Rick's Chophouse

Up in McKinney, some of the best Southern cooking around comes from the restaurant at the historic Grand Hotel on the square. Chef Paul Petersen is known for his barbecue; he placed second in the sparerib competition on the BBQ Pitmasters reality show. But based on the ribs at Rick's, I think he was robbed. And if there were a reality show for fried chicken, he'd surely run away with the grand prize. Steak lovers will appreciate his bone-in cowboy rib-eye. (Full review)

McKINNEY – If you followed the TLC reality show BBQ Pitmasters this season, you'll no doubt remember Paul Petersen. A newbie to the circuit, he struggled most of the season, and then, in the Texas rib shootout finale, he impressed the judges with his baby-back ribs. They're "more dynamic" than everyone else's, said one judge. When Petersen placed second in the sparerib competition (and the pitmaster who came in first had done very poorly in the previous round), it was looking pretty good for the 39-year-old San Antonio native. (Full review)