Texas and food go hand in hand. And In honor of Thanksgiving, the most delicious holiday of all, we’re serving up a list of all the spots that you can gobble your way across the state.

TURKEY

You obviously couldn’t have Thanksgiving without TURKEY — it’s the starring meat on your plate. And since you also can’t truly celebrate a day of thankfulness without acknowledging the blessing you have of living in the BEST STATE in the world, visit the spot that combines them both — Turkey, Texas. You won’t find dozens of turkeys running around, but you will find the Official Texas State Bison Herd and a whole lot of giant canyons.

However, if you are looking for actual turkeys, than might I suggest Cuero, TX, the town that’s named itself the “Unofficial Turkey Capital of the World.” They are so into these flightless-birds that the high school mascot is a turkey, each year they host a big turkey festival with a world famous Great Gobbler Gallop (turkey race) and have a Turkey Statue in town.

SWEET POTATOES

Fun Fact: did you know that Golden, TX is the Sweet Potato Capital of the World? To celebrate the sweet potato harvest each year, the town hosts a famous Sweet Potato Festival (that was once featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show) with a sweet potato contest, sweet potato decorating contest, and a sweet potato baking contest!

CORN

What fun is Thanksgiving if it isn’t a little corny? Spend a Saturday at Graff 7A Ranch, which is basically a corn-themed festival that lasts until November 25. Get lost in the giant Corn Maize, chow on Kettle Corn or shoot corn out of a cannon!

PUMPKIN

Head to the land of pumpkins, Floydada to see acres and acres of gourds growing out in the fields — 1800 acres to be exact! Declared as the “Pumpkin Capital of Texas” by the 83rd Legislature, Floydada is well known for their “Punkin Days” Festival and the huge Assiter Punkin Ranch that you can tour.

APPLE

Now many folks will start lining up outside of the Apple Store Thanksgiving night in hopes of scoring some sweet Black Friday deals…but the Apple Store you need to go to is in Medina, TX and has much sweeter items for sale. Head to this store sitting on the corner of the Love Creek Apple Orchard for all the apple pie you can eat.

PECAN PIE

It’s a Texas Thanksgiving tradition to end your meal with a slice of pecan pie (which also happens to be the Official State Pie). If you’re in a rush and have no time to make one, no worries — the Berdoll Pecan Candy & Gift Co. in Cedar Creek, TX has a 24-hour Pecan Pie Vending Machine outside their store — as well as the world’s largest squirrel statue!

Gooey fruit centers. Doughy, soft rolls. You know exactly what I’m talking about: the heavenly goodness that is the Kolache. This Czech/Texan — Czexan? — delicacy is perfect as a breakfast bite or a mid-road trip snack. Kolaches first arrived on the Texas snack scene with the Czech immigrants of the  1800s (the same folks who brought us the incredible Painted Churches). Here’s a list of 9 kolache bakeries you’ve gotta Czech out!

So is it a Kolache or a Klobasnek?

Before we continue, let’s clear up a common misconception. I know you love getting “kolaches” at your local donut shop, but those pigs-in-a-blanket are actually called “klobasniky” (or singular “klobasnek.”) The sweet, typically fruit-filled, open-faced pastries are kolaches. Yet whether you’re munching a sweet kolache or a savory klobasnek, you’re in for a tasty treat!

Village Bakery – West, TX

West, TX is the kolache-kingdom of Texas — and it was officially dubbed Home of the Official Kolache by the Texas Legislature in 1997. So it makes sense that tucked away in this town is the little bakery that first began selling Texas’s favorite treat in 1952. Much less crowded than its highway-hugging neighbors (more about them below), the Village Bakery is the place to get authentic homemade kolache flavors like cream cheese and poppy seed. Rumor has it that they are also the creators of the meaty klobanesk, so obviously you’ve gotta get one of those too — spicy sausage! Just remember, road trip calories don’t count.

Czech Stop – West,TX

If you’re kolache-krazed, then you’re probably more than familiar with Exit 353 on I-35 — where kolache shops are abundant. And you’ve definitely already been to the Czech Stop which opened in 1983. It might just be one of Central Texas’s most famous. The tiny one-room bakery stuffed with breads stands like a delicious beacon, providing weary construction-dazed travelers a brief break from I-35 traffic and lots of pastries to choose from. For a truly Czech treat, order a poppy seed kolache.

Slovacek’s – West, TX

This bakery, which is also at Exit 353, might be viewed as the Czech Stop’s competition (especially since it didn’t pop up until 2013), but the Slovacek business actually started as a meat processing plant in Snook, TX in 1957 before deciding to expand to West, TX. And honestly, more kolache bakeries has never been a problem, right? However, to the kolache-connissuer, these two stops are quite different. While the Czech Stop is a sweet treat utopia, Slovacek’s specializes in klobasniky made with meats from their processing plant. I seriously suggest the jalapeno-popper klobasnek with bacon, cream cheese and jalapeno.

Hruska’s – Ellinger, TX

Kolache bliss isn’t only found in West, TX. Travel down 290 to find this bakery, which is also in a gas station as most great kolache stops are! They began cookin’ up their kolaches and klobasniky in 1962, and along with their 16 tasty flavors, Hruska’s is also strangely famous for their burgers (they made it on Texas Monthly’s Best Burgers list in 2009!) So stop in for lunch and a pan sausage klobasnek for a meaty dessert.

Weikel’s Bakery – La Grange, TX

Though they are near each other, Weikel’s and Hruska’s have less of a rivalry and more of a complimentary relationship. Weikel’s has been making kolaches since 1985 using the same recipe their family grew up making in Czechoslovakia. And while the meaty klobasniky are the things to get at Hruska’s, the locals swear that when they’re craving a fruit-filled pastry, Weikel’s is the place to go. Something about the sweeter bread at this bakery just makes it all the more delicious! If you want to venture past your typical cherry or strawberry, try a prune kolache!

Original Kountry Bakery – Schulenburg, TX

If you’ve spent any amount of time on I-10 between San Antonio and Houston, than you already know about this beloved bakery that’s been serving up kolaches since 1979. Locals swear by the cream cheese and cottage cheese kolaches (do you see the cheese theme here?) and you’ll never forgive yourself if you don’t also get a poppy seed roll and a sausage-and-sauerkraut klobanesk as well.

B-Jo’s Czech Bakery – El Campo, TX

You don’t even have to be in Central Texas to get your favorite Czech treats. Just south of Houston, Prasek’s Hillje Smokehouse is not only serving up delicious smoked meats, but also kolaches made with 4th generation Czech recipes. The klobasniky are stuffed with thick cut sausage from their meat processing plant and the kolaches come in fruity flavors like cherry and dewberry.

Zamykal Gourmet Kolaches – Dallas, TX

And now a brief interruption from all these historic kolache shops to bring you a newcomer worth trying. They opened their Dallas location in 2017 and use a recipe passed down from their great-grandmother who came from Czechoslovakia in 1918. These guys are doing some awesome remixes on the classic kolache with flavors like Raspberry Truffle, German Chocolate and Key Lime. And they make actual savory kolaches like meatball and pulled pork that aren’t pigs in a blanket but are actually open-faced like a typical kolache.

The Kolache Shop – Clute, TX

The Kolache Shop has a “kolache of the month” that’s more than worth the trip to the bakery just south of Houston — as I write this, it’s Italian Cream! Fun seasonal flavors include jalapeno cream cheese and cinnamon toast crunch. The bakery, which has been open since 1985, also has awesome Texas twists on classic klobasniky stuffed with mouth-watering ingredients like fajita with pepper jack cheese, and boudin!

I recently reached a new level of Texan. Now before y’all spit out your Lone Stars, I assure you that I’m Texan, born and raised.

However, I do believe that there are a few Texan rites of passage — y’all know: things that every Texan’s gotta do at least once in life. These things include — but are not limited to — seeing a West Texas sunset, fueling a road trip with Buc-ee’s Beaver nuggets, jumping into Barton Springs and immediately wondering why you did because it’s freezing, remembering/visiting the Alamo and waiting in a ridiculously long line for some good ol’ Texas BBQ.

Now many will knock the last one off their list at one of the Hill Country greats like Franklin’s Barbecue in Austin or Snow’s BBQ in Lexington. I, however, earned my smokey stripes at Dallas’s Pecan Lodge. But here’s the catch: it was FREEZING outside.

My family and I went at a random time on a winter weekday, thinking we had some how outsmarted the ‘que crowds. But we were very, very wrong. Despite a 37 degree temperature and a wind chill somewhere near freezing, the line for Pecan Lodge was out the door and around the corner of the building.

Yet for some reason, perhaps early stages of hypothermia or the insanely enticing smell of roasting meat, we decided to give the line a chance, thinking that it would fly by. But, oh boy, it did not.

Ten minutes turned to 30 freezing minutes, but our optimism remained as we hoped that some of the people in front of us in line would leave because of the cold. But — wouldn’t you know — Texans are a proud folk… meaning that none of us in our hardly-winter-worthy windbreakers budged.

At one point, I could see it in all of my family’s eyes that we were about ready to give up, no longer able to feel our toes and no closer to the door than when we started. But just then a huge gust of brisket-laced breeze wafted our way and we made a pact to stick it out, no matter how many appendages we lost to the cold.

The hardest part was reaching the front steps. The temperature seemed to drop 15 degrees as we waited no more than five feet from the door to a warmth we couldn’t quite reach. We were stuck in this infernal spot for at least 20 minutes, waiting literally right outside the door, with our faces pressed to the glass as we glared at families inside. Finally after what felt like a frozen eternity — but was really just an hour — we made it inside.

The wait was far from over, but we didn’t care as we basked in the glorious warmth of Pecan Lodge. Angels sang and the heavens rejoiced as our stiff fingers, noses and toes slowly thawed out.

Next, it was time to put together our BBQ Plan of Action…you know, the meats and sides we’d be getting. No one could quite narrow it down to which cuts we wanted, but we all agreed that we needed a huge pile of meat after a wait that long.

Luckily, Pecan Lodge offers just that and it’s aptly named: THE TROUGH. This superb stack of meat comes with beef ribs, pork ribs, brisket, pulled pork and sausage.

Finally we’d ordered and reached our table, falling silent as we took in the dazzling mosaic of juicy ribs, tender brisket and tasty sausage. After our first bite, we instantly knew that everything — the numb toes, cold sniffles and wind chapped cheeks — was worth it for this taste.

The brisket was peppery and flavorful, the ribs were fall-off-the-bone perfection and even the okra was top-knotch. We’d waited in a two-hour line for 20 minutes of pure barbecue bliss and we had no complaints.

All four of us ate to our heart’s content and, even so, we hardly made a dent in the monstrous TROUGH. Leftovers were just another perk.

It was a crazy and cold experience, but one I’d gladly repeat in a heartbeat.

Although, now that I’ve successfully attempted the “bunny-slope” of BBQ Lines, I think I’m ready to cross the big one off my list. Next up: Franklin’s 4+ hour wait!

See Chet’s experience with this BBQ joint that has meat so great it’s got Texans braving the cold, in this clip from the Dallas episode.

We’ve shown you some of Texas’s greatest cafes, but the impending Holiday season calls for something much sweeter. Whether your kryponite is a gooey fruit filling or you get weak knees from the perfect flaky crust, you’re bound to find your little slice of heaven on this list of some of Texas’s tastiest pies.

Koffee Kup Family Restaurant – Hico, TX

Hico, Hico, it’s off to Pie we go! The dining room of this small-town diner seems to be arranged so that each table has a view of the glorious 6-shelf pie case behind the counter with a sign above it that reads “Pie Fixes Everything.” A true saying — especially if you order their signature Doctor’s Office Pie. As sweet vanilla swirls with pecans and coconut enter your stomach, you’ll instantly forget all your worries.

Blue Bonnet Cafe – Marble Falls, TX

No pie list would be complete without this cafe in the Hill Country that trades the usual cold drafts of a normal happy hour for one that I’d say is even “happier” — “Pie Happy Hour.” Each Monday through Friday from 3-5 p.m. this sacred time slot is honored with a slice of homemade pie (piled with towers of real whipped cream and meringue) and a drink for only $4!

Midpoint Cafe – Adrian, TX

Get your kicks with a side of the famous “Ugly Crust Pies” at the midpoint of Historic Route 66! Halfway between Chicago and Los Angeles, this diner has been a pie-pit-stop for weary trippers since it first opened in 1948! Inside, you’ll find all the roadside memorabilia to transport you back to the 1950s, and over 20 flavors of pie that might be “ugly” but taste incredible!

Emporium Pies – Dallas, TX

As a Texan, you’ve probably tried tons of craft beers, but if you’ve never tried a “craft” pie, you’re missing out. This funky specialty Dallas-based pie shop with locations in the Bishop’s Art District & Deep Ellum is the dessert you’ve been missing. Say “goodbye” to the usual pie varieties: Emporium Pies switches up it’s unique flavors each season so there’s always a new flavor combo to devour. Right now, their unconventionally delicious pies include “The Nannerz” (a sweet symphony of bananas, maple caramel and vanilla) and their most famous “Drunken Nut” (a bourbon pecan pie with shortbread crust that’ll give you the most pleasant of sugary hangovers).

Royers Round Top Cafe – Round Top

People travel from around the world to buy priceless items at Round Top’s antique fairs but the true treasures in this town are the pies at Royers Cafe. The unique pie flavors — which are as abundant as the hodgepodge of photos plastering the walls and the insane line of folks waiting outside to eat in the dark, tiny cafe — all have fiercely loyal fans. Many folks swear they can’t live without the lemon blueberry or sweet n’ salty pies, but it’s their signature Texas Trash pie that warrants the most praise. Sweet chocolate, coconut and caramel mix with salty pretzels to make for the kind of big flavor that can only be found in Texas.

Texan Cafe – Hutto, TX

“Holy Cow!” is a phrase that can be heard often in this cafe — yet whether patrons are referring to the giant cow head protruding out of the cafe’s storefront or reacting to the first bite of one of their handmade pies remains a mystery. With decadent chocolaty pies like S’mores, Peppermint Patty and Snickers, sweet tooths will have a hard time narrowing it down to just one flavor. Lucky for them, Pie Happy Hour on Tuesdays through Saturdays lightens the load on their wallets if they need to get more than one.

Bevers Kitchen – Chappell  Hill, TX

The cafe opened in 1984, but is located inside an antique 1907 Victorian home. And just like you’d expect to find in a historic home, Bevers Kitchen serves up traditional pies that might just rival Granny’s. Indulge in old fashioned favorites like Million Dollar and Sawdust Pies for a nostalgic trip to the “good ol’ days.” Or mix it up and try their twist on Texas’s official state pie (yes, that’s a real thing) with a slice of Mystery Pecan Pie — a pecan pie/cheeescake hybrid that’ll make you hollar “Yeehaw!”

Monument Cafe – Georgetown, TX

This 50s-inspired diner is home to one stellar slice o’ pie. While it offers the classic flavors we all adore (from Coconut Cream to Cherry), the true magic lies in their signature Monument Chocolate Pie. Creamy chocolate mousse layered on top of a crunchy pecan crust and topped with billowy whipped cream all combine to make this slice the dessert lover’s fantasy. One bite and you’re a goner — you’ll probably just order an entire pie and eat it right there…and there’s no shame in that.

Lone Star Bar-B-Q – Mission, TX

This barbecue joint serves a host of delicious pies, but it’s the rare, yet tasty, Grapefruit Pie that stands out. Because it’s located right in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley in Mission, TX, Lone Star Bar-B-Q’s Grapefruit Pie is something you won’t find anywhere else. Made with fresh locally grown grapefruits, this “ruby red” pie is the ideal mixture of tangy and sweet. In fact, it might even be your new favorite fruit…

Header photo by Emporium Pies.

Well, it happened again – Texas Monthly’s dropped their Top 50 Barbecue Joints list and the world went crazy. Not only did we get some new ideas for future trips, but we’re drooling over the sweet memories of moist meats, heavenly scents, and barbecue comas that we’ve experienced at some of the joints on the list that we’ve already visited, both on the show and in our free time!

To let you reminisce with us, we’ve compiled some clips and photos below. Check ’em out to experience these joints through the lens of “The Daytripper.” Just don’t lick the screen — you can’t taste these meats. Trust us – we’ve tried. But if you concentrate real hard, you can smell ’em….promise.

Here are some of the places we’ve visited on the show.

Louie Mueller Barbecue – Taylor, TX (5th on the List)

Tejas Chocolate Craftory – Tomball, TX  (6th on the list)

It’s called “Craft BBQ” and the old rules are out the window. Verde sauce. Pickled onions and carrot soufle on the side. This is the next generation of Texas BBQ. We never abandon the past, but we always look toward the future. Photo at Tejas Chocolate Craftery in Tomball, TX.

A post shared by Chet Garner (@chettripper) on May 6, 2017 at 12:20pm PDT

Pecan Lodge – Dallas, TX

Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que – Llano, TX

Kruez Market – Lockhart, TX 

City Market – Luling, TX

Here’s a few more we’ve been to but haven’t featured on the show!

Snow’s – Lexington (1st on the List)

Franklin BBQ – Austin, TX (2nd on the List)

Hays Co. Bar-B-Que – San Marcos, TX

Miller’s Smokehouse – Belton, TX

Others we’ve visited include:

La Barbecue, Austin, TX; Stiles Switch BBQ, Austin, TX; Lockhart Smokehouse, Dallas, TX; Stanley’s Famous Pit BBQ, Tyler, TX;

Which restaurants have you tried?  Which are you dying to try?