Edible Icons of the Lone Star State
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We all know that many cities, countries, and states are characterized by a variety of icons and emblems, such as the state flag and seal. However, just like any state, Texas has its beloved culinary symbols that celebrate the area’s cultural heritage.
In other words, the Lone Star State is represented by a myriad of foods and dishes! These include:
Bread – Pan de campo (cowboy bread)
Pastries – Strudel and sopaipilla
Dish – Chili
Snack – Tortilla chips and salsa
Fruit – Texas red grapefruit
Fish – Guadalupe bass
Dessert – Peach cobbler
Pie – Pecan pie
Vegetable – Sweet onions, pumpkins, and jalapeños
Crustacean – Texas Gulf shrimp (What wine goes well with shrimp?)
How are Edible State Symbols Chosen?
The Texas legislature, either the state senate or the state congress, decides on an official state symbol through resolutions.
In the case of chili, the legislative initiative was commenced by Ben Z. Grant, a state legislator from Marshall, Texas. Grant managed to convince his colleagues of his initiative. And as a result, on May 11, 1977, chili was made the official dish of Texas.
“Whereas one cannot be a true son or daughter of this state without having his taste buds tingle at the thought of the treat that is real, honest-to-goodness, pure, unadulterated Texas chili…” reads the opening paragraph of the state resolution.
The resolution also quotes a statement by President Lyndon B. Johnson, a well-known chili lover, who claimed that “chili concocted outside of Texas is a weak, apologetic imitation of the real thing.”
Chips and Salsa: An Elementary School Initiative
Tortilla chips and salsa were officially adopted as a state snack on June 22, 2003. How did this come about? Well, it’s all thanks to a bunch of second-grade students at Marcell Elementary School in Mission, Texas.
These students contacted their state representative Kino Flores to ask about having an official state snack for Texas. Kino Flores entertained the pupils’ suggestion, but told the students that the bill must show that Texas currently has no state snack “and that tortilla chips and salsa are historically or culturally significant.” Flores also told the students that the bill must show that no one will be hurt economically if tortilla chips and salsa were designated as the state’s official snack.
At first, the students suggested that Flamin Hot Cheetos or Doritos (how long do doritos last?) should be Texas’ chosen snack. However, their teacher Nydia Alonzo encouraged them to choose a snack that has a particular significance in Texas, hence they settled on tortilla chips (how long do tortilla chips last?). "We need a state snack and tortilla chips are good," Isaiah Peña (eight years old) wrote to Flores. Flores’ office staff then added salsa to the second-graders’ suggestion.
And on November 14, 2002, Rep. Flores introduced House Concurrent Resolution No. 16. The pupils testified in front of the committee, with one of the students stating: “Snacks are pretty important to us kids so we thought it would be important for Texas to have an official state snack.”
Indeed, the second graders from Mission accomplished their task. The resolution eventually passed, with Governor Rick Perry signing the law, resulting in tortilla chips and salsa being made the official snack of Texas.
Pan de Campo: The State Bread of Texas
Pan de campo, otherwise known as country bread or cowboy bread, is a type of giant flatbread. This bread is traditionally cooked in a cast iron Dutch oven outside the home but is now often prepared in a skillet instead. A common staple among cowboys or vaqueros in South Texas, pan de campo can be easily prepared in a portable oven.
It was adopted as the official bread of Texas on September 18, 2005, when Texas Governor Rick Perry signed House Concurrent Resolution Number 98. However, there was some tension over the resolution. Some pointed out that pan de campo was just a regional bread variant prevalent in South Texas, and that as a result, sourdough biscuits – eaten all across the Lone Star State – should be the state’s official bread.
In the end, the Texas Legislature settled the matter, stating that the appeal of pan de campo lies not only in its elegant simplicity but also in its role as a nostalgic reminder of the state’s past and the vaqueros of South Texas.
Whereas pan de campo enjoys a singular stature in Texas history and culture that is rivaled only by its undeniable appeal as a versatile and satisfying food, and it is only right and proper that this essential element of the state's greatness receive official recognition…” reads the final paragraph of the resolution.
Strudel and Sopaipilla: Texas’ State Pastries
Sopaipilla, which translates to “honey cake” in Spanish, is a puffy, crispy, deep-fried pastry that originated in New Mexico 300 years ago. It’s a particularly loved dessert in the southwest part of the State. Strudel, on the other hand, is a German pastry that was brought over by German settlers in the mid-19th century.
These two sweet treats are thought to be the earliest pastries made in Texas. The primary ingredient of strudel and sopaipilla is wheat flour – this ingredient is said to have been first used in Texas in 1682 in Ysleta, the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in the State.
The strudel was introduced to the Lone Star State by German immigrants who settled in the Texas Hill Country. These folk later went on to set up settlements that became towns and cities such as Fredericksburg, Boerne and New Braunfels. Danevang, a rural community founded by Danish settlers, is thought to be home to the best strudels in Texas.
Texas Gulf Shrimp: The State’s Official Crustacean
In 2015, Texas Gulf shrimp, or brown shrimp, were recognized as Texas’ official crustacean. Other parts of the country followed suit, with Alabama also declaring Texas Gulf shrimp to be the state’s crustacean. Texas Gulf shrimp is one of the most popular kinds of seafood in the United States.
Many like it to be sautéed, but it’s also great boiled, grilled, fried, or steamed. The reason why Texas Gulf shrimp is so treasured across the US is that 90% of shrimp consumed in America are imported from foreign tank farms. Accordingly, these Texas-raised shrimps represent the US seafood industry, to which the State of Texas contributes heavily.
The Texas seafood industry generates $850 million worth of sales each year and employs 14,000 people, so it’s worth our support. Gulf shrimping has become a way of life for generations of communities in Texas, especially in regions such as Galveston, Palacios, Port Arthur, and Port Isabel. In this way, it’s an essential part of the State’s economy and a true Texas culinary icon.
Pecan Pie: Texas’ Official Sweet Treat
Pecan trees are abundant in Texas as they are native to the State. In fact, the pecan tree was declared the state tree of Texas in 1919.
The first known pecan pie recipe was published in 1898. However, recipes for pies containing pecans (how long do pecans last?) can be found in Texas cookbooks originating from the 1870s. This sweet nutty pie soon tickled the taste buds of many Texans, with its popularity quickly spreading throughout America. In the 1920s, Karo Corn Syrup (how long does corn syrup last?) printed a recipe for pecan pie on the back of their syrup can, introducing much of the nation to this irresistible dessert.
That being said, it was only in 2013 that pecan pie was adopted as the official pie of Texas. Nevertheless, this was not a simple process. Some lawmakers asked for amendments to the resolution, claiming that the use of chocolate in pecan pie should be made illegal and that only Texas-grown pecans should be used in the dessert.
The requested amendments were not taken on, but instead different varieties of the pecan pie were recognized within the resolution. It was decided that variations on the pecan pie are a matter of opinion, with many recipes being deeply held in family tradition.
“Yet Texans generally agree on two things: Texas pecan pies are hands down the best, especially when made with Texas pecans by a Texan and secondly, whether served hot or cold with a scoop of ice cream or without, pecan pie is indeed the perfect ending to any meal,” reads part of the pecan pie resolution.
More great pie makers across Texas, click here!
