Jesse James 4 501095 Thanks. Unfortunately we get out shrimp frozen, so it won't be the same, although how is it usually served? We serve it with cocktail sauce, horseradish, etc. Cold or warm? Mon Jan 26 10:52:01 -0800 2004 501093 0 Patsfan 5 501096 Cold boiled shrimp is my favorite. It's usually served with a spicy cocktail sauce, although I prefer just the shrimp, with no sauce. I do boil my shrimp with a "shrimp boil", though, for flavor. Mon Jan 26 11:08:31 -0800 2004 501095 0 Jesse James 6 501118 And for the "shrimp boil," get Zatarain's. We like our shrimp spicy down here. You'd be laughed right out of town if you used some wimpy ol' yankee shrimp boil. Wed Jan 28 15:46:23 -0800 2004 501096 0 ChrissieH 1 501094 I'd say either Tex-Mex or BBQ are good Houston foods. Smoked or sausage brisquit for the meat. Potato salad and cole slaw are good sides. Chili (bean free is a must) is also a pretty good idea. Top it with grated cheese, diced onions and jalapenos. Maybe some chile-con-queso on the side, or seven layer dip. Margarita or Lone Star beer to wash it down with. Image: http://img12.photobucket.com/albums/v36/BellaireCoog/superbowl.jpg Mon Jan 26 10:13:08 -0800 2004 501088 0 MidtownCoog 1 501113 I'd add to the other posters my mentioning Cajun food. Shrimp, crabs, oysters, jambalaya, boudin, gumbo. Pecan pie is very Texas. Pronounced peh-CAHN, not PEE-can. Don't worry about the shrimp being frozen, a lot of restaurants use them that way and much of what I've read indicates little taste difference between frozen and fresh, especially since it's hard to keep the unfrozen ones very fresh for long. Hope your team wins. Wed Jan 28 00:37:51 -0800 2004 501088 0 Tex Nosh 1 501138 VERY "traditional" throughout Texas.... Get a bunch of small, individual packages of Fritos (1 per diner). Rip open the back seam. Ladle in some good chili. Top with grated cheese & chopped onions. You eat this healthful delicacy with a spoon (traditionally plastic) right out of the handy disposable container. Clean-up, clearly, is a breeze. Fri Jan 30 10:15:00 -0800 2004 501088 0 ChrissieH 2 501227 yum. I think I'll make that with homemade chili this weekend. reminds me of little league football games when I was a kid. Fri Feb 06 10:11:54 -0800 2004 501138 0 MidtownCoog