Chili de Las Comadres
Sisters Maria and Sylvia Calderon cook side by side in their tiny eatery located on the banks of the Ramos river in Allende, Mexico under a towering tree. At their …
Talking About Tex-Mex in Old Mexico
I’ll be attending the Foro Parallelo Monterrey this week. I’m giving a talk on chili con carne and its role in Tex-Mex to the gastronomic conference. Should be amusing! Come …
Chili Americana: Landmark Chili Parlors
Opened in 1958 in a former theater at 1213 U Street, Ben’s is a Washington D.C. landmark and an icon of the golden age of chili parlors. Ben’s signature dish, …
El Real Wins “Best Tex-Mex”
I am pleased to announce that in the annual Houston Press “Best of Houston” awards, El Real Tex-Mex Cafe won “Best Tex-Mex” and “Best Enchiladas.” Funny, I used to give …
All Puffed Up at El Real Tex Mex
Daily Meal’s 35 Best Tacos in America feature came out Monday and it listed El Real’s Chicken Puffy Taco as #7 in the nation. It’s a little embarrassing to be …
Gustavo Arellano: “Tex-Mex is Dying”
Gustavo Arellano’s oft-stated opinion that “Tex-Mex is dying,” has been forwarded to me repeatedly by Tex-Mex enthusiasts. They think I should challenge him to a debate–or a duel. Few people …
Tex-Mex & Velveeta
That Velveeta is a part of the American Regional Cuisine called Tex-Mex is anathema to many of my friends in the food world. I have long defended Velveeta as the …
Irene Wong Shoots El Real
Food TV would be a cool thing to do. Mess around in the kitchen–take a few videos. Eat good. What could be better? Meet food TV mega-producer Irene Wong. After …
Eating the Heat: The 21st Annual Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival
What a year it was at the hot sauce contest–the temperature was 111°F at 5 pm, just 1 degree short of Austin’s all time record high of 112! And still …