Hometown Glory
National magazine dubs Houston one of the 10 tastiest cities — no other Texastown makes the cut
We've already heard that Southern Living magazine digs Sugar Hooker Rebecca Masson's cookies and Chris Shepherd's Underbelly, but it looks like the magazine is pretty taken with Houston as a whole.
The January 2012 issue picks 10 cities from across the region as the "Tastiest Towns in the South" and (of course) Houston made the list. H-Town is joined by some well-known culinary destinations like New Orleans, Charleston and Baltimore (which we wouldn't consider the South, but bygones) as well as some up-and-coming scenes like Raleigh, Birmingham and Decatur, Ga.
Not on the list? Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, or any other Texas city. Just saying. (Are you listening, Top Chef?)
Southern Living says they looked at several factors to pick their tasty cities, including "food as a cultural identity," a culinary-minded community, local and sustainable food practices, hot chefs and diverse cuisine at multiple price points. Houston earned praise for its "diverse ethnic food scene, the sizzling Lower Westheimer 'hood and a new generation of tastemakers," according to the Greater Houston Convention and Visitor's Bureau.
But while 10 cities made the list, only one will eventually be dubbed the Tastiest Town in the South. Starting Friday, the magazine is taking votes online for the winning city at southernliving.com/tasty.
Can Houston emerge as the delicious champion? What other towns should be on the list? And what do you think makes Houston tasty?