I Love Avocados

Random food notes from the week:

• I tried several other Izzoz menu items for a write-up for The Onion. Any of the tacos with braised meat are excellent, especially the Padre (braised pork with avocado and pineapple) and the Bob Bowman (roasted chicken with pico de gallo and tomatillo sauce). The tortas are good, although there seems to be a disportionate amount of meat-to-bun. That said, I very much enjoyed my tempura shrimp torta, and the garlic fries are yummy.

• The Do Good Deli is a wonderful little basement outfit downtown. It doesn't have a retail store front, but they deliver downtown for free and take catering orders. Do Good derives its name from it's mission: it donates all of its profit to Caritas of Austin to fight hunger, homelessness and poverty. As for the food, the sandwiches are excellent, especially the Rockin' Roast Beef and the Keep Austin Veggie.

• Finally, I've eaten a ton of avocado sandwiches lately, and my favorites so far have been Garden District's veggie and, suprisingly, Which Wich's avocado and tomato. Keep in mind, Which Wich leaves a lot of control up to the customer, but it's still a delightful treat. It might also have something to do with its proximity to my work place and my general happiness to have a lunch break...

Brand Spankin' New

I'm not really sure if anyone reads this at all. I've been to several new places in the last two months, but I haven't been motivated to write about them because there seems to be no interest in this blog, from myself or anyone else.

But I felt inclined to share about two new spots, both of which I'm covering for The Onion/Decider.

First there's Holy Cacao, a dessert trailer on South First. As soon as my story is posted on Decider, I'll share the link here. Holy Cacao is Austin's only retail outlet to serve cake balls. While I still giggle a bit when I say "cake ball" they're so good, I have to take them seriously. Little round bits of cake and homemade frosting covered in a chocolate coating, they rival any cupcake place in town. (I'll be getting to cupcakes sooner or later, seeing as Austin is able to support several bakeries specializing in cupcakes.)

But if you try anything at Holy Cacao, get the frozen hot chocolate. That's not a typo. It's a mix of real drinking chocolate (this ain't Swiss Miss), chocolate ice cream, and ice. It's a rich, refreshing drink--much more than a milk shake. You really have to experience it.

Also recently opened is Bennu Coffee on E. MLK. It's a standard independent coffee shop, but it's got a few notable characteristics. One, it's open 24 hours--they only coffee shop east of I-35 to do so. It also has plenty of seating and outlets, and a menu of decadent mocha drinks all named after classic works of literature. The Pride and Prejudice is topped with chocolate shavings. The Great Gatsby is a mix of dark and white chocolate. The Don Quixote is topped with cinamon and chile powder. Any place that honors my favorite books by developing them into chocolate-coffee drinks is worth my patronage, so I expect it will replace Clementine as my East Side hangout.

The Basics:
Holy Cacao
Location: 1207 S. 1st St., just north of the Trailer Park Eatery
Hours: Closed Mondays, Sunday and Tuesday-Thursday 12-8, Friday and Saturday 12-10
Accepts: All major credit cards (a rarity of food carts)
Rating: 4 stars
Bottom line: There's no better place to satisfy a chocolate craving.

Bennu Coffee
Location: 2001 E. MLK Blvd, between Chestnut Ave. and Poquito St.
Hours: Open 24 hours, all week
Accepts: All major credit cards
Rating: 3 1/2 stars
Bottom line: Grab a comfy chair and the East Side's best mocha.

Best Turkey Sandwich in Town

Today, Progress Coffee is celebrating its fourth anniversary, and in honor of four years of solid business and a fiercely loyal customer base, Progress is offering everything on its menu for free. Instead of charging it's regular prices, it's taking donations for some great local non-profits.

Progress is always pulling little stunts like this - offering free coffee here and there, for customer birthdays, local music events, or art shows. It's always trying to be honestly progressive: all the coffee is organic and fair trade, the barristas make a decent hourly salary. I wonder how the place manages to give so much away and stay in business.

Oh wait: it's always packed, and you can't get a sandwich for less than $7.

But, oh, what great sandwiches. In particularly, the 5th Street Turkey. It is the best turkey sandwich in Austin. Possibly the best turkey sandwich ever. Or at least, the best I've ever had.

It's thinly sliced roasted turkey on toasted ciabatta bread, along with cream cheese, spring mix greens, and the cout d'gras - the rosemary habanero jelly. The jelly makes this sandwich rise above the rest through a harmonious mixing of savory, sweet, and spicy. It's so good, I would gladly pay $7 for it, but it was even better to get it for free today.

The Basics
Location: 500 San Marcos St., at the intersection of 5th street and San Marcos, just east of I-35
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday 6:30 a.m. to midnight; Saturday and Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Accepts: all major credit cards
Rating: 4 stars
Bottom line: Coffee with a conscience, along with a stellar turkey sandwich? I could not ask for more.

Clementine's and Thunderbird's

Clementine Coffee Bar and Thunderbird Coffee are two sides of the same coin. Owned by the same people, both offer excellent coffee, quiet yet inviting atmospheres, and good food. Clementine's is east and considered the feminine "sister" store, while Thunderbird is more northwest and plays the masculine, "brother" role.

Here's the breakdown of the two:

Name: Clementine Coffee Bar
Location: Manor Road, across from East Side Cafe

When I think of Clementine Coffee Bar, I think "What's not to like?" An old converted house, it has large windows bringing plenty of natural light. Inside, bright colors contrast with the overwhelming presence of white, while the exterior is a delightful lime green, making it more visible from the road (it would be easy to miss otherwise).

But really, Clementine's is just plain fun, and it goes beyond the decor. The barristas are a hodge-podge of typical Austinites, from shabby-chic hipsters to retro flare throwbacks. They create a laid-back atmosphere, friendly without ever being annoying.

My one complaint is that seating and parking are rather limited, and it gets a lot of UT traffic. During peak afternoon hours, it's difficult to find a table, especially one with a coveted outlet.

However, even if you can't find a seat, at least get a drink to-go. The coffee is excellent, all of it fair trade along with several organic blends. Lunch offerings are decent, from make-your-own bagels to excellent grilled paninis. But I usually go for the coffee - it's become one of my favorite cups in town. I've never been disappointed with a drink there.

Prices are fair, and they offer a frequent buyer's card, so after buying nine coffee drinks, you get one on the house.

I love Clementine's for the overall atmosphere, but as it goes with coffee shops, the coffee is the true test of a place's worth. Clementine's, by far, passes.


Name: Thunderbird Coffee
Location: Intersection of Koenig Lane and Woodrow Avenue

While Clementine's is bright and fun, Thunderbird is a bit toned down. The service is still great, and the coffee is the same excellent quality.

While the food is similar, Thunderbird has larger selection of sandwiches, all named for streets in the neighborhood. My favorite is the Arroyo Seco, a spicy chicken panini with a Tex-Mex sauce with a little bite. Le Raymond, turkey with brie and pesto, is also a favorite.

Thunderbird's has a large porch with plenty of shade and seating, making a great hangout on warm days. Inside, the walls are light blue, along with the high ceiling, gives the place a very open and inviting atmosphere.

It is easier to find seating than Clementine's, but parking is also limited. Weekends are usually the busiest days, as it gets a crowd of young professionals rather than students.

Drink prices are the same as Clementine's, and the food cost is comparable. It also offers a frequent buyer's card, giving incentive to come back again and again for the excellent coffee and quiet, laid-back vibe.


Price: drinks - under $5; food - under $10; free wi-fi
Rating: 4 stars
Bottom line: Sibling coffee shops offer some Austin's best coffee with great atmospheres. And you gotta love any place with a frequent buyer's card.