Señor Foodblog

Judge the Cheese - Moose Lodge Austin,TEXAS

2009-03-14T11:12:00.000-07:00

Austin Moose Lodge
2103 E. M.Franklin*
(This is an indoor/outdoor location so if the raingods are angry you’ll
still be safe.)
*DOORS OPEN 6PM*
$5 Admission.
*TONIGHT!!! 3/14/09*

CASH BAR (cheese isn’t free, please drink!) (but bring id)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Everyone who tries one of the almost 900 competition sandwiches is a judge!
If classic is your bag, we will have many classic grilled cheese sammiches
made with Kraft Singles
* While the competition is in full swing, if you have a cheese haiku or poem
you'd like to read, see the MC and you'll get some airtime.

* Bring the family! We will have a special kids area
* More than Cheese-We will have the comedic stylings of Kat Williams, the
awesomeness of the Lunch Ladies, the musical stylings of DumDum and the
Smarties, and a chance for you to strut your stuff through Scaryoke! After
the awards ceremony (because omg the trophies) we will shake our booties to
DJ Skaven

There are no open available slots left for competing, if you want to compete
and haven't registered, there are still a few spots available for the
waiting list. To do so please use the entry form on the site.

So, may the best cheese win!
If you have any other questions, please direct them to:
grilledcheeseaustin@gmail.com

Farmer's Market at Republic Square - 3/7/09 Austin,TEXAS

2009-03-07T18:02:00.000-08:00

This morning, the Senora and I made a visit downtown to Austin’s Saturday Farmer's Market at Republic Square. Spring is coming and the strawberries were out. The crowds were quite large and I had to move quickly to take these pictures before everything was bought up…

Enjoy

I tried a breakfast sausage roll from Sol Catering which tasted fantastic.

Vespaio Ristorante - Austin,TEXAS

2009-02-16T13:22:00.000-08:00

The Senora and I love to celebrate Valentines with our dear friends, the Best Dressed Couple. Last year we dined at North, located in the Domain, I had the oso buco which was just wonderful, but this year’s dinner has to be the best yet.

We arrived at Vespaio around 9pm, and as we expected only to find a packed house. The hostess told us that the wait would be around 45 mins to an hr, which didn’t surprise us based on past experience. We made our way to the far end of the bar and wow, actually got some seats, a group of four ladies were just leaving. We order a bottle of Trocadero and the OSTRICHE AL FORNO CON SPINACI E CREMA AL PERNOD (Texas gulf oysters baked in the shell with spinach, Pernod cream & aged asiago cheese) to hold us over, content with the idea of our wait. The food gods must have smiled down at us. Before we had received our antipasto, out of nowhere the hostess taps me on the shoulder, whispers in my ear so not to attract attention from the other folks waiting, that a table for four had mysteriously opened up.

The second we were seated our oysters arrived and we immediately ordered an additional antipasto of the just made mozzarella served with locally grown tomatoes, sweet basil and e.v.o.o. with grilled focaccia bruschetta, and a second bottle of the Trocadero. The oysters paired with the Trocader, is a perfect match; oysters and bubbly are always good together. The mozzarella was light in flavor, not salty and the tomatoes were sweet and tasted so good.

For our entrees the Senora had the SPECIALITA DELLA CASA GAMBERI E PROSCIUTTO GRIGLIATO (Oak fire grilled prosciutto-wrapped jumbo gulf prawns with rapini & suppli finished with red chili pesto). Mrs. Best Dressed chose the PAN SEARED SHOTTISH KING SALMON (creamy yellow polenta, crispy fried oysters and giardiniera aioli), one of Vespaio’s Valentine specials. Mr. Best Dressed, a little more traditional with his food, had the LASAGNE ALLA BOLOGNESE (Sheets of handmade spinach pasta with beef, veal & pork Bolognese, Bechamel, pecorino romano, pork sausage & house made mozzarella). While I also chose from the Valentine menu and had the RISOTTO DEL GIORNO – RISOTTO OF THE DAY (Brick oven roasted beef ox tail in veal ridurre served atop carnaroli risotto made w/ taleggio cheese, root vegetable puree and white truffle oil).

Our meal was fantastic. Not one of us had a complaint or in any way was disappointed with our food or our server, who by the way was attentive but not hovering, just perfect.

We spent about two hours drinking our wine and savoring our food, hoping that our evening wouldn’t end. And when we finally said our goodbyes and headed down the road, we were already making plans to eat again soon at Vespaio, which in both the Senora’s and my mind has to be one of Austin’s best restaurants.

mangi bene

Love at the Moose…

2009-02-10T09:05:00.000-08:00

Tonight, the Senora and I are going to attend the Moose Lodge’s Valentine Bingo Game Show Bingo. Lots of fun and prizes to be had by all. Activities kick off around 7:30pm and run to about 12mid for you late birds. The lodge will be rocking with music provided by DJ Mau, and guess what kids, no cover at the door. This is a charity event so bring you dollars, play some bingo, have some fun and win some prizes.

2103 EM Franklin
512-926-0043

I hope the Senora and I see you there…

Slumming in Puerto Vallarta

2009-02-08T17:43:00.000-08:00

The whales were breaching, the iguanas were rutting, but unfortunately our camera situation just was not working. Crazy how things work out like that, you know, sometimes….uh.

Starting in Puerto Vallarta, we loitered around the Playa Los Muertos, soaking up the sun, drinking sangria, enjoying the local flavor. An exciting city, P.V. is full of great restaurants, art galleries and for those people that just can’t get enough, foam parties just about every night. For us, the Senora and I, most importantly, lazy beach living and quite romantic evenings spent watching the fireworks over the Banderas Bay.

After a few days of the easy P.V. life, we rented a car and trekked north along the Pacific coast, past Sayulita to our final destination, the tiny town of San Francisco (San Poncho). Our days were spent drinking cold beer and laying in the sun. And when the fancy took us, head in town for a serving of red snapper from the Café Del Mar or maybe a massive 16oz Argentinean rib eye cooked to perfection from Mar Plata.

Back on the near empty San Poncho beach, giant shrimp filled cocktails, enjoyed with shots of Don Julio 1492 tequila ($4), forget the $20 Don Julio shot at Vivo in Austin, and always the endless sound of the sometimes 6 foot waves, breaking on the shore. San Poncho was just that tranquil sort of place the Senora and I needed. A well deserved vacation away from the sounds and smells of the cityscape.

Sayulita proved quit a surprise. We parked the car and slowly made our way down to the beach only to discover upon arrival a vibrant hippy crazed surfer movement going on. An amazingly beautiful town, Sayulita is tucked into a cove of small jungle covered hills dotted with inexpensive hotels and condos. Sayulita is a true haven for the budget minded soul that reads High Times and digs surfing, then all combined with a love for a fantastic beach to lie around on. Cool man.

We had a tasty margarita pizza from Don Pedro's (nice crunchy crust, kinda like Austin's own East Side Pie), washing it down with a mojito or two. After that we just kicked back and relaxed checking out the beach from our perch at the restaurant. Hard living, folks!

Rainwater Harvesting and Water Wise Gardening Seminar Jan 10th

2009-01-06T14:13:00.000-08:00

The Senora and I spent a relaxing X-mas with her family in the Texas Valley, McAllen to be precise. The day after Christmas, we were just driving around and looking at the homes next to the downtown area (I am being generous with the term downtown area) when we happened upon what we think is the only community garden in the McAllen city limits. So we took some pics…

When I got back to Austin, I started looking around on the internet for our Travis County community gardens and discovered a great web site about sustainable living in the City of Austin http://www.sustainablefoodcenter.org/ .

Saturday, Jan 10
Rainwater Harvesting and Water Wise Gardening
10am- Noon, Zilker Botanical Garden
Come enjoy a free seminar on capturing rainwater and lowering water usage in your landscape. This session will cover all the basics of building a non-potable rainwater harvesting system. In addition, learn how to design beautiful gardens designed for lower water usage. Don’t be misinformed; xeriscaping is not “zero-scaping”.

http://www.tcmastergardeners.org/what/edseminars.html

Cheese Making Class - Austin Homebrew Supply

2008-12-16T08:54:00.000-08:00

I was shopping for brewing supplies at the Austin Homebrew Supply, Anderson and Burnet, when I noticed a flyer advertising a cheese making class happening this Thursday. How cool is that…and only $5 in advance.

Have you ever wanted to make your own cheddar cheese at home? Come to Austin Homebrew Supply on Thursday, December 18, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. and learn how!

Reservations are $5.00 in advance, $10 on Thursday, Dec 18th. Receive a $5 Gift Certificate when you attend!

Austin Homebrew
7951 Burnet Rd
Austin, TX 78757
(512) 467-8427

Sunset Valley Farmers Market - TEXAS

2008-12-15T15:09:00.000-08:00

The Senora and I started out a little later than I wanted, around 9:15am or so. We had been out late Friday night checking out the new film Milk, which if you haven’t seen is a real winner and definitely worth the money. Fortunately for us, by the time we arrived at the Sunset Valley Farmers Market (located in the parking lot of the Toney Burger Center - 290 W between Brodie Ln and Westgate Blvd ), not everything had been sold and we were able to get some great shots of the plentiful harvest provided by our local Urban Austin / Hill Country / Texas farmers.

A lot of the farmers selling goods at the Sunset Valley and the Republic Square Farmers Markets (downtown Austin) also sell to Whole Foods and Central Market. So if you can’t make either market on Saturday, you can always hit the grocery store and support our local farmers and their businesses.

Enjoy the pics.

The Carrot got a new grill!

2008-12-09T05:52:00.000-08:00

It may not look new but it is.

I had originally bought this gem on an impulse buy, and like so many other little things it just ended up in the corner and was forgotten So when I decided to cook chicken Alfredo for the Senora, it just seemed like the perfect time to dust off the olds cobwebs and “break it in”. It was so easy to get the grill started, using my handy charcoal starter. Living in TEXAS I had to throw in a handful or two of mesquite chips, you know for flavor, and by the way it only took one piece of paper from the Austin America Statesman’s real-estate section to get the charcoal started, I love it. I carefully slapped on the chicken breasts with some Roma tomatoes on the side for a later salsa, and then I just kicked back with a Real Ale Pale Ale and wrote this blog.

Austin rocks.

Farmers Market, Republic Square - Austin, TEXAS

2008-12-07T09:13:00.000-08:00

Yesterday morning I decided to pay a visit to the Saturday Farmers Market located downtown Austin on Republic Square. I arrived right at 9am and the crowds were already beginning to gather. I was able to take a few pics of the wonderful local products offered before everything was bought up. I hope you enjoy.

Chicken Fried Bacon - Snook, TEXAS

2008-12-04T18:06:00.000-08:00

I had heard of it, but had never seen it until I found this video on youtube. By the time I had finished watching, my left arm starting going numb and I felt the sudden need to start taking Plavix......

Enjoy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfbTO0GlONU

Primize - Austin,TEXAS

2008-12-02T12:31:00.000-08:00

Primize has to be one of the most unpretentious fine eating joints in town. I really like the fact that you can seat yourself and also the very local Austin feel about the café with the tattoo-covered wait staff catering to your every need.

After finding a booth open at the back of the cafe, we quickly ordered some coffee and got down to the difficult job of satisfying our need for something sweet. I had tried the tiramisu on a previous visit, which I had enjoyed very much, so tonight I wanted to try something different and I think I chose the best that Primize has to offer.

The Senora had the crostata di pesca e mirtillo (a warm peach and blueberry tart with home made vanilla bean gelato). The look of the tart was simple but mouth wateringly inviting. The crust was both warm and crispy; the fruit sweet and delicious, the overall presentation made me think of the kind of comfort food grandma dreamed of serving. I decided to try the torta di limone (Italian lemon cheese cake). No bull kids, but this may be my absolute most favorite dessert in town right now. The cheese cake was small and round, served with a piece of candied lemon rind and sprig of fresh mint. The cake was so incredibly rich in flavor yet not so lemony that it became a chore to eat. It took me a good twenty minutes, savoring each small bite, to finish. The texture of the cake was perfection, very even throughout, not like some cheese cakes served around town, full of gross cheesy lumps.

Our overall cost with coffee came to $16 plus tip. Well worth the money for a most heavenly dessert experience.

Senor Foodblog says two spoons for Primizies desserts. What can I say, we had a great time. The food combined with the room and the warm local feel make Primizie a must-try dinner place. We were both impressed by the local offering menu; I was especially intrigued by the lamb, quail combination. Can't wait to come back and try it.

Dai Due Supper Club - Boggy Creek Farm, Austin TEXAS

2008-11-24T21:44:00.000-08:00

The Senora just backed-up her little red car under a giant, shady pecan tree, the likes of which are not much seen around Austin any more. Walking across the gravel parking area, to our left, Boggy Creek Farms has planted expansive gardens of lavender, peppers and what looked like kale. Turning right, rounding the corner of the parking lot hedgerow, we could immediately see a group of folks, gathered around a table holding drinks in their hands, just laughing and whooping it up.

It was around 6:30pm, and Boggy Creek Farms was beginning to take on a magical feel, you know the type one feels around good friends and family about to share an amazing meal. After a few strong gin drinks, provided by the Tipsy Texans, drink bloggers extraordinaire, everyone started to slowly make their way to the long, family style table, set between the lush fig trees, located just behind the Boggy Creek farm house.

Dai Due Supper Club had planed an incredible meal showcasing local grass fed meats and locally grown seasonal produce. The menu listed 10 different offering or combinations including;

Rabbit Terrine with apple chutney

Sweet and Sour okra and eggplantGrilled mushrooms with garlic and marjoram

Creamed pea and dandelion soup with andouille and sweet potatoes

Mixed grill of wild boar tenderloin, beef cheek and kale crepinettes and jalapeno sausage with arugula

During the meal, the sweet music performed by Laura Freeman and Stanley Smith, only added to the intimate, yet incredibly casual warm feeling of the Dai Due dinner. We made friends with everyone sitting around us, and we were soon talking food and having a great time. The Senora felt the whole experience was very "Great Gatsby-esque". Dai Due is BYOB, and we had brought a nice bottle of Gloria Fera blanc de blancs bubbly which paired perfectly with our meal. Buckets of ice for wine and beer were provided during the serving.

Dia Due Supper Club is all we can talk about at work and with our friends. Both the Senora and I have lived in Austin for a long time and we both agree that Dia Due is one of the very best food experiences we have had in Austin. Boggy Creek felt like the prefect setting, it was as if we could have been far away, out in the county living the good life.

Peace and Eat slow.

Trulucks - Austin,TEXAS

2008-11-23T18:15:00.000-08:00

After two solid weeks of family and friends living/occupying our home, aka Hotel Asparagus, Senora Foodblog and I were ready for a break and a quiet night all to ourselves. Eager for a good meal, something not too heavy, something not to overwhelming, the Senora narrowed her selection to Trulucks downtown or Mikado, Burnet and 183. Giving me the final choice of restaurants, I chose Trulucks Seafood; fish and crab sounded like the perfect meal to me.

Parking with the valet made life easy, $7, no problem. I have just about given up trying to find any sort of decent parking downtown during the week and have finally succumbed to the idea of just paying to park. We didn't have reservations but immediate seating was available. I was a little surprised to notice, as we made our way into the dinning room, that the bar area was nearly empty. Note to self...good place for after-work drinking.

Having never eaten at Trulucks, the Senora and I found the dinning area both comfortable and inviting. Our smiling server quickly introduced herself and presented us with the menu. Taking our drink order and giving us few moments to review our dining options, she returned and with no mercy at all dropped the "crab bomb" on us. It so happens that Monday is All You Can Eat Jonah Crab Claws including sides, soups and salads for $42 (which is Trulucks usual price for 12 claws, no sides/extras). Oh-My-God, it was on. I am a huge crab fan and couldn't refuse this temptation and neither could Senora Foodblog. Our server tells us that we would each begin with 7 claws and she would continue to bring more as we requested.

I started with the Cream of Pablono soup - $6 (sorry not as good as my home made but still very tasty) while the senora had the Sonoma Greens Salad - $6 (field greens, goat cheese, pecans and sliced apples tossed with a honey vinaigrette). For our sides we shared the braised wild mushrooms, sweet potato fries and the steamed asparagus, which were so good, we had to order a second plate. I then proceeded to eat three servings of crabs and most of Senora's second serving to boot. In all, I guestimate that I ate between sixteen and eighteen scrumptious claws, definitely got my moneys worth. Good lord I was so very full, I thought I would explode. Our total bill for drinks and crab/sides came to, including tip, $132.

Senor Foodblog gives Trulucks two spoons up. What a great meal, service and general atmosphere. The Senora and I both agree that Trulucks is an Austin winner. I haven't eaten that much good seafood in a long time, 10 yrs, while I was working and losing my mind in Alaska. Our server was wonderful and very friendly, ready to answer any and all questions/needs with a smile and prompt service. Check out Truluck's Mondays All-You-Can-Eat, as a crab fan I promise that you won't be disappointed and you too will know the power of the "crab bomb".

Enjoy

Yank Sing - San Francisco

2008-01-03T18:45:00.000-08:00

The morning of our second day in San Francisco, with the success of our previous evening restaurant discovery - Café de la Presse - still on our minds, Senora Foodblog and I began walking toward North Beach while passing through China Town on the way. We had plans to meet an old friend downtown around noon and have lunch at the renowned Dim Sum restaurant Yank Sing. Until then, we were on a mission of discovery and decided to just let our feet guide our way.

Walking through China Town, I stopped at a small grocery store and was blown away by what I saw. Huge bags of dried mushrooms, shark fins of all sizes, dried sea horse and many bags of wild ginseng. These are the few items I actually recognized. And the smell, I won’t even try to describe to you. I truly felt out of my element.

As we came to Washington Square we turned left onto Columbus Street, and entered the North Beach Area or “Little Italy”. Beautiful little deli’s tempted us with windows full of salami, proscuitto, and mouth watering breads. A seemingly endless choices of places to eat, Calzone's, Figaro Ristorante Italiano, L'Osteria del Forno and even America’s oldest Italian restaurant Fior D'Italia lined the street before us. Quaint little places to sit and enjoy a coffee or glass of wine, sample a sandwich or a plate of fresh pasta were just starting to rock with the early lunch crowd. This had to be one of my favorite neighborhoods the Señora and I visited during our trek through the city. So much like parts of Chicago or New York, I just loved it. Señora Foodblog and I came back a few days later and had what I think was our best meal in California at the North Beach Restaurant.

As we kept walking, we quickly found ourselves at The Cannery and Fisherman’s Wharf. Señora Foodblog was eager to visit the Boudin Bakery at Pier 41 while I was looking forward to the Dungeness crabs on display at the many crab shacks. At the Boudin Bakery, we ducked into the coffee shop, grabbed some drinks and a table. The Señora took this opportunity to try some Boudin sourdough bread. She tells me that the yeast culture used in the bread has been the same for over a hundred years.

Jumping a trolley, it was time to start for Market Street and hookup with our friend Joe B. If you are a cigar smoker in the Bay area then you may know Joe from the Grant’s Tobacconists Cigar Shop. Lucky for us, when we arrived, he wasn’t too busy, and was able to join us for lunch. We were headed to Yank Sing which is rumored to be the best Dim Sum served outside of China Town.

We had missed the lunch rush of dim sum-deprived office workers, whom I understand are usually lined up out the door. Giant windows allow plenty of light to fill this stylish restaurant. The second our drink order was taken, the dim sum began to arrive. With a selection of over 80 different items on any give day, a person could spend a lot of cash trying to sample everything available:

Stuffed Lotus Leaf
Spring Roll Crisp
Scallion Prawn
Peking duck
Potsticker (Wor Tee)
Stuffed Crab Claws
Yank Sing Fried Won Ton
Egg Custard Tart
Mango Pudding

This is but a short list of the many plates of food offered us. The food was fantastic. Before we knew it, our table was covered with plates. My favorite had to be the Stuff Crab Claws - crab and shrimp mousse croquette encasing a whole snow crab claw, deep-fried until golden brown. Just to die for. I had five! Senora Foodblog really went for the many different types of dumpling offered, so many we couldn’t keep track. I was a little overwhelmed by the rush of food plus I never saw any prices for the food. I had no idea how much we were spending as we chose plates from the carts. Happily, our meal, enough to fill three plus some beers and hot tea only came to $85 + tip. I was very pleased with our meal and the incredible service. Check out Yank Sing’s web site for beautiful pictures of their food and sample menus.

Senora Foodblog was ready to begin some serious power shopping. Feeling mercy on me, she bids me farewell and heads off with the credit card. I on the other hand ambled back to the hotel, kicked off my shoes and digested a most wonderful lunch. Our evening plans involved dinner with Joe B. and Brother-in-law-Food, who just happened to be in town on a gig. Our goal was a sushi feast at a little place on Filmore; you may know it, Tsunami.

Tsunami Sushi - San Francisco

2007-12-30T19:51:00.000-08:00

My good friend, the Fin, had told me once that the best sake is always served cold. So when Joe B made reservations for dinner at Tsunami Sushi Restaurant both the Senora and I were very excited indeed. Tsunami is well known around San Francisco for its deep sake cellar, superb fish and not so friendly prices. All dressed up, we hailed a cab, waved good-bye to the hotel and made our way to 1308 Fulton Street and our evening of sushi.

Small with a low-key vibe, Tsunami is a San Francisco sushi hipster hang-out. Mellow house beats combined with dim lights and hard wood paneling only add to the restaurants uber relaxed feeling. When our server arrived at the table, I had a hard time hearing anything that she said. The room had become quite loud. I guess the sake was kicking and my fellow diners where starting to become a little rowdy.

One of the restaurants big draws has to be its extensive sake cellar. Hard-to-find sakes are offered by the glass, bottle or flight. I decide to try the Luxury Flight, a mid level tasting. The sake came much like a wine fight, served in small glasses with a card explaining what you are drinking. I must say that I had never tried good cold sake before and was pleasantly surprised. All three were very smooth and pleasant to sip. It wasn’t long before I started to get the warm sake glow.

The Senora and I both had miso soup and shared some edamame as our starter. For our dinners, the senora had a salmon roll and a five piece sashimi, chef’s choice. I had the sixteen piece chef’s choice sashimi. Joe B and Bay Lady order three different kinds of house rolls, while Brother-In-Law-Foodblog had the Fudo Make and a tuna roll.

The fish was fresh and tasty like good sushi should be and was exactly what we expected. The Senora loved her roll and the fish. My sashimi was also outstanding. The cuts, a little small, were like heaven to my mouth. Unfortunately, I was so caught in with my meal and because I was having a hard time hearing anything our server said, I can’t tell you what I ate. Sadly, while we were eating, we received little service and our glasses went dry and stayed dry for most of the evening. When our server would notice our table and give us the time of day, it would take 15mins to get a refill of H2O or a bottle of beer. Senora Foodblog’s and my share of the meal came to $130.

Senor Foodblog says one spoon for Tsunami. I really liked the layout and the feel of the place. The food was wonderful and the sake so smooth. I can understand why Tsunami is so popular with the in crowd. If only the service was as good as the food, then the restaurant would be well worth all the hype. But until then it is nothing more than just another expensive place to eat and be seen. I guess Senora Foodblog and I are officially hipsters now…cool.

San Francisco Tripping One

2007-12-25T15:50:00.000-08:00

Some months back, Senora Foodblog found crazzzzzy cheap air tickets to San Francisco and like a good wife, immediately bought them.

Senora Foodblog booked a quaint room at the sexy boutique hotel, Hotel Rex, part of the Joie de Vivre hotel family. Small in size but very romantic with that 1920’s feel, Hotel Rex reminded me of some of the hotels I stayed in while traveling through Europe. Presiding in the heart of town, with Union Square, China Town and North Beach just blocks away, we couldn’t ask for a better location to start our California adventure.

Arriving at the hotel around 7pm we got our luggage comfortably to our room. I upgraded to a king for an additional $20. Well worth the money, the room change gave us a great view of the street and also some well needed extra space. After the long day of travel, the Senora and I both agreed not to make a big deal about dinner and just find something close to the hotel instead.

Next to China Town (the corner of Grant and Bush), we found this warm, inviting little place, Café de la Presse. Before writing this blog, I hit Google and discovered a huge amount of blogs/reviews praising this restaurant. I guess the Senora and I just got lucky.

Upon entering the restaurant, the waiter/bar keep greeted with a smile and sat us at a small table for two with a window by the side of the bar. We had a great view of the famous China Town entrance arch.

Within a short time Michael (bar keep/ server) was showing us pictures of his scooter (which he was very proud of indeed) and telling us of a recent scooter event in town. He tells us that he is a big fan of the Austin scooter scene. Café de la Presse definitely had the laid back feeling that the Senora and I like so very very much.

For our meal, we started with Tarte Flambee Classique (bacon, onion, crème fresh tart). Imagine the very lightest pizza you have ever eaten, only square. The tarte was amazing with huge flavor. We both liked this very much. The Senora followed with a light tomato/basil salad and onion soup as her main. I decided to try the old tried and true French favorite, Boeuf Bourguignon, a hearty beef stew with carrots and potatoes, cooked in wine with herbs. This had good flavor but not outstanding. Served in a small cast iron pot, the presentation was rustic and cool. In hindsight, I kind of wish that I had tried the duck, which looked fantastic. With wine, some laughs and wonderful memories of Senora Foodblogs eyes, the meal came to $65 + tip.

It was beginning to get late so we slowly made our way back to the Hotel Rex, holding hands, enjoying the cool San Francisco night. We finished the evening with a chilled bottle of Piper Sonoma in our room. We were both pretty tired but excited and restless, filled with anticipation about the next day and our continued adventure in San Francisco. I went to sleep that night with a smile on my face, dreaming only of Dim Sum.

Eddie V's Happy Hour - Austin,TEXAS

2007-12-20T09:00:00.000-08:00

When I arrived home this past Friday evening, after working one stressed out week, I just was not in the mood to cook dinner. Señora Foodblog had already eaten so I decided to head downtown and visit Eddie V’s oyster happy hour. Parking in downtown Austin has become a joke, some sort of crazy dance that involves driving around for 20mins, hunting, searching every side street until you find that elusive parking spot. To top the situation off, most of the time you end up walking five blocks just to reach you final destination. So, I pulled out the wallet and used the friendly and convenient valet to park the car… $6.

Eddie V’s happy hour is served in the bar, to the left of the front door as you enter the restaurant. Seating has never proved a problem for me at Eddie V’s; Señora Foodblog and I quickly found a table near the bar and ordered some beer and wine. I have never eaten in the main room so I can’t tell you about it but the bar area is a dark haven for overpaid, and some would say, under worked lawyers. Very subdued and crispy clean, this has to be one of my favorite watering holes in Austin.

Oysters are .50 cents each during happy hour – I ordered a dozen. Señora Foodblog doesn’t like the oyster, but she does like the steaming hot bread served with every meal at Eddie V’s. The bread is so good, you have to used some real self control not to eat it all before you receive your food. The menu also offers many items at half price including and not limited to the Maryland Style All Lump Crab Cake , Sliced Vine Ripe Tomatoes & Italian Bufala Mozzarella and Georges Bank Scallops in Tempura. All of which I have tried and all taste great. The best part about the happy hour is that if all you eat is a doz oysters, a happy hour half price appetizer, the free bread and only drink ice tea, your bill should come in under $15…that includes tip. Now Señor Foodblog says that is a craaaazy sweat deal. The oysters this night were clean tasting, not muddy at all, defiantly some of the best in town.

Señor Foodblog says two spoons up for Eddie V’s. Wonderful oysters, great happy hour food specials and the kind of top notch service you would expect from a restaurant of Eddie V’s caliber and reputation. If you are an oyster eater, check this place out. I also understand that Sundays are all day happy hour. This sounds like a prime opportunity to settle into possible seafood frenzy and just maybe find some decent parking without having to pay, to boot.

Austin – 2 locations
Downtown
512 472 1860

Arboretum
512 342 46 26
http://www.eddiev.com/

Koriente - Austin,TEXAS

2007-12-18T12:36:00.001-08:00

As downtown is slowly overwhelmed with “Condofication” one of the best side effects has to be the restaurants popping up everywhere. Koriente, 621 E. 7th, with its refreshing landscapes and light fare, certainly adds a new kinda flavor to the I-35/E. 7th Street area. Located right next to the Beauty Bar and just across the street the Creekside Inn and the “Po-po” headquarters, Koriente is hard to miss. The restaurant’s owners personally landscaped the whole surrounding area and turned what was a forgotten, dull patch of cement at the corner of east 7th and Sabine into a wonderful lush garden. It’s really cool.

When we eat at Koriente, the Señora and I have our favorite appetizers. We are both fans of the Smoked Salmon Roll: $4.50 (avocados and smoked salmon, marinated cucumbers) and the Spicy Noodles Salad: $3 (vegetables, chilled myung bean noodles tossed in a spicy Korean pepper dressing).

For our entrees, Señora Foodblog likes the Mixmix Bibimbap: $6 (rice served with colorful julienne vegetables, and one of two sauces: the spicy red pepper paste sauce or the milder wasabi soy sauce). The Señora likes to add spicy chicken bulgoki and mix it all together into one colorful heap. I, on the other hand, like the Kalbi Pot-roast: $8 (beef, carrots and Korean radish simmered in wine, fresh apple and vegetable juices). The pot roast is a surprising amount of food for only $8. Both are served with the house rice, which has an unusual purple look about it. With beer and tea (Koriente has abundance of different teas to choose from), our bill comes to about $30 + tip.

Señor Foodblog says two spoons up of Koriente. The place has that groovy Austin feel that I dig so much. I really like the spring chairs a lot. While the service is usually really good, I have been in the restaurant when it is busy, so table service can be slow at times. But that’s ok with the Señora and I, we just like to read our Chronicles, sip our drinks and enjoy the garden while watching people walk on by. Make certain you visit Koriente’s website, the restaurant keeps different hours and closes during the day for a few hours.

Koriente
621 E. 7th Street.
Austin,Texas
512 275-0852
http://www.koriente.com/location.html

Ben's Long Branch BBQ - Austin, TEXAS

2007-06-16T09:37:00.000-07:00

I am just not happy. I thought I was on a neighborhood roll. Most of the restaurants around my little eastside Austin home have proved to be good if not great …East Side Pies, Gene’s and Taqueria Chapala just to name a few. So when I went to Ben’s BBQ, it was like someone kicking me in the gut...literally. Located on the corner of 11th and Branch, Ben’s is easy to find with plenty of parking both behind and on the street.
Now, I took the time to read some online reviews and most were written before 2002 or just after Ben came back from his early retirement in 2004. I guess the folks that had leased the joint between 2002 and 2004 attempted to run the restaurant into the ground, and very nearly succeeded. But now that Ben’s back, business has picked up and things seem to be running well. So, when I read a Dale’s Table blog post from 2004 with Dale recommending the pork butt …what is a carrot to do but dive right in and go for the recommended best.

Before I go any further, I must tell you that I went back twice and tried the pork butt both times. I felt that I just had to be fair and make certain that I was not mistaken with my first experience. Señora Foodblog didn’t encourage this, but I had to just know for certain if my gut feeling was mistaken. I know that Andrew Zimmerman (Bizare Foods) would agree with me.
On my first visit, I thought the pork was great, juicy and smoky good. I even liked the sauce, which was thin and yet had great flavor. Sadly about three hours after my lunch I got very sick. Bad stomach cramps...need I say more. Ok I thought, maybe something else got me. Among my friends, I am known for a cast-iron stomach…I eat everything. That’s why I am a Food Adventurer.
The second time I visited Ben’s, the place was full with the lunch time meat-eating mob. I even spotted Bob Cole from the Sam and Bob Show lurking in the crowd. He too was at Ben’s for the pork (you are welcome to make your own jokes at this time). Anyway, I again got the Pork Butt plate to go and headed home to eat in the peace of my little house. OK, the pork was dry, and tasted like bacon. Gross! Very sad…I can cook better BBQ than this. I was very disappointed indeed. And while I write this, I am hoping that I don’t get sick and command a repeat performance of my first visit. The Pork Butt plate with 2 sides, bread plus tax… $8.65.

Señor Foodblog says One Spoon Down. Sorry guys, the pork butt is a no-no for me. I can’t remember such bad BBQ, or getting sick after eating at a BBQ place. Not even in Alabama (land of the worst BBQ in the world) did I get sick or dislike the meat so much. I am certain that I will go back to Ben’s and try the brisket and sausage in the not-to-distant future. I am just a little frightened off Ben’s for now. I think I will stick with Sam’s BBQ or Lewis’ as my regular eastside BBQ stops. Sorry Ben, I tried twice.

Ben's Long Branch BBQ
900 E. 11th Street.
Austin, TEXAS
512 477 2516

Gene's New Orleans Style Poboys & Deli - Austin,TEXAS

2007-06-15T09:42:00.000-07:00

Never fear – your Orange Food Avenger is back and ready to eat. After a short time off, I am again ready to travel the food super-highway, seeking tasty treats, great service and easy parking. And what better place to start but one of East Austin’s corner-stone eateries, Gene’s New Orleans Style Poboys & Deli, located on the corner of East 11th and Rosewood, next door to the Long Branch. Parking is not a problem, with a lot in the back and plenty of room on the side of the street.

To tell you the truth, recently I have found myself addicted to the cold Roast Beef Poboy, small orders of fries and a can of icy cold root beer for only $7.40. Not a bad deal indeed. The large sandwich is served on a crusty French style loaf with pickles and some sort of crazy secret voodoo spread. Wooo, oh yea baby, this food make me a happy carrot. But Gene’s has a lot more to offer than just sandwiches. As a matter of fact, Gene’s may be one of the very last Blue Plate Specials served in Austin. Smothered pork chops, jambalaya, red beans and sausage and home made fried chicken (cooked without the skin) only add to this restaurant’s loyal and dedicated following. Gene tells me that he thinks he may be one of the only places around to serve Fried Chicken on demand, and man is the chicken good. The best part about eating at Gene’s is that you never know who will be sitting at the table next you…maybe even the Governor of Texas… Mr. Rick Perry.

Gene also tells me that he plans to add a second floor to the space. Rumor has it that Kevin and the guys at the Long Branch may also be thinking the same thing. Hmmmm…

Two Spoons up. I just love Gene’s. The chicken, oysters, sandwiches and the green beans are just wonderful. Now if I had to say any thing bad about Gene’s, it’s that it is a small operation and orders move slowly, for some this may be a bad thing but I always give myself a little extra time when I plan a visit. Check out the web site for complete listings of the Blue Plate and do yourself a favor, try the chicken.

Gene’s
1209 E.11th
Austin,TEXAS
512 477 6600 – Phone orders welcome
www.genesrestaurant.com

School of Fish - Austin,TEXAS

2007-03-12T10:14:00.000-07:00

As part of my Valentines Day present, Senora Foodblog (working in conjunction with her motley crew of Champagne drinkers) decided to take “we husbands” to Whole Foods Culinary Center for a gourmet cooking demonstration. The dinner chosen by my lovely wife was School of Fish with Chef Sam Dickey (former head chef of 7 on S. Congress). Man, was I excited, a hot date with my baby, sampling good food and maybe just a glass of wine or two.

Joined by our good friends, the Best Dressed Couple, our evening again started at Hotel San Jose. Boy, that place fills up fast. We arrived right at 5pm and within what seemed like just moments every table and chair was full. Senora Foodblog and the Best Dressed immediately ordered a bottle of Prosseco while I chose Samuel Smiths Porter. With some time to kill, I decided to order the small cheese platter. Good stuff, lots of cheese, bread, grapes and olives both green and black.

After the second bottle of bubbly was finished, it was time for us to head on down to Whole Foods. Sometimes, timing is just right. Can you believe it, I found parking in front of Whole Foods...amazing.

The demo started promptly at 6:30pm. Our group, finally complete with the addition of Mrs. German and the Lady in Green, found our tables and awaited the demo to start. The menu presented was just crazy good. Chef Dickey is a master of what he does.

Crisp Lobster on Lotus Chips w/ Wild Mushrooms, Micro Greens, and Roasted Jalapeno Hollandaise

Baby Vegetable and Bay Scallop Panzanella

Seared Turbot on Fried Green Tomatoes w/ Black Bean Pasilla Sauce and Avocados

Blueberry – Strawberry Shortcake

The meal was exquisite; it’s hard to put it into words. The lobster was so tasty and the fried green tomatoes, a first for me, were just divine. The folks sitting behind us had no problem letting everyone it the room know that they thought it was the best meal they had ever had. Senora Foodblog is already making plans to attend another demo in the near future. If you want more info about Whole Foods Culinary Classes just visit the web site: wholefoodsmarket.com and do keep in mind that the classes are limited in size and will sell out.

Have a good week all and eat well.

Marco Polo Restaurant ( Dim Sum) - Austin,TEXAS

2007-03-11T03:53:00.000-07:00

“Originally a Cantonese custom, dim sum is inextricably linked to the Chinese tradition of "yum cha" or drinking tea. Teahouses sprung up to accommodate weary travelers journeying along the famous Silk Road. Rural farmers, exhausted after long hours working in the fields, would also head to the local teahouse for an afternoon of tea and relaxing conversation.”…. Rhonda Parkinson

Invited by Polyurethane, Cherry Bomb roller-girl exstordinaire, and The Grip for Sunday Dim Sum at Marco Polo Restaurant, how could we refuse? It has been a long time since I last dined on good dim sum, and for Senora Foodblog, her first time. I wasn’t certain what to expect but both Poly and The Grip had assured us we were in for a special treat. Located at Oltorf and I-35, Marco Polo is easy to find. Parking is not an issue.

We arrived around 10:50am to a line already forming. Show up early, or expect to have to wait for a table. After we were sat and our drink orders were taken, carts full of dim sum began to circulate the room. Now I am no expert, and the names of the items…I just don’t know, so I will do my best to describe what we ate and what we saw. Ready…

Dumplings: Shrimp, pork and combinations including mushrooms and leeks
Meat stuffed rolls much like kolaches
Noodles of all types: fried, soft, or stuffed with beef and chicken
Exotics: Jellyfish, pig ear
Small fried egg roll type items
Pork spare ribs
Shrimp balls, tuna
And many unusual looking desserts.

When we finally finished our feast and walked away from the table, I felt overwhelmed by the amount of food I had eaten. Every thing was really good. And as we left the building, the line was still there, with a lot of folks trying to get some of the dim sum action.

Senor Foodblog gives Marco Polo two spoons up. Guys, the food was wonderful. Different and a great change from the standard Chinese fare served around Austin. The servers were friendly and happy to answer any questions about the food and even give a little history about what you are eating. As I mentioned, get to Marco Polo Restaurant early if possible, as you will encounter a line. Be open to try some new flavors, I didn’t even begin to scratch the dim sum surface with my food list above, but I promise that you won’t be disappointed.

Marco Polo Restaurant
2200 S. I-36
512 445 5563

Hotel San Jose - Austin,TEXAS

2007-03-06T19:36:00.000-08:00

First Thursday, how could I have forgotten! Parking was a bear; I ended up getting a ticket, parking next to a stop sign. Ouch…another $20 donation to the city. Once we arrived at the Hotel San Jose things got a lot better.

Senora Foodblog went straight for the Prosecco (Italian bubbly) while I enjoyed a cold Samuel Smiths. The wine pours are huge. This made the Senora very pleased indeed and when she is happy...you know I am happy, too. Suddenly distracted from my beautiful bride, out of the corner of my eye I noticed what looked like the largest cheese platter I have ever seen. I checked the menu and yes, the San Jose offers $12/$18 cheese platters. I asked our server and she told me that the serving I saw was the $18 platter. Wow…I would be guessing but it looked like a good lb. of cheese with a loaf of bread; not bad for this town. Our total came to $20 with tip.

We made our way down to Vespaio for dinner. As to be expected, we had to wait for our table. We chose to avoid the bar area; it was packed solid with no room to breathe. As we were seated our server brought out three kinds of bread and a puree of cannellini beans. If you are a hummus fan, then you will just die for the white bean puree. For our drinks, the Senora chose the house Chianti while I decided to stick with water. No appetizers, just two small Caesar salads and a little hand-holding. For our main courses, the senora had the Margherita Pizza and I had the Spaghetti Carbonara.

The pizza was thin with a crispy bite, wonderful fresh tomatoes and tasty cheese. The Spaghetti Carbonara is just the best in town. The flavor is fantastic, creamy and decadent, served with a cheese crisp and a poached egg on top. For desert I had the profiterole with gelato & cherry compote. God was smiling at me. Three small puff pasties with vanilla gelato inside, each covered with chocolate fudge, surrounded by cherries. Our meal was so good, I wouldn’t mind having it again tonight. Our total came to $68 + Tip.

Senor Foodblog gives First Thursday two spoons up. I thought we did very well, except for the traffic ticket. As with all street events, one just has to be patient and expect to wait for ...everything. The Hotel San Jose is just cool as hell. I’m going back, but on an off night for the cheese platter. Vespaio is the best restaurant on Congress, maybe in town. The food is a little pricey compared to most, but the service and attention to detail truly make the experience worth it. Peace.

Hotel San Jose
1316 S. Congress
http://www.sanjosehotel.com/

Vespaio
1610 S.Congress
512 441 7672

Pit BBQ on Burnet Rd. - Austin,TEXAS

2007-02-28T07:31:00.000-08:00

With the influx of family/friends and an incredibly busy work schedule these past few weeks, I haven't had much time to eat out and explore the Austin foodie world. But as the family has left for greener pastures and the job is coming back under control, I took the opportunity to visit a BBQ place that I have seen for years but have never tried, Pit BBQ on Burnet Road. Hidden but well established, Pit BBQ has been operating for 40+ years. Small and unpretentious, the restaurant is easy to miss but hard to forget once you have tried it.

I arrived about 12:30pm to a crowed dinning room. With only a few booths and a couple of tables, space is a scarce at the Pit. Luckily I was able to get a place at the counter after I received my food. Everyday Pit BBQ offers a special, Mondays is Chicken. I decide to try a sample plate of brisket and sausage with two sides, beans and slaw.

The beef was tender with a nice smoky ring while unfortunately the sausage was not so hot. It just didn't have much taste. The counter help told me that the sausage comes from Austin's own Smokey Denmark, which is located on the eastside. The real let down was the sauce. I am not a big fan of BBQ sauce. I find I like my bbq plain most of the time. I may be way off base here but I swear I could taste liquid smoke. The sauce just didn't have a good flavor at all. The sides were both pretty good; I really liked the cold slaw. My total for the meal came to $10.

Senor Foodblog gives Pit BBQ one spoon up. Sorry folks, the sauce killed the deal for me. Parking was tight and the dinning room way too crowed for my comfort. Prices for the to-go meat were reasonable, with the lean cut brisket for $10.29 lb. Judge for yourself. I would eat at Pit BBQ again but this time avoiding the sauce, lunch crowd and maybe sitting outside at the lone table behind the business.

Pit BBQ
4707 Burnet Rd.
512 453 6464

Cheddar's - Austin,TEXAS

2007-02-14T02:53:00.000-08:00

Wow, I must be on a roll! During the past few weeks, I have had some of the worst restaurant experiences I can remember in Austin. Dirty tables, poor service, lousy food and just plain foodie chaos. What the hell is going on Austin? I just hate to rag so instead of telling you my feelings, I thought it would be fun to just quote some of my fellow co-workers thoughts about my latest restaurant train wreck…Cheddar’s – 15119 IH-35 North.

Easy to find with lots of parking, Cheddar’s from the outside looks like most other corporate-run restaurants, plain. The inside is nicely put together, casual, warm; the restaurant feels like an ok place to bring the family.

Everything was going fine until we started ordering our meals, receiving our meals and trying to pay for our meals.

Earth Mother – “Experience worse than death”

Cylon – “The twilight zone” and “ That was a strange trip, man”

Romeo – “The worst food and service I have ever experienced”

Vito – “I didn’t think we would ever leave”

MW – “Service deplorable”

So there you have it. Honest true quotes describing our visit to Cheddar’s. What I find interesting is all the positive reviews I found online by locals that really like eating at Cheddar’s. No accounting for taste. I guess what really got us all going was that our waiter didn’t write down any of our orders and then preceded to totally mess everything up. We had to wait nearly an hour for a few hamburgers and a couple bowls of soup. And to make matters worse, the soup was so salty, Earth Mother found it inedible.

All I have to say about Cheddar’s is eat at your own risk. If you do decide to give it a try, make certain the server is writing down your order, otherwise you may just experience the same train wreck my fellow workers and I suffered.

Cheddar’s
15119 IH-35 North
Austin

Lewis' BBQ - Austin, TEXAS

2007-02-07T03:12:00.000-08:00

Sometimes the new is the old. Like the magpie, we move towards shiny things, the new things; things that help us think we are moving forward in the world and with our lives. But some would also argue with great passion that is it important to remember our roots, to keep the past alive. Gain and learn from our past experiences whenever we can.

And so, The Gambler and I headed deep into East Austin, looking for what may be one of the oldest operating BBQ joints in Travis County. You may have seen the place; small, pink, on east MLK, close to Airport Blvd? Well if you haven’t seen it, start looking. Lewis' BBQ has been open and serving high-grade beef for about 100 years, I was told by the nice lady working the window.

As a rule, usually with my first visit to a new BBQ place I order a sample plate. I find this is an easy way to discover if the food is worth the money. For $7.25 I got ¼lb brisket, ½ sausage link, ¼lb mutton, small side of beans and a bottle of root beer. What!? Most places around town serve two meats for $8-10 a plate - I knew I had hit BBQ pay dirt. The brisket tasted like brisket, as Lewis' BBQ doesn’t soak their beef in smoke like some places around Austin. And the sausage comes from Elgin, need I say more. The mutton was wonderful. I am a giant mutton fan and was very happy to find a second place locally (along with Sam’s BBQ) that has the meat on the smoker. When I had finished my meal and it was time to leave, I felt sad. I felt like I was leaving an old friend. But I know I will be back soon.

Senor Foodblog gives Lewis' BBQ two spoons up. Great prices, great meat and no flash or fluff to distract you from the real work at hand, enjoying your food. Both The Gambler and I were very pleased with our meals. Primitive setup - all eating is outside on the covered patio, but comfortable. Lewis' is now part of my regular BBQ crawl. The old becomes the new and I feel reborn.

Lewis’ BBQ
1814 Harvey (@MLK)
512 473 2225

Riding Austin's Eastside Coffee Trail

2007-01-24T09:43:00.000-08:00

As Austin’s dangerous crack-ridden eastside quickly becomes the land of condo-buying, young affluent hipsters, the local business landscape is changing very quickly. First thing I noticed were all the coffee shops opening up along the E. 6th Street corridor.

Café Mundi
Most locals already know about the eastside’s coffee oasis, Café Mundi. Open just a few yrs, Jessica and Hans have transformed what was an empty shell into one of Austin’s premier java stops. Serving not only what may be the most reasonably priced coffee on the eastside, but also a healthy selection of entrees and choice beers. With its newly expanded inside and lush relaxing outdoor patio, Café Mundi is an Austin coffee must. Movie night every Monday….don’t miss it.
1704 E 5th St # 100
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 236-8634

Dandelion Cafe
A little north of 6th on 11th, the Dandelion Café is slowly building a regular clientele with good food and strong coffee. Just west of the so very “in” Long Branch Inn, the Dandelion Café is hard to miss with its friendly outside seating area and large front windows. Senora Foodblog is a big fan of the cafes hot breakfast sandwiches and laid back, mellow atmosphere.
1115 E 11th St
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 542-9542

Bossa Nova
Bossa Nova Coffee Shop and Bakery, only open for a few days, has helped fill the void on far East 6th Street. Just down the way from the Pedernales Lofts, on the corner of Robert Martinez and 6th, Bossa Nova is planning to make a real run at long term success. Offering not only coffee, but also fresh baked goods with a Brazilian twist, this place is perfectly located to serve the ever-expanding condo caffeine crowd. Stop on by and say hello to Ray, shake his hand and welcome him to the neighborhood. And while you are saying hello, try a carrot muffin or a meaty empanada/pie. Sorry folks, no web site yet.

Progress Coffee
Progress Coffee has made a real name for itself on the coffee drinker circuit. Located at East 5th street and I-35, Progress is quickly becoming a regular stop for the young creative crowd, looking to plug in the old laptop, drink some coffee and enjoy a good sandwich. Service is with a smile, a real plus for the downtown coffee crowd and a great addition to Austin’s eastside.
500 San Marcos St
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 493-0963

Cheese Tortellini Soup

2007-01-15T12:59:00.000-08:00

Recently, Senora Foodblog and I were invited to dine at Cupcake Kittens home. Now Cupcake is a fabulous cook and always servers the best meals. This night she turned us on to her version of Cheese Tortellini Soup. I don’t know if she invented the soup or if she found it in some recipe book somewhere but the soup was the bomb! I liked it so much Cupcake sent me home with enough soup for a second meal the next day. As it turned out, the soup was even better the second day. After much begging and pleading…lots of hands and knees stuff, Cupcake emailed the recipe which I just have to share with you guys.

I substituted some of the ingredients to stay within Senora Foodblogs heart friendly diet.

2 tbsp Olive Oil
1 package of hot turkey Italian sausage – taken out of casings
1 Onion chopped
6-8 Carrots chopped
4 Garlic cloves, minced
1 ½ Tbsp chopped fresh thyme or use less dry thyme
½ tsp dried crushed red pepper
10 cups Low sodium chicken broth
8 cups chopped kale (1-2 bunches)
1 15 oz of butter beans
1 9oz package of mini light cheese raviolis
1 can artichoke hearts in water chopped
1 cup grated Asiago cheese or Parmesan cheese

Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add next 6 ingredients and sauté until vegetables are soft and sausage is brown, about 12 minutes. Add broth and bring to boil. Stir in kale and butter beans. Reduce heat to low and simmer until kale is wilted, about 4 minutes. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly; cover and refrigerate. Bring to simmer before continuing.) Add raviolis and artichokes to soup. Simmer until pasta is just tender but still firm to bite, about 5 minutes.

Ladle soup into bowls. Serve, passing cheese separately.
Makes 6 serving.

This soup is perfect for these cold days of our 2 week winter. When the soup was cooking, its smell was incredible. The Senora and I circled the cooking pot like hungry vultures. This soup is very easy to make and only take a few mins to put together. I hope you give it a try. Enjoy and stay warm.

Ikea Cafe - Austin,TEXAS

2007-01-11T12:52:00.000-08:00

Dreaming of a new kitchen, Senora Foodblog and I headed north to Austin’s brand new and long awaited IKEA.

Ikea, if you have never been, is quite the experience. Big and bold, the first thing I noticed was the blue paint and the giant parking lot. Inside the store is like a mad house, so many people, shopping or just looking and dreaming like the Senora and I. We walked around for and hr or so, checking out the many different kitchen layouts and furniture styles available, salivating and making wish lists for our home. Much to our surprise, as we came close to the end of our tour, we discovered that Ikea has a Café serving drinks, sandwiches and hot food. Intrigued, I just had to see what was going on.

Can you believe it…salmon, meatballs and even mac & cheese? Senora Foodblog and I decided to try one of the sandwiches offered, focaccia bread with buffalo mozzarella, tomatoes and fresh cut basil. The sandwich, cut in two parts, was more than enough to feed both of us; Senora Foodblog had a hard time finishing her portion. Our cost for the sandwich was just $3.50…watch-out Central Markup. We also had some apple cake/pie and drinks. The food was great. Giant servings! Our total cost came to just over $7. The same meal would have cost twice as much anywhere else in town. Both of us where very satisfied and very pleased with our meal.

One of the guys in my office “ The Gambler “ told me, as I am writing this, that he had a bad experience with the café. He told me that they were out bottled water; the staff was very short when he asked for a cup to use for the water fountain. He had the meatballs, which he thought where not so good. On the positive side he just loved the mac & cheese. He said it was like the mac & cheese mom would serve.

I guess is any given day when you eat out. Sometimes the planets align just right but in some cases people just have a bad day. Senora Foodblog and I both give Ikea two spoons up. We like our experience. The food was good and the service was without incident. As we were leaving, I noticed a big sign on the side of the building that said .99cent breakfast…eggs, sausage and potatoes.

Sullivan's Steakhouse - Austin,TEXAS

2007-01-04T12:50:00.000-08:00

We didn't want to fuss, so Señora Foodblog and I decided to enjoy a nice, expensive dinner with Austin 's own Sullivan's Steakhouse, conveniently located in Austin 's thriving Warehouse district. This day, parking was not a consideration. I can say, with much happiness, that most of downtown was empty. The streets were very quit. This was a welcome flashback to old Austin , when you could go anywhere and find a good place to park, without some jerk standing in the street, directing traffic, so his little buddy can have decent parking. The valet was happy to park our car as we made our way into the restaurant.

We had reservations for 6:30pm and with a few mins to spare, we made our way to the bar. Señora Foodblog ordered a Chocolate martini while I had Sullivan's Mojito. The choc martini made Señora Foodblog very happy. The martini was not only tasty but really pretty with choc swirl designs on the glass.

Getting hungry, it was time to head to the main eating area. After another glass a wine and one more mojito, we got down to the hard work of ordering our dinner. Sullivan's operates like a lot of upscale restaurants. Your main dish is ordered separately from your sides. For our starters, we tried the Seared Ahi Tuna and Iced Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail. Both were great. The shrimp were large and fresh, while the tuna, which came with a spicy mustard sauce, was to die for. To boot, our server also brought us a Hot Loaf of Bread and each of us an Iceberg Lettuce Wedge with Blue Cheese Dressing Salad. The lettuce and bread come as comp with every meal.

Señora Foodblog went with the Small Filet Mignon 8 oz and I had the New York Strip 16 oz for our main courses. Our sides: enormous Onion Rings, Au Gratin Potatoes and Sautéed Spinach with Garlic were top notch. I love the au gratin potatoes, I wish my home cooked would turn out as well. Both of the steaks were cooked to perfection and tender like butter. The meal was so darn good, Señora Foodblog had to stop me from licking my plate….just kidding, I only lick the plate at home, never in public. We passed on the dessert and settled for some coffee instead.

Señor Foodblog gives Sullivan's two spoons up. Ok, what can I say, the steaks were fantastic as was the service, drinks and the back ground music. I am a huge fan of Sullivan's and will always recommend. Exactly how much did this cost you may ask. Well, keep in mind that Sullivan's is one of Austin 's best steakhouses and its location is the heart of trendy downtown. With tip our meal cost $210 and worth ever penny.

Sullivan's Steakhouse
300 Colorado
512 495 6504
http://www.sullivansteakhouse.com/

Home Made Bread

2006-12-28T09:57:00.000-08:00

So what to do on a rainy day? Señora Foodblog and I decided to take Christmas easy this yr, due to our recent wedding and all the time spent with the fam. So what to do on a rainy day? I know, it's bread-making time. I have never made bread, but with our recent gift of a food processor things were looking up along with my confidence. Bread has always seemed to far out for me to attempt. I think, like most people, that to make bread takes some sort of special power not possessed by common man. The whole yeast, chemistry thing is kind of scary. I have made beer before which also involves the yeast thing, so I figured with the help of the food processor, what the heck, lets give the bread making a try.

My friend, the Fin, told me that it's all about stretching the gluten in the dough, but without breaking them. OK, that sounds simple...I guess? I set up my processor and began my yeast mixer, warm water, milk and a sugar with the yeast sprinkled over it. According to the recipe, the yeast should sit for about 10 mins and have a nice foamy top when you add it to the flour mixture already in the food processor. Things began to get interesting about this time. As I added the yeast slurry to the flour, the flour began to combine into small sticky balls. The instructions tell me to continue adding the liquid until the flour forms into a one ball which no longer sticks to the side of the processor. Well, it didn't work out like that. I guess I added to much water, while the dough did form a ball, it still was very sticky. Calling the Fin for advice, he tells me to get the dough out of the processor and just roll it a few times on a floured cutting board. Good advice and it worked. I began to roll out the dough, which came together nicely, but while trying not to over handle and break the glutens. Apparently, if you play with the dough too much, it will not rise correctly and will be hard like a hockey puck.

After letting the worked dough sit for an hr and rise a little, I again work a few for folds into the dough and set it aside for it's final rise, which takes about 40 mins. My oven is preheated to 325 degrees. The bread takes about 20 mins to cook or until its golden brown on top. My house smelled amazing. The smell reminded me of my mothers home-made-bread; when I was just a little boy, growing up in jolly old England.

My final product turned out just great. The bread didn't rise as much as it possibly could have, this could be due to the low protein content of the flour and/or the humid, rainy day. Señora Foodblog had forbidden me to cook much bread, she tells me that it's too much of a temptation to just sit and eat it all at once. Man, I just love hot bread, smeared with butter and orange marmalade.

Spec's comes to Austin

2006-12-27T12:47:00.000-08:00

The rabbit is back….yes I am talking about Spec’s Warehouse. Absent from Austin for 20+ yrs, Spec’s has returned with its discount liquor and amazing selection of cheese and drinking accessories. Most blogs and articles that I have read about Specs returning to Austin have all said the same thing, Specs is going to shake up the local beer and wine market! This is true; Señora Foodblog and I spent a good hr just walking around the store, checking out the shelves, blown away by the great prices.

For you beer drinkers, Spec’s is bragging about the largest beer cooler in Texas, yes folks it true. Spec’s beer cooler makes Whole Foods cooler look small, small, small. Cup Cake Death Kitten tells me that the new S. location, still under construction (71 / Brodie), will have an even bigger cooler. Someone please save my liver.

And for you smokers, a giant amount of cigars to shop inside Spec’s walk-in cigar humidor.

Most folks don’t know that Spec’s has been owned and operated by the same Houston family for over 40 yrs. The Houston store carries 40,000 different labels of wine and 900 different kinds of cigars. One of the Spec’s sales employees told me that the new south Spec’s will be twice the size of 290 store, and will occupy 50,000 sq feet of liquor selling retail space…..wow.

Spec’s also offers a discount for cash purchases. Combined with the Spec’s Key Card and if you just happen to be buying a case of wine, even more discounts. You will have to visit and check it out for yourself. Señora Foodblog told me that she had noticed the Beaujolais Nouveau was only $7 a bottle, better than Sam’s. That will mean lots and lots of Sangria this season.

Living on the East Side, I was getting tired of driving south to World Market, dealing with the traffic, having to hunt for parking. Señora Foodblog and I both agree that Spec’s is very much like World Market but without the furniture and a carries a much larger selection of beer and wine plus lots of cheese. Life is good in Austin, Ikea and now Spec’s….cool.

Suzie's China Grill & Sushi - Austin, TEXAS

2006-12-15T07:50:00.000-08:00

Suzie's on Shoal Creek has to be one of my fav places to eat lunch. I just love Suzie's. This intense gastronomical love affair started with the S. Lamar location. After Mrs. Food trapped me in her net of love, it moved north to the Shoal Creek / Anderson location. Parking is not an issue, but getting a table during the lunch rush usually involves a short wait. I would highly recommend getting to Suzie's before 11:45am for instant seating but after that, you will probably have to wait.

Mrs. Food (light of my life) and I arrived at Suzie's at about 12:20 and added our name to the list. After about a 15 min wait, we were seated in the sushi bar part of the restaurant. One of Suzie's strong points has to be the great, fast service, you don't have to wait or want for anything. The servers are efficient and on the job. We had menus and water upon being seated and the server was right there to take our order. We each started with soup. Mrs. Food likes the egg drop while I am a big fan of the hot and sour, which on this day was pretty darn spicy and perfect for the cooler weather. Talking to our server, Mrs. Food discovered that Suzie's has brown rice, which is great for her diet and matched perfectly with her order of steamed vegetables. Not so concerned with my diet, I always get the sweet and sour pork lunch special. The food started arriving at our table no longer that 5mins after we ordered…a real plus if you have places to go and people to see and don't have the luxury of a long lunch break.

It's like I am just addicted to the sweet and sour pork. The combination of pineapple with the pork just rocks my world. I also like to mix the sauce with my rice…o yea baby. Mrs. Food's plate was heaping with vegetables and was more than enough to satisfy her appetite. The combination of brown rice with her meal made Mrs. Food very happy indeed and when she is happy, I am happy. Our total cost for two hot teas and two lunch entrees (each came with soup) around $20 – not including tip.

Mr. Foodblog gives Suzie's two spoons up. Great food and great service. A friendly, happy wait staff combined with a warm comfortable atmosphere and tasty good food always equals a positive eating experience. Suzie's has three locations in Austin, check out the website for more info. http://www.suzischinagrill.com/ .

Suzie's China Grill & Sushi
7858 Shoal Creek Blvd
302 4600

1152 S. Lamar
441 8400

2745 Bee Caves
347 7077

Mother's Cafe & Garden - Austin, TEXAS

2006-12-14T06:49:00.000-08:00

Mother's, Duval and 42rd, has graced Austin's eating scene for 25yrs. Known for its veggie burgers and vegetarian cuisine, Mother's has filled a lot of local bellies and made a lot of people very happy. Mrs. Food and I decide to check Mother's out and see what was really going on down on Duval.

We arrived just after noon and …crazy …we actually got a parking spot up front. Gods little gift. We were quickly seated in the covered patio area and our server brought us water and menus. The patio is really nice, lots of plants, combined with the paved floor and filtered light, gives the impression of sitting out doors but without all the sound of the street. We place our orders and settle into the chips and salsa. The salsa is pretty good. Good flavor, not to hot.

Mrs. Foods order started with the soup of the day special – Tomato Basil. She like this a lot but I thought it had the taste of liquorish…I am not a big fan. I chose the Cream of Broccoli soup as my opener. Now this was good, the soup was about the broccoli, not the cheese. For our main course, Mrs. Food had Mother's Veggie Burger while I had the Enchiladas Mole which also came with beans and rice.

Mrs. Food was not too impressed with her burger, she liked it but it was a take it or leave it kind of thing. The burger looked dry to me. The Enchiladas Mole was pretty good, nice and cheesy while the mole sauce was uninspiring. The black beans made for a nice break from the standard refried a lot of places serve around town. But sadly, the plate just didn't come together for me, it was the Mole. Our total cost with tip came to $25.

Mr.Foodblog give Mother's one spoon up. Nice place to sit and eat. The outdoor patio is a gem. For me the only problem was the lack of originality of the food, it just seemed like the same old thing served most places in Austin. True, if you are a vegetarian, your choices are limited and Mother's is good for the Austin eating scene, but maybe they should try something new or just revisit some of their old recipes. Check out the website for complete menu, prices and location info. http://motherscafeaustin.com/index.html

Mother's Cafe & Garden
4215 Duval
451 3994

Kerbey Lane - Austin, Texas

2006-12-07T05:17:00.000-08:00

Who has the best pancakes in Austin? I think my homemade are the best and so does Mrs. Food (she better) but when I go out for pancakes, one of the first places I always think about is the Original Kerbey Lane Café just north of UT and Austin’s growing med center (3704 Kerbery Lane).

Opened in the early 80’s (some of you won’t remember the 80’s…I have a problem with the 70’s) Kerbery Lane has become one of Austin’s fav eating spots for both locals and visitors alike.

Operating out of a small location, both parking and getting a table can take a few minutes but with the nice stress free felling Kerbey lane offers waiting should not prove to be a problem.

This morning Mrs. Food and I were able to seat right away and the server quickly took our order. I decide to have the Biscuits, Eggs and Gravy w/ the sausage side $5.95. I just love this stuff, the way the sausage has just a hint of smokey taste matches really well with the gravy. Mrs. Food had the Breakfast Platter $5.35 (2 eggs, 2 half size pancakes, fresh fruit and bacon). She can never finish all the food so I get to enjoy the pancakes, always part of my evil plan when I suggest eating here.

Kerbey Lane also offers soups, sandwiches, entrees and a large variety of salads including Cobb Salad $8.95 (avocado, bacon, bleu cheese crumbles, purple onion, vine-ripe tomatoes, hard boiled egg and chicken breast served over mixed greens). If you are in the mood for something other than breakfast I would defiantly recommend this. Check out their website www.kerbeylanecafe.com for the complete menu.

Mr. Food says two spoons up for the Original Kerbey Lane. I would feel ok about bring out of towner’s to eat here. Kerbery Lane is one of the places I hope never changes (not to be confused with the UT Kerbey Lane which needs a lot of help and is a horrible place to eat) I would definitely recommend the Original Kerbery Lane to traveling shows… if you have a big drive ahead of you a great breakfast can make all the difference.

Cream of Poblano Soup

2006-12-06T04:50:00.000-08:00

After my mom died, I was organizing her stuff when I discovered she had some 1960's cook books from Time Life, Foods of the World. The books came as a set of 7, each dedicated to a different county or region of the world. I decided to try my hand and chose a French soup, cream of mushroom, but I wanted to give it a Texas twist. So I got to thinking and ….why not poblano peppers. A great soup when things are starting to cool down outside. I adapted this recipe for garlic once, which I was told was like drinking liquid warmth. If you like to cook like I do, this is a great soup to play with, make it cream of anything, just have a good time, maybe open a bottle of wine. I will bold where I made a change to recipe.

1 ½ lbs Poblano peppers
5 tsps butter
6 tsps flour
6 cups chicken stock
2 egg yolks
¾ cup heavy cream
Salt
White pepper

Rub poblanos with olive oil. Roast poblanos in 350 degree oven for 45mins on a cookie sheet. Turn once or twice. Place hot, cooked peppers in paper bag and seal. Let the bag stand for 15mins before cleaning the poblanos. Discard the poblanos outer skin, seeds and stem. Set cleaned poblanos to side.

Melt 5 tsps butter in 4 – 6 quart saucepan over moderate heat. Add flour and make a roux. Cook about a 1min over low heat, stir constantly. Do not brown roux. Add Chicken stock, beating constantly to blend stock and roux. Stir until this cream soup base comes to a boil, thickens and is perfectly smooth. Add poblanos and simmer on low heat for about 15mins.

Puree the hot soup then pour through a fine sieve back into saucepan. Blend your egg yolks and cream together at this time. Whisk in the hot pureed soup, 2 tsps at a time, until ½ cup has been added. Then reverse the process and slowly whisk the now-warm egg-yolk-and-cream mixture into the soup.

Bring to boil, and boil for 30mins, stirring constantly. Remove pan from heat, taste and season with salt and pepper.

I just love this soup. The creamy poblano taste is wonderful. I also like to sprinkle bacon over the top or maybe diced cooked potatoes. Sorry no picture, I guess I was just thinking about my mom.

Chango's - Austin, TEXAS

2006-12-05T05:27:00.001-08:00

Just a quickie….I stopped by Chango’s (3023 Guadalupe) on the drag, next door to the Wheatsville Co-op, for some breakfast tacos around 9am. Mrs. Food and Polly were hungry and had put me to work fetching food. If you haven’t been to Chango’s, that’s ok, it caters to the UT crowd, mostly. It has its own parking lot and on this morning it was not a problem for me to find a spot.

The inside is nice and open. Big windows face out to Guadalupe making for good people watching. I was the only person in the restaurant at that exact moment so I had the complete attention of everyone that working….or so I thought. I placed my order of 6 tacos, 4 with flour and 2 with corn. Chango’s is known for making its own tortillas both flour and corn. It’s always a good time watching the tort lady do her thing. After 10 mins or so, I had my breakfast tacos and headed down the road.

When I delivered Mrs. Food her tacos, we realized that all six where flour……noooooo. I was so disappointed, I could have cried. I was the only person in the restaurant, how could they have missed my order? I had ordered 2 egg bean and cheese tacos, which I liked very much. Not giant but not small, the beans tasted great and the flour tortilla……o yes, so good. The six tacos cost around $13.50…give or take a nickel.

Mr. Food gives Chango’s One spoon up. Sorry guys, but how do you miss your only customers order? The food I received was just fine, the torts where fantastic. I also felt the cost was a little out of hand. I am use to paying about a $1 each per taco from my favorite taco shack…the Tamale House on Airport. Check Chango’s out; let me know what you guys think. I also understand that Chango’s is WiFi…..cool. Other people have also told me that the fish tacos are worth the tip to Chango’s.

Chango’s
3023 Guadalupe
480 8226

Mr. Natural - Austin, Texas

2006-12-03T05:31:00.001-08:00

Eating out in Austin can be challenging at times. We all want to live healthy lives, well most of us do. Ever heard that old adage…you are what you eat? Mrs. Food and I had just arrived back in Austin from a two-week trip only to find our refrigerator empty and our stomachs rumbling. Tired of the same old thing, eggs fried and soaking in grease, we decided to try another of Austin's eastside staples…Mr. Natural – 1901 E. Cesar Chavez, about 1 mile from I-35. Parking is easy, no need to bring walking shoes.

We arrived at the restaurant around 8am. Mrs. Food and I had eaten lunch at Mr. Natural on many occasions but never breakfast. We were both pretty excited to see what was offered and discover if it was any good. I had heard that the breakfast tacos were huge…one equals two kind a thing. Upon checking out the menu I was excited to see that chilaquiles - $4.50 (corn tortillas, ranchero sauce, cheese) were listed (a regular breakfast item in Mexico). Refried beans, potatoes and fresh homemade corn tortillas come with the chilaquiles. I also like 2 eggs over easy served on top, and the folks at Mr. Natural were more than happy to oblige me. Mrs. Food decided to have the Migas - $4.50 (corn tortillas, eggs, ranchero sauce). The torts are scrambled w/ the eggs and ranchero sauce, served with refried beans and potatoes on the side. Other items offered include: breakfast tacos - $1.85 (vegetarian chorizo sausage, potatoes, alfalfa spouts…ect), Tofu Migas - $4.50 and Huevo Rancheros - $4.50. With drinks, one coffee and a med size glass of horchata - $1.85, our total came to $16.

Mr.Foodblog gives Mr. Natural two spoons up. Great breakfast. Not soaking in grease, the beans and eggs were great and the chilaquiles, while not the same as in Mexico, were just as good and definitely filled me up. The corn torts served with the meal tasted just fine. So, if you are traveling east one morning and feeling hungry and don't want the same old breakfast, give Mr. Natural a try; I don't think you will be disappointed. For more info about the restaurant and Mr. Natural's bakery…did I forget to mention fresh baked vegan breads and pies, check out their website, http://www.mrnatural-austin.com/index.htm.

Mr. Natural

East:
1901 E. Cesar Chavez
916 – 9223

South:
2414 – A S. Lamar
916 - 5228

Cafe Any - Zihuatanejo, Mexico

2006-12-02T15:55:00.000-08:00

On our recent trip to Mexico, Mrs. Food and I had the opportunity to sample some really amazing food. I ate so much, at times I thought was going to pop. We took photos of most of the food that we ate, and as the photos become available I will post photos blogs with a brief description of the meal and the serving restaurant. Some of the plates are truly beautiful, real artistic endeavors…..so sit back and enjoy.

Café Any, located in the central shopping district of Zihuatanejo, is a must stop for people that truly savor a good tamale. Famous for its food, Café Any is always busy with a steady stream of world travelers seeking, what some consider, the holy grail of tamales. But this day, I decided to try Café Any's Pozole and Mrs. Food had the consommé.

The traditional Pozole Verde, served with chilies, onions, radish, avocado, Mexican oregano, dried red chilies, pork rinds, and chips. That is some meal! Chicken and veggie consommé, served with chilies, onions, and lime. We also tried the queso fundido (melted cheese) with poblano peppers and corn tortillas. Absolutely dee-licious!

One of our favorites...Tamales y Atoles Any. A great local restaurant in downtown Zihuatanejo.

El Chile Cafe y Cantina - Austin,Texas

2006-11-30T06:20:00.000-08:00

El Chile Café y Cantina, 1809 Manor Rd, just east of I-35 and UT, is quickly building a reputation as an Eastside eating favorite. Easy to find but limited in parking (check around back before you park on the street), El Chile has attracted a steady following and regular neighborhood cliental in the short time it has been open. Mr. Food has again decided to sacrifice his small orange body, dedicated to finding the truth and discover if all the talk and hype about El Chile is really true.

I arrived at El Chile around 6:30pm on a Friday night, joined by Mother-in-law-Food (Mrs. Food’s mom) and the Lizard (Mrs. Food’s best friend) only to encounter a large crowd of folks, gathered loosely around the restaurant entrance drinking beers and multi colored margaritas. We added our name to the seating list and a server immediately took our drink order. We had asked for any seating, indoor or outside on the patio, and we were quickly rewarded with a nice table inside near to the bar. It seems that the waiting crowd all wanted to sit on the patio. Personally, I think those people are crazy. With the temp running around 95 degrees and the humidity close to 90%, I would much rather sit in an A/C wonderland than Austin’s outdoor summer sauna!

We placed our orders and settled into what I think are some of best chips and salsa served in Austin. The salsa is made up of dark roasted jalapeños, garlic and I think lime juice… just fantastic. Not hot in taste but full of a great smoky flavor, I could eat this stuff all day long. At this time I ordered a second drink, with Mrs. Food busy in other places, I decided to get just a little crazy.

For the main course we ordered three different items. Momma Food decided to try the Pollo a la Poblana con Hongos - $10.95 (seared chicken breast w/ poblanos, rajas, mushrooms and crema). This plate also came with white rice and a small guacamole salad. Lizard ordered the Enchiladas Verdes - $9.95 (two chicken enchiladas topped w/ tomatillo sauce, jack cheese and crema). The enchiladas are made with El Chile’s homemade tortillas which may be just as addicting as the salsa. Previous experience has taught me never to order a Steak in a Mexican restaurant (always way over cooked) and knowing this and against my better judgment I decided to order the Arrachera - $12.95 (sirloin steak topped w/ melted Chihuahua cheese, poblano, rajas and grilled onions). My plate also came with a small cup of charra beans and guacamole salad.

All three entrees turned out to be real winners. My steak was like butter, by far the best steak I have ever ordered at a Mexican restaurant, it just melted in my mouth. Both Momma Food and the Lizard finished every bite on their respective plates and they both proclaimed their love for the food and a serious desire to come back and try many other items from El Chile’s menu. I didn’t see a dessert menu which was ok, I was so totally full after all the chips/salsa and steak, I didn’t need to put any more food in my body. The total bill came to just under $70 for 5 top shelf drinks, all the chips / salsa one could eat and three super tasty main courses.

Mr. Food gives El Chile Café y Cantina two spoons up. Great food! Coming from Texas, I don’t like spending a lot of cash on Mexican food but El Chile is a nice treat and very reasonable for the food offered. The service and friendly tattooed-covered wait staff give El Chile that cool, casual Austin feeling that people dig so much. The only problem for El Chile is the parking, so again check around back first before deciding to park on the street or check the overflow parking lot just across the street and to the right, about a half block from the restaurant.

El Chile Café Y Cantina
1809 Manor Rd
512 457 9900
Mon – Sat 11am – 10pm
Sun – 11am – 9pm
Brunch Sat – Sun 11am – 3pm
Happy Hr Mon – Fri 4 – 7pm
http://www.elchilecafe.com/

Polvo's Mexican Restaurant - Austin,Texas

2006-11-29T13:20:00.000-08:00

My good friend The Fin and I started drinking at Freddie’s Place on South 1st around 8pm Thursday evening. We met up with the German and Nico for a few “Crutches” and some causal conversation. Our attention quickly turned to food, and based on many recommendations, the Fin and I hopped across the street to one of south central Austin’s best Mexican restaurants, Polvo’s. Once again, as the seeker of truth and great food, Mr. Foodblog accepted the challenge. Was Polvo’s everything people said it was? Even at 9pm we had to park better than a block away… Polvo’s was rocking.

We sat on the patio next to entrance, which the Fin told me was the best spot for quick easy service. Josh, our waiter, brought us two frozen margaritas and some chips. I hit the salsa island and was happily surprised to see “ Escabeche”- (pickled carrots, onions and Jalapenos) offered with at least four different kinds of salsa.

For our entrees, Fin chose the Fajita al Guajillo $8.99 – (chicken fajitas sautéed with sun dried peppers, grilled onions and poblano. Served with guacamole and sour cream, rice, charro beans, corn or flour tortillas). I decided to try the Chile Relleno Original $8.99 – (Chili poblano pepper stuffed with your choice of cheese, vegetables, chicken, or ground beef, topped with a red sauce and Monterey Jack cheese. Served with rice, beans). I chose the beef relleno and the corn tortillas, which by the way Polvo’s makes on site. I just love homemade corn tortillas. Both of our entrees where big and full of flavor; no complaints from either the Fin or myself. I had to order extra corn tortillas, thin and light, perfect for the meal. After a second round of drinks, I was very, very full. The Fin and I had no room for dessert. Total cost for entrees and two rounds of margaritas - $42 (not including tip)

Mrs. Food told me when I got home that she is a big fan of the Vegetable Tamales, which can be ordered a la cart.

Mr. Foodblog gives Polvo’s Two Spoons Up. I now understand why so many local Austinites have recommended Polvo’s. Josh our server was on the money. The food was really good and the portions where large if not giant in size. I was very impressed with the corn tortillas and the margaritas…potent. On the down side, parking involved having to walk and the bathrooms could have used some work. I checked out Polvo’s website and found much to my surprise a coupon for half off on the second entree…a nice touch.

Polvo’s
2004 S 1st St
Austin, TX 78704
Sat 7:00am-11:00pm
Sun-Fri 7:00am-10:00pm
(512) 441-5446
http://polvos.citysearch.com/?cslink=profile_info_website_cust

Happy Hr from 4-7pm: Mon - Friday

Fast Meat from Austin, TEXAS

2006-11-28T14:10:00.000-08:00

With football season in full gear, what to feed all those hungry mouths gathered around the TV? Even though I am all about grilling up the meat, sometimes I just don’t want to jump through all the hoops……cleaning the grill, starting the fire, cutting the wood…ect, you know what I mean. So I have been on the lookout for the fast, big meat serving situation that doesn’t involve a huge mess or fifteen different steps to prepare the meal.

Around the corner from my house is La Michoacana Meat Market. You might have one in your neighborhood. I discovered that La Michoacana has pre marinated fajita meat for sale by the lb. How convenient is this. I was planning to have a few of the guys around for some drinking and some heavy bullshitting. It’s a guys thing…what can I say. If your friends are anything like my friends, it takes a cow and a keg to keep them satisfied.

So I headed down to La Michoacana, and pick up 7lbs of the fajita meat at $4lb. When I got home, I only had a few minuets until the guys would start showing up. I grabbed the largest cooking sheet I have, covered it with foil and laid out the meat. I cut an onion and bell pepper, sprinkled over the meat and presto, I had food ready to go. I cranked the oven to 425 degrees and let the meat cook. About 25mins later, Mr. Bestdressed showed up, with a 12 pack of XX, just as I was pulling out the cooked fajita. Combined with some fresh tortillas from HEB and some la Serial beans, I like the chipotle, we had a serious meat eating situation going on. And let me tell you, the fajita was so tender, it was falling apart. Tough fajita is no bueno!

Bella Cafe - Austin,TEXAS

2006-11-14T01:03:00.001-08:00

Café Bella

Hi folks, Mrs. Food here. For some time now, Mr. Foodblog has been bugging me to do a guest blog. Since I usually tag along with him on his quest for good food and truth, I agreed to do one – as soon as I discovered a place that inspired me. Now, finally…food so delicious, so chic, and so truly pretty that I was compelled to write a blog about Café Bella, a hidden little gem of a place just west of downtown.

Finding Café Bella is a little interesting; it is actually located inside the Bella Salon at 1221 West Sixth Street. I know, it sounds a little weird (this is Austin, after all), but walking through the open, bustling salon is part of the whole experience, I assure you. As soon as we walked in, we were greeted warmly and told to “walk past the second chandelier and turn right” to get to the café. I was instantly intrigued.

The café itself is small and intimate, with just a scattering of small bistro tables and a big comfy banquette with fluffy pillows juxtaposed against bright violet walls. The place is kind of like shabby chic…on mushrooms. Vivid and sunny, with a lovely skylight and salvaged antique chandeliers, the place is just plain cheerful. The fantastic art from a neighboring gallery rotates on a regular basis and lends to the truly eclectic feel of the whole place. Mr. Foodblog and I found ourselves a nice corner table, and settled in for some serious culinary delights.

The menu at Café Bella is not long on gimmicks. Instead, the talented Chef Josh Siegel has chosen a handful of mouth-watering entrees that are well thought-out and expertly executed; then he offers rotating Daily Specials which, as he put it, “vary wildly.” Mr. Foodblog and I each started out with a cup of the Gingered Sweet Potato and Cardamom Bisque ($5/cup or $8/bowl), a smooth and creamy puree of sweet potato and ginger topped with a dollop of apple-mint raita. What can I say…perfection! Mr. Foodblog was actually speechless for a minute – it was that good. Who would have thought that sweet potatoes could contrast so perfectly with little chunks of apple and chopped mint? Dee-lish!

Our next dish was one of Chef Josh’s Daily Specials, the Lime Marinated Sea Scallops, served medium-rare over a bed of mixed greens with a champagne-tarragon dressing. I must ask, do you KNOW how hard it is to make good scallops, people? It takes some skill, let me tell you from personal experience, and these were grilled-to-perfection. Now, good food is one thing, but I consider it positively charming when I get served a plate as pretty as this one was. Carved cherry tomato roses, y’all – garnish rocks! And so do the chefs who actually take the time to make their plates look as stunning as they taste.

It was going to be hard to top the scallops, I knew, but next Chef Josh presented us with the popular Mixed Greens and Chevre ($9), an elegant salad of mixed baby greens, fresh cucumber, carrot, and red onions julienne, dried blueberries, Chevre goat cheese, and maple pecans in a Balsamic vinaigrette. You know, sometimes you really just crave a good, fresh salad, and this one has to be my new favorite. This salad was, again, lovely to look at, but even more fun to eat. With just the perfect amount of Balsamic vinaigrette, all the flavors of this salad weren’t drowned out by a sea of dressing. The tangy bite of Chevre was perfectly paired with the sweet blueberries and maple pecans, and the crunchy mix of cucumbers, carrots, and red onions gave the salad a great balance.

Bravely, we soldiered on. There was so much more food to taste! Chinese Chicken Salad ($11), maybe? A custom-made Deli Sandwich ($10) with turkey and havarti on a seeded soft bun? Or perhaps another of the Daily Specials – Fish Tacos made with tilapia, four cheeses and fresh corn tortillas? It was a tough decision, so Chef Josh made it for us, and presented us with a sampling of the Shrimp and Goat Cheese Quesadilla ($11) and the Daily Special Grilled Steak and Blue Cheese Quesadilla with caramelized onions and fresh herbs. I just cannot repeat it enough; pretty plates taste better. And these plates were so colorful, so lovely to behold, I sighed in admiration. Served with a smooth Salsa Verde, and a fresh red salsa, these quesadillas were fantastic. I never would have thought to throw in some blue cheese, but it was absolutely scrumptious!

By now, Chef Josh was becoming one of my heroes, and not just because he has bright blue eyes and a warm, friendly smile (so do you, Mr. Foodblog). But because you can just tell how much Chef Josh loves to cook, and when he talks about his little Café, you know this guy wants you to have a great meal. After Mr. Foodblog and I had eaten all this food, we were pretty sure we were done, even though we were a little disappointed in ourselves that we couldn’t fit in one more entrée. So instead, Chef Josh served us up a little dessert, a slice of luscious Chocolate-chip Coconut Cake, and a slice of his rich Pumpkin Bread. We redeemed ourselves, and made quick work of the desserts. Chef Josh told us he likes to rotate his desserts, and tries to make a different cake every week.

Café Bella is one of those places where the atmosphere just makes the whole experience a pleasure. Maybe it was listening to Blondie’s Heart of Glass while chewing on the scallops, or Supertramp’s Logical Song as our salads were served. Or maybe it was the fact that Chef Josh is always willing to suggest one of his favorites. Café Bella also serves tiny bottles of Piper-Heidstieck (real French Champagne!) which is a real plus, as all my ladies in the Champagne Mafia will testify. And their wine list, while short, offers a truly robust selection of wines from California Merlot and Australian Shiraz to New Zealand Pinot Noir and Italian Pinot Grigio. There’s also a small selection of domestic and imported beer.

All said, I had a great lunch at Café Bella. Better than I had expected, in fact – I was actually impressed, and plan to return with all my girlfriends in tow. To all you gentlemen out there, take your favorite lady friends here. She will be so impressed, you’ll be in her plus column for days. This is also a great place to take your out-of-town guests, who will think you have the total hook-up on secret, hidden gems that Keep Austin Weird. So, Mrs. Food says two champagne flutes way up for Café Bella, and a toast to Chef Josh for his appetizing and elegant offerings!

Café Bella
1221 West Sixth Street
Austin, TX
(512) 474-5999
Tuesday – Saturday, 9a.m. to 6-ish p.m. (Chef Josh will not kick you out if it’s a little past 6, just on principle, I happen to know)

Breakfast menu available in the morning
To-go Orders welcome
Rotating Daily Specials, so check in often
Wi-fi compatible
Beer & Wine

Southside Flying Pizza - Austin, Texas

2006-11-13T03:54:00.000-08:00

Pizza, pizza and more pizza….Mr. Food is on a roll. I was tipped off to a wonderful new pizza joint – Southside Flying Pizza, 2206 Congress Ave, just a block south of Oltorf Ave. Bill and Brad (you may recognize these guys from Guero’s) have put together their version of a tradition Neapolitan-style pizza shop with “Traditional hand tossed pizza” combined with an Austin flare. Hey, Southside is ready to take off.

Parking is limited so please be aware. I came for lunch, around 11:45am, and must have arrived just in time because both the parking lot and restaurant suddenly filled to capacity…a big line of folks waiting for a table and hungry for pie.

Orders are placed at the front counter and drinks are self serve. We had five people in our group so we decided to try 2 pies and share. First, the large Margherita Pizza ($12) ...mounds of Romano cheese, sliced tomatoes, basil and garlic. Our second choice, the Sundried Tomato Pesto Pizza ($14)…sundried tomato pesto, large cuts of portabellas, roma tomatoes, prosciutto and gorgonzola cheese. Wow, both pies were fantastic. The pizza easily fed all five of us…no one left the table hungry and that is no bull. And as a bonus, neither pie was smothered in red sauce. Am I nuts for wanting to taste the other pizza ingredients and not just the sauce? Other items on the menu, Stromboli ($11), calzone ($11) and get this, a Bratwurst sandwich ($4.50)…crazy, man. All in all, our combined total came to $32 plus tip…this worked out to about $6.50 each for hand tossed pizza and all-you-can-drink drinks. My thoughts about Southside’s pizza, watch-out Brick Oven!

I would never had found Southside but for my foodie friends, who are always sending me restaurant tips so thanks y’all and please keep those tips a-coming.

Mr. Food gives Southside Flying Pizza two spoons up – great pizza, quick service, and a smiling, friendly staff which adds up to another notch in Austin’s growing restaurant belt. Again, parking is limited. Delivery is available in the 78704 area. Call to find out if you are in the zone.

Southside Flying Pizza
2206 Congress Ave.
Austin, TX 78704
512 442 4246
Mon – Sat: 11am -10pm
Sun: 5pm-10pm

Squash Anyone?

2006-11-12T05:44:00.002-08:00

Recently, Mrs. Food and I have been eating a lot of winter squash. I was surprised to learn, after asking around the office and my friends, that a lot of folks don't know or are scared to try winter squash. Well, exactly what is winter squash anyway? Simply put, winter squash is just summer squash that has been allowed to fully mature. In its mature state, squash can be rather scary looking with its hard outer shell and strange shapes. Don't let this deter you from giving winter squash a try, its both easy to work with and from what Mrs. Food tells me, just packed full of fiber.

Mrs. Food has become a big fan of buttercup squash. Its creamy orange flesh is very similar in taste to the sweet potato. Extremely simple to cook, I just cut the top off and using a spoon, scoop out the seeds. I then place the squash into a 9x9 pan and add about a 1/2 inch of water to the container. After adding a large chunk of butter and maybe a sprinkle of pumpkin spice mix to the squash, I cover with foil and cook in oven for about an 1hr or so until tender, at 375 degrees. It is just that easy. When cooked, scoop out the flesh and let you imagination take you away. I am going to try and make a buttercup squash pie using a sweet potato pie recipe as my guide.

The Acorn squash might just be my favorite type of winter squash. Again, I just cut the top off and discard its seeds. Then I like to stuff the squash full of boudin or dirty rice. I have always been very fond of stuffed peppers so I just stuff the squash like I would the pepper. Cook the acorn squash the same way as the butter cup squash. Serve when the squash flesh is tender. If I remember correctly, Eastside Cafe; offers acorn squash with a ginger glaze that is just wonderful.

Winter squash has been around for a long time and like everything else it can be cooked a million different ways. I will let you guys know how my pie turns out. My friend Phil suggested making sausage out of squash. Is that a little crazy?

Fredericksburg Herb Farm - Fredericksburg, Texas

2006-11-10T13:09:00.001-08:00

Did you know that cauliflower and broccoli are both flower blossoms? Most of us are familiar with the spice saffron. Did you also know that saffron also comes from a flower? Mrs. Food and I took a long and leisurely drive up to Fredericksburg this Saturday. We were both looking for a little down time and a change in scenery, something different from the steel and cement construction site Austin’s east side has suddenly become. Mrs. Food read about a place just west of downtown Fredericksburg that sounded like the perfect spot to eat, relax, and enjoy the quite of the country, Fredericksburg Herb Farm.

Fredericksburg Herb Farm grows all their own herbs and edible flowers on the 14 acres of land surrounding the restaurant. Getting seated took a good 20mins. We later found out that half the crew called in sick or just did not bother to show-up. We finally got a cute little table in the back room. The room, filled with large windows, allowed us views of the lovely gardens and a rather large gazebo.

Our meal began with a pitcher of sangria - $20 and an appetizer, the Edible Flowers Spring Rolls - $8. Small in size, colorful on the plate, the spring rolls were very simply made, rice noodles wrapped in rice paper with an assortment of blue, red and yellow flower petals added in. The flavor was subtle, yet slightly bitter, not unpleasant but kind of neutral on the pallet. I felt that $8 cost was a little much. For the main course, Mrs. Food had the Grilled Hill Country Peach Salad w/ chicken - $13 (field greens tossed in a basil blush vinaigrette, grilled peaches, almonds with herbed feta and sliced chicken). Mrs. Food really enjoyed the salad and is going to try and replicate it herself. The wedges of grilled peaches made this salad really bounce….very nice. I had the Rosemary Smoked Chicken - $10 (A breast quarter smoked with rosemary, olive oil and spices served with salad and foccacia bread). Very nice, great flavor, the salad was amazing, but the serving size was small. If I had been really hungry, I would have been wanting for more.

By this time, we had each drank 5…yes 5 glasses of sangria each, with the bottom of the pitcher nowhere in sight. This may be the best sangria deal around. I can’t think of any place in Austin where you can get good sangria for under $25 a pitcher. We ended up having to leave some on the table when we left. I had to drive and Mrs. Food was catching a pretty good buzz. Our total cost for the meal and drinks came to $56 with tip.

Walking the gardens is a must. We discovered a day spa and quiet meditation room hidden among the many flowers and trees. In the spring time I can only imagine what this place must smell like. During your walk you might encounter the two wild turkeys that have taken up permanent residence on the property. The farms rooster and the turkeys have become pretty good chums and seem to hang out and follow each other around.

Mr. Food says 1 spoon up. Service time was the negative for this review. The food was good, could have been a little bigger portions. Mrs. Food and I definitely don’t have any issues with the sangria or the beautiful gardens. I just believe that when even under staffed, a simple hello carries a lot of weight. Don’t just walk past someone and act as if you don’t see them, turn, smile and say hello.

Fredericksburg Herb Farm
407 Whitney
Fredericksburg TX 78624
1-800-259-HERB
1-830-997-8615
http://www.fredericksburgherbfarm.com/index.htm

The web sight is packed full of cool info….I thought the recipe section was really groovy.

Café Mundi - Austin, Texas

2006-11-08T09:01:00.000-08:00

Have you heard of Café Mundi? I bet some of you have, but most of you have not. Kinda hidden on East Fifth Street next to the east side’s new light rail tracks, Café Mundi has retained that local feel that Austin is so famous for. There is always something going on. Monday nights are for outdoor movies, while just about everyday someone is performing music, dance or spoken word.

I stopped by Café Mundi to meet my dear friend, the Platypus. We had plans to cut some fire wood and maybe have a beer or two. I noticed that Café Mundi was carrying a Pierre Celis beer for $10 a bottle. I haven’t seen it sold any where else around Austin, if you have, please let me know. Platypus was running late so I decided to check out the menu and see what was going on. A cold front had just come through Austin and the normal oven roasting afternoon temp had dropped quit a bit. The daily soup special was French Onion. I ordered the soup, a glass of Mundi’s unsweetened hibiscus tea and paid a little over $6 total.

One of the best parts about Café Mundi is the outdoor area. Beautiful trees surrounding a small stage, wonderful landscaping that makes you feel that the city is very far away. I found a table and awaited my soup. About that time Platypus showed up and we starting talking. My soup arrived and I was so very happy. A large hot bowl of soup, a thick layer of melted Provolone cheese smothering large crutons, served with a side of bread… I was licking my lips. Platypus immediately ordered a bowl for himself. The onions where sweet and the broth, not beef, but a vegetable broth, made the soup light and perfect for a mid afternoon snack.

Mr. Foodblog says Two spoons for Café Mundi. A quiet afternoon, on a nice cool day, relaxing conversation, Café Mundi hit the spot. The soup just tied the whole experience together. If you don’t know Café Mundi, check out their web site or if you are just cruising around the east side and need a little cup of Joe, stop on by. Café Mundi is a true Austin oasis in an ever growing and ever changing city.

Café Mundi
1704 E. Fifth Street
Austin, Texas
http://www.cafemundi.com/index.php

El Paraiso ( Breakfast Special ) - Austin, Texas

2006-11-06T11:33:00.000-08:00

Breakfast, some consider it the most important meal of the day. My regular work schedule is sometimes up in the air so I have been on the lookout for a breakfast special that can both satisfy my hunger and my wallet. Quite by accident, I happened upon a little place close to the job, which fills my criteria, serving a great breakfast with an amazing price…El Paraiso. Located at 5656 N. IH-35, next to Baby A’s, El Paraiso is the kind of place you would miss if you didn’t know it was there. Parking is abundant, so no worries in that department.

Each week, El Paraiso changes it’s daily breakfast specials, I just happen in on the day they were serving Carne Guisada - $2.99 (two eggs any style, a huge mound of carne guisada and home made refried and white corn tortillas). The food was great, and the amount of food served was amazing. I had a hard time finishing the plate. Service was quick and friendly, no slacking here. El Paraiso also serves a lunch special costing $4.99, I have yet to try this.

Mr. Food says two spoons for El Paraiso. A real man size breakfast. Friendly, quick service and a price that is hard to beat. Mrs. Food commented that the food cost is comparable to restaurant prices in Mexico, how crazy is that. Check it out and let me know what you folks think. If you know of other places that serve monster breakfast specials, please post a comment.

For future blogs, I have been asked to review restaurants restrooms. If I am missing anything else, please let me know.

Have a great day and remember everyone…. please vote on Nov. 7th.

El Paraiso
5656 N. IH-35
451-7777

China Palace - Austin, Texas

2006-11-02T17:01:00.001-08:00

I know a secret! Mrs. Food and I had the pleasure of eating dinner with Cupcake Kitten and her husband, the Compiler, a few nights back. We had been talking about trying China Palace, 6605 Airport Blvd, just north of Highland Mall. A little bird had whispered that the food was worth checking out and Mr. Food needed to spread the word. The little bird also told me a secret!

We arrived at the restaurant around 8pm. Parking was easy, not an issue. The restaurant had a few folks dinning so we were able to sit where we wanted and had total attention of the wait staff. Now here’s the secret….The server gave us the menu, but I knew better and asked for the special Chinese menu. Word had reached my ear that most of the items offered on the special menu (which you have to ask for) wouldn’t be served anywhere else in the city. No description, just a list of plates to choose from, our whole party was amazed at the selection offered. As Mr. Food I have no fear of food. Looking down the list of appetizers I had to try the Jellyfish head. A grunt of shock came from Mrs. Food and our companions. Cupcake ordered the fried tofu and Mrs. Food ordered the steamed pork dumplings. The Jellyfish tasted like cucumber salad, I really liked this. While the fried tofu, so often over cooked in most places, was perfect…it just melted in my mouth. The dumplings were as good as any in town…maybe better.

For our main courses, we all decided on the one plate each and share routine. The compiler, not feeling so brave, ordered the Orange Beef. Cupcake chose some type of greens (snow pea leaves?) and the Mu Shu Chicken. I on the other hand had to try something new and ordered the Tea Smoked Duck with tofu skins. The amount of food brought to our table was astounding. The Orange Beef was great - large pieces of beef, smoky red chilies combined with orange peel. The Mu Shu was also great. Our server assembled the food by first spreading plum sauce on some kind of pancake; then added the Mu Shu and served us one at a time. We had enough for two helpings each. The duck came in a bowl with what I first thought was roasted peppers but after tasting realized were the tofu skins. Cupcake’s greens had a healthy mix of garlic added to them and tasted fantastic. I wish I knew more about Chinese food, I can’t really tell you what was in the food but needless to say we were all very pleased with our orders and even more amazed when we got the bill - three appetizers, four entrees and ice teas came to an incredible $51. Holy Cow, we had so much food, there was no way that we could eat it all.

Mr. Food says a resounding Two Spoons up. What a deal. The food was great. An amazing selection to choose from and the portions sizes …well, check it out for your self. The bathrooms, small but clean, didn’t take anything away from the restaurant. If you are feeling the need for Chinese, give China Palace a go, I don’t think you will be disappointed. Remember, ask for the Chinese menu…but keep it our little secret.

China Palace
6605 Airport Blvd
451-7104
Mon – Fri: 11 – 2:30 / 4:30 – 10pm
Sat: 11 – 3 / 4:30 – 10pm
Sun: 11 – 3 / 4:30 – 9:30

They do deliver, call first to find out if you are in there area - $15 minimum

Moonshines ( Sunday Brunch ) - Austin, Texas

2006-10-31T04:59:00.000-08:00

Mrs. Food and I had the pleasure of joining our good friends the Germans for Sunday brunch at Moonshines, 303 Red River, downtown Austin. Mrs. Food had injured her dainty little foot so I dropped her at the front door and spent 10mins driving around, looking for parking. I finally had to settle for a spot on the side road of I-35. Unless you decide to use the always-friendly valet located in front of Moonshines, be ready to walk. We arrived just after 12 noon, a good size crowd was already waiting for a table ahead or us. So we found a cool, shady spot on the front patio and had a couple Moonshines mimosas…($3.50 part of the brunch special…bloody Mary’s also $3.50)

After a 20 min wait, we were seated on the left patio. I quickly ordered another mimosa and hit the brunch. Now, instead of telling you what I had, I will just list a few of the items available on the brunch …… you won’t be disappointed:

Fresh Fruit
Cinnamon Sticky Buns
Assorted Muffins – Orange Cranberry, banana nut….
Hoss’ Migas – Scrambled w/ tortillas, cheddar, jalapenos
Green Egg Scramble – Basil pesto, cherry tomatoes & Parmesan cheese
Carrot Basil Soup
King Ranch Casserole
Steak Fingers
Sour dough biscuits and Gravy
Sausage
Sweet Potato Casserole
Sliced Ham

The list goes on. Everything Mrs. Food and I try we liked. The fruit was sweet and juicy, the basil pesto Green Egg Scramble was fantastic and the sausage was nice and spicy, it left you hungry for more. I wanted to try everything Moonshines brunch had to offer, but I just couldn’t physically do it. I didn’t even sample the White chocolate bread pudding…. Our total cost for drinks and two Sunday Brunch’s - ($13.95 each) - $52 including tip.

Mr. Food says Two Spoons up for Moonshines Patio Bar & Grill. Besides great food, Moonshines patio areas are just wonderful places to hang out and relax after a busy workweek. Now that the daytime temps in Austin have finally dropped to a humane level, eating outside has become fun again. Check out Moonshines website for more info, complete menu listings and pictures of the restaurant. Limestone walls and flagstone floors make for a cool and casual atmosphere, one I would have to recommend.

Moonshines Patio Bar and Grill
303 Red River
512 236 9599
http://www.moonshinegrill.com/index.php

Eastside Pies - Austin, Tx

2006-10-11T06:37:00.000-07:00

Austin, welcome to East Side Pies, a wonderful and much needed addition to the Austin food scene. Located at the corner of Angelica and Rosewood, just five minutes from downtown, East Side Pies is very easy to find and is surrounded by plenty of parking.

Inside the restaurant you will find a counter, pizza showcase (by the slice) and kitchen. Any eating is done outside on East Side’s groovy patio area. I ordered a 10’ with Italian sausage and mushrooms. When I got the pizza I thought I had died and gone to heaven. The crust was thin and very crisp and the sausage and mushroom pieces where huge, I fell in love on the spot…watch-out Mrs. Food. My total cost came to $14 plus tip…not bad. Other pizza on the menu includes the “Medditerarean” (hummus, eggplant, artichoke, sun-dried tomatoes, kalamata olives), the “Guiche” (spinach, goat cheese, green chilies, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted garlic) and the “Smors” (italian sausage, mushrooms, roasted onions, roasted red pepper, spinach) just to name a few…all sound fantastic and all start around $15.

Finally, hats off to East Side Pies for giving Austin’s eastside a pizza delivery service, something the area has needed for a very long time.

Mr. Food says Two Spoons Up for East Side Pies, fast delivery, friendly staff and for shaking off the eastside shadow, to quote a guy from Onion Pizza, downtown Austin ... I think he was the owner … “it’s just to dangerous to deliver to the eastside” Thanks East Side Pie for having some balls!!!

1401B Rosewood Ave. 524 0933
12 -11pm during the week
12-12pm Fri/Sat
12-10pm Sundays
Closed Mondays…Sorry folks!
www.eastsidepies.com

Mac and Cheese

2006-10-07T10:22:00.001-07:00

Did someone say macaroni and cheese? I love to make and eat macaroni and cheese, doesn't everyone? I guess not but it is safe to say that most of us associate fun memories with eating the good old mac and cheese. I have been on a life long quest to find the best mac and cheese recipe. I must have made it ten different ways by now. I bet you would say, "My mom makes the best!" Ok, I would accept that…. it's mom after all. But really…who has the best recipe? It might surprise you but I think that Luby's mac and cheese is pretty darn good. Mrs. Food turned up with the Luby's recipe book and I immediately broke out the pans and went to work.

2-cups dry elbo macaroni

1-2 tbls nonfat dry milk powder

2 tbls all-purpose flour

1 tbls butter

1 ¼ cup boiling water

3-cups American cheese...about 12oz shredded

1 small can green Hatch green chiles (my addition)

1-cup rice crispy squares (my addition)

¼ tsp salt

Cook macaroni according to package directions.

Heat oven to 350º F.

In a large bowl, mix dry milk, flour, and butter.

Gradually add boiling water, beating constantly.

Add 1 1/4 of the cheese, green chilies and continue beating until smooth and creamy.

Stir in macaroni, 1 cup of the remaining cheese, and salt.

Transfer to lightly greased 2-qt baking dish.

Cover with foil.

Bake 25 minutes.

Remove foil.

Sprinkle with remaining 1/2-cup cheese.

Crunch up rice crispy squares and sprinkle over top

Continue baking until rice crispy brown or until you can't wait any more.

Serve ... and enjoy

I am such a little piggy; I usually make a double batch. This goes well with just about anything and its kid friendly… I have the official title of Uncle Food around a number of my friend's homes. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Have a Cheesy day.

Mr. Foodblog

Huevo's

2006-10-06T08:55:00.000-07:00

Last week, I received a little note from my friend Janice asking how Mr. Food was able to eat out all the time?

Well, I had to stop for a second and think about the question. Like a lot of you folks, I just get caught up in the river of life and sometimes I just don’t have time or I am far too tired to cook my own meals. I then thought about the meals I do cook, when I cook, and it occurred to me that most of my recent in house cooking adventures involved preparing breakfast for Mrs. Food and the many guest we always have staying at what I like to refer to as “ The Hotel Asparagus“…my home. I do most of the cooking around our house while Mrs. Food does most if not all the laundry. Guys just tell your mate about the many times you turned everything pink doing laundry during your younger/college days and I promise you will never have to do laundry again.

These past few days I have been eating a lot of Huevos Rancheros while Mrs. Food had been eating a combination of low fat prepared breakfasts from Diet Gourmet out of Dallas, Texas…(good for the body stuff). I personally think my huevos are the best around:

2 - eggs
1 - bottle of salsa ( As much as you like )
2 - Abuela raw tortillas (smuggled from the Texas Valley by Brother-in-Law Food)
And a little love to finish it out.

I preheat two skillets, one 9inch and one 12inch.
I begin with a large cup of coffee made very, very black and thick like motor oil!
I start cooking the tortillas in the 9inch while I cover the 12inch with a handy saucepan top.
As I put the second tort on to cook, I apply oil to the 12inch and add my eggs.
Quickly, I pour salsa over my eggs and cover with lid…. please remember not to turn you burner up to high, you will burn the eggs. Let the eggs poach slowly, gently in the salsa with that little love, I spoke about.
At this time, if I feel extra frisky…I start more coffee.
Serve when your eggs are cooked to your specs…sunny side up for me.

This is what I like for breakfast…quick, home made torts (Abuela torts because they have about half the fat of the raw tortillas you can buy here in Austin…let me know if I wrong about this) and spicy happy eggs. It is so nice not to have to rush in the morning, just kick back, relax, eat my food and listen to a little NPR.

Have a good huevo day.
Mr. Food