It's hard to hear me talk for longer than roughly three minutes and not realize just how much I love being from Texas. I love it all. I live for the landscape and the flatness and the stars that are brighter than anything you've ever seen. I love the genuine nature of people and their hospitality, the twinkle in their eyes. I really love the food--the barbecue, the breakfast tacos, the beer.
I am completely unapologetic about my love for my roots, and you'll be reading a lot about that from me here.
John Steinbeck said it best:
“I have said that Texas is a state of mind, but I think it is more than that. It is a mystique closely approximating a religion. And this is true to the extent that people either passionately love Texas or passionately hate it and, as in other religions, few people dare to inspect it for fear of losing their bearings in mystery or paradox. But I think there will be little quarrel with my feeling that Texas is one thing. For all its enormous range of space, climate, and physical appearance, and for all the internal squabbles, contentions, and strivings, Texas has a tight cohesiveness perhaps stronger than any other section of America. Rich, poor, Panhandle, Gulf, city, country, Texas is the obsession, the proper study, and the passionate possession of all Texans.”
::: Waco :::
the beloved birthplace of myself and Dr. Pepper, alike. headquarters of Baylor University.
eat: if you're hankering for mexican, get the india and a meltdown margarita at ninfa's.
bbq? go for the gut pack at vitek's.
soup and sandwiches? olive branch is the way to go (my favs are the guacamole + turkey grilled cheese and the santa fe sandwich... they also have fabulous breakfast).
other solid breakfast options: breakfast burritos at jalisco's or leal's; chocolate chip pecan pancakes or gingerbread belgian waffles at cafe cappuccino.
for the quintessential greasy, indulgent Waco experience, go for a big 'o' (beer), fried pickles and chicken fried steak at george's.
swing by the farmer's market if you're into that sorta thing.
and my personal favorite solo dessert is an oreo cyclone from katie's.
drink: an 1885 from dichotomy (espresso + dublin dr. pepper. amazing.), rodeo clown or milky way from common grounds.
get your beer fix at cricket's or dancing bear pub.
explore: trek across the historic suspension bridge. walk through the campus of my gorgeous alma mater (and marvel at mclane stadium). spend an hour or so at the dr. pepper museum. stroll through the mayborn and texas ranger hall of fame.
play: see what you can find at shops at river square, roots, and congress clothing.
