There are National Food Holidays, then there are NATIONAL FOOD HOLIDAYS. Today’s falls into the latter category, cause it’s homegrown … that thin cut of meat dipped in batter, deep fried and smothered in gravy. Giddy up, it’s National Chicken-Fried Steak Day, y’all! texas roadhouse
The exact origins of the Texas staple are unclear. Did it come from German and Austrian immigrants to Texas in the 19th century, who brought recipes for Wiener schnitzel from Europe? Or was it invented by accident in 1911, when a short-order cook named Jimmy Don Perkins at Ethel’s Home Cooking in Lamesa, Texas got an order that was missing that crucial comma for “chicken, fried steak.” Thinking it was one dish, he dipped the steak into fried chicken batter and the rest is history. (If this isn’t the true story, don’t tell the good people of Lamesa as the last weekend in April they remember Perkins with a Chicken-Fried Steak Festival)
Wherever it came from, Texans can’t get enough of the large, popular dish, and there’s no shortage of it in Irving. While places such as Aunt Cissy’s, Jam + Toast and PJ’s Cafe have excellent reviews for their versions, they won’t be open for dinner tonight. So here are the places we suggest you hit to celebrate that guilty pleasure know as Chicken-Fried Steak (CFS). texas roadhouse
