58 ounces (Long live roadside kitsch!)

That's how much steak my older brother ate Monday at The Big Texan. Alas, no free steak for him! It was impressive, though, and he would have had no problem finishing it if he weren't totally grossed out by steak (qua steak) about 50 ounces in. He more or less couldn't go on after 30 minutes. In other words, he was strong out of the gate, but just couldn't eat that much of one food, regardless of how much time he had.

The MiniLogician got a pink cowboy hat and pink pearl-handled cap pistol (the handle was pink and pearly, that is) and generally had a good time with her cousins, aunts, uncles, nana, and grandpa.

Now, I'm sure someone reading out there is finding it weird that I'm all crunchy about food in the post below, but celebrating my brother's attempt at astounding consumption of (no doubt) genetically-modified beef with pre-fab side dishes. Shouldn't I be cheering him on as he tries to eat 72oz of organic lentils at Veggie Heaven? Uh, no. First of all, my brother wouldn't eat lentils and I can respect that. Second, as nice as Veggie Heaven is, it isn't a Texas icon. I think that The Big Texan is something uniquely Texas, one of those small, local things that I want to preserve, even if it isn't totally in line with all of my culinary values. Is it tacky? Heck, yeah! But it was fun and local and real and quirky. So long live The Big Texan and Ozarkland and Cherokee Trading Post!

Happy Fourth, everybody.