When in Texas, Eat the Texas Way

My cousins (above) from Los Angeles visited us in Coppell, Dallas, Texas, so, the first order of the day was to dine out, Texas style; what else, but, barbecue (bbq). 

Among the many bbq restaurants that Trina, Tyler, and I had tried, Hard Eight (http://www.hardeightbbq.com/index.html) was one of the best. There’s one very near us, at 688 Freeport Parkway, Coppell, TX 75019. It was just a couple of minutes ride from where Trina and her family resided, but, of course, my cousins and I missed it the first time, even with the GPS in the car. Another circle around the block and we, finally, got it (above).

Upon entry, be prepared to inhale all the smoke coming from their grill because the line starts here (above). 

Guests order from the menu on the green board or just choose from whatever looks appetizing on the grill. In fact their website says, “You can always expect the coals to be burning at Hard Eight BBQ. All of our meats are cooked on a pit using fresh mesquite wood for a smoky flavor that can't be beat. http://www.hardeightbbq.com/menu.html.”

My cousins and their husbands ( above, L to R: Lors, Satur, Kiko and Lan) chose the Hard 8, 16 oz. hand cut Rib Eye that came with two sides. They had baked potato, coleslaw salad, cheese, etc. (below).

Mine was simply beef brisket (below).  “Brisket is a cut of meat from the breast or lower chest of beef or veal https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=brisket&oq=brisket&aqs=chrome.0.0l6.6076j1j1 &sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8.” This has become my favorite because at Hard 8, brisket was soft and tender and has melt-in-the-mouth fat with just the right marbling. Dressings, onion, jalapeño, pickles, cheese, and other sauces were free. Pinto beans and bread were also free when dining in.

  

Tyler and Trina had sirloin (sirloin steak is cut from the back of the animal) and brisket to share, with a side of coleslaw. Their fixin’s included onion, pickles with bread and pinto beans (below). Tierra was happy with her baked potato that she shared with her Grandma Lors and Grandpa Satur.

The place was big and noisy with a band that was playing country music, so a serious conversation was not possible. Besides my cousins had a long journey ahead of us, because we planned for a long trip to New Mexico starting the following day. But Hard 8 bbq was always worth coming back for.

This is why on our last dinner out before I went back to the Philippines, Trina, Tyler and I, chose to eat at Hard 8 for their unforgettable Texas bbq.

Remembering a President’s Last Parade

November 22, 1963, Dallas, Texas, USA. "This was the last parade of John F. Kennedy, the 35^th president of the United States, who was fatally shot on a Dallas street." This might have been the headline on the day that JFK was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald. Having this deep affinity with US history, I always make it a point to watch any documentary on TV about the Dallas shooting that happened more than 50 years ago. 

So, when I visited Trina and her family in Dallas, Texas, the first outing that we undertook was to the 6th Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza on what was once the Texas Bookstore Depository, now the Dallas County Administration Building.  At the lobby, this famous picture of a seemingly happy first couple was enlarged for those who wanted a souvenir shot of the historic event in Dallas. Of course, I had my picture taken with the famous couple (above).

“The 6^th Floor Museum examines the life, times, death, and legacy of President John F. Kennedy, and is located at the very spot from which Lee Harvey Oswald, according to four government investigations, shot and killed the President on November 22, 1963 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sixth_Floor_Museum_at_Dealey_Plaza.”  Taking pictures was not allowed inside the 6^th floor museum, so we were contented to have some pictures taken on the 7^th floor. Photo above shows how beautiful Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy was and how JFK was a handsome match to her beauty. 

We went on  the 7^th floor, one floor above where Oswald killed JFK. Photo above shows me with this view (background).

The street on the left, above, is Houston Street where JFK and his motorcade came from,  then turned left to Elm St. going to the Fort Worth Turnpike exit. 

The big X on Elm St. (above) is the exact spot where JFK was shot by Oswald.

Trina (L), Tyler (R) and Tierra on the stroller are in the grassy knoll, where witnesses believed that the deadly shots came from because smoke, allegedly, was seen in the area after the shots were heard.

A view from the ground (above) shows Dealey Plaza (L) and the 6^th Floor Museum (background).

When we arrived in the museum, we were excited to witness an unforgettable part of history. When we left we felt depressed, sad, and devastated. It was difficult for us to get over the grief of losing the last Camelot  in the White House.