“New York strip” steak to become “Texas strip” under new proposal

Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has called for the New York strip, a cut of beef from the short loin of a cow, to be renamed the “Texas strip” to support ranchers across the state.

Patrick claimed the proposal had been backed by the Texas Cattle Feeders and Cattle Raisers (TCFCR) and said a resolution to this effect would be put before the Texas Senate.

Newsweek contacted Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the TCFCR via email, and Patrick by online inquiry form, for comment on Tuesday outside of regular office hours.

Why It Matters

Since his return to office on January 20 President Donald Trump has signed a series of executive orders renaming geographical locations and military bases. This has included renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, restoring the 20,000-foot Alaskan mountain Denali to its original name of Mount McKinley and changing Fort Liberty in Texas back to Fort Bragg.

Patrick explicitly linked his proposal to these changes, taking aim at “Liberal New York” and said he might take “a short cruise across the Gulf of America and have a juicy medium-rare Texas Strip.”

What To Know

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Patrick said that during a recent meeting with the TCFCR he discussed how the New York strip, also known as the strip steak, got its name and suggested it should be called the Texas strip as the Lone Star State “has about 12.2 million head of cattle, the most in America.”

Patrick said the TCFCR “sure liked the idea” and said a concurrent resolution would be tabled in the Texas Senate asking restaurant owners and grocery stores to change New York strip to Texas strip the next time they redo their menus and signs.

As lieutenant governor, a post he has held since 2015, Patrick is the second highest elected official in Texas after Governor Abbott and also serves as president of the Texas Senate.

According to Flavor Insider, a food and cooking website, the New York strip got its name from New York City butchers in the 19th century and was initially considered one of the less desirable cuts of beef, meaning it was frequently sold to boardinghouses and restaurants to go in stews.

Figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, reproduced by the texascounties.net website, indicated that in 2022, cattle made up $15.5 billion out of Texas’ total $32.2-billion-worth of agricultural production.

What People Are Saying

In his X post, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said: “The Texas Senate will file a concurrent resolution to officially change the name of the New York Strip to the ‘Texas Strip’ in the Lone Star State.

“We ask restaurants to change the name of this strip of meat the next time they reprint their menus, and grocery stores to do the same. We want this to catch on across the country and around the globe.

“In a world filled with serious issues that we address every day at the Texas Capitol, this simple resolution will help better market Texas beef. That’s good for the Texas cattle industry.

“Liberal New York shouldn’t get the credit for our hardworking ranchers. We promote the Texas brand on everything made or grown in Texas because it benefits our economy and jobs.”

Michael Quinn Sullivan, publisher of self-styled “pro-liberty” outlet the Texas Scorecard welcomed the move commenting: “In the Sullivan house, we call it a ‘Texas Strip.’ New Yorkers are nice enough, but they don’t know steak. In fact, your post inspires me to do some grilling this evening!”

However, another X user was more skeptical, responding: “Because of all things happening in the country and in the world (…) renaming a cut of meat is truly important [face with rolling eyes emoji].”

What Happens Next

The Republican Party of Texas has a solid majority in both chambers of the Texas Legislature, meaning they could push through Patrick’s resolution if they remain united and decide to do so.

Nationwide, the Trump administration’s renaming project is likely to continue, with some names that were adopted after the 2020 murder of George Floyd, and the subsequent racial justice movement, being removed.