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.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Clarification on the Red House
What was once Stortini is now officially (based on the paint job) The Red House Pizzeria and Bar. The Red House Lounge referred to the bar in the back, and it's still the same, what with all the dead animals and vintage lamps.
I mention this because I wrote a post about the closure of Stortini and, at the time, the old Stortini dining room was for private parties and events only. Now it's open to the general public and looks more like a traditional pizzeria.
All the better, I suppose. Pizza's still half-price at happy hour, which is why my book club meets there at 6:30.
I mention this because I wrote a post about the closure of Stortini and, at the time, the old Stortini dining room was for private parties and events only. Now it's open to the general public and looks more like a traditional pizzeria.
All the better, I suppose. Pizza's still half-price at happy hour, which is why my book club meets there at 6:30.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Sandwiches! Sandwiches! Sandwiches!
Need a new lunch place? Food Heads has won several local awards in regards to sandwiches, and the Upper Crust Bakery has held the titles of similar honors in regards to bakeries.
We're talking some serious breads and sandwiches, people.
Let's start with Food Heads. First of all, it's quaint and settled in a renovated house, so you automatically have associations of good, homemade food. It's close enough to campus that it's often overrun by students, but it's worth waiting in line (although if you avoid peak times, it's not a bad wait).
The best sandwich, by far, is the grilled salami and fresh mozzarella on toasted sourdough, although other combinations of meats and cheeses on artisinal breads make for a pleasant experience no matter what you order. There's the mouth-watering garlic and herb roasted leg of lamb sandwich on ciabatta. There's also the grilled chicken and eggplant served with goat cheese on a toasted baggette.
In true Austin fashion, Food Heads has plenty of vegetarian options, like a grilled squash and fresh mozarella sandwich. It's so flavorful, you don't really miss the salami. And you can't go wrong with any of the salads or soups. Plus, the cafe offers a wide range of iced teas and fresh coffee all day. Did I mention it caters?
In the same vein of fresh ingredients and homemade bread, Upper Crust is a family-run European style bakery that offers delectable pastries and has a thorough lunch menu. You build your own sandwich, with choices of meats, salads, and veggies and then pick from their choice breads. Whole grain, croissants, sourdough and others all make for a good sandwich no matter what you decide.
The stand-out chicken salad, full of celery, green onions, grapes and pecans, has flavor and texture to spare. Try it on a fresh, airy crossaint with side of chips and salsa for a near-perfect lunch. Or opt for a homemade soup. My favorite is the cheese soup, a creamy blend of cheese, onions, garlic, and celery. It's made with half-and-half, so it's a little bit better for you than other cheese soups (but only a little...)
Upper Crust is renowned for its cinnamon rolls, which have a blend of cinnamon and sugar, noticeably without icing. This makes for a sweet treat that is not overwhelming but pleasant and filling and probably won't send you into a diabetic coma.
The basics:
Food Heads
Location: 616 W. 34th St., just past the intersection of 34th and Guadalupe
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Accepts: All major credit cards
Rating: 4 stars
The Upper Crust Bakery
Location: 4508 Burnet Dr., at the intersection of 45th and Burnet
Hours: Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Accepts: All major credit cards
Rating: 3 1/2 stars
Bottom line: Bring on the bread!
We're talking some serious breads and sandwiches, people.
Let's start with Food Heads. First of all, it's quaint and settled in a renovated house, so you automatically have associations of good, homemade food. It's close enough to campus that it's often overrun by students, but it's worth waiting in line (although if you avoid peak times, it's not a bad wait).
The best sandwich, by far, is the grilled salami and fresh mozzarella on toasted sourdough, although other combinations of meats and cheeses on artisinal breads make for a pleasant experience no matter what you order. There's the mouth-watering garlic and herb roasted leg of lamb sandwich on ciabatta. There's also the grilled chicken and eggplant served with goat cheese on a toasted baggette.
In true Austin fashion, Food Heads has plenty of vegetarian options, like a grilled squash and fresh mozarella sandwich. It's so flavorful, you don't really miss the salami. And you can't go wrong with any of the salads or soups. Plus, the cafe offers a wide range of iced teas and fresh coffee all day. Did I mention it caters?
In the same vein of fresh ingredients and homemade bread, Upper Crust is a family-run European style bakery that offers delectable pastries and has a thorough lunch menu. You build your own sandwich, with choices of meats, salads, and veggies and then pick from their choice breads. Whole grain, croissants, sourdough and others all make for a good sandwich no matter what you decide.
The stand-out chicken salad, full of celery, green onions, grapes and pecans, has flavor and texture to spare. Try it on a fresh, airy crossaint with side of chips and salsa for a near-perfect lunch. Or opt for a homemade soup. My favorite is the cheese soup, a creamy blend of cheese, onions, garlic, and celery. It's made with half-and-half, so it's a little bit better for you than other cheese soups (but only a little...)
Upper Crust is renowned for its cinnamon rolls, which have a blend of cinnamon and sugar, noticeably without icing. This makes for a sweet treat that is not overwhelming but pleasant and filling and probably won't send you into a diabetic coma.
The basics:
Food Heads
Location: 616 W. 34th St., just past the intersection of 34th and Guadalupe
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Accepts: All major credit cards
Rating: 4 stars
The Upper Crust Bakery
Location: 4508 Burnet Dr., at the intersection of 45th and Burnet
Hours: Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Accepts: All major credit cards
Rating: 3 1/2 stars
Bottom line: Bring on the bread!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Sometimes I Get Paid For This
I've written a few restaurant blurbs for Decider Austin, the city-specific spin-off of The Onion's A.V. Club. Basically, it's the only news that's not fake (although, I'm not sure I'd use the word "real" to describe the Decider...)
Here are some of my favorite reviews:
Siena Restorante Toscana
Shanghai Chinese Restaurant
The Daily Juice Cafe
The Red House Lounge
Sadly, no bylines on the website, but I get them initialed in the print edition. Plus, I get paid a tiny little bit of money for these. While this gig has taken some of my attention away from this blog, I hope it will become more active for 2009.
Here are some of my favorite reviews:
Siena Restorante Toscana
Shanghai Chinese Restaurant
The Daily Juice Cafe
The Red House Lounge
Sadly, no bylines on the website, but I get them initialed in the print edition. Plus, I get paid a tiny little bit of money for these. While this gig has taken some of my attention away from this blog, I hope it will become more active for 2009.
Monday, January 5, 2009
New P. Terry's Location Coming Soon!
According to the Austinist, there will be a new P. Terry's on the corner of 32nd and Lamar. So now we can have organic burgers all along Lamar. Plus, it's close to campus.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Casa Colombia
The obvious assumption (and one all too easily made) is to consider Latin American cuisine in Austin limited to Mexican food. With a taqueria on every corner and more upscale, gringo-fied places such as Chuy's and El Chile receiving most recommendations, it's a hard assumption to break.
That was my case until I happened to look out my window while driving down E. 7th Street one afternoon and spotted a big yellow sign reading "Casa Colombia." I had already found Habana's Cuban food, but I wasn't counting on any more Latin variety. After all, tacos are good.
But the discovery of Casa Colombia made me forget tacos and even good Cuban sandwiches. I went with my friend Leslie, who spent a several formative childhood years in Colombia. I ordered what she ordered, and I was not disappointed.
For appetizers, we had arepa: fried cornmeal pancakes, served with goat cheese and panela salsa. The pancakes were crispy on the outside, but soft and warm inside. The textural variety, along with combination of tangy goat cheese along with the spicy salsa, was a pleasing starter for the palate.
Leslie insists that Colombian empanadas are much better than the Americanized ones you get around here, and overall, it was probably the best empanada I've had in Austin. The wrap is made with cornmeal also, and the flavorful meat and potatoes are so filling, I was almost too full for my soup.
The ajiaco soup may be the best cure for a bad day. Especially a bad, cold day. It is Colombian comfort food. A creamy soup made from potatoes and served with chicken, it's an excellent take on a traditional dish. Casa Colombia serves it with a small piece of corn-on-the-cob, as well as avocado, rice, and capers on the side. This way, you can add what you want in whatever quantity you like.
We finished off the night with a good cup of coffee, and I left entirely satisfied. However, I also left looking forward to my next visit.
The Basics:
Location: 1614 E. 7th St., one mile east of I-35, near the intersection of 7th and Comal
Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed Mondays
Accepts: All major credit cards
Rating: 4 stars
Bottom line: Forget tacos. This is the best empanada in town.
That was my case until I happened to look out my window while driving down E. 7th Street one afternoon and spotted a big yellow sign reading "Casa Colombia." I had already found Habana's Cuban food, but I wasn't counting on any more Latin variety. After all, tacos are good.
But the discovery of Casa Colombia made me forget tacos and even good Cuban sandwiches. I went with my friend Leslie, who spent a several formative childhood years in Colombia. I ordered what she ordered, and I was not disappointed.
For appetizers, we had arepa: fried cornmeal pancakes, served with goat cheese and panela salsa. The pancakes were crispy on the outside, but soft and warm inside. The textural variety, along with combination of tangy goat cheese along with the spicy salsa, was a pleasing starter for the palate.
Leslie insists that Colombian empanadas are much better than the Americanized ones you get around here, and overall, it was probably the best empanada I've had in Austin. The wrap is made with cornmeal also, and the flavorful meat and potatoes are so filling, I was almost too full for my soup.
The ajiaco soup may be the best cure for a bad day. Especially a bad, cold day. It is Colombian comfort food. A creamy soup made from potatoes and served with chicken, it's an excellent take on a traditional dish. Casa Colombia serves it with a small piece of corn-on-the-cob, as well as avocado, rice, and capers on the side. This way, you can add what you want in whatever quantity you like.
We finished off the night with a good cup of coffee, and I left entirely satisfied. However, I also left looking forward to my next visit.
The Basics:
Location: 1614 E. 7th St., one mile east of I-35, near the intersection of 7th and Comal
Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed Mondays
Accepts: All major credit cards
Rating: 4 stars
Bottom line: Forget tacos. This is the best empanada in town.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Austin Restaurant News: Closure of Stortini
Seeing as I have about five readers, and all of them go to Vox, I can safely guess that you (one of those five readers) probably ate at Stortini for half-priced lunch.
I was sad to learn in the Chronicle last week that Stortini closed November 1, and the owners are focusing on the Red House Lounge. The good news is that the Red House will continue offering Stortini's pizza menu, and the Stortini building will be used for catered events. (So if you're looking for a laid-back Austinish wedding reception site, you know where to go.)
So in honor of Stortini, I leave you with the parting memory of an eggplant parmesan sandwich...
I was sad to learn in the Chronicle last week that Stortini closed November 1, and the owners are focusing on the Red House Lounge. The good news is that the Red House will continue offering Stortini's pizza menu, and the Stortini building will be used for catered events. (So if you're looking for a laid-back Austinish wedding reception site, you know where to go.)
So in honor of Stortini, I leave you with the parting memory of an eggplant parmesan sandwich...
Monday, November 10, 2008
Some Continental Charm for the East Side
While I cringe a little at the state of uber-gentrified East 11th Street, I'd like to highlight its most charming corner cafe, the Blue Dahlia Bistro. Nothing says gentrification like faux-Euro fare, but the Blue Dahlia is quirky, authentic, relatively inexpensive, and surprisingly humble (check Le Mission).
To the stranded francophile's relief, it offers a menu full French-inspired dishes, including cheese plates and open-faced sandwiches. It also offers continental inspirations not of France, like the porcini ravioli with basil pesto and caprese salad (fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and fresh basil). Other seemingly everyday American fare is given a French treatment - the egg salad is served with capers.
It's also a vegetarian's delight, with several exotic meat-free sandwiches (and let's face it - those are a rare find). I've already mentioned the egg salad, and also consider the ricotta with fig, black pepper, and agave. Or the brie with walnuts and apricot preserves. Or the humus with avocado, sprouts, and tomato. Plus, all the salads are served sans-meat.
The Blue Dahlia also tries to offer as much local, organic produce as possible, all the while keeping most entrees under $10. Every sandwich is served on whole wheat bread. It's these little touches, plus the beautiful ambiance created through low-lighting and sturdy wooden tables, that make this place seem right out of Provence.
Lucky for us, it's happily settled in East Austin.
The Basics:
Location: 111se E. 11th St., across from the Victory Grill
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Accepts: all major credit cards
Rating: 4 stars
Bottom line: East Austin's the better for it.
To the stranded francophile's relief, it offers a menu full French-inspired dishes, including cheese plates and open-faced sandwiches. It also offers continental inspirations not of France, like the porcini ravioli with basil pesto and caprese salad (fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and fresh basil). Other seemingly everyday American fare is given a French treatment - the egg salad is served with capers.
It's also a vegetarian's delight, with several exotic meat-free sandwiches (and let's face it - those are a rare find). I've already mentioned the egg salad, and also consider the ricotta with fig, black pepper, and agave. Or the brie with walnuts and apricot preserves. Or the humus with avocado, sprouts, and tomato. Plus, all the salads are served sans-meat.
The Blue Dahlia also tries to offer as much local, organic produce as possible, all the while keeping most entrees under $10. Every sandwich is served on whole wheat bread. It's these little touches, plus the beautiful ambiance created through low-lighting and sturdy wooden tables, that make this place seem right out of Provence.
Lucky for us, it's happily settled in East Austin.
The Basics:
Location: 111se E. 11th St., across from the Victory Grill
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Accepts: all major credit cards
Rating: 4 stars
Bottom line: East Austin's the better for it.
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