24 diner

It seems the quality of the cooking here really depends on who's running the kitchen on any given day. I've had (and heard of others having) a stellar experience with the food here, but I've also heard of really mediocre experiences. I just love that their ingredients are so farm-fresh and local, regardless of how perfectly someone puts them together that day. That's what I'm paying more for and that's what I most appreciate, especially since it's hard to find that attention to food sourcing in any other 24-hour diner joint.

2kindsofcheese in Austin

Restaurants in South/Southwest Austin?

I just tried Texican Cafe at Brodie Oaks (Lamar & 360) - though I realize it's a bit further from Davis Ln - and was impressed. Great (enchilada) sauces, tender meat, great flavor all around. The service was amazing. The atmosphere is really pleasant but of course decor is cheesy as heck.

2kindsofcheese in Austin

Help with Fussy Foodie Friend

Hut's does actually offer grass-fed beef options (and last time I tried it, it was amazing).

2kindsofcheese in Austin

pub with best beer selection?

thanks! I'll have to try this Draught House. any place where you can bring your own lawn chairs is my style!

2kindsofcheese in Austin

pub with best beer selection?

Hey there, I'm wondering if anyone has found bars/pubs around Austin with really extensive beer selections... (extra points for a great variety on draught too). I'm looking for places that are also pleasant to hang out in for a cozy evening, so you can leave out anything on East Sixth that's overflowing with sweaty co-eds. :) Thanks!

2kindsofcheese in Austin

Sashimi: Fatty Tuna aka toro/otoro/chutoro

Had it at Midori a few months back. Very good and fresh (but pricey).

2kindsofcheese in Austin

Veg Help

East Side Cafe is definitely on that list. And...

Mother's Cafe has a vegetarian menu and I've liked everything I've had there. I hear that Daily Juice Cafe has good veg and raw prepared foods in addition to juices. Mr. Natural is veg and has a following, but I've never eaten anything there to write home about. Bouldin Creek Cafe has some great veggie chorizo breakfast tacos. For salad, I've heard that Leaf is pretty delicious. And I think Hut's has the best veggie burger in town. Oh, and I took a friend of mine to Izzoz Tacos for their fried avocado taco, and he rated it in his top five favorite foods ever!

2kindsofcheese in Austin

best brand of canned chickpeas for making hummus

Good to know that most brands will work out well. Thanks everyone!

2kindsofcheese in General Chowhounding Topics

best brand of canned chickpeas for making hummus

I'd like to start making my own hummus from pureed chickpeas. Any experience out there with best or worst brands for this purpose?

Or, if you've made hummus from a mix that you liked, I'm open to suggestions!

Thanks!

2kindsofcheese in General Chowhounding Topics

Best milk in town

Thanks everyone for posting about this - I've been looking for more options re: local and natural milk. I've actually been looking for milk that's hormone-free. Organic and unpasteurized are GREAT but really expensive. Has anyone found affordable hormone-free milk around here? I only know of Promised Land, which is too pricey considering I just can't seem to use it all before it goes bad.

2kindsofcheese in Austin

Just made a great salad: arugula and strawberry

Also delicious with shaved or thinly sliced fennel!

2kindsofcheese in Home Cooking

Substitute for Trader Joe's in Austin?

If you want something small, Sun Harvest offers a vaguely similar experience. It's not as cheap but they have plenty of bulk and specials on Wednesdays I think.

I've been to a few of the ones you mention, HalMadDad, and I agree that once you get your tour of Austin grocers big and small, Trader Joes will be a quickly fading memory!

2kindsofcheese in Austin

SEARCHING FOR THE TRIFECTA: BURGER, RINGS, SHAKES

I am mad about shakes and malts, and Hut's actually makes my favorite malt in town. I'd go just for that.

Haven't had their regular burgers, but their veggie burgers are hard to beat.

2kindsofcheese in Austin

Is Uchi a must for West Coasters who already eat their weight in seafood?

Uchi should still be on your list! I just moved back to Austin after four years of sushi heaven in the Bay Area, and I still think Uchi is amazing, both in quality of sushi and experimentation with the menu. It's just not like any other sushi restaurant. But it is a little pricier than your average nice sushi joint - plates aren't huge, but they're very rich, so a little goes a long way.

2kindsofcheese in Austin

Hummus made Here

I'm sure there are some brands I haven't tried, but after trying out every hummus I could find in each place I've lived - Austin, the northeast, and the bay area - I still think Phoenecia's is the best hummus that can be bought! It's so good I could eat it with a spoon the way some people eat peanut butter.

2kindsofcheese in Austin

New South 1st Trailer - Cake balls?

The red velvet is to die for. Other flavors I liked as well. I'm not often a cake fan since I find most cake too dry and most icing too sticky-sweet, so their cake balls were a perfect balance, since they mix some icing in with the baked cake to make these. They are also just cute, so maybe a good idea for party or a novelty thing.

They also have something called s'mores on a stick, not as rich as the cake balls, for those those who want something lighter (ha).

2kindsofcheese in Austin