Five stories that have North Texas talking: A record 15 million Texans registered to vote ahead of Nov. 8; Texas was awarded more than 45 million for flood recovery; where you should go in an emergency taco situation; and more.
Kevin Alexander, a writer for Thrillist, has eaten more than 100 burgers so far on his yearlong quest to find the best burger in America. Formerly a Plano resident, he returned to North Texas to consult with local experts and eat his way through Dallas’ burger joints. This week, he published his findings on the experience, ranking eight of the best burgers in Dallas. All eight have their merits, but one — Chef John Tesar’s Ozersky Burger at Knife Dallas — might be the best burger Alexander’s sunk his teeth into since he started the national journey, he says. “It was pure unadulterated burger, with meat from 44 Farms in Cameron, and unbelievable char. It was thick and the right amount of salty. The meat tastes so pure, it’s nearly spiritual -- you feel like you’re eating meat right out of a butcher’s hand.” If you think/know Alexander missed a notable burger, follow @ThrillistBurgerQuest and use #ThrillistBurgerQuest on Twitter to let him know. [Thrillist]
- Texas set a new record for statewide registered voters — exceeding 15 million ahead of Election Day. Secretary of State Carlos Cascos announced Thursday that 15,015,700 Texans had registered ahead of the Tuesday deadline. About 14.2 million Texans were registered for the primaries in March, when the state set a record for Republican primary turnout. Despite those increases, though, Texas generally has continued to lag behind national voter turnout rates. [AP]
- Texas has been awarded more than $45 million to help communities recover from disastrous flooding related to storms earlier this year. The Department of Housing announced the funding Thursday. Officials say Harris, Montgomery and Newton counties were hit the hardest from those storms, AP reports. Disaster recovery grants can contribute to housing redevelopment, business assistance and infrastructure repair. [The Associated Press]
- When you’re in a pinch, here are the three chains to get decent tacos: Taco Bell, Taco Cabana and Taco Bueno. But if you’re in South Texas, Taco Palenque. Of the big three, the best chain usually depends on your region of Texas. These recommendations come from experts Mando Rayo and Jarod Neece. They are two taco journalists traveling across Texas tasting every taco in sight for their new book, "The Tacos of Texas". [Texas Standard]
- Never fear, vegetarians — there’s plenty of food options for you at the State Fair of Texas. Herbivores can chow down on roasted corn, breakfast tacos and even a vegetarian Fletcher’s Corny Dog. Even though you can get your fill of hummus and fruit, not all of the options for non-meat eaters are healthy —fried okra, pickles and jalapeno chips — which might be exactly what you’re looking for anyway. See D Magazine’s full fair food guide for vegetarians. [D Magazine]
