City Competition

Dallas gets shut out of top rankings in Travel + Leisure's America's FavoriteCities 2012

Even if we didn't make it into the top five for categories such as people,quality of life, nightlife or dining, there is much to love about Dallas.
Courtesy photo
Five and Ten is one of our ctiy's finest luxury boutiques. Dallas ranked No. 8in luxury shopping.
Photo by Steve Wrubel
Evidence that Dallas has some of the most atrractive and stylish people in thecountry.
Photo by Bruno
Cowboys Stadium is one of the most visited tourist destinations in oursports-crazed town — No. 16 most sports-crazed town in the U.S., according toT+L.
Dallas Cowboys/Facebook
Klyde Warren Park is the new outdoor hot spot — to lounge, eat and listen togood muisc — in the Arts District. But it didn't help us in the rankings forculture or quality of life.
Photo by Jerry McClure
Dallas has myriad fine-dining options, including John Tesar's recently openedSpooon in Preston Center.
Photo by Kevin Marple
Dallas ranked No. 9 in barbecue, but sausage and brisket from Pecan Lodge willalways be No. 1 in our hearts.
Pecan Lodge Catering/Facebook
Dallas got shafted in the top five of Travel + Leisure's America's FavoriteCities 2012.
Travelandleisure.com

There's nothing like flipping through the pages of Travel + Leisure — especially this time of year, when we're plotting our holiday getaway.

But the December 2012 issue was a bit of a letdown. In the ranking of America's Favorite Cities, Dallas was nowhere to be found. At least not in the top 5 positions for the featured categories and subcategories:

Best for People: Stylish, attractive, friendly and intelligent
Best for Quality of Life: Weather, architecture and cool buildings, safety, and affordability
Best for Food: Fine dining, cafes, ethnic food and street food
Best for Shopping: Luxury stores, independent boutiques, antique stores and home décor and design shops
Best for Culture: Museums and galleries, classical music, historical sites and monuments, and theater
Best for Nightlife: Singles scene, happy hour, music scene and cocktail lounges

Come on. How does Dallas not beat Charleston in fine dining? And, at the very least, Dallas should make the friendly list. Southern hospitality is not a myth.

Houston got the same cold-shoulder treatment, but thankfully the editors recognized Austin in a few subcategories. The live music capital grabbed third-best singles scene, second-best street food and fifth-most intelligent people. San Antonio showed up as third-most affordable city, third-best ethnic food, and fourth-most historical sites and monuments.

When surveying the complete results, including 16 online-exclusive categories, we finally saw where Dallas ranked:

No. 16 most sports-crazed people
No. 8 best luxury stores
No. 9 best barbeque
No. 16 most affordable
No. 18 best sports bars

It's a shame that Travel + Leisure missed out on what's really happening here. Perhaps next year they'll take notice of the slew of hot new restaurants or important cultural openings such as Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Klyde Warren Park and Dallas City Performance Hall.

Of course, we can take comfort in the fact that there were only 40,000 votes — not even a quarter of Dallas' population. We feel better already.

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Dining with the stars

Glen Powell’s Smash Kitchen condiments land on American Airlines flights

American Airlines, Glen Powell Smash Kitchen

Photo courtesy of American Airlines

AA is now serving Glen Powell's Smash Kitchen condiments.

American Airlines is elevating the in-flight dining experience with the help of one of the hottest actors on the planet right now. The Fort Worth-based airline is now serving Smash Kitchen condiments, co-founded by Glen Powell.

The Texas native, Austin resident, and star of hit films like Top Gun: Maverick, Twisters, and Hit Man, launched Smash Kitchen with partners Sameer Mehta and Sean Kane in 2025 as a better-for-you brand.

According to Food & Wine, the condiments are made with organic and non-GMO ingredients, without unnecessary and artificial additives. The brand launched with eight products, including yellow and Dijon mustards; classic and hot-honey ketchups; American-style and hot-honey barbecue sauces; and regular and spicy mayonnaise.

Hot and spicy is a theme.

"Powell’s energetic, down-to-earth Texas spirit has helped the brand gain a devoted following, making its debut in the skies a natural fit for American and its Texas roots," says a release from American Airlines.

Passengers who order Classic American Sliders and Fries - which AA calls a "fan favorite," - will now be able to slather on or dip into Smash Kitchen condiments. They're available for domestic First Class customers when preordered through aa.com or American’s mobile app, and with the seasonal sandwich available for purchase in Main Cabin, the airline says.

Not mentioned: Whether Glen Powell movies are part of the in-flight entertainment lineup. One hopes American doesn't miss that opportunity for brand tie-in.

"Smash Kitchen brings an energy and flavor profile that aligns perfectly with American’s commitment to offering customers a more premium, more memorable inflight experience,” says American’s SVP of customer experience and design strategy Rhonda Crawford in the release. “We’re excited to introduce these sauces on board and continue growing partnerships that reflect our dedication to great food at every stop of the traveler’s journey.”

The Smash Kitchen partnership is the latest in American's commitment to improving its customer experience. Other recent new menu additions include Dallas' acclaimed Pecan Lodge BBQ, Champagne Bollinger and Lavazza coffee, both in lounges and in flight.

For those staying grounded, Powell's Smash Kitchen products - which also include potato chips and cooking oils - can be purchased through the website and at Wal-Mart stores.

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