re: 50 States ranked by food and drink: 7 SEC states in top 15

I more than regularly read foodie/beverage literature and travel to food & wine events in many places (foreign & domestic :)).
Texas is praised largely for the variety and quality of the cuisine.
The reason Louisiana/New Orleans typically loses points (in food/beverage ratings) is the simple result of doing what it does extremely well--Cajun/French/Creole/etc.--at the expense of focusing on little else.
The variety simply isn't there, when compared to other places.
Not necessarily my opinion--just what I've read, time & time again.

The things this board argues about, btw, are ludicrous.