On Becoming Texan: LESSON 1 - QUESO

The first time I was introduced to Tex-Mex queso was here in Austin at Chuy's. My OB suggested that Kris and I take in some local flavor as we had just moved to town. When our server asked what we'd like, I ordered chili con queso - chili with cheese on top, right? Wrong. Total rookie move. A few minutes later he came over with a bubbling bowl of melted cheese dotted with green chilies and a big basket of chips. Kris' eyes were dancing so I decided to keep the cheese and not make a fuss about my chili having gone missing. One bite and I told Kris that we could never ever have this ever again. It was delicious and addictive, unforgettable and unrepentant, so perfectly stupid yet wonderful - you get the idea.

Of course since then I've realized that down here chili con queso actually means queso with chilies and not a bean stew by any length of the imagination. We order it from time to time, but those times are few and far between and it's usually when we have company in town. You can have it down and dirty, just melted yellow or you can snooty it up like at Lambert's where they serve you a Frito Pie with fresh chevre, BBQ pulled pork topped with, you guessed it, queso. I once had that as an appetizer (yes, it's an appetizer, as in: to whet your appetite for more) with a martini and thought I had damn near died (yes from a heart attack) and happily went to heaven. Kris thought it was better with beer.

Either way it was and is dirty, dirty eating. But one thing you never do as a Texan is apologize for liking something so ridiculous. No matter how bad it might be for you, no matter how much you think you might regret it later, the party is now and tomorrow may or may not ever get here. Now of course this can work for you, like when you want queso or against you if say you thought GW was a nice guy who deserved a shot. That's not to say people don't take care of themselves. Most people here are very fit, wear appropriate sunscreen, drive the speed limit and say 'please' and 'thank you', it's more that people here just like having fun and refuse to apologize for it. It's as if everyone was living by the same philosophy, "What would Willie Nelson do?"

Tonight we went out looking for a new place and we found Hula Hut right on Lake Austin. It's a branch of Chuy's but it's right on the water and the menu blends Mexican with Polynesian making what they call Mexonesion (I had Thai fajitas with peanut sauce if that gives you a clue.) There's a dock off to the side where folks can boat up to the restaurant from Ladybird Lake, run in and get their snack on, then boat out. The place was buzzing; lots of energy, lots of young people, great music, fantastic views and even though it was 100º it was truly relaxing and comfortable. Like being on vacation in your own backyard. We decided to order the chili con queso and unlike me, August knew exactly what was going on when they brought it to the table. He instantly picked up a chip, dipped it in the queso and gobbled it up before we could even show him. A cheezy little grin - then another chip. That kid's a Texan alright.