Best of Restaurant Bias - The BBQ List

I'm not a major fan of most "Best of" lists, especially when it comes to restaurants. My dislike probably becomes very apparent when it comes to the Top in BBQ lists. There are 4 styles of Texas barbecues.

• Central (dry-rub style, thought to be where Texas cue was started)
• East (tomato-based sauce marinade, slow-smoked)
• South (sweet molasses-based sauce, Mexican inspired)
• West (smoked with mesquite wood)

And most lists only highlight Central Texas-style places. That is a fact. Read this article HERE, because I am not the only person who sees it. I grew up on East Texas-style. I'm always chasing the flavor of my childhood favorite, Carter's that has been closed for almost 2 decades. (Wait! Stop suggesting that place on Loop 12 that used to be on Scyene, owned by the last said guy who cooked for the Carters. It has good flavor, but that is not what I grew up on). And as I've gotten older, I have grown to like restaurants from all 4 styles of Texas BBQ. But trust me, I won't name who shouldn't ever be on a Best BBQ list in the Dallas area. I'll just say that no spot that has barbecue sauce in a squeeze bottle on the table like the ketchup should be on there. Expensive spots ($$-$$$ instead $-$$) shouldn't only be on the list. This is not steak. Any place that doesn't have BBQ Stuffed Potatoes shouldn't be on the list. Even most people's least favorite BBQ spot (No names will be called.) has a consistent spud. How does a "Best" spot not have one? Lastly, no Top BBQ Restaurant should cut off the rib tips on Whole Slab orders. I was at a place and the cook chopped off the tips & put them in the grinder. How Rude?

My Top 3 Dallas Area BBQ Restaurants

TD's - I know folks just knew if I was going list a spot from the Oak Cliff area, I would say Records. I've never had them. I have had & like TDs. Affordable east Texas-style cue. And they have a good break, excuse me, short-end rib sandwiches.

Baby Back Shak - I never said a popular list spot was not one of my tops. I'm not against all of them. This one is very tasty. It doesn't break my bank, either. And they serve boudin (Umm, it's like dirty rice in a sausage casing). Something I discovered from my time living in Southeast Texas was having boudin as a BBQ plate side dish. Shoutout to Patillo's & Broussards.

Soulman's Barbecue - I remember when they started on Buckner Blvd in the Pleasant Grove area of town. They have grown into a small chain. Nice & Consistent BBQ. The sauce is warm. Ribs are smoked nicely. The brisket is tender. A chopped beef sandwich is delightful. And if you finish a whole potato in a single sitting, I will jokingly judge you.

Honorable Mention: Baker's Ribs

Top BBQ list makers sometimes need to leave the trendy & popular areas of town if they want some real smoke. If they look at my "tops" and click their names, they will see their addresses and visit. And I know it's not just Dallas with this issue. I see the comments on other cities' articles. We all have our opinions.

Now, what is your Top BBQ spot? Let me know. 

As Always Talking to You in Adults Terms!

Best of Restaurant Bias

I'm not a major fan of most "Best of" lists, especially when it comes to restaurants. I remember when we used to get a Friday newspaper when I was growing up. I used to like reading The Guide (a version still exists HERE).

It was fun to plan out my make-believe social life. But one thing seemed weird to me. The local food places my family & I patronized the most were never scored high in the ratings. Then one day I paid attention to locations & maps and understood the elitist & economic biases of the listed ratings.

Fast forward to now, much has not changed. I have since learned about sponsored articles & the paid advertising system. That's why I look at the "Best of" or "Top 10" articles with a critical eye. I'm not saying they aren't useful aids. (How do think I am in the know about some of the hottest Brunch spots? It's not just word-of-mouth recommendations. *wink*) But I know there are other hidden gems out there that need a little shine on their name.

And since I have a platform...

Yep, this is an announcement post for a new series. I will talk about My top 3 favorite restaurants in the DFW area in different cuisines. And I expect y'all to share your favorites in the city you live in. This should be entertaining.

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!

Settling These Well Liked Chain Restaurant Debates

Have you ever looked at restaurant ranking lists and disagreed with them majorly. Yep, Me Too!!!

It is not a secret, I don't eat out as much as the average American. There are many popular chain restaurants I've never dined in. I have several reasons. But I still have an opinion on the nationwide restaurants I really like. And a few of these are my favorite spots, even though I don't eat at them often. But I never mind going back to them again & again.

Cheddars Monté Cristos & Broccoli-Rice Casserole...Who can say they serve probably the best version of those dishes? But also this place is truly a casual restaurant. I've never been to a Cheddars where the vibe is not relaxed. Even new ones that are overcrowded on the weekends, yet. Once you get a table, the energy calms down. And relaxation is good for digestion.

Pei Wei Maybe some bastardization, I mean fusion of the cuisine of some of the countries in Asia is not bad. Pei Wei is one of the good ones in my opinion. Weirdly enough, I can't find anyone of Chinese, Japanese, or Thai descent that has a recorded opinion. Not even a Buzzfeed video. Oh well, when one appears, I'll still be enjoying the Thai Dynamite with Shrimp on Brown Rice.

IHOP Yeah, it's diner food. But the funniest part about me liking IHOP is that I don't like pancakes. But I do like waffles, hashbrowns, & fruit flavor syrups. And the only eatery that does it all nicely is the International House of Pancakes. I also like their no breakfast items. And before you get in the comments...Waffle House is not Nationwide. And they don't have strawberry or blueberry syrups.

Taco Bell Even though they betrayed me by taking the Mexican Pizza off the menu, it is still my favorite fast food. And though, my aging body can't tolerate the sauces, salt, & fat past a certain time of the evening, the taste is consistent.

Cheesecake Factory Much crap is talked about in my favorite restaurant on social media. But have you heard of one closing? It tastes the same delicious when I first had it in 1999. That was back when I ate the Chicken Littles. But my favorite of all time on the menu is the Bistro Shrimp Pasta (Y'all do know I don't go out to eat healthily? Because this dish is high in calories & fat. But I never finish it (or any of their dishes at the restaurant.) with a slice of Adam's Peanut Butter Cup or Lemon Raspberry cheesecakes to go. Others can keep their hate, I have enough love for Cheesecake Factory to block them.

But what do I know? Oh yeah, I know my taste buds. And I like pleasing them with food I don't cook sometimes.

Oh, and yeah, I have a Dislikes list too. See me groan about restaurants HERE. But unlike that post, I want to see your faves in the comments.

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!

Settling These Not Well Liked Chain Restaurant Debates

Have you ever looked at restaurant ranking lists and disagreed with them majorly. Yep, Me Too!!!

It is not a secret, I don't eat out as much as the average American. There are many popular chain restaurants I've never dined in. I have several reasons(I'll share one on this post). But I still have an opinion on the nationwide restaurants I dislike. These top five may not my most disliked food spots. Some regional places finish that list. But these are the places that I don't mind ever going back to.

Denny's It's diner food. There is nothing unique about it. There was only one menu item, the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich that I felt I needed from this place. And it's no longer offered. Anything else, I think other places do them better.

Dave & Buster's 

If there is a person who goes to D&B for the food, please come and talk to me. I have yet to meet anyone who has ever raved about the food. The food is just standard. This place's only draw is its entertainment & fun choices. And I can't be wrong because I googled images and there are mostly photos of the arcades. 

Joe's Crab Shack One of the reasons why I don't eat out often is because I don't eat healthier when I go out. I am aware my choices of less salt & fat are limited & temptation can be great. And as a person who does not cook with salt, I can and will say, Joe's Crab Shack is bland. It is the blandest food I know to man. I thought it was only like that at one location of the state I live in, but then I visited one in another region of Texas. It was the same black pepper with a hint of garlic one-note, lack of any other seasonings food as the other spot. And I will not pay for tasteless.

Panda Express If the Chinese decide to use the Internet and cuss America out for an hour and it is because of this restaurant, I will understand. I will admit it, Panda Express has come a long way from that non-Chinese dish, Bourbon Chicken, but some cuisine still shouldn't be made into fast food.

Domino's Pizza I can officially say I have never been a fan. Growing up, we only ate Domino's out of town. In most cities that was what was the closest place that delivered. It was soggier than Pizza Hut & Pizza Inn (my childhood favorite). Then I went to college and they redid the recipe. Not as soggy but why is the Thin Crust(my preferred crust) like potato chips with toppings. Again never been a fan.

Like said, these aren't my least favorite restaurants. That title goes to Taco Bueno. Too oily & salty! But it's not a nationwide spot. And in my opinion, if you down have one consider yourself blessed.

Oh, and yeah, I have a Favorites list too. See me praise restaurants HERE.

Everyone can't like everything. 

No, No... I'll Talk About the Road to the Olympics & Y'all

*sigh* Because somebody has to.

I'll admit I'm probably taking the Know-It-All Aunty approach about Sh'Carrie Richardson failing a drug test because of marijuana usage. She was wrong & unprofessional. In her profession, it is a banned substance.

It is said it is a banned substance because cannabis hides the use of some performance-enhancing drugs. So yeah, she has to be punished, like all other athletes that break the rules. I hate she did that because Richardson was in immense pain & grief. I truly hope she surrounds herself with positive support so she can heal & grow. And I hope to see her in the relays.

But y'all are so up in arms about Richardson & weed, y'all expose yourselves as the true non-Olympic fans that you really are. I saw the petitions & boycott hashtags.

Y'all also show how forgetful you are. Remember when the photo of Michael Phelps with a bong circulated like crazy. And people had to prove that he was smoking after the Olympic games & bring out all his drug test results. No, Y'all Don't! If you did, you wouldn't be reposting stuff from Andrew Caldwell. Heck, even in his comments the truth was provided. Anyways, Go Read the facts HERE.

But y'all are still mad about weed while. All-inclusive swim caps are not getting the green light for swimming competitions. Women with higher testosterone levels are still getting disqualified from middle-distanced runs. No for real, read about both HERE & HERE. But some of you know about these because I see your gross comments like "Just braid your hair" and "Those are men".

*sigh* Y'all can pick & choose what to petition & boycott. I won't! Plus, boycotting hurts those that still competing in the Olympiad games. Do they not deserve your support also? Now I will say, if all my faves quit because of these issues, I Will Too. Keywords are...

But Hey since we're quoting Andrew Caldwell...Who Are Me to Judge?

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms