swamp's Recent Activity
Chowhound Post
BYOB question
In Texas current law makes BYOB an option only at restaurants with either no liquor license or a beer-and-wine-only license.
Chowhound Post
Best Fine Dining In Texas...........
Definitely laid back, island style, but in Galveston 901 Postoffice.
Chowhound Post
Which one international or regional cuisine are you next interested in learning...
Living in the Houston area most of my life I have always been familiar with Mexican cooking. Lately with the large Vietnamese population in the city I have become a huge fan of Vietnamese. I would really like to learn how to prepare more of the dishes at home.
Chowhound Post
What is your favorite "foodie" gift to give and/or receive?
I agree, cookbooks. I consider them my addiction and try to avoid purchasing any new one so I let all my friends and family know I do not mind receiving them as gifts. I feel a little less guilty about adding to my collection if they are given to me as a gift.
I also give them, and just like a previous post I tend to give copies of ones that I have found I use the most. Inside I usually include a note with the recipes I use most often from the cookbook. I recently was in the local market and ran into a friend. She had a cookbook I gave her a few Christmases ago and was buying ingredients to make one of my favorite recipes. That made me feel good.
Chowhound Post
What brand of eggnog is your favorite?
That reminds me of Rompope which I did not mention in a previous post. It is a Mexican version of eggnog that I really like. Whenever I make my regular trips to the south Texas valley and cross the border I always bring back a bottle of Rompope.
Chowhound Post
Pennsylvania Dutch Eggnog?
If I am not making my own Pennsylvania Dutch is my preferred eggnog when serving some with the liquor already in it. If I am buying non-alcohol I like Promised Land eggnog. However, the only really, really good eggnog is the stuff I make myself.
Chowhound Post
Your Favorite Go-To Ready-Made foods?
Here in Texas the HEB stores have some great ready made meals. They have a completely smoked brisket that is great. It sure beats getting the pit fired up for hours of cooking.
Chowhound Post
Most memorable cafeteria food
We also had the little old ladies from the community that were the primary cooks in our school cafeterias growing up. In particular they could bake. Cinnamon rolls were out of this world, I haven't had any like them in years. They also made something I have never had since that they called batter bread. It was absolutely delicious. Of course we are talking years ago, our milk was only 3 cents and the milk guy came by each room in the morning and collected the coins.
Chowhound Post
Menu Suggestions for a German meal
I guess I am strange, I actually do like stollen.
Chowhound Post
What did your Mom always have on hand, that you NEVER do?
A little tin of bacon grease that was kept by the range. Nothing like a fried bologna sandwich that was fried in a little bit of bacon grease. Now that I think about it I never have the grease, and I also never have bologna in my kitchen.
Chowhound Post
What do you have to have?
My must have is also a cheese. I am totally addicted to the Brun Uusto baked cheese. It is made by Brunkow Cheese of Wisconsin and I love it. They say it is based on a Finnish cheese, Juustalepia. Warm it up in a skillet and you will know what good is.
Chowhound Post
What brand of eggnog is your favorite?
I really prefer my own which I make about twice during the holiday season. When I drink eggnog from the market I prefer Promised Land.
Chowhound Post
The Incredible shrinking package
I would like to vent and see just how much this bothers other people. Recently I was shopping at my local Kroger when I notice they have now decreased the size of their frozen vegetable packages from 16 ounces to 12 ounces. I sent them a message and told them this is great for them, when they have their 10 for $10 events they make the same amount of money, but of course we get less. They responded and said they are just responding to consumer demands.
So I ask how many consumers out there have asked for smaller packaging for the same price?
It just seems to be a trend which exists only to sell more products. I mean how many recipes call for a 12 ounce bag of something, or 13 ounces of ground beef. They just know by doing this people will by two packages. It just does not seem right. If you give me less, charge me less. Is it just me?
Chowhound Post
Big Red?
Our mother used to make an ice cream that had Big Red in it which was great. You could also use Orange Crush soda but we preferred the Big Red.
Chowhound Post
Foods I still buy regardless of the recession
I agree, fine cheese is a must.
Chowhound Post
Any Galveston restaurant updates?
This past weekend I ate Galveston's Gumbo Bar on Post Office street near the Opera House. My friend and I each had a bowl of gumbo and we split a large shrimp poboy. The gumbo was very good with a nice dark roux which is my preference. It was full of shrimp and crab. As a matter of fact so many shrimp my friend did not eat all of his so I got to add more to mine. I had the crab and shrimp gumbo, and he had crab, shrimp and oyster. The poboy was good but not as good as the gumbo. While the gumbo had ample shrimp the sandwich was lacking. They also had a nice selection of bottled beers. Will definitely be returning for the gumbo.
Chowhound Post
Side dish to serve w/ Chili
I agree, Fritos rule when it comes to chili along with cheese, onion and sour cream.
Chowhound Post
Are there foods you won't eat because you consider them too dangerous?
Raw oysters. Having worked for a health department I have seen the reports of what vibrio can do to a person.
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What is a "food snob"?
People who "think" they know food.
Personally I am like you. I just like food, everything from rustic to gourmet. Can be cheap or expensive as long as it is good.
Chowhound Post
Spring and Galveston
For Mexican food on the island I like La Estacion which is open for breakfast and lunch, downtown across from city hall. I actually think they have the best breakfast.
I also like Gordita's on the east end of the seawall. They have a very nice menu with good TexMex and some traditional Mexican. They do not take credit or debit cards so have cash if you visit. Just an FYi they also have a nice little raspa stand out front that has great fruit smoothies which are good for a walk on the seawall in the hot weather. They also have the Mexican corn cups which I really like.
Italian on the island evokes many strong feelings. I prefer Mario's on Seawall but many others prefer Di'Bella's. I have never like Di'Bella's but I must say they are resilient. First they suffered major damage from Ike, reopened and they had a bad fire. Just recently reopened again. They are a little neighborhood restaurant on Avenue O.
Chowhound Post
Galveston - what's up?
When it comes to Mario's it is funny, some locals swear by the one on 61st and others by the one on Seawall. Personally I think the one on Seawall is the better of the two.
For Mexican food I like La Estacion and go there frequently on Sunday after church. I also think a good option is Gordita's on Seawall near Mario's. If you try Gordita's take cash because they do not take cards.
Chowhound Post
does anyone still buy instant coffee?? canned vegetables?? condensed soup??
Absolutely, I have my large plastic storage bin that has all my hurricane supplies, got my canned tuna and other meats, canned salsas because they can make things taste good when cooking after a hurricane, and yes lots of water stored this time of year. That is a whole other post, what do you have in your emergency food supply kit?
Chowhound Post
does anyone still buy instant coffee?? canned vegetables?? condensed soup??
As much as I like cooking to impress sometimes I still want a good funeral food casserole. I keep condensed soups on hand for just such occasions. Nothing more comforting than some kind of casserole with condensed soups, processed cheese food, etc. Yum!
Chowhound Post
Why do some Mexican restaurants have whole beans and others refried?
Possibly a regional thing. In my area of Texas most Mexican restaurants serve both. Sometime they do not have it on the menu and it only lists refried but they have borracho beans if requested.
Chowhound Post
The sad truth about "fresh" orange juice
I am not a regular orange juice drinker, but living in Texas when I visit the Valley I always get some fresh from the orchard juice. I usually stand there and watch them squeeze it from oranges just brought in from the trees. There is no comparison at all with the juice purchased in the grocery stores.
Chowhound Post
Galveston - 901 Postoffice
I had the pleasure of dining at one of Galveston's newest restaurants last night and it was fantastic, 901 Postoffice. One of the non-food things I enjoyed was the fact that it is fine dining but in true island fashion you can wear shorts and and sandals if that is your pleasure. That laid back atmosphere just makes the island what it is.
The restaurant itself if very relaxing. Located in an old home on the east end one gets the feeling of dining in a friends extended dining room. There is also a lovely outdoor patio area for when the summer heat subsides and al fresco dining can be enjoyed.
I was with two friends and we started with Spicy Firecracker shrimp. These large shrimp wrapped in what appeared to be a wonton wrapper and served with a slightly spicy sweet chili cause were a great beginning.
The entrees selected at our table were beef short ribs with a pomegranate glaze, pan seared medallions of beef, and apricot rum barbecue chicken breast. Each entree came with a house salad which was the most tender heart of romaine that had glazed pecans, grape tomatoes, and a nice house vinaigrette.
The short ribs were perfectly prepared and so tender they fell from the bone, served atop a savory mashed potato casserole. The pomegranate glaze was just right and not too sweet which I find to be common in many other restaurants when it comes to glazes. My friends pan seared medallions were fantastic and served atop a jalapeno cornbread pudding that was the perfect compliment to the beef. I did not sample our other dining companions entree but he raved about the apricot rum barbecue chicken breast., and the Poblano cheese grits.
For dessert we all shared a white chocolate key lime mousse that was topped with fresh fruit. It was delicious and the perfect sweet ending to our meal.
One of the nice things about the place with such a laid back atmosphere is the feeling you are in a friends home so we did not hesitate to sample each others meals. I also enjoyed the fact that everything was perfectly portioned which in the restaurant world today is rare. Everything was enjoyed and we left still talking about how good it was all the way to our vehicles as we left.
901 POstoffice is a sure sign that Galveston Is back with good things to come. I highly recommend it if you live on or visit the island.
Chowhound Post
Any Galveston restaurant updates?
Visited the Courtyard Cafe, 2519 Market Street, last week and enjoyed it very much. It actually has a European feel in a very unique building. I had the rouladen served over potatoes with a nice savory gravy. My dining partner had the wiener schnitzel which I sampled and found to be good. With meal there is a choice of 2 sides. I had sauerkraut and the potatoes, and my friend had sauerkraut and German potato salad. The sauerkraut was good but I have a problem comparing most that is served to my großmutter's homemade. The meal was also served with fresh baked bread that was nice and crusty but soft on the inside just the way I like it. Overall very pleased and will return.
Chowhound Post
(Hou) Zio's on Bay Area Blvd
It is decent corporate Italian fare, good but not spectacular. Better than Olive Garden.
Chowhound Post
HOU - Anvil Bar and "Refuge" - Info please?
Not sure about the cask ale thing but I stumbled in the Anvil for the first time during Pride Week activities and enjoyed it very much. As a whole it is kind of atypical for the area and very nice in a relaxed way. I wll definitely be returning.
Chowhound Post
Any Galveston restaurant updates?
A group of us from work ate at the new Olympia Grill at Pier 21 last Friday and enjoyed it very much. Along with the food being very good it is a very nice looking restaurant. A nice new addition to the area, particularly since the community is still recovering. They have a great outside dining area that will be very nice in the fall when temperatures are more reasonable.
