We all have tough days, and on difficult days when I lived in the Midwest, I could always count on getting my mind back in the game by dropping by the nearest Frisch’s ® restaurant for the Super Big Boy ® Platter. The platter meant devouring an extra large double-decker cheeseburger with the choice of any two sides. And hey, if you need “comfort,” there is nothing wrong with making both sides macaroni and cheese.
When I moved to Texas, I faced a problem. There are no Frisch’s, and I did not discover anything that approximates the platter. I needed to find a replacement, a Texas replacement.
Finding great food is not hard in the Texas Hill Country. You’ve got barbecue beef brisket, chicken, sausage, catfish, kolaches and all kinds of Tex-Mex, to name just a few. But, great food is one thing, comfort food is another.
It wasn’t long before I found what I was looking for. As it turns out, my new comfort food is a staple in hill country: chicken fried steak. A round steak hammered paper thin, coated in seasoned batter and fried, then covered in white gravy. Normally offered in two portions, 4 ounce or 8 ounce, it’s found nearly everywhere, and it always fills the bill. If you’re not in the mood for beef, chicken fried chicken is a great substitute.
And what sides will go with that? Why, two sides of macaroni and cheese, of course. It works every time.
Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying your Texas Hill Country musings at least as much as I enjoy a huge piping hot bowl of mac & cheese. However, chicken fried steak must be accompanied by by mashed potatoes, piled as high as the steak is long. Just my opinion...