My sincerest apologies in advance, I took pictures but can't for the life of me find them. My descriptions will have to do on this one. So close your eyes and imagine...
I've long been in search of a Thai restaurant that lives up to it's reputation as some of the hottest food on the planet. The white suburbanite costume I've worn since 1976 masks my Southeast Asian soul's desire for the type of food that numbs the mouth completely and gives one the ability to map out the entire path of the digestive tract over the next hour or so as that sweet heat embarks on its long journey to the South Austin Wastewater Treatment plant and its ultimate home, the Earth from which it came from. Combined with my midwestern dialect, it also evidently leads area Thai chefs to believe that I don't have the steel innards to handle what they can.
So when a friend recommended to me Thai Kitchen, with a menu that skips straight from a two-chile symbol rating on the normal menus to a five-chile symbol rating on the "Specialty Menu", and features such descriptive items such as Nuclear Shrimp, Crying Now, Never Never Again, Hurts So Good, Tiger Cry, Heat Treatment, and my personal favorite, Spontaneous Combustion, I figured this is my best chance.
My friend did warn me that he never actually eats there (the Bee Caves location at least), and recommended I use it only for carry-outs, and upon entry, I concur. The place has the look and feel of a circa 1965 south Florida seafood market, which smells of the same, likely because of the large, uncapped fish tank anchoring the decor in the center of the dining area. The walls and ceiling are a sickly lime green, certainly original paint which most certainly flaked off deadly lead when the pictures and paintings of great Thai leaders and religious figures were nailed into it in two foot increments. That said, the owners were extremely nice, and the food was very good.
Let me back up though. After my attendance of countless auto races over the past 27 years, before earplugs were invented up through this current period when earplugs are still referred to as "gay" by the Nascar faithful, my hearing has been reduced to something along the lines of that which little Randy must have had, suited up for the blizzard of the century for the harrowing walk to school with Ralphie, Flick and Schwartz. My Lovely Wife Mrs. Gordo will attest. This, along with an inability to decipher anything with an accent, the background noise of a beautiful Friday afternoon on the porch of Little Woodrow's, and an unnumbered online menu, made the telephone ordering process...well, difficult to say the least.
"Carry out, please."
"Yes. What do you want?"
"I need one order of 'NOW PET NOW'"
"What?"
"NOW PET NOW"
"What number?"
"I have no idea."
(strange, fast noises)
"I don't know, it's called NOW PET NOW. Do you have a word like NOW, spelled N-A-U?"
"N-A-U? No. (strange, fast noises)"
"Maybe N-U-A?"
"N-U-A! PEET! PEET! PEET!"
"Ok, sure. Peet. One please."
"Bamboo. Zucchini. PEET!"
"Sure. One N-U-A Peet N-U-A, one Crying Now, four vegetable eggrolls, one Ba Mi Num, and one Duck Duck Goose" (the latter not a menu item and clearly not recognizable sarcasm on the Indochina peninsula, it was met with a silence as awkward as any I've encountered).
Ordering process done, I headed to the fish market and picked up my nicely and securely packaged order, watched the incredible math skills of the patriarch, multiplying eggrolls and computing tax in his head with the speed and precision of only the upper echelon of beancounters, while the only other people in the place stood transfixed on the forty inch plasma perilously perched on the counter facing away from me and toward the spacious dining area.
So first, the Nua Pet Nua. Stir-fried beef in Thai hot curry with bamboo strips, zucchini and Thai seasoning. Not what I got. I blame the language barrier as well as the fact that while Nua Pet Nua was on the online menu, it was Phat Pet Nua on the carryout menu I picked up while walking out. What I actually got appears to have been Gang Pet Nua, which is the same, but instead of stir-fried, it's simmered in a coconut milk laced with those other ingredients. Advertised as "it's very hot" and marked with the one-chile designation, my typical Thai experience prevailed. Not at all. Flavor was nice, but not strong enough, and I think some additional heat, which clearly ended up tempered by the coconut milk, would have made this a very a good dish.
Crying Now - five-chile designation with the additional warning, "These Dishes are for People Who Love Extremely Hot or Super Hot Food Only". Now we're talking. NOW, WE ARE TALKING! Chicken simmered in a hot green curry, hot bird pepper, jalapeno, markroot and Thai seasoning. BAM. We did it. Searing hot spice at the top end, but within range, of what I can tolerate. Certain to take down 95% of its buyers, THIS is what I have been looking for, and THIS, I enjoyed every bite of. Not just heat though, good flavor of green curry and of chiles. Served over rice it needs just a little saltiness of soy to bring out its true potential, but this, this is great stuff.
The Ba Mi Num was an excellent soup, served for takeout with the noodles in a separate container, a flavorful chicken broth with the flavors of green onion and cilantro, the crunch of bean sprouts, and the meatiness of succulent duck, these things sang in perfect harmony.
Eggrolls, well, they're eggrolls. Like the stereotype of their creators, they don't seem to travel well, but the flavor was nice, and anything that can be dipped in the stinging Chinese Hot Mustard is good by me.
All in all, a great takeout spot, and one that I'll try again. Next up for me, the Just Say No...sliced grilled beef mixed with rice powder, seasoned well with lemon juice, mint leaves, and chile pepper. And we'll try for that stir fry one more time....
Summary
Atmosphere: 1960's south Florida seafood market with the smell of fish since gone, uninviting, and vacant
Food: Thai, very good at that.
Crowd: All three of them were southeast Asian
When to Go: Dinner, carryout only.
What to Order: Give anything a go, but the Crying Now is a good start for heat lovers, and the Ba Mi Num a great soup.
Dog Friendly: Trust me on this one. No.
Showing posts with label Asian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Asian. Show all posts
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Lily's Sandwich - Austin, TX
Since I was already up in Chinatown to try the sandwiches at Baguette House (http://thefatartery.blogspot.com/2011/12/baguette-house-austin-tx.html), I decided to pop into another sandwich shop recommended to me by a little Vietnamese guy for a frame of reference by which to judge the wonderful sandwiches I'd just had.
Lily's Sandwiches got the nod. Located in the same 21st century slice of China in north Austin...
...Lily's was more along the lines of what I expected of an authentic Vietnamese sandwich shop, the kind of place that makes any white man pause, take a deep breath, and wonder if this is the right decision before opening the door to a great unknown. Also in-line shop space, this one remains a mystery until that door opens because of the opaqueness of the windows, painted with all sorts of writing and pictures not understandable to anyone not fluent in the language.
As the door opens, the mystery continues when a fish/dried shrimp smell hits you in the face at the same time you see the disposable tin of eggrolls in front of the counter for you to take for a buck. Given the smell, I'm not sure I'd eat there, and I was getting my sandwich to go anyway, and I opted for the grilled pork sandwich. Similar in look to the one at Baguette House, the bread was more along the lines of what I'd expect from a store bought baguette, good, but a bit chewy for a sandwich, and tougher to eat. Ingredients were largely the same...cilantro, jalapeno, carrots, onion, but this place used some sort of brown sauce, which was good, but overall couldn't compare to the feel and flavors of Baguette House.
If you're making the drive, bypass this one and go around the corner where you'll feel better and won't be disappointed.
Summary
Atmosphere: authentic, a little smelly, a little dirty, limited seating, good for take-away
Food: Vietnamese sandwiches
Crowd: real Vietnamese people
Dog Friendly: only if you want them cooked
When to Go: lunch
What to Order for the First Timer: Baguette House
Lily's Sandwiches got the nod. Located in the same 21st century slice of China in north Austin...
...Lily's was more along the lines of what I expected of an authentic Vietnamese sandwich shop, the kind of place that makes any white man pause, take a deep breath, and wonder if this is the right decision before opening the door to a great unknown. Also in-line shop space, this one remains a mystery until that door opens because of the opaqueness of the windows, painted with all sorts of writing and pictures not understandable to anyone not fluent in the language.
As the door opens, the mystery continues when a fish/dried shrimp smell hits you in the face at the same time you see the disposable tin of eggrolls in front of the counter for you to take for a buck. Given the smell, I'm not sure I'd eat there, and I was getting my sandwich to go anyway, and I opted for the grilled pork sandwich. Similar in look to the one at Baguette House, the bread was more along the lines of what I'd expect from a store bought baguette, good, but a bit chewy for a sandwich, and tougher to eat. Ingredients were largely the same...cilantro, jalapeno, carrots, onion, but this place used some sort of brown sauce, which was good, but overall couldn't compare to the feel and flavors of Baguette House.
If you're making the drive, bypass this one and go around the corner where you'll feel better and won't be disappointed.
Summary
Atmosphere: authentic, a little smelly, a little dirty, limited seating, good for take-away
Food: Vietnamese sandwiches
Crowd: real Vietnamese people
Dog Friendly: only if you want them cooked
When to Go: lunch
What to Order for the First Timer: Baguette House
Baguette House - Austin, TX
I went to Chinatown for a Vietnamese sandwich.
Does that make me racist?
No. Because they set up shop there, blurring the lines themselves and perpetuating ignorant stereotypes that all Asians are, and cook, the same. They're not and they don't, but I don't really care because it's all really good.
Baguette House is worth the drive.
This place, as the name would suggest, has some of the best bread I've ever had, as if a little Vietnamese man bedded a talented French baker, resulting in something both the Vietnamese (Chinese?) and French would be jealous of. Incredibly soft, with a thin and crisp, but not too tough or chewy, outer layer, which is absolutely perfect for a sandwich, or to eat by itself or as a side for any meal. The nice thing here too is that though not on the menu, you can buy this bread to take home.
You'd be a fool though not to get a sandwich while you're there. They're incredible, perfectly sized for lunch, and around $3 each, a steal.
Let's start with Chinatown though. Forget all you know about hanging chickens, smelly fruits, and eyeballs, this is a Chinatown of the 21st century, a master-planned, newly built strip center with all of the authenticness of a real Chinatown without the scary feel of dismembered eyeballs and dried mystery meats staring you in the face and stinging your nostrils with a "dear God, what the hell is that, turn and run" sort of olfactory violation. Gringos, fear not what Baguette House can do to you, fear what you miss by not going.
Baguette House is a sparkling new sandwich shop which has a cleaner feel than any sandwich chain you've ever been in, and serves up some incredible Vietnamese sandwiches. I opted to give two of them a shot while I was there, namely to amortize the $9.80 round-trip, IRS milage-based cost of this nine mile each way drive over a couple of meals, and also because I couldn't decide what to get.
First up, meatball sandwich.
No balls here, just an incredible flavorful and moist combination of ground pork and spices, topped with fresh cilantro, jalapenos, carrots and onions, with some sort of mayonnaise-like sauce binding it all together. The quality of the bread here completes the sandwich. Where as many places may use a baguette with a little more tooth to it, causing the contents of the sandwich to squeeze out the back, Baguette House's tears away easily leaving every bite a perfect combination of all ingredients. I'll be back for this one.
Second, the grilled bbq pork sandwich.
Signature bright red grilled and sliced pork, with the same toppings and bread as the meatball sandwich, this was good, but not as good as the meatball. The pork was very mild, and lacked the great flavor of the meatball, but was tender with a nice grilled flavor, and easy to eat.
Staff here is incredibly friendly, and very interested in what a six foot white guy thinks of their sandwiches, and helps to put anyone without a clue of what a menu item is at ease and comfortable in their order.
This place is a little bit of a trek from downtown, but well worth the drive for a good, cheap lunch fix.
Summary
Atmosphere: clean, Panera-like sandwich shop in a corner spot of a strip mall, good place for dine-in or take-away, great spot for lunch
Food: Vietnamese sandwiches, bread
Crowd: real Vietnamese people, real Chinese people (so you know it's good), white folk, businessmen, rickshaw drivers
Dog Friendly: no
Time to Go: lunch
What to Order for the First Timer: meatball sandwich
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Chinatown - Austin, TX
_
=
And that pretty much sums up my feelings about Chinatown. Just not quite the same without the Flavor.
Now, this place does have a few things going for it. First, and most importantly, they deliver, which is exactly what we were looking for last night. Second, the chicken wings. Though completely unseasoned, these things were perfectly fried resulting in a crispy on the outside, moist on the inside, blank canvas for whatever you want to put on them. Me? I drenched them with one of life's little secrets, House of Tsang's Mongolian Fire Oil, an incredible blend of chiles, garlic and ginger infused in oil, and I think there are few things that this goes better on than fried chicken complementing a bland Chinese meal.
Now let's get back to the meal.
Looks good, doesn't it? I thought so too, but looks can be deceiving, as I found out with the first bite. First let me say this though, the food wasn't bad, it just had no flavor, and certainly no spice. Two of the blandest Chinese dishes I've had in my life, and with a blindfold and inability to detect textures, I'd have trouble discerning it from the rice which came with it. It did however satisfy a few needs essential for us, and, frankly, we'll probably order from there again because of that. One, it filled a temporary void in our stomachs and allowed our bodies to convert the sugars, proteins and fats contained in it into energy, thereby performing essential life functions and sustaining life as we know it. Two, it gave us about twenty minutes before, and an hour afterwards, to really work on our ass grooves in our new couches, which still need some breaking in. Three, it gave me the opportunity to write a review on it this morning, and one that I felt I could really have some fun with.
Let's start with the Mongolian beef. We ordered the "Monoliagn Beef" that they had listed on their menu, figuring it was close enough to Mongolian beef, which My Lovely Wife Mrs. Gordo so dearly loves.
First, odd color for beef. In fact, I dished it up on my plate first thinking that it was the duck and just sliced oddly. (As a related side, this picture is actually listed in my files as "Chinatown Duck" as I couldn't easily identify it when saving.) Second, good texture, tender morsels of thinly sliced beef or beef substitute, with slightly cooked carrots still with a bit of tooth to them. Third, very little flavor, but nothing a little soy sauce and Sriracha couldn't take care of.
The duck.
I should have reconsidered after my initial conversation with the lady on the phone, when I ordered the Szechuan Spicy Duck and asked if was good, to which I got, ".................um........I guess between that and the Ma La Duck, I like that one better." Despite that ringing endorsement, I stuck with it.
First, the duck was well prepared, dark meat pulled from the bones in tender chunks, breast meat thickly sliced and holding onto some of the skin and fat that it needs to make it juicy, which it did. Second, this brown sauce was a bit darker than the one on the beef or beef substitute, but tasted exactly the same...bland. Again, nothing a little soy and Sriracha couldn't cure. Third, this was described on the menu as being steamed, deep fried, and then sauteed, and despite the perfection with which this was prepared, I think I could save the cook some time and say that throwing it into a searing hot wok as is with the rest of the stuff wouldn't result in anything too different, as there was no evidence of the deep fried crispiness that I expected. Fourth, the menu starred this as being spicy, and said it was sauteed in the chef's secret spicy sauce. Wrong on both counts. Not too dissimilar to the beef in flavor, each one satisfied the hunger, but left the tongue hanging out in the wind.
The eggrolls, at $2 a pop, were good but underwhelming both in size and flavor. Like the main dishes, not bad, but nothing to write home about.
As I said earlier, I'll most likely be giving this place another shot, primarily because of their delivery, but will make it a point to ask what I should get before ordering, giving them the opportunity to prove themselves as a more than one brown sauce type of place.
Summary
Atmosphere: TBD, we had it delivered
Food: Americanized Chinese
Dog Friendly: negative
Best Time to Go: dinner
What to Order for the First Timer: TBD
Crowd: TBD, delivery
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Little Thai Food - Austin, TX
Well it's overcast and only 86 degrees out today, so I took that opportunity to hit a food trailer for lunch today, and settled on Little Thai Food, on South 1st.
Great atmosphere for a food trailer, and really nice people running it. Set on the east side of South 1st just north of the Trailer Park Eatery, this place has ample seating with colorfully painted picnic tables, set along the edge of a nice little creek/greenbelt (though I'm not sure which one) in the shade of large, mature trees. In addition to the quality of the setting and the food, the service is nice if you're dining with them, and after ordering you take a seat and they bring your food out to you with the necessary utensils.
I opted for the Pad Ka Prow today with pork, which is thinly sliced pork stir-fried with basil, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, thai chiles and a brown sauce.
It was awesome. The pork was tender with hints of caramelization on the edges, the vegetables were cooked but still crisp also with nice brown on them, and the mushrooms still had some tooth to them, not having been cooked to the point of being limp. The chiles and the brown sauce combined for a flavorful and tasty seasoning for the dish, as well as something nice to drag the rice through with each bite.
The rice was also good, perfectly cooked so that it held together enough for you to cut a piece off to eat with the sauce and meat and vegetables, not dry in the least or difficult to control on the fork or with chopsticks.
My only knock with this place is the same as with every single Thai place I've been to. Despite reputations, and my asking them to make it "as hot as they possibly can", it barely tingled the tongue. That said, great flavor and a great meal at a good price ($6.50), and I'll be going back to give some of the curry and noodle dishes a shot soon.
Summary:
Atmosphere: one of the nicer food trailer setups out there, along the banks of a creek, with ample seating for large and small parties, good for lunch, good for a family, good for a group, good place to meet on a nice day, good for carry out
Food: Thai
Dog Friendly: yes
When to Go: lunch, dinner
Crowd: couple of other white people, but I was there after the lunch crowd
What to Order for the First Timer: TBD, but I recommend the only thing I've had there so far, the Pad Ka Prow
Great atmosphere for a food trailer, and really nice people running it. Set on the east side of South 1st just north of the Trailer Park Eatery, this place has ample seating with colorfully painted picnic tables, set along the edge of a nice little creek/greenbelt (though I'm not sure which one) in the shade of large, mature trees. In addition to the quality of the setting and the food, the service is nice if you're dining with them, and after ordering you take a seat and they bring your food out to you with the necessary utensils.
I opted for the Pad Ka Prow today with pork, which is thinly sliced pork stir-fried with basil, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, thai chiles and a brown sauce.
It was awesome. The pork was tender with hints of caramelization on the edges, the vegetables were cooked but still crisp also with nice brown on them, and the mushrooms still had some tooth to them, not having been cooked to the point of being limp. The chiles and the brown sauce combined for a flavorful and tasty seasoning for the dish, as well as something nice to drag the rice through with each bite.
The rice was also good, perfectly cooked so that it held together enough for you to cut a piece off to eat with the sauce and meat and vegetables, not dry in the least or difficult to control on the fork or with chopsticks.
My only knock with this place is the same as with every single Thai place I've been to. Despite reputations, and my asking them to make it "as hot as they possibly can", it barely tingled the tongue. That said, great flavor and a great meal at a good price ($6.50), and I'll be going back to give some of the curry and noodle dishes a shot soon.
Summary:
Atmosphere: one of the nicer food trailer setups out there, along the banks of a creek, with ample seating for large and small parties, good for lunch, good for a family, good for a group, good place to meet on a nice day, good for carry out
Food: Thai
Dog Friendly: yes
When to Go: lunch, dinner
Crowd: couple of other white people, but I was there after the lunch crowd
What to Order for the First Timer: TBD, but I recommend the only thing I've had there so far, the Pad Ka Prow
Friday, May 6, 2011
Whip In - Austin, TX
Whip it.
Whip it real good.
I did.
It's a beer store. It's a concert venue. It's a convenience store. It's a restaurant. And best of all, it's a bar.
What better way to spend the time mulling over the hundreds of beers they have for sale, than with a fresh draft beer in your hand?
Chances are, if you don't have one in your hand, someone will find you and make sure you get one. This is a convenience store on steroids, and an incredible one at that, with a concept that I can't believe hasn't been replicated a thousand times over.
We're not talking about getting a Bud Light or Miller Lite while you shop either. This place has between 50 and 60 beers on tap behind a long and deep bar, ranging from the basics to local brews, to microbrews, to Belgians, to imports, and the people working there know their stuff, so let them guide you. I didn't get one today, as I just stopped in to pick up a couple bottles of wine and a sandwich, but the last time I was in there, Dipak was incredibly excited about having just gotten some of Real Ale's Devil's Backbone Tripel on tap, and convinced me (not difficult) to have one. Glad he did, and I thoroughly enjoyed it as I glanced over the Belgium section of the store for a good, new beer to take home with me.
This place is a beer and wine store first and foremost, but nearly equally as much a restaurant and bar specializing in draft beers and Indian food. Nestled between the register and one of the coolers is a sleek polished wood bar behind which tower taps from brews all over the world. Choose from the taps or choose from the chalkboard which changes daily and is arranged by beer type, and pull up a stool, but don't take your cell phone out, they are forbidden at the bar. Somewhat annoying in today's age, but truly captures the historic spirit of a bar, where you and the bartender strike up a conversation and a relationship taking you away from the problems of the world for a few minutes at least.
The food, also on chalkboards above the bar, is Indian based, with Austin twists incorporating local meats, chili, and sandwich combinations, some of which change daily and weekly, with some constant staples that keep people coming back. As tempting as it was today, I opted not to go with the lamb beeryani, made with mushrooms, carrots, and both Saison and Abbey Brown ales, and instead opted for one of their hot sandwiches, the SoCo. House made gingered roast beef, pepper chutney, and gorgonzola, folded up in fresh naan bread and grilled.
Doesn't look like much, I know, but it was good, with my only knocks being that it was a little on the dry side, and I wish it had been oozing with gorgonzola, which was only sparingly used. The beef had a great fresh roasted flavor, the gorgonzola added a little flavor and salt, and the pepper chutney added a nice sting to the tongue.
As I waited, I took a look at the wines, and picked out a Sardinian and a Tuscan white to take home to My Lovely Wife Mrs. Gordo, and I took a deeper look at the menu, which will have me coming back. A few of the highlights that I'd like to try include that lamb, the Woodland naan sandwich with tequila pulled pork, spicy mango chutney, and feta cheese, the "Whip In-dianized" Beef and Beer Chili Curry, the Indjun gingered chicken fried steak with garlic gravy (dinner only), and the bison and porkbelly meatloaf (dinner only).
Though it's a beer store, the bar is a comfortable place to sit for breakfast, lunch or dinner, as is the small indoor dining area and the picnic tables in an enclosed courtyard next to the parking lot, which is where the stage is, featuring local music most days of the week. If you're a beer connoisseur, this is your place to shop, second to none, and if you're hungry, it's a great spot to pick up lunch or dinner, or dine there with a recommended beer pairing.
Summary
Atmosphere: bar, beer and wine store, outdoor seating, good if you're flying solo, good for a group on a nice afternoon or evening, fantastic beer selection, for drinking there or taking home, great wine selection, tv behind the bar, and friendly staff
Food: Austin Indian
Dog Friendly: yes
When to Go: breakfast, lunch or dinner
Crowd: locals, singles, hipsters, beatniks, me
What to Order for the First Timer: pending
Whip it real good.
I did.
It's a beer store. It's a concert venue. It's a convenience store. It's a restaurant. And best of all, it's a bar.
What better way to spend the time mulling over the hundreds of beers they have for sale, than with a fresh draft beer in your hand?
Chances are, if you don't have one in your hand, someone will find you and make sure you get one. This is a convenience store on steroids, and an incredible one at that, with a concept that I can't believe hasn't been replicated a thousand times over.
We're not talking about getting a Bud Light or Miller Lite while you shop either. This place has between 50 and 60 beers on tap behind a long and deep bar, ranging from the basics to local brews, to microbrews, to Belgians, to imports, and the people working there know their stuff, so let them guide you. I didn't get one today, as I just stopped in to pick up a couple bottles of wine and a sandwich, but the last time I was in there, Dipak was incredibly excited about having just gotten some of Real Ale's Devil's Backbone Tripel on tap, and convinced me (not difficult) to have one. Glad he did, and I thoroughly enjoyed it as I glanced over the Belgium section of the store for a good, new beer to take home with me.
This place is a beer and wine store first and foremost, but nearly equally as much a restaurant and bar specializing in draft beers and Indian food. Nestled between the register and one of the coolers is a sleek polished wood bar behind which tower taps from brews all over the world. Choose from the taps or choose from the chalkboard which changes daily and is arranged by beer type, and pull up a stool, but don't take your cell phone out, they are forbidden at the bar. Somewhat annoying in today's age, but truly captures the historic spirit of a bar, where you and the bartender strike up a conversation and a relationship taking you away from the problems of the world for a few minutes at least.
The food, also on chalkboards above the bar, is Indian based, with Austin twists incorporating local meats, chili, and sandwich combinations, some of which change daily and weekly, with some constant staples that keep people coming back. As tempting as it was today, I opted not to go with the lamb beeryani, made with mushrooms, carrots, and both Saison and Abbey Brown ales, and instead opted for one of their hot sandwiches, the SoCo. House made gingered roast beef, pepper chutney, and gorgonzola, folded up in fresh naan bread and grilled.
Doesn't look like much, I know, but it was good, with my only knocks being that it was a little on the dry side, and I wish it had been oozing with gorgonzola, which was only sparingly used. The beef had a great fresh roasted flavor, the gorgonzola added a little flavor and salt, and the pepper chutney added a nice sting to the tongue.
As I waited, I took a look at the wines, and picked out a Sardinian and a Tuscan white to take home to My Lovely Wife Mrs. Gordo, and I took a deeper look at the menu, which will have me coming back. A few of the highlights that I'd like to try include that lamb, the Woodland naan sandwich with tequila pulled pork, spicy mango chutney, and feta cheese, the "Whip In-dianized" Beef and Beer Chili Curry, the Indjun gingered chicken fried steak with garlic gravy (dinner only), and the bison and porkbelly meatloaf (dinner only).
Though it's a beer store, the bar is a comfortable place to sit for breakfast, lunch or dinner, as is the small indoor dining area and the picnic tables in an enclosed courtyard next to the parking lot, which is where the stage is, featuring local music most days of the week. If you're a beer connoisseur, this is your place to shop, second to none, and if you're hungry, it's a great spot to pick up lunch or dinner, or dine there with a recommended beer pairing.
Summary
Atmosphere: bar, beer and wine store, outdoor seating, good if you're flying solo, good for a group on a nice afternoon or evening, fantastic beer selection, for drinking there or taking home, great wine selection, tv behind the bar, and friendly staff
Food: Austin Indian
Dog Friendly: yes
When to Go: breakfast, lunch or dinner
Crowd: locals, singles, hipsters, beatniks, me
What to Order for the First Timer: pending
Thursday, April 28, 2011
G'Raj Mahal - Austin, TX
"G'Raj Mahal"
"Yes, can I place an order for carry out?"
"Sure. What'll you have?"
"I'll have the Jalfrezi with chicken, some garlic naan, and some raita."
"Do you like spicy?"
"Light my ass up."
They obliged. Holy shit, did they oblige!
Great carry out spot, the food travels well. Despite the relatively crowded location come evening, they've got a little area in the alley for you to pull over, jump out, and pick up your food. Frankly it's probably easier than parking and going in (under?) to eat, and given the current state of the Town Lake trail, is probably easier than walking to right now.
As far as the food went, like my previous posting on this place (http://thefatartery.blogspot.com/2011/04/graj-mahal-austin-tx.html), I strongly urge you to order some naan and raita, as much for the flavor as to act as a cooling agent if you've ordered something spicy or extra spicy, as I did. The garlic naan is better enjoyed at the G'Raj than at home, as the garlic loses a little of its fresh taste as it steams in the foil and tastes a bit more like the pre-chopped stuff you get in a jar. But, don't get me wrong, it's still good, and is a perfect shovel for the rest of the meal.
The Jalfrezi is an onion and pepper based curry, which unlike the Rogan Josh, is not cream based, allowing all that heat to come through unimpeded. Flavor was rich, complex, and incredible, and the chicken all white meat, tender, and saturated with that heat.
See all that red? Yeah, that's called fire. Liquid form.
I kind of figured what I was getting into, it's called an excuse to hit Amy's Ice Cream for dessert, and I did, opting for their raspberry ice cream with hot fudge. From a strictly medical standpoint, nine out of ten doctors call that combination the best firefighter for the job.
"Yes, can I place an order for carry out?"
"Sure. What'll you have?"
"I'll have the Jalfrezi with chicken, some garlic naan, and some raita."
"Do you like spicy?"
"Light my ass up."
They obliged. Holy shit, did they oblige!
Great carry out spot, the food travels well. Despite the relatively crowded location come evening, they've got a little area in the alley for you to pull over, jump out, and pick up your food. Frankly it's probably easier than parking and going in (under?) to eat, and given the current state of the Town Lake trail, is probably easier than walking to right now.
As far as the food went, like my previous posting on this place (http://thefatartery.blogspot.com/2011/04/graj-mahal-austin-tx.html), I strongly urge you to order some naan and raita, as much for the flavor as to act as a cooling agent if you've ordered something spicy or extra spicy, as I did. The garlic naan is better enjoyed at the G'Raj than at home, as the garlic loses a little of its fresh taste as it steams in the foil and tastes a bit more like the pre-chopped stuff you get in a jar. But, don't get me wrong, it's still good, and is a perfect shovel for the rest of the meal.
The Jalfrezi is an onion and pepper based curry, which unlike the Rogan Josh, is not cream based, allowing all that heat to come through unimpeded. Flavor was rich, complex, and incredible, and the chicken all white meat, tender, and saturated with that heat.
See all that red? Yeah, that's called fire. Liquid form.
I kind of figured what I was getting into, it's called an excuse to hit Amy's Ice Cream for dessert, and I did, opting for their raspberry ice cream with hot fudge. From a strictly medical standpoint, nine out of ten doctors call that combination the best firefighter for the job.
Summary
Atmosphere: food truck/restaurant, outdoor seating both covered and uncovered, good for a date, good place to start or end an evening of drinking at the neighboring bars, good for groups, great for carry out
Food: Indian
Dog Friendly: yes
When to Go: dinner, late
Crowd: hipsters, 20somethings, 30somethings, old people, REAL Indians
What to Order for the First Timer: naan bread, rogan josh with meat of your choice, raita
Friday, April 15, 2011
G'Raj Mahal - Austin, TX
For you to really appreciate this review and my feelings on this place, let me give you a brief history of my life.
I grew up in the slums of Mumbai with my brother, got locked in an outhouse, dove in poop, met a movie star, got his autograph, met a girl, ran away from cops, lost girl, got a hundred bucks, drank a Coke, found girl, begged for money, almost got my eye burned out, lost girl, rode on top of trains, found girl again, worked for her boss, lost girl again, worked for Time Life books, found girl again, got on a game show, got tortured, won twenty million rupees, met girl again at train station, danced with strangers, moved to Austin. So you can imagine how excited I was to find G'Raj Mahal here in Austin, where I could finally get some good Indian food in a city with working plumbing.
Well, anyway, enough about me.
I finally made it over to G'Raj Mahal the other night, after hearing really great things about it. Over in the Rainey Street district, this place is a food truck, but is much more a restaurant. Entirely outside, with covered and uncovered tables, this is not one of those trucks you just walk up to and order at. Rather, you see the hostess, she seats you, they bring you a menu and water, your order, they bring your food to the table, you eat, then they bring you a bill.
As far as atmosphere, this is the cream of the crop of Austin food truck scene. Like I said, it's really more of a restaurant. The trailer in back is visible, with a few long tables out front of it with the register, hostess, water, waiters, and all of the other things you'd find at a restaurant. The "dining room" if you want to call it that, which I will, has a plethora of tables, each with a lit candle on it, in a nice setting under a silk curtain lined roof complete with ceiling fans. It's an awesome spot that is fine to eat at, rain or shine.
As for the food, the menu contains a full range of authentic Indian appetizers and entrees, with your selection of meat for the various curries and kabobs, which are all very well described on the menu. I opted to go with some garlic naan bread, lamb rogan josh, and a side of their raita, a seasoned homemade yogurt with carrots, scallions, cucumbers, and things of the like in it, which is similar to a Greek tziziki.
I've heard complaints about price and portion size here, but I have to disagree, I think it's a fine ratio, albeit pricier than I had growing up with mom and Jamal. All of my food came out at once, which was great because it was all eaten together, and it was slightly more than I could comfortably eat by myself.
The garlic naan was fantastic. Thin, light and crisp, this flap of dough was perfectly pan grilled, and covered, just covered, with chopped fresh garlic. It worked perfect as a carrier for the rest of the meal, and I recommend at least a couple orders of it for the table.
The rogan josh was served separate from the rice in a styrofoam bowl, with the rice coming in a separate bowl of the like in equal proportion. I ordered mine really spicy, and they, unlike so many Thai places around that don't, were more than happy to oblige, and they did an incredible job of nuking this stuff with Indian peppers and spices. Chiles are eaten across the world in hot weather climates to cause you to sweat, thereby cooling your body down, and this dish did just that.
The flavor and heat of this dish was just excellent. I don't know just how many ingredients go into rogan josh, but you can tell it is quite a few, which comes together in perfect harmony with incredible layers and depth of flavor. My only knock on it was the lamb itself. While having that unique lamb taste, the meat was like little bricks. Lean and dense, but not chewy at all, it was not like the tender slow roasted melt in your mouth kind that I like and would have expected. Still though, the flavor of the dish itself overcame the execution on the meat fivefold, and you won't hear any complaints out of me, nor will this keep me from getting it again. I would recommend to anyone getting this to also get the raika, as it has a cooling effect, both in temperature and spiciness, while also adding some crunch if you drizzle it on each bite of naan-scooped rice and josh. Perfect combination.
They do offer desert, and as sweat poured from the top of my head, I decided to go with some of their homemade cardamom ice cream, which came out in a pre-packaged little plastic container with some nuts and dried fruit crumbled on top. The flavor was great, very mild, but the pre-packaging and refreezing did it no justice, as it combatted fiercely with my biodegradable spoon. The temperature and packaging did it no justice and doesn't allow you to really appreciate the subtle flavors, as it never really gets soft, getting soupy on the outside and staying rock hard in the middle. If it's ice cream you're looking for and craving, you'd be better off venturing over to Amy's, but this is a nice thing they offer to help you regulate your temperature after a spicy Indian meal.
I'll be returning here often enough to try out other items on the menu, revisiting the rogan josh fairly regularly though. Last night was an early dinner, and I was flying solo, so I didn't have anything to drink, but like most food trucks in town, this one is BYOB but with a much better atmosphere to enjoy it in, and I can't wait to revisit with a bottle of good wine.
Summary
Atmosphere: food truck/restaurant, outdoor seating both covered and uncovered, good for a date, good place to start or end an evening of drinking at the neighboring bars, good for groups
Food: Indian
Dog Friendly: yes
When to Go: dinner, late
Crowd: hipsters, 20somethings, 30somethings, old people, REAL Indians
What to Order for the First Timer: naan bread, rogan josh with meat of your choice, raita
I grew up in the slums of Mumbai with my brother, got locked in an outhouse, dove in poop, met a movie star, got his autograph, met a girl, ran away from cops, lost girl, got a hundred bucks, drank a Coke, found girl, begged for money, almost got my eye burned out, lost girl, rode on top of trains, found girl again, worked for her boss, lost girl again, worked for Time Life books, found girl again, got on a game show, got tortured, won twenty million rupees, met girl again at train station, danced with strangers, moved to Austin. So you can imagine how excited I was to find G'Raj Mahal here in Austin, where I could finally get some good Indian food in a city with working plumbing.
Well, anyway, enough about me.
I finally made it over to G'Raj Mahal the other night, after hearing really great things about it. Over in the Rainey Street district, this place is a food truck, but is much more a restaurant. Entirely outside, with covered and uncovered tables, this is not one of those trucks you just walk up to and order at. Rather, you see the hostess, she seats you, they bring you a menu and water, your order, they bring your food to the table, you eat, then they bring you a bill.
As far as atmosphere, this is the cream of the crop of Austin food truck scene. Like I said, it's really more of a restaurant. The trailer in back is visible, with a few long tables out front of it with the register, hostess, water, waiters, and all of the other things you'd find at a restaurant. The "dining room" if you want to call it that, which I will, has a plethora of tables, each with a lit candle on it, in a nice setting under a silk curtain lined roof complete with ceiling fans. It's an awesome spot that is fine to eat at, rain or shine.
As for the food, the menu contains a full range of authentic Indian appetizers and entrees, with your selection of meat for the various curries and kabobs, which are all very well described on the menu. I opted to go with some garlic naan bread, lamb rogan josh, and a side of their raita, a seasoned homemade yogurt with carrots, scallions, cucumbers, and things of the like in it, which is similar to a Greek tziziki.
I've heard complaints about price and portion size here, but I have to disagree, I think it's a fine ratio, albeit pricier than I had growing up with mom and Jamal. All of my food came out at once, which was great because it was all eaten together, and it was slightly more than I could comfortably eat by myself.
The garlic naan was fantastic. Thin, light and crisp, this flap of dough was perfectly pan grilled, and covered, just covered, with chopped fresh garlic. It worked perfect as a carrier for the rest of the meal, and I recommend at least a couple orders of it for the table.
The rogan josh was served separate from the rice in a styrofoam bowl, with the rice coming in a separate bowl of the like in equal proportion. I ordered mine really spicy, and they, unlike so many Thai places around that don't, were more than happy to oblige, and they did an incredible job of nuking this stuff with Indian peppers and spices. Chiles are eaten across the world in hot weather climates to cause you to sweat, thereby cooling your body down, and this dish did just that.
The flavor and heat of this dish was just excellent. I don't know just how many ingredients go into rogan josh, but you can tell it is quite a few, which comes together in perfect harmony with incredible layers and depth of flavor. My only knock on it was the lamb itself. While having that unique lamb taste, the meat was like little bricks. Lean and dense, but not chewy at all, it was not like the tender slow roasted melt in your mouth kind that I like and would have expected. Still though, the flavor of the dish itself overcame the execution on the meat fivefold, and you won't hear any complaints out of me, nor will this keep me from getting it again. I would recommend to anyone getting this to also get the raika, as it has a cooling effect, both in temperature and spiciness, while also adding some crunch if you drizzle it on each bite of naan-scooped rice and josh. Perfect combination.
They do offer desert, and as sweat poured from the top of my head, I decided to go with some of their homemade cardamom ice cream, which came out in a pre-packaged little plastic container with some nuts and dried fruit crumbled on top. The flavor was great, very mild, but the pre-packaging and refreezing did it no justice, as it combatted fiercely with my biodegradable spoon. The temperature and packaging did it no justice and doesn't allow you to really appreciate the subtle flavors, as it never really gets soft, getting soupy on the outside and staying rock hard in the middle. If it's ice cream you're looking for and craving, you'd be better off venturing over to Amy's, but this is a nice thing they offer to help you regulate your temperature after a spicy Indian meal.
I'll be returning here often enough to try out other items on the menu, revisiting the rogan josh fairly regularly though. Last night was an early dinner, and I was flying solo, so I didn't have anything to drink, but like most food trucks in town, this one is BYOB but with a much better atmosphere to enjoy it in, and I can't wait to revisit with a bottle of good wine.
Summary
Atmosphere: food truck/restaurant, outdoor seating both covered and uncovered, good for a date, good place to start or end an evening of drinking at the neighboring bars, good for groups
Food: Indian
Dog Friendly: yes
When to Go: dinner, late
Crowd: hipsters, 20somethings, 30somethings, old people, REAL Indians
What to Order for the First Timer: naan bread, rogan josh with meat of your choice, raita
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Thai Away - Dallas, TX
Lunch with a friend today at the relatively new Thai Away in Preston Center in Dallas. Didn't realize it's almost entirely a take-out and delivery place, and thereby had no tables except for two small ones outside, which was fine, because we snagged one of them.
Pretty straightforward Thai menu with some Chinese options. Several types of noodles, fried rices and stir-fry, with your choice meat, as well as each type of Thai curry.
I went simple. Spicy Basil Noodles.
Introduced myself as Ty Land, and told them to give me the heat from the homeland, and none of that American palate junk. My bearded white friend behind the counter laughed, said they were the real deal, and that medium was very spicy and recommended.
I ordered extra extra hot. We settled on extra hot.
Could have gone a couple of notches higher for sure, didn't even break a sweat. So, the way I figure it, either the real stuff isn't nearly as hot as I imagine it to be, or my habanero eating habits have rendered me completely unable to measure heat.
Anyway, the noodles. Tons of 'em. I got mine with pork and they were very well done. Vegetable mix was fresh, sauce and spice flavorful, and the vegetable egg roll I got on the side for an extra buck was also good, served with a small portion of Thai chili sauce.
Now, as for the place. Don't let the fact that there are no or just a few tables out keep you from going there for lunch. Whatever you see, just ask the guy if they've got any more tables, and one may just appear. As for dinner, I'd recommend getting it carry out or delivered. Good spot. Give it a shot.
Summary
Atmosphere: small storefront carry-out
Food: Thai, Chinese
Dog Friendly: no
When to Go: lunch, carry-out or delivery for dinner
Crowd: local business
What to Order for the First Timer: I recommend the spicy basil noodles
Pretty straightforward Thai menu with some Chinese options. Several types of noodles, fried rices and stir-fry, with your choice meat, as well as each type of Thai curry.
I went simple. Spicy Basil Noodles.
Introduced myself as Ty Land, and told them to give me the heat from the homeland, and none of that American palate junk. My bearded white friend behind the counter laughed, said they were the real deal, and that medium was very spicy and recommended.
I ordered extra extra hot. We settled on extra hot.
Could have gone a couple of notches higher for sure, didn't even break a sweat. So, the way I figure it, either the real stuff isn't nearly as hot as I imagine it to be, or my habanero eating habits have rendered me completely unable to measure heat.
Anyway, the noodles. Tons of 'em. I got mine with pork and they were very well done. Vegetable mix was fresh, sauce and spice flavorful, and the vegetable egg roll I got on the side for an extra buck was also good, served with a small portion of Thai chili sauce.
Now, as for the place. Don't let the fact that there are no or just a few tables out keep you from going there for lunch. Whatever you see, just ask the guy if they've got any more tables, and one may just appear. As for dinner, I'd recommend getting it carry out or delivered. Good spot. Give it a shot.
Summary
Atmosphere: small storefront carry-out
Food: Thai, Chinese
Dog Friendly: no
When to Go: lunch, carry-out or delivery for dinner
Crowd: local business
What to Order for the First Timer: I recommend the spicy basil noodles
Monday, April 11, 2011
Lumi Empanada & Dumpling Kitchen - Dallas, TX
Had a chance to break out the skin tight black shirt today, as I had a scheduled lunch at this trendy new place in Uptown.
Actually, I can't knock this place. It's one of three places which have been developed on a stretch of McKinney that I always thought was a terrible waste. Old houses between Hall and Lemmon, which for years have housed worthless retail ventures, have long been ripe for being turned into a series of restaurants to complement the Quarter, Primos, and those in West Village. I'm extremely glad to see that it's been done, and am sorry that it has taken me this long to get over there. With these in place, it's easy to make an evening of just this block.
Destination. Lumi.
You're right. I didn't take this picture, though I do take most of mine. Dark = night. Light = day. Simple rule of thumb.
I had lunch there.
So remember this picture, and I'm going to ask you all to close your eyes. I want you to listen to me. I want you to listen to yourselves. Go ahead. Close your eyes, please.
This is a story about a little restaurant on a previously underdeveloped piece of land. I want you to picture this little restaurant.
Suddenly, a car races up. A six foot white guy jumps out and walks up to the porch.
He looks around.
No one is there.
But it's only 11:20.
He sits down on the porch. He's given a menu. He's given silverware.
Now comes the ice water. It's cool. It's refreshing. It's everything that the guys in the street jackhammering are not.
His friend shows up. She sits down. They just can't handle the jackhammering.
So they stand. They walk into the dining room. They sit down.
They're given menus. They order.
Can you see them? Their stomachs pained with hunger? The expressions on their faces yearning for the savory tastes of the dumplings they just ordered?
Can you see them?
I want you to picture those two people, sitting in that dining room. Sitting. Waiting. Waiting for their dumplings.
Can you see them?
Now imagine it's light.
Thank you, Counselor.
Anyway sorry, this place has had a decent amount of fanfare when it opened which, in Dallas, always makes me a little skeptical that it will overpromise and underdeliver, becoming one of those places that is more see and be seen than eat and be ea...well, eat and be satisfied anyway. I will say though, more of these places have surprised me to the positive in the last couple of years, so I need to quash those fears, because Dallas seems to be evolving to the good.
This place is exactly what it needs to be for the location. Great porch, great little bar, spacious dining room, and food that isn't going to make you uncomfortably full as you start an evening of social drinking nearby.
The menu looks great, and after taking a look at their website, I understand it's supposed to be Vietnamese South American fusion. Several good looking soups and salads, a couple of sandwiches, and a focus on homemade dumplings and empanadas.
I decided to try a couple of their dumplings, and my dining companion tried one of the ones I didn't. With six to an order and nothing accompanying them, I figured two orders was the way to go, and think I was right. I walked away satisfied, but not too full. And I probably could have comfortably gone with one more order, or a salad or soup to start.
Classic Pork and Chive Dumplings, served with house sauce, and Chinese 5 Spice Duck and Leek Dumplings, served with spicy plum sauce.
Both excellent.
I'm not sure which was my favorite. The duck had more aggressive flavors, the pork was mild, and both went perfectly with each of the sauces they were served with. I recommend both.
The other one shown here was the Shrimp, Cilantro, and Jicama Dumplings, served with sweet and sour sauce. I'm told it was great, but as much as it pains me to say it, I don't do shrimp.
As long as I'm in Dallas, I'll be back here. It's a great spot for lunch but I think an even better spot to grab a drink, some food, and then head down the street to the Quarter for the evening.
Summary
Atmosphere: old house converted to restaurant, bar to sit at, plenty of outdoor seating, good for a group, great for a date, great for a start to the night, good place to see, good place to be seen
Food: dumplings and empanadas
Dog Friendly: doubtful, despite outdoor seating, Dallas sucks
When to Go: lunch, happy hour, dinner
Crowd: typical Uptowners, hotchicks, businesslunchers, 20somethings, 30somethings, trendsters, Dallasites
What to Order for the First Timer: Duck Dumplings, Pork Dumplings
Actually, I can't knock this place. It's one of three places which have been developed on a stretch of McKinney that I always thought was a terrible waste. Old houses between Hall and Lemmon, which for years have housed worthless retail ventures, have long been ripe for being turned into a series of restaurants to complement the Quarter, Primos, and those in West Village. I'm extremely glad to see that it's been done, and am sorry that it has taken me this long to get over there. With these in place, it's easy to make an evening of just this block.
Destination. Lumi.
You're right. I didn't take this picture, though I do take most of mine. Dark = night. Light = day. Simple rule of thumb.
I had lunch there.
So remember this picture, and I'm going to ask you all to close your eyes. I want you to listen to me. I want you to listen to yourselves. Go ahead. Close your eyes, please.
This is a story about a little restaurant on a previously underdeveloped piece of land. I want you to picture this little restaurant.
Suddenly, a car races up. A six foot white guy jumps out and walks up to the porch.
He looks around.
No one is there.
But it's only 11:20.
He sits down on the porch. He's given a menu. He's given silverware.
Now comes the ice water. It's cool. It's refreshing. It's everything that the guys in the street jackhammering are not.
His friend shows up. She sits down. They just can't handle the jackhammering.
So they stand. They walk into the dining room. They sit down.
They're given menus. They order.
Can you see them? Their stomachs pained with hunger? The expressions on their faces yearning for the savory tastes of the dumplings they just ordered?
Can you see them?
I want you to picture those two people, sitting in that dining room. Sitting. Waiting. Waiting for their dumplings.
Can you see them?
Now imagine it's light.
Thank you, Counselor.
Anyway sorry, this place has had a decent amount of fanfare when it opened which, in Dallas, always makes me a little skeptical that it will overpromise and underdeliver, becoming one of those places that is more see and be seen than eat and be ea...well, eat and be satisfied anyway. I will say though, more of these places have surprised me to the positive in the last couple of years, so I need to quash those fears, because Dallas seems to be evolving to the good.
This place is exactly what it needs to be for the location. Great porch, great little bar, spacious dining room, and food that isn't going to make you uncomfortably full as you start an evening of social drinking nearby.
The menu looks great, and after taking a look at their website, I understand it's supposed to be Vietnamese South American fusion. Several good looking soups and salads, a couple of sandwiches, and a focus on homemade dumplings and empanadas.
I decided to try a couple of their dumplings, and my dining companion tried one of the ones I didn't. With six to an order and nothing accompanying them, I figured two orders was the way to go, and think I was right. I walked away satisfied, but not too full. And I probably could have comfortably gone with one more order, or a salad or soup to start.
Classic Pork and Chive Dumplings, served with house sauce, and Chinese 5 Spice Duck and Leek Dumplings, served with spicy plum sauce.
Both excellent.
I'm not sure which was my favorite. The duck had more aggressive flavors, the pork was mild, and both went perfectly with each of the sauces they were served with. I recommend both.
The other one shown here was the Shrimp, Cilantro, and Jicama Dumplings, served with sweet and sour sauce. I'm told it was great, but as much as it pains me to say it, I don't do shrimp.
As long as I'm in Dallas, I'll be back here. It's a great spot for lunch but I think an even better spot to grab a drink, some food, and then head down the street to the Quarter for the evening.
Summary
Atmosphere: old house converted to restaurant, bar to sit at, plenty of outdoor seating, good for a group, great for a date, great for a start to the night, good place to see, good place to be seen
Food: dumplings and empanadas
Dog Friendly: doubtful, despite outdoor seating, Dallas sucks
When to Go: lunch, happy hour, dinner
Crowd: typical Uptowners, hotchicks, businesslunchers, 20somethings, 30somethings, trendsters, Dallasites
What to Order for the First Timer: Duck Dumplings, Pork Dumplings
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Sunny Teriyaki - Seattle, WA
Chicago has its hot dog.
New York City has its pizza.
Austin has its breakfast taco.
And Seattle has its teriyaki.
Every bit the phenomenon as these other places, teriyaki is Seattle's own. Not quite Japanese, not quite fast food, these places dot the map as abundantly as Hello Kitty backpacks in an Osaka elementary school. I'm actually quite surprised these teriyaki shops aren't out in force elsewhere in the nation, as they are GOOD, and a reasonably healthy alternative to typical fast food.
Headed to Seattle this week, I consulted the only person I know from Seattle on what I had to have while I was up there, and this was it. No particular shop, just yelp a good one nearby and get either the chicken or the spicy chicken. I settled on Sunny Teriyaki, kind of up in the Magnolia section of town.
First off, this was the only sunny thing about Seattle the two days I was there. Stereotypically, it rained the entire time, but I did witness thunder as well, which I understand is rare up there. Second, the teriyaki. There are plenty of things on the menu at a teriyaki joint, but I did as instructed and stuck to the second item on the menu, the spicy chicken.
So, as you can see here and as I understand the typical teriyaki to be, we've got a grilled boneless chicken thigh smothered with a sweet and spicy teriyaki sauce, sliced into bites and served with rice. Very, very good, with decent heat from the sauce, a great char flavor on the chicken, and moist and tender meat.
When traveling to Seattle, sample its cuisine and put teriyaki on your list.
Summary
Atmosphere: bland, counter ordering, eight tables, good place for a quick lunch or dinner, but not a place to hang around
Food: teriyaki
Dog Friendly: no
When to Go: lunch
Crowd: everyone
What to Order for the First Timer: spicy chicken teriyaki
Sunday, April 3, 2011
The Peached Tortilla - Austin, TX
Oh Wow
Is this place ever incredible. This is a food truck to seek out, at any point but it really hits the spot after an evening at the bars and you can usually find it late on weekend evenings parked inconspicuously behind Star Bar on west 6th. The first time I saw this and had it was several weeks ago when some friends were in town and we were imbibing at it's next door neighbor. A combined 700 pounds of us (just three of us) were in desperate need of a food fix and The Peached Tortilla was a convenience call, and I had full expectations of it serving up overpriced and underwhelming food trying to capitalize on the trendy drunk freespenders of this upscale watering hole.
WRONG
My hopes heightened when I looked at the menu and saw it full of incredible combinations of half snack, half meal items focused on tacos, sliders and fries all of the fusion persuasion, though no set genre. Still though, I couldn't help but think, are they just teasing me with items like pork belly tacos and sliders, pimento cheese fries, and brisket tacos, or would they produce. Well they produce. They produce some of the best trailer food in a city full of trailers, which is why last night in a haze of Makers Mark I dragged MLWMG out of our way to go there for some tasty treats. Once again, they did not disappoint.
We started with an order of Belgian Fries, and I left it to them as to what to serve or toss them with...peach mint, truffle mayo, bacon ranch, smoky roasted peach BBQ, sriracha mayo, or their own pimento cheese spread. They chose the latter. Dark deep fried fries not overly doused with a terrific pimento cheese spread and served in a cardboard tray perfect for eating on the run. These things were incredible and the perfect way to sop up any excess liquor still trying to be absorbed into the bloodstream.
From there we opted to sample a few of the other items, first and foremost the bahn mi tacos. Vietnamese braised pork belly with pickled daikon and carrot salad, sriracha mayo and cilantro. The pork was incredibly tender and flavorful and though certainly laden with fat, not greasy or fatty feeling at all. The daikon and carrot salad was a perfect compliment to it, adding a crisp, fresh, and cool crunch to the taco, as well as a cooling effect to the spicy sriracha mayo. I daresay this is probably the best trailer item in town. Mrs. Gordo was very impressed, as was I.
We decided to compare it to the slider of the same name, which was exactly the same, with same great flavors and textures, but served on a small, fresh, warm bun. Incredible too, though I think I'm partial to the taco version. We rounded it out with the BBQ brisket taco, a mix of tender-as-all-hell beef brisket, creamy slaw and a smoky roasted peach BBQ sauce. Do I really need to tell you how it was? Alright I will. IT WAS DAMN GOOD!
These guys really know what they're doing, and I urge you to hit their website, figure out where they are, and seek them out wherever they are when you're in the mood for a sampling of highly innovative and perfectly executed cuisine for lunch, dinner, snacking or late night. I know there is fantastic food truck fare in Austin, but for all I've had so far, this one marks the top of my list.
Summary
Atmosphere: food truck, no seating
Food: southern, Mexican, BBQ, Asian, Belgian fusion
Dog Friendly: it's a truck
When to Go: after the bars, lunch, dinner
Crowd: the sober-challenged, locals, trendsters, hipsters, 20somethings, 30somethings
What to Order for the First Timer: bahn mi tacos and pimento cheese fries
Is this place ever incredible. This is a food truck to seek out, at any point but it really hits the spot after an evening at the bars and you can usually find it late on weekend evenings parked inconspicuously behind Star Bar on west 6th. The first time I saw this and had it was several weeks ago when some friends were in town and we were imbibing at it's next door neighbor. A combined 700 pounds of us (just three of us) were in desperate need of a food fix and The Peached Tortilla was a convenience call, and I had full expectations of it serving up overpriced and underwhelming food trying to capitalize on the trendy drunk freespenders of this upscale watering hole.
WRONG
My hopes heightened when I looked at the menu and saw it full of incredible combinations of half snack, half meal items focused on tacos, sliders and fries all of the fusion persuasion, though no set genre. Still though, I couldn't help but think, are they just teasing me with items like pork belly tacos and sliders, pimento cheese fries, and brisket tacos, or would they produce. Well they produce. They produce some of the best trailer food in a city full of trailers, which is why last night in a haze of Makers Mark I dragged MLWMG out of our way to go there for some tasty treats. Once again, they did not disappoint.
We started with an order of Belgian Fries, and I left it to them as to what to serve or toss them with...peach mint, truffle mayo, bacon ranch, smoky roasted peach BBQ, sriracha mayo, or their own pimento cheese spread. They chose the latter. Dark deep fried fries not overly doused with a terrific pimento cheese spread and served in a cardboard tray perfect for eating on the run. These things were incredible and the perfect way to sop up any excess liquor still trying to be absorbed into the bloodstream.
From there we opted to sample a few of the other items, first and foremost the bahn mi tacos. Vietnamese braised pork belly with pickled daikon and carrot salad, sriracha mayo and cilantro. The pork was incredibly tender and flavorful and though certainly laden with fat, not greasy or fatty feeling at all. The daikon and carrot salad was a perfect compliment to it, adding a crisp, fresh, and cool crunch to the taco, as well as a cooling effect to the spicy sriracha mayo. I daresay this is probably the best trailer item in town. Mrs. Gordo was very impressed, as was I.
We decided to compare it to the slider of the same name, which was exactly the same, with same great flavors and textures, but served on a small, fresh, warm bun. Incredible too, though I think I'm partial to the taco version. We rounded it out with the BBQ brisket taco, a mix of tender-as-all-hell beef brisket, creamy slaw and a smoky roasted peach BBQ sauce. Do I really need to tell you how it was? Alright I will. IT WAS DAMN GOOD!
These guys really know what they're doing, and I urge you to hit their website, figure out where they are, and seek them out wherever they are when you're in the mood for a sampling of highly innovative and perfectly executed cuisine for lunch, dinner, snacking or late night. I know there is fantastic food truck fare in Austin, but for all I've had so far, this one marks the top of my list.
Summary
Atmosphere: food truck, no seating
Food: southern, Mexican, BBQ, Asian, Belgian fusion
Dog Friendly: it's a truck
When to Go: after the bars, lunch, dinner
Crowd: the sober-challenged, locals, trendsters, hipsters, 20somethings, 30somethings
What to Order for the First Timer: bahn mi tacos and pimento cheese fries
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Blue Fish - Dallas, TX
Travel day. Up through Lampasas, Hamilton, Hico, Glen Rose and Cleburne to end up in Dallas.
It was service industry night at Blue Fish on Lower Greenville, which means half price bottles of wine! My Lovely Wife, Mrs. Gordo and I decided to take them up on it.
We like this spot because it's just a good, relaxed neighborhood restaurant where you can get some healthy eats. It's good people watching and has a quasi-trendy atmosphere, but thankfully seems to be frequented by normal people from the neighborhood, and isn't a gathering spot for douchers. It's also a good spot to go before catching a show across the street at the Granada, or if you're flying solo and want a good place to relax, peoplewatch, have a drink or five, and get a good, light meal, and it's a great spot to go on a nice night to sit outside.
You can eat for a reasonable price at Blue Fish, but their main courses, which look great and which I've wanted to try, seem grossly overpriced for the venue. $29 for sea bass and $28 for Korean short ribs to name a couple. You get the picture. Stick to appetizers and sushi.
We started with the spring rolls, which are shiitake based, nicely crisp, and are served with a sweet chili sauce which is at the top of the heap in the world of sweet chili sauces. Moved from there to a trio of sushi rolls which we shared.
Samurai Roll - yellowtail, avocado, and fresh jalapeno rolled and topped with seared tuna, and wasabi and ponzu sauces. Grade: A. If you like spicy, which I do, this is a great one.
Spicy Tuna Roll - basic. Grade: B. Good, but nothing extraordinary about it.
Louisiana Roll - tempura crawfish, avocado, and cucumber topped with spicy sauce. Grade: D. I defer to MLWMG's review of this one, as I'm not a crawfish fan. What looked and sounded good lacked any heat you'd associate with something that appears to be doused in Crystal hot sauce.
In all, a good fix. I was also glad to see a special of miso glazed black cod, which, at $16, was a welcome alternative to the $29 sea bass, and was every bit as good as what I'd imagine the sea bass would be. Perfectly cooked and a great sweet flavor. I hope to see this one on the menu again.
Summary
Atmosphere: a doucher-free trendy neighborhood spot, good for groups, good for a date, good if you're flying solo, flatscreen tvs throughout the place, great patio seating
Food: sushi, tempura, and hibachi
Dog Friendly: no
When to Go: happy hour, pre-concert, dinner, late, Sundays and Mondays for half price wine
Crowd: students, 20somethings, 30somethings, locals, neighbors, hotchicks
What to Get for the First Timer: Ahi Tower, Tuna Poke, Tuna Tartare on Crispy Rice
It was service industry night at Blue Fish on Lower Greenville, which means half price bottles of wine! My Lovely Wife, Mrs. Gordo and I decided to take them up on it.
We like this spot because it's just a good, relaxed neighborhood restaurant where you can get some healthy eats. It's good people watching and has a quasi-trendy atmosphere, but thankfully seems to be frequented by normal people from the neighborhood, and isn't a gathering spot for douchers. It's also a good spot to go before catching a show across the street at the Granada, or if you're flying solo and want a good place to relax, peoplewatch, have a drink or five, and get a good, light meal, and it's a great spot to go on a nice night to sit outside.
You can eat for a reasonable price at Blue Fish, but their main courses, which look great and which I've wanted to try, seem grossly overpriced for the venue. $29 for sea bass and $28 for Korean short ribs to name a couple. You get the picture. Stick to appetizers and sushi.
We started with the spring rolls, which are shiitake based, nicely crisp, and are served with a sweet chili sauce which is at the top of the heap in the world of sweet chili sauces. Moved from there to a trio of sushi rolls which we shared.
Samurai Roll - yellowtail, avocado, and fresh jalapeno rolled and topped with seared tuna, and wasabi and ponzu sauces. Grade: A. If you like spicy, which I do, this is a great one.
Spicy Tuna Roll - basic. Grade: B. Good, but nothing extraordinary about it.
Louisiana Roll - tempura crawfish, avocado, and cucumber topped with spicy sauce. Grade: D. I defer to MLWMG's review of this one, as I'm not a crawfish fan. What looked and sounded good lacked any heat you'd associate with something that appears to be doused in Crystal hot sauce.
In all, a good fix. I was also glad to see a special of miso glazed black cod, which, at $16, was a welcome alternative to the $29 sea bass, and was every bit as good as what I'd imagine the sea bass would be. Perfectly cooked and a great sweet flavor. I hope to see this one on the menu again.
Summary
Atmosphere: a doucher-free trendy neighborhood spot, good for groups, good for a date, good if you're flying solo, flatscreen tvs throughout the place, great patio seating
Food: sushi, tempura, and hibachi
Dog Friendly: no
When to Go: happy hour, pre-concert, dinner, late, Sundays and Mondays for half price wine
Crowd: students, 20somethings, 30somethings, locals, neighbors, hotchicks
What to Get for the First Timer: Ahi Tower, Tuna Poke, Tuna Tartare on Crispy Rice
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Maiko Sushi Lounge - Austin, TX
Alright, last night My Lovely Wife Mrs. Gordo and I hit up the Maiko Sushi Lounge, which we've had several times, where we sat at the bar as we usually do.
It seems to me this place gets a bad rap, or at least mixed reviews, particularly by the sushi die hards, but we really like it for what it is, for a few reasons. They've got great non-sushi items, and the sushi rolls and appetizers that we have had have been great. Most of all though, this place has a good atmosphere and incredible happy hour specials on both food and drinks, and during the meat of the week, their grilled skewers are a great deal for a snack or really light dinner.
Last night we missed happy hour but sat at the bar and had some shared plates, which included their grilled chicken wings ($8 for eight, $4 during happy hour), their tuna and avacado nachos ($15), and their Heat of the Moment roll ($10).
First off, the chicken wings are great. Marinated in lime, garlic, teriyaki, and sriracha, they are grilled to perfection resulting in a nice char flavor on the outside, while staying very juicy on the inside. At $4 during happy hour, these are an essential go to, and are healthier than a fried chicken wing alternative elsewhere.
The tuna and avocado nachos, unfortunately not on the happy hour menu, are one of the more expensive appetizer options, but they don't skimp at all on the tuna, so you feel like you get your money's worth. This is probably the best item that we've had there, and one of the main reasons that we go back to Maiko. The nachos, four of them, and I apologize I forgot to take a pictures, are served on a crispy wonton, which are mounded with a racquetball sized portion of chunked raw tuna and chunked avacado mixed with cilantro, jalapeno salsa, and a tequila lime sauce. It's got an incredible fresh taste, with a great citrus and pepper bite.
The roll we had was a good one, one we haven't had before, but which we'll get again. Basically it's a spicy tuna roll +, made spicier by the samurais in back topping each piece with a slice of fresh jalapeno and a homemade spicy mayo. What really makes this roll though, is the torching they give it before it comes out
which partially blackened the top most layer of rice, giving it a depth of flavor that a typical roll lacks.
So, as if it's not apparent, we vouch for this place. This is Maiko, it's a friend of ours.
A few other things worth trying during the happy hour, while you're sipping on sake or chugging bombs (both $2), include the Smoked Pork Udon soup ($4) and the Explosivo roll ($7), which features hamachi, cilantro, and a roasted jalapeno salsa.
As far as the atmosphere goes, it's, um...interesting. The place is great, particularly the bar, in one of those old Austin buildings with interior brick walls, a nice big bar and plenty of high tops. The crowd, well, that's where it gets interesting. I'll tell you who was there at the bar with us and you can draw your own conclusions. A Dallas-looking douchebag working REALLY hard to woo a Dallas-looking cougar, four gay men, two together and two flying solo, two near-hot college or early 20s chicks, and a bearded midget dressed as a lumberjack eating with a 280 pound black man. Several others there, but these caught my eye.
Don't let that scare you though, try it out. Give it a shot at happy hour if you never have. At the very least you'll get a nice rice wine drunk, and can walk down the street to any number of bars on west sixth, without having broken the bank.
Summary
Atmosphere: trendy, kind of
Food: sushi and more
Dog Friendly: would you want dogs around your raw fish?
Crowd: 20somethings, 30somethings, hotchicks, solo diners, lumberjacks, and steelworkers
When to Go: happy hour
What to Order for the First Timer: grilled chicken wings, tuna and avacado nachos
It seems to me this place gets a bad rap, or at least mixed reviews, particularly by the sushi die hards, but we really like it for what it is, for a few reasons. They've got great non-sushi items, and the sushi rolls and appetizers that we have had have been great. Most of all though, this place has a good atmosphere and incredible happy hour specials on both food and drinks, and during the meat of the week, their grilled skewers are a great deal for a snack or really light dinner.
Last night we missed happy hour but sat at the bar and had some shared plates, which included their grilled chicken wings ($8 for eight, $4 during happy hour), their tuna and avacado nachos ($15), and their Heat of the Moment roll ($10).
First off, the chicken wings are great. Marinated in lime, garlic, teriyaki, and sriracha, they are grilled to perfection resulting in a nice char flavor on the outside, while staying very juicy on the inside. At $4 during happy hour, these are an essential go to, and are healthier than a fried chicken wing alternative elsewhere.
The tuna and avocado nachos, unfortunately not on the happy hour menu, are one of the more expensive appetizer options, but they don't skimp at all on the tuna, so you feel like you get your money's worth. This is probably the best item that we've had there, and one of the main reasons that we go back to Maiko. The nachos, four of them, and I apologize I forgot to take a pictures, are served on a crispy wonton, which are mounded with a racquetball sized portion of chunked raw tuna and chunked avacado mixed with cilantro, jalapeno salsa, and a tequila lime sauce. It's got an incredible fresh taste, with a great citrus and pepper bite.
The roll we had was a good one, one we haven't had before, but which we'll get again. Basically it's a spicy tuna roll +, made spicier by the samurais in back topping each piece with a slice of fresh jalapeno and a homemade spicy mayo. What really makes this roll though, is the torching they give it before it comes out
which partially blackened the top most layer of rice, giving it a depth of flavor that a typical roll lacks.
So, as if it's not apparent, we vouch for this place. This is Maiko, it's a friend of ours.
A few other things worth trying during the happy hour, while you're sipping on sake or chugging bombs (both $2), include the Smoked Pork Udon soup ($4) and the Explosivo roll ($7), which features hamachi, cilantro, and a roasted jalapeno salsa.
As far as the atmosphere goes, it's, um...interesting. The place is great, particularly the bar, in one of those old Austin buildings with interior brick walls, a nice big bar and plenty of high tops. The crowd, well, that's where it gets interesting. I'll tell you who was there at the bar with us and you can draw your own conclusions. A Dallas-looking douchebag working REALLY hard to woo a Dallas-looking cougar, four gay men, two together and two flying solo, two near-hot college or early 20s chicks, and a bearded midget dressed as a lumberjack eating with a 280 pound black man. Several others there, but these caught my eye.
Don't let that scare you though, try it out. Give it a shot at happy hour if you never have. At the very least you'll get a nice rice wine drunk, and can walk down the street to any number of bars on west sixth, without having broken the bank.
Summary
Atmosphere: trendy, kind of
Food: sushi and more
Dog Friendly: would you want dogs around your raw fish?
Crowd: 20somethings, 30somethings, hotchicks, solo diners, lumberjacks, and steelworkers
When to Go: happy hour
What to Order for the First Timer: grilled chicken wings, tuna and avacado nachos
Friday, February 25, 2011
Coreanos - Austin, TX
Korean. Mexican. Fusion.
Ho. Lee. Dung.
That was fantastic.
Took the ladies on a walk today in search of this Mexorean gem that I had heard was pretty good.
Now, let me read you the following and see if you can't figure out why I decided to seek this out:
Kim Cheese Fries - French fries, spicy twice-cooked pork belly, caramelized kimchi, cheese, and el scorcho sauce.
Yeah. That's right.
Now, let me show you what that looks like:
Yeah. That's right.
That. Just. HAPPENED.
On the walk there I was setting myself up for a huge disappointment, as it sounded too good to be true. Now a lot of good food comes out of trailers in Austin, which I always find amazing given what they have to work with. Let me tell you why I was worried.
1. I thought there was a good chance the fries, loaded down with all this goodness, might just come out a soggy and greasy mess.
2. Figured there was a good chance that "spicy twice-cooked pork belly" might just be crumbled pepper rubbed bacon.
3. Maybe the "el scorcho" sauce was nothing more than Sriracha sauce, cleverly named as a creation of their own.
0 for 3.
This thing was incredible, and a meal in itself.
First off, the fries were cooked perfectly. All of them. Not undercooked, not overcooked, exhibiting the characteristics of being cooked twice, at two different temperatures, resulting in a perfect crispiness on the outside while maintaining a soft, flaky inside. Equally as impressive was the way they held up to the toppings. They were this way throughout the dish, AND the toppings were uniformly distributed throughout, not just sitting on top of the fries.
Second, the twice cooked pork belly was everthing that I could have imagined, quarter to half inch cubes with good proportions of meat and fat.
Third, the el scorcho sauce was not anything close to sriracha. It was an incredible chipotle crema which covered the dish, touched each bite, and went perfectly with everything.
The kimchi had a crunch and spice that tied this whole thing together, and oh, did they mention there was a sprinkling of chopped onion and cilantro on top? No. But oh yes, there was, and it helped to turn this dish into Mexorean perfection.
Man, that was seriously, seriously good stuff, and I can't wait to go back and get this again, and try some of their other fry concoctions, tacos and burritos. The only problem with this place was the time it took between ordering and receiving the food, between ten and fifteen minutes. I'm going to chalk this up to a couple of things and let it slide. First, I got there right when it opened and was behind six or seven people. I'm sure they were still in prep mode, which I'm sure they'll soon start earlier as time goes on. Second, they've been open right around five months, and are still probably working out the kinks and efficiencies. So for the time being, go, wait patiently, because it's worth the wait. Given that we're dealing with fries, I'd eat when you get it and wouldn't take it to go, as you don't want them to get soggy.
http://www.coreanostx.com/
Summary:
Atmosphere: food truck, no tables, but parked near steps to sit on and eat
Food: Korean Mexican BBQ
Dog Friendly: yes
Crowd: business lunch crowd and food lovers
When to Go: lunch and after the bars
What to Order for the First Timer: Kim Cheese Fries
Oh, and here are the ladies, wishing they had some...
Ho. Lee. Dung.
That was fantastic.
Took the ladies on a walk today in search of this Mexorean gem that I had heard was pretty good.
Now, let me read you the following and see if you can't figure out why I decided to seek this out:
Kim Cheese Fries - French fries, spicy twice-cooked pork belly, caramelized kimchi, cheese, and el scorcho sauce.
Yeah. That's right.
Now, let me show you what that looks like:
Yeah. That's right.
That. Just. HAPPENED.
On the walk there I was setting myself up for a huge disappointment, as it sounded too good to be true. Now a lot of good food comes out of trailers in Austin, which I always find amazing given what they have to work with. Let me tell you why I was worried.
1. I thought there was a good chance the fries, loaded down with all this goodness, might just come out a soggy and greasy mess.
2. Figured there was a good chance that "spicy twice-cooked pork belly" might just be crumbled pepper rubbed bacon.
3. Maybe the "el scorcho" sauce was nothing more than Sriracha sauce, cleverly named as a creation of their own.
0 for 3.
This thing was incredible, and a meal in itself.
First off, the fries were cooked perfectly. All of them. Not undercooked, not overcooked, exhibiting the characteristics of being cooked twice, at two different temperatures, resulting in a perfect crispiness on the outside while maintaining a soft, flaky inside. Equally as impressive was the way they held up to the toppings. They were this way throughout the dish, AND the toppings were uniformly distributed throughout, not just sitting on top of the fries.
Second, the twice cooked pork belly was everthing that I could have imagined, quarter to half inch cubes with good proportions of meat and fat.
Third, the el scorcho sauce was not anything close to sriracha. It was an incredible chipotle crema which covered the dish, touched each bite, and went perfectly with everything.
The kimchi had a crunch and spice that tied this whole thing together, and oh, did they mention there was a sprinkling of chopped onion and cilantro on top? No. But oh yes, there was, and it helped to turn this dish into Mexorean perfection.
Man, that was seriously, seriously good stuff, and I can't wait to go back and get this again, and try some of their other fry concoctions, tacos and burritos. The only problem with this place was the time it took between ordering and receiving the food, between ten and fifteen minutes. I'm going to chalk this up to a couple of things and let it slide. First, I got there right when it opened and was behind six or seven people. I'm sure they were still in prep mode, which I'm sure they'll soon start earlier as time goes on. Second, they've been open right around five months, and are still probably working out the kinks and efficiencies. So for the time being, go, wait patiently, because it's worth the wait. Given that we're dealing with fries, I'd eat when you get it and wouldn't take it to go, as you don't want them to get soggy.
http://www.coreanostx.com/
Summary:
Atmosphere: food truck, no tables, but parked near steps to sit on and eat
Food: Korean Mexican BBQ
Dog Friendly: yes
Crowd: business lunch crowd and food lovers
When to Go: lunch and after the bars
What to Order for the First Timer: Kim Cheese Fries
Oh, and here are the ladies, wishing they had some...
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