Lunch in Paris

Paris, Texas, that is.  Had some leave to burn up before the end of the year so took a daytrip last week.

First time road trip on the Silver Wing.  Leaving from outside Dallas, the ride was 219 miles total, which was about 200 miles longer than any other ride I've taken on it, sadly.  Still haven't hit 1000 miles and I've owned it for about 14 months.

Anyway, I was very pleased how the bike rode at highway speeds.  Felt stable and secure, and it was nice to have the extra assurance of ABS.  Even the stock windshield provided adequate protection without much turbulence.  Only issue I had was a stiff crosswind on a couple of legs of the trip--enough that the wind would catch my helmet and try to twist it on my neck.  

Chose to ride to Paris to see a new ham radio store that opened there.  Resisted getting a new radio but did buy a study book to upgrade my license.  Asked the folks for a lunch recommendation and they told me to go here: [how do you include photos in the text??]

Had smoked brisket that was so tender it fell off the fork along with baked potato casserole and Southern-style green beans.  Yum.  Was so hungry I cleaned the plate before remembering to take a picture.  

After lunch, I went to see the museum in the town's train station.  Paris is a sleepy place nowadays, but back in the day it was a major railroad junction for North Texas, with 5 railroads converging on the town.  Two of the railroads--Frisco and Santa Fe--built this imposing union station.  Unfortunately, the museum was closed but I took a picture of the outside.

Headed home before I'd hit rush hour traffic near Dallas.  A fun day, and it was good to get a few miles on the bike--finally!

Nice, I'm looking forward to doing the Texas BBQ thing with Mrs M early next year. I've got a few places on my list and apart from what's round the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Lockhart seems to be the place to go. I'd like to try brisket of course, and a short beef rib from Blacks BBQ which I think would be more than enough for me.

But I'm also wanting to try one of those monster corned beef or pastrami sandwiches from Katz Deli in New York. If only to see if they can do a sandwich as good as the salt beef sandwich I can get in Ira B's in Leeds, West Yorkshire.

While you're here, be sure to try a country ham sandwich (which is properly served on a flaky buttermilk biscuit). Country ham is salt-cured for a couple months, then hickory-smoked for up to a year.