Talk about a rare case with raw emotions.
Todd Shapiro was grilling a New York strip steak at his Albany restaurant, the War Room Tavern, when a customer told him that Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick is pushing to rename the cut to the “Texas Strip.”
“When I heard that – I almost dropped the steak,” said Shapiro.
LPatrick announced on X (formerly Twitter) that because Texas is the “cattle capital” of the U.S., citing 12.2 million head of cattle, 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. He says this will promote the Texas brand and benefit the state’s economy.
“Liberal New York shouldn’t get the credit for our hard-working ranchers,” he wrote.
The move follows similar efforts by former President Trump to rename geographic landmarks, such as Denali to Mount McKinley, and the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
“After session ends this summer, I might take a short cruise across the Gulf of America and have a juicy medium-rare Texas Strip,” he wrote.
In response, Shapiro announced a one million dollar lawsuit against the State of Texas, arguing that the proposal undermines New York’s culinary heritage and could hurt businesses like his.
“We have two steaks on the menu: New York strip and filet mignon. No one’s gonna order a ‘Texas steak’ in New York’s capital,” said Shapiro.
The War Room Tavern also prides itself on their political-themed dining experience, featuring a 2,000-pound Bull Moose shoulder mount honoring Theodore Roosevelt and a menu with items like Gov. Al Smith’s Blackened Swordfish, FDR Grilled Cheese, Comptroller DiNapoli’s Chicken Parm, and Eric Adams’ Vegan Black Bean Tacos. Mayor Adams has even dined there, according to a photo posted on Google Maps.
“It’s intellectual property,” Shapiro said. “But seriously, Texas has bigger issues, and they’re worried about a f—ing steak?”
The lawsuit comes as Texas faces a growing measles outbreak, with 159 confirmed cases since late January, raising questions about the state’s legislative priorities.
Lieutenant Governor Patrick’s office has yet to respond to amNewYork Metro’s request for comment.
Whether his legal claim holds weight remains to be seen, but Shapiro is sure he will win.
“I’m gonna make a million dollars. And I’m gonna give it to charity,” said Shapiro.
