The Best Barbecue I’ve Ever Had

“We as Americans have learned to grapple with the natural resource questions. “Where’d that pig come from? How was it raised?”. But we haven’t gotten as good at asking the human resource questions, like “Who were the people who perfected this dish? What’s their story?” We haven’t gotten there but it’s time to.” -John Thomas…

A Lesson in BBQ Via Texas Brisket

Determining the best place to get barbecue in Texas is like trying to find the best pizza in NYC, at first it feels like an impossible task. Refusing to give away a whole day to waiting at world-renowned Franklin’s BBQ, I heard la Barbecue was one of the next best spots. When I found out…

The Politics of Fried Chicken

“It’s about respect. I would not deny a person the opportunity to cook BBQ. What I would ask is that they pay tribute to that form. Food that is honest is more important than food that is authentic.” -Southern food expert John Thomas Edge Junior. In my search for Charleston’s best fried chicken, Leon’s Oyster…

A Korean-Canadian Discovers Elevated Banchan

As a Canadian-Korean raised in a might-as-well-be-British family, my knowledge of banchan has been limited to typical variations of kimchi (on a good day I might be able to identify a mushroom or two). Like most North American diners, banchan (those complementary sides that accompany a Korean meal) has always been a bit of a…

Discovering Mex-Tex at Papalote

After visiting many taquerias in Mexico, my expectations for Texan tacos were admittedly low. I arrived in Austin to find myself at a crossroads- do I embark on a potentially unsuccessful mission to find that “authentic” hole-in-the-wall spot serving the best Mexican food this side of the border? Or do I cave and experience Tex-Mex…