So. We had decided some time ago that we would DRIVE to Houston for my August appointment at MD Anderson and then drive back by way of Austin so that we could take in the annual meeting of the Texas Association of Broadcasters.
Then Texas Monthly published this article titled “The 50 Greatest Burgers in Texas.” Well, you have to eat when you are on the road, yes? So Nancy comes up with this research project:
Let’s replicate the study done by Texas Monthly, and see if we get the same results!
Dutch's main dining room with Kay Greenlee greeting clients.
All 50 burgers? Well, no, just a convenience sample … just top burgers that happen to be “in our way,” along our pre-determined path. So if we get an early enough start on Monday, we should be able to make Fort Worth for lunch. There, on University Drive just two miles south of I-30 and on the edge of the TCU campus is Dutch’s, home of Burger #8, Dutch’s Bacon and Bleu Cheese Burger.
We ordered a couple burgers and some onion rings and then sat down to wait for our order. Up comes this blonde woman wearing a red-and-white striped sleeveless dress, saying “I see you’re from Texas Tech.” “Oh boy,” I thought, here we are in Horned Frog Heaven, all dripping with purple and white and I’m wearing black and red with an embroidered double tee on my shirt.
While I am wondering what kind of fight I just started and considering a diplomatic response, Kay Greenlee – the blonde, who just happens to be Dutch’s general manager – wistfully announces “I just left my baby there this weekend.” So that started a wonderful conversation about Texas Tech and Lubbock, and her son who is planing to major in sports medicine. It wasn’t long before the conversation turned to burgers and Texas Monthly. And presto! Our burgers were ready.
Verdict? A burger worthy of Top 10 designation, and better than burger #10, a designation belonging to the Cheeseburger in Paradise served up by Orlando’s in Lubbock.
The bacon cheeseburger served at Beck's Prime in Houston.
Beck’s Prime
After our experience at Dutch’s we were ready for burger #9, the bacon cheeseburger at Beck’s Prime in Houston. Beck’s Prime is actually a short order café at the golf course clubhouse in Memorial Park just south of I-10. Tuesday’s experience echoed Monday’s: Another burger, worthy of top 10 designation, and probably better than Orlando’s. But choosing between Beck’s and Dutch’s was more than we could do.
We had planned to try burger #12 in Austin (Chop-House Burger), but frankly, it was so hot in Austin (103-105 each day), and the humidity so high that we just wanted to stay close to the hotel. However, on the way home we stopped in Buffalo Gap, south of Abilene. There, at Perini’s Steakhouse, was another top burger, #7. We felt it was not good enough to dislodge Dutch’s or Beck’s in our minds, but it was worth the trip off the beaten path.
On this the eve of the one year anniversary of my cancer diagnosis, we received only good news. First, relative to the ongoing diagnostic tests, all indications are that I am cancer free and that the cyst on my liver is unchanged and benign.
Second, Dr. Gombos had only praise for the work Donnie Franklin did on my prosthesis. Dr. Gombos called it “better than most” and said “it looks really good.” Coming as it does from the ever conservative, close-to-his vest Dr. Gombos, this is high praise.
We were somewhat expecting the “all clear” message on the cancer. I had been having diagnostic CT scans, X-rays and blood work every 90 days. Following the June round of work this year, I had received orders for the next round to be conducted not in September but in December. The doctor himself asked a couple questions about Dr. Allison and the care I was getting in Lubbock, and then offered me an option. See Dr. Allison every six months and visit Houston every 12. I jumped on the offer.
So my next visit is scheduled for next summer, with diagnostics to be executed in June.
Once again, we are grateful for the many blessings we receive and for the gift of sight.
