Don't Mess With Texas

This week, you can check out a short piece I wrote about Supernatural stars Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles for American Way.

I have to admit, the whole time I was interviewing the boys, all I could think about was -- steak.

Perhaps it has something to do with Ackles own particular brand of Texas-drawl smooth-talking. “Oh, you’ve got to check out Nick and Sam’s steakhouse in Dallas,” he told me, and I could practically hear him drooling. “I get as big as a filet as I possibly can, some steak fries and maybe I’ll have some vegetables, if I have to.”

Then he went on and on about spice-rubbed barbeque and smothered steaks. It’s enough to make any girl’s tummy rumble.

But the very-taken Ackles was no match for his best buddy – and costar on the CW’s hit sci-fi drama – the newly single Jared Padalecki, who not only speaks steak, but also claims to grill up a mean rib-eye. “I can almost hear that sizzle,” he said with a sigh. “Jensen and I both love steaks. Maybe that’s the Texas in us. We make them at home, but really, there’s nothing like a big, ole Texas steak.”

As brothers Dean and Sam Winchester on the spooky smash, the costars-turned-housemates bonded over more than just those stick-to-your-ribs Texas eats. Ackles and Padalecki – both CW vets, Ackles from Smallville, Padalecki from Gilmore Girls – met on the set and quickly connected over their downhome Texas pedigree. “We’re like brothers. Hollywood is infamously dirty and a bunch of scoundrels, so you can’t take anything at face value,” said Padalecki. “Being Texas born and raised, I came up with a family is first value system. And Jensen has those same Texas roots. So right away we had a very strong bond.”

A commitment to staying grounded cemented their bromance. “We come from the same lay of the land, similar family lives, similar upbringings,” added Ackles. “Texas is its own country, you know. Things are just different there. It’s a pride thing. When I moved to L.A., I had a massive Texas flag in my apartment window for more than five years.”

That Lone Star state of mind pervades the boys’ Vancouver digs, too. “We’re both pretty low-key,” says Padalecki. “You won’t see us at the clubs jumping up and down to rave music. We’d rather hang out at home. It’s nice. I have a gym in my garage, so we’ll work out in the mornings together. It’s just a very chill vibe. We’re both huge sports fans, so we’ll watch all the Dallas Cowboys games and throw on some steaks. But there are no bachelor pad goings-on here. It’s actually pretty boring, it’s just two dudes hanging out, cooking steaks.”

And when those pangs of homesickness – and cravings for Texas BBQ – hit hard, “We don’t have to go very far,” said Ackles. “Our caterers, since the first season, knowing that both Jared and I are from Texas, have made it their mission to make the best damn Texas barbeque they can. So we don’t have to go far at all, we just head to the lunch table.”

You can check out their picks for the best eats in Texas in this week's issue of American Way.

Comments

[lordwincest]

so hunk padalecki is still on that awful cw show?
that sucks, I really liked him but I hate that horrid cw network and all their shows.
and his buddy ackles is very taken? taken by padalecki, right?
maybe if they come out as a couple I can be interested again, until then I'm gonna watch Fast & Furious and drool over Vin Diesel and Paul Walker.

[Castiel]

How old is this interview because I thought Jared wasn't single? All his other recently (last couple of months) inteviews have all stated that he is dating someone.

[Robin Vogel]

Jensen and Jared don't "share a mortgage," Jensen lost his apartment and Jared invited him to move in and take over the upstairs of his big house.

By the way, SUPERNATURAL is an excellent show and you should really give it another try. It's superior to anything else on the tube, trust me!

Robin

[Gloria]

Supernatural isn't the best show on the tube, but you should really give it a try. If only for Jared Padalecki ;)

[Al]

I love how everyone is jumping to the conclusion that the interviewer doesn't know whether or not Jared and Jensen share a mortgage. Do you not think that maybe they filled her in on it? Maybe Jared decided that it would be easier that way? For whatever reason? Let's stop acting like these things are impossible, fandom.

[Sona Charaipotra]

Hey guys--

Thanks for the comments. Jensen and Jared do share a house in Vancouver -- the mortgage thing came out when we fact-checked the story. (All American Way stories are fact-checked.)

And when I spoke to Jensen and Jared, about four months ago, he insisted he was very single. Naturally, this may have changed since then. I know he's recently been linked to Genevieve Cortese.

Thanks for stopping by.

Best,
Sona

[Maureen]

I enjoyed the article, Sona. Jensen and Jared sound like very down-to-earth guys who know the real priorities in life--family, grilled steak, and genuine barbecue. :-) They're wonderful young actors and do a superb job as Sam and Dean Winchester. I hope they continue to hold on to their values as they traverse the crazy world of Hollywood in the years ahead.
Thanks again.
Maureen

[GrO]

Thanks a lot for your reply, Sona. It's also so cool you back up your words, not many bloggers do nowadays. And you should watch some SPN...it's like crack!

[Imayan]

Thank you for the clarification Sona. Yeah about Padalecki. ppor boy , got stuck in that terrible show.