Austin Restaurant Week

http://restaurantweekaustin.com/

Hotel San Jose: Steak Night

Don't you just LOVE the patio at Hotel San Jose?

It's really one of the best spots to sip wine and enjoy a summer night. Yes, even if it is 130 degrees outside.

I was so happy when I found out about Steak Night. Imagine a monthly meal at the San Jose! It's a prix-fixe menu by Lou Lambert and it's rumored to happen on Monday nights. 

Starting with a salad: We had Wedge Salad with blue cheese vinaigrette

Then the steak of your choice: Tuna, Rib Eye, or Tenderloin

I had the Tuna. Every steak comes with the same sides, but a different salsa, relish, or chimichurri. 

Everyone finished with the Peach Cobbler

Overall a lovely evening with a bottle of Rosé, candle light, and the San Jose. 

Be on the look out for the next Steak Night and the upcoming fundraiser for the Gulf Coast! 

Oh, P.S.- they replaced their chairs with kick a** leather, cushy, don't-kill-your-butt-after-an-ten-minutes, custom made ones!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Austin-TX/Hotel-San-Jose/69339791672

http://twitter.com/sanjosehotel

4th of July: The Shed

So, I really wasn't planning on blogging about my 4th of July, but the bbq sandwich I had at the Seaholm Power Plant that night just had to be posted!

There was pizza (we had Home Slice for lunch), Tex-Mex (gotta be super in the mood to enjoy that..), and The Shed.

I had never heard of it, but this little busted truck covered in license plates with a sign that reads 'Dirty South in Yer Mouth' had a line that kept growing. Considering the other vendors had no line, yet The Shed kept people coming, I HAD to try it. 

The original is apparently in Ocean Springs, suuuper South Mississippi, and they added this trailer on East 6th to their long list of locations 

 Italianini and I contemplated splitting a pulled pork sandwich, but let's get real here. I got mine with cole slaw and a whole lotta sauce. Italianini did the same but added pickles.

The bun was not soggy or covered in butter, it was fluffy and perfect. The meat was incredibly moist and tasted heavenly. The sauce was not too vinegary  and not too sweet, and the slaw (which was not drowning in mayo) gave it that awesome crunch. The three had a love affair in my mouth.

Full belly, live music, beer in hand, fireworks, and my Italianini, what else do you need for a great 4th of July?

Lockhart BBQ

Can you think of a better way to welcome a Bostonian to Texas than to take them to get some BBQ in Lockhart? Didn't think so...

We went to Blacks AND Smitty's Market (we skipped the others, even I couldn't eat that much food!).

I was excited to go to Black's just based on history. Edgar Black was one of the few people to serve brisket the way you and I know it today...now it's only a few people that don't serve it that way.

Truth be told, it was dry, the ribs were dominated by the charred taste, and the sausage was gross. I tried one of their biscuit/corn bread rolls (?) and literally spit it back into my napkin.


The beans were a bit too sweet, and the potato salad was insipid (but it's what I ate most of).
Overall, a really bad experience.









Smittys (Italianini's fave)
First of all, let me take a moment to talk about the place here... Open fire pits right by the door. My first thought was HOLY MESS! LITTLE KIDS WILL FALL AND BURN TO DEATH! But, looking around in the dining room, I realized the little muskrats were smarter than that.
The walls are pitch black, and you order right by the the pits and smokers... yes, you will smell like this BBQ for about two days. 

Italianini took his spot at the line and it was up to me and the Bostonian to find a table. Ha! Smart Italianini... We hovered around until a family got up and swiftly took their seats.

This is our little bundle of joy.
Brisket, sausage (Hot Rings), a block of cheddar, crackers, and the most delicious ribs I have ever had.

The brisket was moist, the sausage was good, but better when paired with a bit of cheese on a cracker. But the ribs... oh the ribs... the glaze was amazing! The ribs were small enough for me to eat a dozen by myself... and I almost did.

It was a great experience, and I love that it was such short drive from home.

I took so many pics... coming soon!

East Side King

Did you really think rain and mud could stop me from going to the East Side King? Pfff, you silly.

The Iranian and I made our way through the Liberty out to the patio and to the tiny East Side King window.

There was a really long line behind us, so I felt pressured and had to order far too quickly (Didn't get the tongue steamed buns, damn!). So here's what we had:


Thai Chicken Karaage
Fried chicken thigh with sweet & spicy sauce, fresh basil, cilantro, mint, onion, and jalapeño.

Poor Qui’s Buns
Roasted pork belly in steamed buns, Hoisin sauce, cucumber kimchee & green onion


Beet Home Fries
Deep fried roasted beets, kewpie mayo, schichimi tougarashi and green onion

I really liked everything, but the beets stole my heart. 
I could eat these suckers every day for every meal. Holy mess these are so good! The chicken was tender but I kept dipping it in the mayo. The buns perplex me (in a good way). I love the color, the texture, the size, and the yummy pork belly inside! 


Sucks I can't take my food-loving brother there since he's not 21...buuuuut, they did tell us they may be making a move to Rainey Street?!?!?!
 

Homeslice

Sometimes you just really need the comfort of a slice and a glass of red wine.

I'm no Italian (that's why I date one), I'm no pizza expert (I've never been an official resident of NYC or Chicago), and I can't even cook pizza out of a box... soooo... I rely on the wonderfulness of Homeslice.

Although I love their dining room and bar, I love that they added the umbrellas and a free standing uber cool metal roof to their back patio. Oh yeah,  and the new smaller space next door...Imagine that, More Homeslice! Sweet!!

These people aren't messing around, they know what they're doing with a little dough, tomatoes, some toppings, and a paper plate. 

Also, if pizza is not your thing (YOU WEIRDO!), they have the most kick a** Italian meats sandwich. Get it with the little cherry peppers, it's tremendous!

But please, do yourself a favor and try this pizza -- any topping, any time, I swear people, it soothes the soul.

P.S.- They totally have late night. Forget the disgusto pizza trailers downtown, yuck!

http://www.homeslicepizza.com/index.php