(The Center Square) – Following through on Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s pledge to rename the “New York Strip Steak” the “Texas Strip Steak,” concurrent resolutions were filed in the Texas Senate and House. The resolutions are nearly identical – with one major difference: the cut of beef.
State Sen. Kevin Sparks, R-Midland, filed Senate Concurrent Resolution 26, officially designating the Texas Strip Steak as the official steak of Texas.
State Rep. Ken King, R-Canadian, filed House Concurrent Resolution 101, officially designating the tomahawk ribeye as the official steak of Texas.
The resolutions were filed after Patrick said the legislature would “officially change the name of the New York Strip to the ‘Texas Strip’ in the Lone Star State,” The Center Square reported.
He’s referring to a cut of meat located along the short loin, which butchers for centuries have referred to as the “strip loin.” Some refer to it as the New York Strip, others the Kansas City Strip. Debate continues over whether a real strip is boneless or has bone and how much fat is on it – a marked difference between New York and Kansas City cuts, steak connoisseurs argue.
The tomahawk ribeye has an unusually long rib bone attached to it and the cut of meat is said to resemble the shape of a tomahawk.
King argues Sparks’ resolution bestowed the distinction “on the ‘Texas Strip’ steak, an objectively inferior cut of meat.”
He further adds in jest that his resolution was referred to “the House Committee on Steak Affairs.”
“The Texas House is raising the ‘steaks’ today, and we have a bone to pick with anyone who disputes that the tomahawk ribeye is the most premium cut in the Lone Star State,” King said. “While the Texas Senate butters up a lesser cut, we won’t let them outflank our efforts to sear the tomahawk’s rightful place in Texas history. The Senate’s ‘Texas Strip’ might shine on a sizzling plate of fajitas, but when it comes to the superior steak, the tomahawk ribeye is a cut above the rest.”
House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, agreed, adding, “Like Texas, the tomahawk ribeye is a prime symbol of greatness and, as the official Steak of Texas, would be a fitting tribute to our state. Lawmakers have a rare opportunity to serve up solutions on meat-and-potato policy issues this session, and while I have no beef with other cuts of steak, Texans should not have to stomach anything less than the best.”
Both resolutions highlight the importance of the Texas cattle industry, noting that it “has long been a cornerstone of Texas’ agricultural economy, contributing billions of dollars annually, providing thousands of jobs, and sustaining the state’s vibrant ranching culture. Steak products, particularly prime cuts like the strip steak, stand as one of the most prominent foods associated with Texas, a status that reflects the importance of beef production to the state’s history and development.”
Both resolutions point to historical context of the late 19th century, noting that as urban centers grew, demand for beef increased, which spurred the era of cattle drives. Texas ranchers and cowboys moved cattle along the open range to reach train depots to transport their cattle to major urban centers.
“Texas is the birthplace of many iconic culinary traditions, including those tied to cattle drives, chuck wagons, and steak houses, all of which have cemented steak as an integral part of the state’s culture and cuisine,” the resolutions state. Steak enjoyed by diners, “both historically and in the present day, came from cattle that were raised on the sprawling ranches of Texas and should, therefore, be recognized as products of the Lone Star State,” the lawmakers argue, differing on which cut should receive the distinction.
The resolutions encourage all Texans, restaurants, chefs, and food service establishments to refer to the strip sirloin as the Texas Strip Steak (Senate version) and tomahawk ribeye (House version) as the official Steak of Texas.
The resolutions also direct the Texas Department of Agriculture to promote their respective cuts of meat to support the industry.
