One of the greatest things about living in the great state of Texas is food. Tex-Mex, German, Spanish, comfort food, but best of all BBQ. I spent some time living in Memphis, TN and to this day I cannot understand their "beef" with beef BBQ.
Memphis BBQ
Although this food looks amazing, and it is to some extent in its own right; but there is something missing. Beef.
Really? I thought, and became vocal about it too; but no one could seem to give me a clear answer as to why. I mean they had some great stuff, many places serve this traditional sandwich consisting of pulled pork (usually dripping with the house sauce) and their version of coleslaw.
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That's right, that greenish-yellow substance dripping from atop the pile of pork; is what Mempihans call "slaw." It will pucker the nerves in back of you're jaw, momentarily locking you're mouth in a fixed position while you salivate. It's a tart and twangy sweet that some how folds well with the smoky pulled pork.Not bad I say, for a Tennessean any way. Still however, I can't escape the memories of beef BBQ. Beef Brisket to be more precise at this moment.
Texas Beef Brisket
In Tennessee a little of everything is good, but here is a single item that needs no entourage.
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I mean seriously, what does pork have on beef? I've never heard someone say, "I'll Take ahh... yeah a slice of pork"; cause they don't do that. For beef they do, and for good reason. Have you ever had you're teeth sunk into a perfectly smoked and marbled slab of black peppery crispy beginnings, and tender firm savoriness than induces primal satisfaction after every swallow.
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You see, the best come with out sauce, rather drippings are the preferred delivery method of Texas mopping sauce. A savory unique sauce that holds no equal in enhancing the flavor of anything it comes in contact with. Perhaps being so because its made from the god like nectar that exits the smoked brisket during the final hours of its existence.
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It is because of this very reason that mopping sauce holds no equal. You see, making the base of the sauce from the drippings allows the sauce to connect with all the important notes of the beef steak it accompanies; far superior to flawed mixing and stewing of a sauce built entirely foreign components.
That's It, I Can't Take It Any Longer!
All this pit fire talk has me pining for a hunk of Texas beef. In my departure I hope to spur a friendly yet heated debate on where the best foods on earth are, where they hail from, and who makes 'em. I truly hope the shine of my Texas pride ruffled your feathers enough to make you want to puff up a little and share whats edible round you're parts.