There’s that big game happening this week, and in honor of the host city New Orleans, I thought that it would be a fun idea to make a Cajun-inspired chile con queso. Shrimp, andouille sausage, melted cheese, jalapeños, and tomatoes—it was going to be good!
Well, I was wrong. Terribly wrong. The queso just seemed strange. How can these ingredients not work together, I wondered. After much thought, I concluded that perhaps it didn’t taste all that bad, but trying to come up with a dish to fit the occasion felt false since I don’t have much of an investment in this particular game. Matter of fact, the last time this season I felt any real thrill about professional football was a Sunday back in early November, when I was in Houston waiting to return to New York after Hurricane Sandy.
It was an exquisite Texas fall day with a bright blue sky, a cool breeze, and an upbeat energy in the air. Now, I assumed this good feeling came from the beautiful weather, as these clear crisp days are rare in Houston. But as I drove around town and saw flags waving from cars and everyone sporting a jersey, I realized it was a Texans game day, and part of what made the city feel so alive was that Houston was clearly in love with its home team.
Football, at its most basic, is about community—a group of people connected by a common passion. It had been a while since I’d been in Houston on a game day, but the joy I saw people exhibit for the Texans was contagious. Of course, it helped that the team was playing well, but still—seeing a city so large and diverse as Houston united made me smile.
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