As the nation prepares for Super Bowl Sunday, Texas has once again confirmed its snack of choice: chips and salsa. While some might assume the Lone Star State would reach for something heartier, it's the simple pair that outshines other contenders.
According to a report by FOX San Antonio, data from bid-on-equipment utilizing Google search stats, Texans are more likely to opt for chips and salsa over the national average during the Super Bowl. In San Antonio, residents don't shy away from indulging, casting aside healthier options for a snack playbook that features bold flavors and less worry about the scale. They've earned the rank of "sixth unhealthiest Super Bowl city," indicating a stronger preference for fun and taste on game day than dietary restraint.
But don't be fooled, Texas devotion to chili remains unshaken. Chris Shepherd, a culinary wizard behind Houston's renowned Underbelly and One Fifth, still swears by a good bowl of chili come Super Bowl Sunday. Shepherd confesses to Garden & Gun, "Some things you just can’t touch," emphasizing his rendition opts out beans and doesn't skimp on the heat. He divulges a childhood-inspired secret – Maseca, a corn flour that thickens his chili without diminishing its soulful taste.
Flavors of nostalgia evidently influence Shepherd's game-day menu. He reimagines the classic French onion dip from his childhood using a mélange of green onions, garlic, butter, and white wine, blended with sour cream and mayo. His preferred scoop? None other than the quintessential gas station pork rind. But make no mistake, what he brings to the table isn't without a slice of down-home comfort; Shepherd insists on a side of fresh cornbread with chili, declaring, "You've gotta have cornbread."
What seems clear is that in Texas, tradition and taste tango on Super Bowl Sunday. Be it a choice fueled by convenience, comfort, or just a collective nod to roots, it's a dance where classic dips and a hearty bowl of chili take center stage, no frills needed. And while trends may come and go, chips and salsa alongside Shepherd's home-inspired chili prove why, in Texas, some classics never fumble.
