Worth Dining For.

Sandra Roeling and Jennifer Duke have taken their exploration of local dining to the next level (and always bring a few friends with them!). But there's plenty Worth Dining For in Texas. Read on to get Datamaxers' dishes of choice. 

DFW Admin teammates Jennifer Duke and Sandra Roeling are on the hunt for the next great Texas restaurant… with bonus points for spiciness.

To their advantage, there’s a plethora of options right in their own backyard of Grapevine and Coppell. This dining duo started their mission some 17 years ago, with a simple mission of trying new restaurants on their lunch breaks, or meeting on the weekends for dinner and drinks.

“I’ve always been a foodie. I’ve always loved trying new things,” Jennifer said. “Sandra shared those same interests, and we sort of bonded over that quickly.”

Their food adventures have developed an audience in the DFW office.

“I’m a stickler for lists, so I’ll put a list out on Friday or Monday in the break room of all the planned stops for the week,” Sandra said.

A new burger, a weekly special at a nearby Tex-Mex place… it constantly changes, but each week several of their colleagues will join up for a communal meal: A perfect opportunity to not just break bread together, but to celebrate local cuisine in new, exciting ways.

Sandra tends to be the more adventurous of the two (think pickled pig’s feet, veggie mite, etc.), but if they can agree on an essential element to a great dish, they’ll find they’re not unlike a lot of other Texans: Bring the spice.

“Sandra is always on the hunt for odd things for us to try: Maybe it’s the spiciest hot sauce, or the spiciest chips, but needless to say, we’re both very fond of spicy food,” Jennifer said.

Texas food is as bold and diverse as the state itself. Few things capture the spirit of Texas better than a perfectly smoked beef brisket, tender and rich with flavor after hours in the pit. Add to that the colorful, zesty layers of Tex-Mex: enchiladas dripping with cheese, sizzling fajitas, and fresh tortillas, and you have a cuisine that is equal parts comfort and celebration.

Whether it’s slow-cooked barbecue, Tex-Mex classics, or Southern-inspired favorites, Texas dining delivers a sense of tradition and adventure that keeps locals and visitors alike searching for the next great bite.

Read on Below to See What Fellow Datamaxers Consider Their State's Best Cuisine!

 

Ashley Tatum

Dallas/Fort Worth Office

TexMex, of course, because it just puts a little bit of Texas flare on already good Mexican food… I’m a big queso fan! I can eat endless chips and salsa sitting around a table with my friends.

A good backyard barbecue just feels like home with your family and best friends in Texas. A drink by the pool, a game of horseshoes, the kids playing and laughing while we grill some barbecue chicken or brisket. 

And of course, chicken fried chicken with mashed potatoes, or a chicken pot pie—good ole southern comfort foods to make you feel cozy in the winter.

 

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Damon Kilgo

Sulphur Springs Office

Brisket - in slices or chopped, on a sandwich or off, with bbq sauce and without. 

Beef Steak - filet, NY strip, ribeye, T-bone, flank, sirloin, flat-iron, and especially Porterhouse.  Rare, medium, or even (heaven forbid) well done. 

Both of these are my choices to represent the best country I’ve ever lived in, the great State of Texas.  Bottom line, ain’t nobody can cook a cow like us Texans.

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Josh McConnell

Tyler Office

Two Texas food facts:  The fajita was invented here in Texas, and Athens is the original home of the hamburger.

Editor's Note: A little digging, and the Rave Review can confirm Josh's assertion regarding the orginal home of the hamburger.

 

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Darryl Moseley

Longview Office

Smoked ribs are my favorite food. My favorite place is the Country Tavern in Kilgore, but I cook them myself most of the time though.

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Michael Snow

Tyler Office

Chicken Fried Steak. It’s a go-to. There’s not a Texas Restaurant that doesn’t have some type of Chicken Fried Steak. Even Dairy Queen has the Dude Sandwich. You watch the old Cowboy movies, they’re eating the Ranch Style beans, which are a must with any barbecue meal. 

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Collin Rabia

Dallas/Fort Worth Office

I would say BBQ is my favorite Texas food.

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Robert Caldwell

Dallas/Fort Worth Office

Snuffer’s Queso and Chips—undisputed State Champions, and let’s be honest… probably World Champions too.

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Jeff Walker

Tyler Office

The one cut of meat that I feel best represents the great state of Texas is the brisket. It symbolizes labor, patience,  skill, and dedication to a craft, transforming an otherwise tough cut of beef into tender perfection after 18 hours of slow smoking. No. Sauce. Needed.

I've smoked my fair share of 'em, won a few, lost a few, but I haven't found much better than the "fatty end" cut from Stanley's Pit BBQ right here in Tyler. 

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Breaking Bread Together: The Datamax Way.

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