The New York strip steak has been a beloved staple in American steakhouses for decades, renowned for its marbled tenderness and lean cut. However, recently, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick proposed renaming the iconic dish the “Texas strip,” sparking a fiery debate that blends politics, culinary history, and regional pride.

Patrick took to social media to announce that he was working with the Texas State Senate to rename the New York strip steak within the state. The lieutenant governor’s rationale? Texas, which boasts the largest cattle industry in the nation, should receive the recognition for its hard working ranchers rather than New York. In his post on X, Patrick made a pointed remark, stating, “Liberal New York shouldn’t get the credit for our hard-working ranchers.”

Patrick’s proposal only applies within Texas, meaning that while local restaurants could be required to make the switch, privately owned businesses would not be affected by this change. Regardless, Patrick remains optimistic, noting that the larger goal is to increase the national recognition of Texas’s cattle.

While Patrick’s suggestion is causing a stir in Texas, New Yorkers are not backing down without a fight. Local steakhouses are expressing their disdain for the proposed rebrand and New Yorkers are quick to point out that the steak’s ties to the state go back to the 19th century, well before Texas even became a state. The exact origins of the New York strip are murky, but many trace the steak’s popularization to Delmonico’s, which is often credited with naming the cut after the city.

Delmonico’s, which has been serving fine dining since 1827, even before Texas achieved statehood, plays a key role in the New York steak’s legacy. The restaurant, considered a pioneer of American fine dining, has long been associated with the dish. Today, many steakhouses across the country, including Delmonico’s, continue to serve the New York strip, further cementing its place in American culinary tradition.

For New York restaurant owners like Harry Sinanaj, president of Ben & Jack’s Steakhouse, the idea of renaming the steak is more than a mere culinary issue—it’s an affront to history. Sinanaj, who grew up in communist Yugoslavia, found it distasteful to inject partisan politics into food culture. “The people’s stomach has nothing to do with politics,” he remarked in The New York Times.

As the tension between the two states mounts, the New York legal response is already underway. Todd Shapiro, owner of the War Room Tavern in Albany, has threatened to file a $1 million lawsuit against Texas, according to an article published in Eater Austin. Shapiro claims that the rebranding effort would encroach upon New York’s cultural heritage and pose “economic harm to businesses that rely on the recognition and popularity of the New York strip steak.”. Additionally, the New York strip is sourced from various states across the country, not just from the Lone Star State, so giving Texas all the credit would undermine other cattle ranches. 

For now, it seems that New York’s culinary history is unlikely to change overnight, as while Texas may have the largest cattle herd in the country, the New York strip remains a defining symbol of the American steakhouse culture.