"Digging In" to the Heart of Texas: A History of Iconic Texan Foods

When you think of Texas, what foods come to mind? Maybe brisket, breakfast tacos, or chicken fried chicken. Texas is an incredibly diverse state, the site of the mingling and clashing of several different cultures, and its culinary traditions reflect this. But how did these now iconic foods become emblematic not only of the culture from which they originated but of a Texan culture? What are the histories of the people that created these foods and what can they tell us about Texas and its culture? This inquiry will examine community- and traditionally-published cookbooks, as well as historical works on foodways to explore these topics on food as an expression of Texan culture and its major influences.