Muleshoe to Star on National Network

Guest Blogger, Rick Rhodes, Assistant Commissioner of Rural Economic Development

Besides having immediate name recognition, the city of Muleshoe, Texas, also has promoted itself as a tourism destination through the Texas Department of Agriculture's GO TEXAN Rural Community Program.

Last June, the Food Network visited Muleshoe to film an "Ace of Cakes" episode called "Slow Mules and Fast Cars." Chef Duff Goldman and his crew experienced true Texas hospitality as they enjoyed a potluck dinner, complete with savory Texas brisket and homemade ice cream. The bakers even got to ride authentic Muleshoe mules.

More than 200 people, including TDA Rural Economic Development staff, eagerly awaited the Muleshoe-themed cake made by Chef Duff and his crew. The cake was in the shape of a mule-riding hat (6” brim) - not to be confused with a cowboy hat - sitting on top of two mule shoes. Christian, the mule ridden by Chef Duff, even sampled some cake.

The episode will air Thursday, Sept. 30, at 9 p.m. CST on the Food Network. The national exposure for the city of Muleshoe is another step city leaders are taking to promote Muleshoe and its quality of life. The city also is currently working on its GO TEXAN Certified Retirement Community application, which helps Texas communities market themselves as tourism and retirement destinations.

I applaud the leaders of Muleshoe for taking steps get the city's name out there.

The best burger – Texas has something else to brag about

In case you missed it, the TODAY show recently hosted a “battle of the burgers” between three chefs – Aaron McCargo from New Jersey and host of Big Daddy’s House on the Food Network; Adam Rather from Maryland and co-owner of Mother’s Federal Hill Grille; and Tom Perini from Buffalo Gap, Texas and owner of Perini Ranch Steakhouse. We are proud to say that Perini’s burger left the TODAY show judges wanting more, taking the top spot and beating the chefs from the east coast.

Thanks, Tom, for using your skills to remind the world the best can be found in Texas. It’s folks like Tom and his wife Lisa who make me proud to be Texan. They run a great restaurant in Buffalo Gap and Lisa is the Vice President of the Texas Restaurant Association, an organization that Tom was president of in 1998.

From Buffalo Gap to the White House to Moscow, and now the Today Show champion, Tom Perini continues to put Texas on the map.

You can watch the segment here:

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