I still remember the first time I watched Brenda Gantt spoon that golden, steaming dressing right out of the pan -soft, savory, and absolutely loaded with the kind of homey flavor that makes you close your eyes for a second. It wasn’t crispy. It wasn’t sliced into squares. It was the real deal: a deep, … Read more
The first time I visited Texas de Brazil, I made a rookie mistake -I filled my plate entirely with meat and barely glanced at the salad bar. It wasn’t until my third visit that someone nudged me toward a small bowl of thinly sliced cucumbers glistening in a sweet, tangy dressing. One bite, and I … Read more
I still remember the first time I ordered corn on the cob at Longhorn Steakhouse. I expected a simple side dish -something to fill the plate. What arrived instead was a beautifully charred ear of corn, slicked with butter, draped in a cool, tangy crema, and dusted with a savory Parmesan-paprika topping that made me … Read more
The first time I made Brenda Gantt’s corn dip, I set it out at a family gathering thinking it would be one of several snacks on the table. It was gone in under twenty minutes -and three people asked me for the recipe before the night was over. That is the power of this dip. … Read more
The first time I tasted creamed corn at a Texas BBQ joint, I knew it was nothing like the canned stuff from childhood. It was rich, smoky, just a little spicy, and impossibly creamy -the kind of side dish that steals the spotlight from the brisket. Terry Black’s BBQ in Austin has built a serious … Read more
I still remember the first time I pulled up a chair at Terry Black’s Barbecue. I was there for the brisket -everyone is -but it was the mac and cheese sitting quietly in that little side dish that completely stole the show. Creamy, smoky, rich beyond what I thought a side dish had any right … Read more