Bagels, Brisket, and Beer: The Trifecta of Fine Dining for a Texan

Power food for the soul

Photos from right to left by Ryan Dalin, Josh Olalde, and Jon Parry courtesy of Unsplash

One day a friend asked what my three favorite Texas foods are that came to mind quickly. It didn’t take long to answer. They are Bagels, Brisket, and Beer. I know beer stretches the definition, but I’ve got it figured out in my mind.

I have a long list of other things I eat and drink, but the question specifically asked for the first three items on my mind.

Here are my explanations to help frame my answer:

Bagels

Nothing beats stopping by a bagel shop first thing in the morning and grabbing a fresh steamy bagel with a schmear of cream cheese. If you’re hungry and feeling adventuresome, turn that bagel into a lox and cream cheese breakfast sandwich. You won’t be disappointed.

Photo courtesy of the author — LJ Bentch

Bagels are chewy on the inside, with a slight crunch on the outside. What makes bagels different is steaming or boiling for a short time before being quickly baked. Other bread products are baked or, if they are donuts, fried without the benefit of steam.