At least back in the 60s and 70s the foodways were really different in Missouri and Eastern Oklahoma.
You couldn't hardly find a can of jalapenos to save your life.
No Mexican restaurants in little towns.
And the BBQ sucked.
Now what used to be the Circle J cafe in the town I went to school in Oklahoma is a Mexican restaurant.
Maybe the two twin Mexican girls from California I went to school there with started it.
They weren't hardly 5 feet tall but really pretty.
My Mom used to throw huge taco parties and many people would show up.
It was a build your own taco thing.
No flour tortillas only corn.
They would be softened in butter first.
There's more Mexican restaurants and BBQ places were I live than you can shake a stick at.
Be hard pressed to find a good chicken fried steak.
They're there but a said good.
I think the Guadalajara Mexican restaurant has a good on still.
I used to get asked why I ordered chicken fried steak in a Mexican restaurant.
Because y'all wanted enchiladas and I wanted chicken fried steak.
That's why.
Some of the best chicken fried steaks I've ever had came from Mexican restaurants.
I also get fried chicken from the chain BBQ place they have around here called Bill Miller's.
Never had the BBQ.
Then I go by and load up on all the free fixings like Pico de Gallo pickles and onions.
I didn't grow up eating BBQ either because it wasn't a thing back then like it is now.
BBQ was maybe once or twice a year.
But we had big catfish and regular fries with all the fixings.
Potato salad and pinto beans.
Ice cold watermelon and homemade ice cream.
Ice tea and not a lot of drinking if any.
These events would normally take place after we spent all spring fishing and friends would get together and have the event.
The girls and boys would wonder off and go swimming.and kissing in the creek.
At least us lucky ones.
Sometimes it would be a girl I would only see in the summer come down from the big city but we made up for it.
If there was a BBQ it wasn't store bought meat and was normally wild game.
Anything from squirrel raccoon rabbit and armadillo.

Everyone knew everyone and we hunted and fished on everyone's property in the area.
Meals weren't fancy at home either.
It was the usual stuff you see almost everywhere.
Just common country comfort food.
Green beans.
Black eye peas.
Crowder peas.
Pinto beans.
Mashed potatoes.
Boiled squash.
Carrots corn.
Gravy and so on.

The older I get, the more into seasoning I’m into. Season with authority is what I have heard and I believe it. Too many homes have basically salt and pepper in the spice cabinet and those, especially the pepper, barely get used. I mean it’s fine if lightly seasoned food is your thing, but it definitely isn’t mine.

I knew of a couple that went so nutso on a salt restricted diet that the man got a goiter from the lack of iodine. I get that salt can be the enemy of low or normal blood pressure, but there’s got to be a better way.

There was a restaurant in Bastrop and everything tasted exactly the same.
They were mighty proud of their seasoning blend whatever the nasty stuff was.

worth1 wrote: ↑Sun May 18, 2025 10:19 am There was a restaurant in Bastrop and everything tasted exactly the same.
They were mighty proud of their seasoning blend whatever the nasty stuff was.

We ate in Bastrop recently on the way back from Austin. First choice place was impossible to park anywhere within walking distance with my folks being with us. Second choice place wasn’t exactly great. Edible, but only just a little above that mediocre threshold. At least the old part of Bastrop, the old business /commercial district before Hwy 71 became so important, isn’t a ghost town like some other towns that the new main road bypasses the old areas.

karstopography wrote: ↑Sun May 18, 2025 12:22 pm

worth1 wrote: ↑Sun May 18, 2025 10:19 am There was a restaurant in Bastrop and everything tasted exactly the same.
They were mighty proud of their seasoning blend whatever the nasty stuff was.

We ate in Bastrop recently on the way back from Austin. First choice place was impossible to park anywhere within walking distance with my folks being with us. Second choice place wasn’t exactly great. Edible, but only just a little above that mediocre threshold. At least the old part of Bastrop, the old business /commercial district before Hwy 71 became so important, isn’t a ghost town like some other towns that the new main road bypasses the old areas.

This place was 20 years ago it was down by the bridge in the old part of town
Not there anymore.
Bastrop has done good job of keeping the town alive.

Out of all the places in Bastrop the Guadalajara is or was the only place I ate mostly.
There are others but I don't want to be blasted with God awful country music or any music and drunks for that matter while I'm eating.
The Texas grill not gonna happen.
Several down town I know nothing about.
They change with the weather.

I simply don't understand why people think I enjoy the blasted folk music and other live music while I'm eating.
If I want to hear horrible live music I'll play it myself at home.