Jaymes's Profile
Big 6 Bar-b-que
Thanks, Bruce. When it comes to barbecue, a girl can't have too much info, you know?
I've sorta settled in at Dozier's lately. It's closer than Luling, and really pretty darn good. Best brisket I've had since I left Central Texas.
Plus, my son, who worked at a barbecue joint for a time when he was in high school, recently spent the money on a good rig. And he's turning out some fine stuff. I'm feeling a lot better about my barbecue cravings these days. When we first got here, I was basically bummed about it all the time.
vegetarians on texas road trip...
The Eastside Cafe in Austin has been well-known for many years as serving excellent vegetarian fare. The restaurant isn't strictly a "vegetarian restaurant" as they serve a wide variety of dishes, but it's located in an old house with shady gardens all around where the owners grow many of the vegetables they serve. It's a terrific choice for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike.
I love that place. It's where I always take vegetarian friends.
http://www.eastsidecafeaustin.com/
The Best Thing You Ever Ate: Houston
Yep, Antonia's is Italian. Named after the owner/manager/chef Roberto's mama. And he's almost always in the kitchen and I think that makes a huge difference. His brother operates another Antonia's, up in Cypress, but I haven't tried that one.
The Snapper Raphael is fresh snapper, very very lightly breaded, then fried to flaky fish perfection, then served on a bed of pasta with a generous ladle of Raphael Sauce overall. Raphael Sauce is made with tomatoes and artichokes, and I love it.
Been hidin' out here in Katy. Last I heard from you, you were going to come on out and join me for a little Middle Eastern. Still waitin'!
The Best Thing You Ever Ate: Houston
Snapper Raphael at Antonia's in Katy. An utterly perfect dish.
Not on the menu. They only have it when they can get good fresh snapper. You have to call ahead and ask. And if they're going to have it that night, you're smart to "reserve one." Otherwise, when you get there, they might be all sold out. It's that popular with folks in the know.
What is the best Hot Chocolate in Houston?
Not to lapse into cliche, but the book (Like Water for Chocolate) was better... For some reason, the book seemed to make more sense, and each chapter began with a wonderful recipe. I bought it back when it first came out, and still refer to it from time to time.
And that brings up a good point about Mexican hot chocolate. Traditionally it was usually made with water, not milk, and it often still is. The difference is similar to eating a milk chocolate candy bar vs a dark chocolate candy bar. The hot chocolate made with water is much darker, with a stronger chocolate flavor.
In fact, my favorite method is Mexican chocolate and water, topped with some sweetened whipped cream. When you sip, you draw that hot dark rich chocolate up through the cool sweet cream.
It's my idea of heaven in a cup. In fact, I'm salivating just thinking about it.
What is the best Hot Chocolate in Houston?
Here's another "I've heard but haven't tried" posts...
Hugo's does everything else so well, I'd put my money on their hot chocolate being terrific, too. They do serve "Mexico City-style churros and chocolate." Mexico City is famous for, among other things of course, their churrerias, where they sell not much besides freshly-made churros and an assortment of mugs of steaming hot chocolate to dip the churros into. The "Spanish-style" hot chocolate is very thick, more like a syrup, and not much good for drinking. It's perfect for dipping your hot, crusty churro into, but for drinking, you'd be well-advised to order one of the less-viscous varieties.
Honestly, I don't know why I haven't tried it at Hugo's. I keep meaning to, but then when I go, forget and order something else.
I think it's a pretty safe bet that it's wonderful, though.
And, speaking of Mexico City, it's a big hot chocolate town. I'd strongly suggest that Mr. UH Chocolate give it a go. For some reason, coffee isn't so popular in Mexico as one might think, and it's often not even brewed. It's instant powder. Nescafe and Sanka are ubiquitous.
Chocolate, on the other hand, is considered to be a gift from the gods. I don't think there's any other country on earth that has such a strong chocolate culture and history as Mexico, and "el DF" (as many Mexicans call Mexico City) is the center of it all. I'm no food historian but I think I remember reading somewhere that in the way-olden days, only the highest rulers and priests were allowed to drink it. When I visit I like to stay in El Centro and have breakfast every morning at El Cardenal, including several cups of their famously-sublime hot chocolate. Seems to me that they have several varieties of hot chocolate on the menu, and they're all wonderful. http://therepublika.com/2012/01/26/el-cardenal-mexico-citys-magical-factory/
And I'd also direct you to Churreria el Moro, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni_loIRV080 - I dream about that place. Unfortunately, this video doesn't show the chocolate, but rest assured, there are several varieties of hot chocolate you can order to go with your churros.
And here's another: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQY0UDGGLYM&feature=related
The ancient peoples of Mexico and Mesoamerica were the first to discover chocolate: http://archive.fieldmuseum.org/chocolate/history.html
There's a goddess of chocolate - Ixcacao: http://www.goddessgift.com/goddess-myths/Mayan-goddess-chocolate.html
There's even a famous children's song about Mexico's hot chocolate (you have to say this with a Spanish accent, or it doesn't work):
Uno, dos, tres, cho
Uno, dos, tres, co
Uno, dos, tres, la
Uno, dos, tres, te
Chocolate chocolate bate bate chocolate.
I know you've put a lot of work into your list, but I didn't see anywhere in Mexico on it. Maybe it's there, but I just missed it. I don't know. I do know that I've traveled a lot and I'm sorry, but, in my view anyway, no list of the world's best hot chocolate could even be taken seriously without including the best of Mexico.
The land where it all began millennia ago.
Needing a restaurant between Houston and San Antonio on I10!
I'd also check out the Schobel's in Columbus. The buffet there is supposed to be quite good, and they're accustomed to large groups. Ordering off of the menu isn't getting much love these days, but the buffet is still getting great reviews, and a bunch of band kids could zip through that buffet quite quickly, with everyone getting what he/she likes best without having to worry, and wait for, a server. I'm sure they'd negotiate a better price for a group that large, and the bus drivers and tour escorts will undoubtedly eat free.
I'd definitely suggest you give them a call and see what you can work out.
Natto available in Houston area stores? Please help if you know...
I know I have seen it at 99 Ranch. As to whether or not they always have it, I'm not sure.
I do think it's quite likely, though, so my suggestion to you would be to give them a call and ask.
Midland/Odessa places to eat
I will, and do, drive miles out of my way to go to La Bodega for one of their bodacious chiles rellenos.
They're just like the ones I've had in Mexico, stuffed with "picadillo" - a sort of beef hash made with ground or shredded beef, onions, sometimes potatoes, nuts and raisins, etc.
The very best chile relleno I've had outside of Mexico. Amazing.
H-town to San Antonio - BBQ? Luling/Lockhart?
Well, Miss T. Heathers, did you go? How did it all work out?
Looking for a "Meat and Three" around the Austin area.
The Blue Bonnet is a great suggestion. And the drive is beautiful. Especially when the bluebonnets are in bloom. You could take 1431 there, and 71 back. That's definitely what I'd do if I wanted to treat the girlfriend to a wonderful afternoon.
two foodie girls eating their way through austin...
Get in your car and get out to Rosie's Tamale House in Bee Cave. There are a couple of locations in town but, in my opinion, they're not so good as the original in Bee Cave. The drive is so lovely, out to the lake, that I'd suggest you do that just for the drive alone. But after you get there, order the individual nachos (If all you've ever had is a pile of cold corn chips topped with mounds of assorted gooey crap, the hot individual nachos with nothing but beans and cheese and jalapenos will be a revelation), and the chile rellenos stuffed with beef.
Also, Lola's is fun and uniquely Austin.
I third the recommendation for Fonda San Miguel. Hard to stress this enough. Fonda San Miguel is quite simply an Austin "must do." The Sunday Brunch is the best option but, if you're not there on a Sunday, then go when you can. There are only a few restaurants in the nation that come even close to this - maybe La Frontera in Chicago, Hugo's in Houston - but not many. Saint Diana Kennedy was instrumental in its origin, and it's not to be missed.
Franklin's is the current darling of the barbecue "in crowd," but it can be quite an ordeal to go there. An easier alternative might be to drive the twenty minutes south from the airport to Lockhart for lunch. It's a straight shot down Hwy 183, and easy to find. Hit Smitty's and Black's for sure. And Kreuz, if you must.
I don't get the "Jack in the Box" thing. At all. You do know it's a national chain, right? And not a particularly good one. It's no "In-N-Out" or anything.
Looking for a "Meat and Three" around the Austin area.
And I've always liked their ribs. The brisket, not so much. But the ribs and sides are pretty dang good.
Looking for a "Meat and Three" around the Austin area.
I'll tell you, there was none better. Legendary.
Looking for a "Meat and Three" around the Austin area.
I no longer live in Austin but, when I did, loved Dot's place best for home-style cooking. After we moved, I read somewhere that Dot's had burned down, but that she was rebuilding. Then, that she did rebuild. And recently, that she died, but that her son was going to be taking over the restaurant.
Anyone know the status of this? Did the son take over? Is it still among the best restaurants in town?
Looking for a "Meat and Three" around the Austin area.
Threadgills has a "meat & three."
H-town to San Antonio - BBQ? Luling/Lockhart?
Have no idea as to your time and patience restraints, but if I were you, I'd definitely try to jog north on 183 off of I-10 to Lockhart on your outbound when you've probably got more of each.
Hwy 183 crosses I-10 at Luling, and it'll take you about 15-20 minutes north from I-10 to reach Lockhart, but I'd skip Luling on the outbound. Get to Lockhart, and hit Smitty's first, just to see that building (be sure you walk through the whole thing), and grab a sample of the brisket and sausage and maybe a rib or two to go. Put that into your baby-bag that you undoubtedly travel with, and then get back into the car and drive the one-minute, four-block jaunt over to Black's. Black's, for one thing, has a full buffet bar of sides, something none of the other iconic Central Texas BBQ joints have. You can get the sorts of things that comprise a real, complete meal for kids - like mac & cheese, etc. Sit down, have your meal, compare your brisket and sausage from Smitty's with Black's.
Then get back into the car and get to your destination, either San Antonio or Houston (you didn't say).
On your return trip at the end of your vacay, you'll undoubtedly be tired, and your time and patience will have worn thin.
So then you can just stop in at Luling at City Market and give them a try. It's "Easy-off-easy-on," as they say in the "highway stops" world.
That way, you will have sampled three of the best-known.
A couple of caveats: if you're traveling both directions on a Sat, you're fine. Just be sure you're planning on doing this around lunchtime, and not for dinner, when all the good joints will probably be out of the best cuts. And, if you're traveling outbound on Sat, but return on Sunday, that could present a problem with this scenario, as City Market in Luling is closed on Sundays. Or at least, they always have been. I'd suggest you double-check.
But I'd suggest you put your fondness for pulled pork on the back burner. So to speak. For now.
Bon Ga Korean
I just have to add that I was so pleased that Doobs joined me here. He is the most delightful dining companion imaginable. Of course, we'd love to have some other Houston CH-ers join us as well sometime.
I don't know much about Korean food, but love what I've had. Met a Korean woman very soon after my arrival in Houston and asked her where she and her family went for restaurant meals and she said they all agreed that Bon Ga was the best in town. So I wasted no time in getting there.
And, of course, ordered the bulgogi, which is really my very favorite. Not just my favorite Korean dish, but one of my favorite dishes, period.
But every time I've been, I've promised myself that "next time" I'm going to try something different. I think it's a really good sign when you're sitting at a restaurant enjoying a meal and already thinking over what you're going to order next time.
And for me, next time, it's definitely the "Hot Pot" Bibimbap!
I should have done a little more investigating. A quick Google would have led me to this review by Alison Cook, which even has a photo of the dish I thought I was ordering!
http://www.29-95.com/alison-cook/story/bon-ga-garden-soup-and-stew-central
Next time, I'm definitely ordering with a little more care and knowledge. And I'm getting the whatever-it-is-that-Alison-says-to-get.
(And maybe some bulgogi to take home.)
So did everyone just quit eating?
Anyone else interested in Korean for lunch on Sunday (tomorrow)?
traditional tex mex enchiladas with raw chopped white onions impossible to find almost in Texas now!!
And Larry's in Richmond. They're still pretty old-school TexMex.
I think Robb Walsh's place in Houston, El Real, has them, too.
Texas Road Trip Report (Houston, San Antonio, Austin, and in between)
I've tried all (with the exception of Franklin's in Austin) of the legendary "great" brisket in Central Texas. On any given day at each of these joints, the brisket might be over-the-top fabulous, or just really darn good.
But my experience has been that I can always count on Black's to be terrific. Day after day, month after month, bite after bite. For me anyway, it's the most consistent. Others might rise beyond Black's one day, fall back another. But for my money, I count on Black's, and I've never been disappointed.
layover: need good food for our overnight
I'd agree with that assessment. Lupe Tortilla is pretty good for a TexMex chain. I really like their Enchiladas Verdes - chicken enchiladas with tomatillo sauce.
And DO NOT FORGET to ask for Charro Beans, instead of refried. That's one of the best things about eating Mexican food in Texas. Charro Beans are practically impossible to find in many other locales.
And they're oh so good.
From Houston to Long Beach, CA on Interstate 10
"...and after a terrific drink at Shutters..."
So I close my eyes, and I'm there again, sitting right beside you, looking out at the beach and the blue Pacific beyond.
Magic.
Thanks for reminding me.
From Houston to Long Beach, CA on Interstate 10
So many wonderful options, but I can't help but put in another plug for Old Mesilla.
I've driven that route several hundred times, and probably more than a thousand, in my long lifetime. We've lived in almost every major city along that route - Las Cruces, Tucson, Phoenix, San Bernardino, Houston, Pensacola - and with relatives all over Texas, sometimes I think that I-10 is just our driveway. I'm really old now and, after traveling, and living, all over the world, sure enough, our house is about 1 mile south of good ol' I-10. Seems fitting that if I die here, my hearse will carry me down I-10 to my final resting place.
And I never, ever drive through Las Cruces without a stop at Old Mesilla.
You should at least consider it.
Breakfast Tacos between Austin and Houston
Well, as you probably know, there are two main routes folks take for that Austin/Houston run - Hwy 71 or 290. Hwy 290 is more northerly, and since you mentioned Giddings, etc., probably the one you were planning to take. Those routes are both well-known to generations of college students, among others, driving between their homes in southeast Texas, and school in Austin. Our families definitely fall into that category.
Each route has its pluses and minuses, not only for speed and ease of drive, but also for food. Nothing like knowing you're going through Brenham. You start selecting which type of ice cream cone you're going to get several days before you even set out.
But in our family, 71 usually wins. And everybody puts in their orders for what to bring them from Weikel's and Hruska's (necessitating stops at both places). Also, as 71 puts you onto I-10 at Columbus, you get off of those back roads more quickly and can set your cruise control and cruise on into Houston.
Both 290 and 71 are good roads. They're 4-lane divided highway most of the way now, although avoiding construction also used to play a big part in our decisions as to which route to take. Personally, I often take one route one way, and the other home.
A third option, food-wise, is to start out from Austin on 290 heading east. And then take the Round Top road south for Royer's Cafe. After stuffing yourself at what many consider to be one of the best restaurants in the state, find your way back to I-10 or Houston via several optional routes.
http://royersroundtopcafe.com/
Of course, there's a fourth option, which wouldn't affect you. But in our family, as soon as people hear that you're going to be driving Austin/Houston, somebody always points out that if you had a true selfless kindness in your heart, you'd take Hwy 183, even if it is longer.
Because, um, well, it, um, you know, goes through Lockhart and Luling.
Not that I'm really asking you to drive farther to pick me up some barbecue.
But hey, if you're already there....
Breakfast Tacos between Austin and Houston
Well then, you might try Hruska's, about five miles farther down the road toward Houston.
They're really great, too. Although we like the Kolaches (sweet) from Weikel's a little bit more, Hruska sells really good food as well.
I think Weikel's might have breakfast tacos, although I'm not sure. You could call them and ask. They do have absolutely wonderful sandwiches, though, and I'm sure there are some vegetarian options.
However, I'm almost positive Hruska's has breakfast tacos (because we've had them) and since they've been in business for 100 years, they're obviously doing something right!
http://www.hruskas-bakery.com/
Breakfast Tacos between Austin and Houston
"Breakfast tacos" they ain't, but we make that trip a lot, and we never do it without a stop at Weikels Bakery in LaGrange:
http://www.weikels.com/
Everything they have is wonderful, especially to pack up for road trips. For breakfast, we get what some folks call "sausage kolaches," and other folks call "pigs in a blanket." Absolutely terrific!
And you can pick up some other goodies (like cinnamon rolls, kolaches with fruit or cheese filling, etc.) to heat up in your microwave at your motel when you stop for the night. Their sandwiches are also outstanding.
We absolutely love that place, and have for decades. It's owned/operated by the same family that ran that legendary Texas eatery, the Bon Ton Cafe.
You can't go wrong.
From Houston to Long Beach, CA on Interstate 10
In Las Cruces, I always stop at Old Mesilla. I like La Posta, and their New Mexico-style stacked green chile enchiladas.
http://www.laposta-de-mesilla.com/
In the mood for a fancier dinner, you can't beat the Double Eagle.
http://www.double-eagle-mesilla.com/
