The first time I made Brenda Gantt’s sweet potato casserole, my kitchen smelled like every Thanksgiving I’ve ever loved rolled into one. That buttery, caramel-sweet aroma drifting from the oven? It stopped my family mid-conversation and had everyone hovering near the kitchen door before it even came out of the oven. This Brenda Gantt sweet … 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
The first time I tried the Beach Bum smoothie from Tropical Smoothie Café, I was honestly not prepared for it. I expected something fruity and light -what I got was thick, creamy, and almost dessert-like, with this subtle hint of white chocolate weaving through the strawberry and banana that made it impossible to put down. … 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
The first time I made this Zatarain’s Red Beans and Rice recipe in my Instant Pot, my kitchen smelled like a tiny corner of New Orleans had moved in for the evening. Smoky Andouille sausage simmering with the holy trinity of onion, celery, and bell pepper has a way of doing that. What started as … Read more
The first time I tasted Topgolf’s buffalo chicken dip, I nearly sent my friend back up for a second order before I’d finished the first. It’s smoky, spicy, tangy, and loaded with three kinds of cheese in every single bite. That bubbling skillet topped with crispy panko, a zigzag of garlic parmesan ranch, and crumbled … Read more