If you've read any of my recent stories you may know that I've recently taken a journey to DC. Now that I'm halfway through my internship, it's time to visit home. In anticipation of all of the great things that I will encounter back in Texas I've realized that one of the things that I miss most about home is the food. With that in mind, I have decided to devise a list of the top five foods I cannot wait to have once back in the Lone Star State.
1. Whataburger
Yes, folks, this is in order of importance. Now I am not one to constantly eat fast food, but this is a whole different situation. I don't know if it's the Texan in me or that I label my food groups differently because I'm still a part of college life, but in my head I like to classify Whataburger as simply a delight in an orange bag. If you have never had the opportunity to indulge in this unique brand of fast food, I'd say it's good to at least try this once. They are a chain located in the South and I swear that they have some of the best fries ever! When I get home, a Whataburger will definitely be first on my list.
2. Barbacoa and Big Red
It's only right to pair these two items together; any other type of combination would not be doing justice to these two delicious products. From my understanding, Big Red is a soda product that is predominately sold in the South. After a Sunday morning church service my family is known to come together for Barbacoa tacos, tamales, and a refreshing glass of Big Red! The past couple of weeks I have always felt like something was missing after mass and I'm looking forward to visiting home on a weekend specifically, so that I can indulge in some weekend tradition.
3. Fresh produce
This is not to say that DC does not have spectacular produce, but it must be hiding from me. I love fruit! It is my sugar fix without coming home from the grocery store with cupcakes. Unfortunately, my luck with purchasing fruit in our Capitol has not been spectacular. Although we don't have farmers markets on every corner back in Texas, HEB (our local grocery store) always does a great job of having all of my favorites! I'm hoping that I will still be able to find some Texas grown peaches when I visit.
4. BBQ
Obviously being from Texas meant that this had to be on my list! Yes, I need some home cooked BBQ. Just thinking about fall off the bone ribs and fajitas makes my mouth water. DC has some great foods but when it comes to BBQ my bar is set high and I need to get my taste soon!
5. Tacos
I miss flour tortillas! Although being away from the constant availability of Mexican food has probably helped with healthier eating, I am starting to realize that once you've experienced a certain kind of food for such a long time it is very difficult to quit cold turkey. I have tried to improvise with store bought tortillas, but nothing compares to homemade breakfast tacos. I find it odd that traditional Mexican food hasn't quite made its way to the east coast, but I guess you can't miss something that you've never tasted.
Experiencing another culture shows you the importance of being exposed to different environments and lifestyles, but it also allows for reflection on what you take for granted. I hope that while I get to visit home I will get to treat myself to all my favorites. Lord knows I won't be able to go much longer without Whataburger!
