Wikipedia says German and Austrian immigrants brought the recipe over from the Old Country. And in the Hill Country, in Bandera, Texas, John "White Gravy" Neutzling claims to have invented it. While the precise origins are unclear, officials from Lamesa, Texas say the dish was born there. According to legend, in 1911-Lamesa, a short-order cook, Jimmy Don Perkins, mistook an order for chicken AND fried steak, and just fried a steak in flour batter, serving with french fries and cream gravy. And the rest is history. In fact a bill authored by State Rep. Tom Craddick of Midland was signed into law by the Texas House of Representatives, naming Lamesa "the legendary home of the chicken-fried steak". Lamesa's Original Chicken-Fried Steak Festival is April 29-May 1, with a 5K run, arts and crafts booths, games, and of course, what else? a chicken-fried steak dinner! Call their Chamber of Commerce for tickets and other info, 806-872-2181.

More From Lonestar 99-5 FM