Houston is a nationally diverse metropolis. A home for many nationalities, it became famous due to the diversity of its cuisine. Historically, many different people have passed through this territory during the formation of the city. Those who were involved in cooking left their mark on the local taste preferences. At the current stage, Houston’s culinary scene is the most diverse. In addition, the city can be proud of three winners of the James Beard Awards. Let’s follow the retrospective of the development of the taste preferences of Houstonians. Read more on i-houston.
The origin of Houston’s cuisine
The first inhabitants of modern Houston were Indians. They were the first cooks. Their dishes were simple and did not require much effort. The basis of their diet was fish, meat of hunted animals and home-grown vegetables. All tribes used corn and beans. These two crops were the basis of the daily food of the Indians.
When Texas began to develop, many emigrants from Europe arrived in the Lone Star State. They were mainly Irish and Italians, who brought their national gastronomic preferences. Their migration to Texas was motivated by the opportunity to buy some land for a low price. Thus, ranches appeared, owned by the Irish and Italians. Later, a large group of immigrants from Germany joined them. On their new farms, they began to grow the crops that they were accustomed to in their homeland. European cuisine with the national characteristics of emigrants began to spread rapidly in the region. These were mainly meat dishes with a large amount of vegetables and fruits. One of the most radical changes was the replacement of Indian cornbread with wheat bread.
After Texas gained independence, an even greater number of both external and internal immigrants began to move to the region. Large groups of Chinese, Vietnamese, Mexicans and many other representatives of various nations came to Houston. Each group brought its own gastronomic preferences and culinary traditions, which significantly enriched the cuisine of the region and the city.
As the population grew, the first food establishments opened in Houston. These were small taverns that offered fast and inexpensive but good food. In the city, people settled according to their nationality and opened their own food establishments. At the beginning of the last century, there were entire Irish, Mexican or Italian districts with their own national food establishments in Houston.
Oil, haute cuisine and fast food
With the discovery of oil fields near Houston, new gastronomic trends began to appear in the city. Oil is associated with big money. The people who own it tend to spend their earnings extravagantly. If there is demand, there will be proposal. Starting from the 1920s, numerous diverse restaurants were opened in Houston. These were fashionable and sophisticated establishments for the rich. There were simpler but also pretentious places for the middle class. One could order almost anything there: from delicacies from all over the world to extravagant servings.
Oil also attracted seekers of happiness and ordinary workers, who searched for a better fate and started working in this field. They also needed food. However, restaurants were beyond their means. Therefore, there were establishments for a quick snack for them. At this time, the fast food trend was created in Houston. Workers always lacked time for a full meal and local chefs offered quick snacks. Although Houston was not the first city with the idea of fast food, it was one of the first to experiment with flavors, creating unique versions of burgers, tacos and other fast food dishes.
Modern local cuisine
Nowadays, Houston is a significant gastronomic location in Texas. The city has numerous restaurants for every taste and budget. The city has cuisines of various cultures, establishments for family visits or for a certain category of people. There is an unusually large number of steakhouses, Tex-Mex food trucks and barbecue eateries where you can try the signature dishes or experiment and create a unique selection of ingredients at your own wish.
Houston cuisine is also famous for its variety of drinks. Among them, cocktails play a leading role. Many establishments offer original versions of these drinks based on local ingredients. However, such a variety of flavors and ingredients of gourmet fusion cuisine cannot overshadow the traditional Houston dishes. Among them are Texas barbecue, Mexican tacos, flat oysters, enchiladas and fajitas, which have been favorite dishes for local residents for many years.
Houston’s cuisine is an ever-evolving phenomenon. New restaurants open every week, chefs continue to experiment with flavors and tour operators offer food tours. Vibrant food festivals and culinary events are common. They celebrate the city’s diverse food culture, featuring everything from local specialties to international delicacies.