At Louie Mueller Barbecue in taylor, texas—about thirty-five miles northeast of downtown Austin—I pick up my butcher paper–lined tray from the counter, walk past neon beer signs and a collage of business cards pinned to a singed-looking wall, and plant myself at a communal table with one other fellow. Read More

“I’d highly recommend the shrimp pita,” the waiter says. “It’s under 500 calories.” I see it on the sepia-toned menu, along with the minuscule mahi mahi wrap and the five-ounce portions of beef tenderloin and tuna. Next to each item is a series of numbers that, according to a handy decoder, lists not just the price but also the amount of carbohydrates, protein, fat, fiber, sodium, and gluten in the dish. Read More

With its platinum blond sand, cerulean water, and sexy New Urbanist architecture, the Panhandle is the supermodel of Florida beaches. But beauty, as your mother warned you, isn’t everything. Read More