6 tbsp. butter (please don't use margerine)
1 1/2 c. whipping cream (you can use whole milk)
3 to 4 c. fettucini noodles, cooked al dente & drained
1 c. shredded Parmesan or Romano cheese (grate it fresh, please don't use canned stuff unless that's all you have and you like it)
In a large skillet (the largest one you have), melt butter until lightly browned. You can also brown some crushed (or shopped) garlic or even garlic powder with the butter.
Add 1/2 cup of cream and boil rapidly until large shiny bubbles form. Stir occasionally and keep your eyes on things.
Reduce heat to medium and add the cooked noodles to the sauce. Remember, pasta should already be COOKED!!! Honest, I've had one person tell me they added the dried pasta and it failed. Ummm - yeah, that will happen!!!
Pour remaining cream and cheese a little at a time. The pasta should/will soak this up. But a little at a time here - NOT all at once!
Add salt (if you like but I think there's enough salt in things so I don't), some fresh black, red or white pepper and Italian seasonings of choice to taste. What works best here is to chop up some FRESH basil and oregano, maybe some rosemary, and just a touch of Italian parsley (or regular parsley it that's all you have). If you don't have "fresh," a bit of oregano, basil and/or rosemary will do ... and some garlic powder. Tip - if using dried seasonings, roll them in your hand to break them up and release flavor.
Remember - the seasoning(s) you add last are the things you'll taste first so be gentle with them.
Also - you can add meat to this. Chicken is the usual - grill or saute it before you start and have it sliced and ready to add. You can also add some Italian meats - like salami, prosciutto, or pancetta - to this and it'll be great. Have a salad and the wine of your choice. Some would say a chardonnay or pinot grigo. That works. I'm a Chianti and bardolino person.
Serve immediately.
Makes 4 to 6 servings. I don't say serves 4 to 6 people because I've made this and had 1, 2 and 3 people eat the WHOLE thing!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Eating in Houston - where to start?
If a friend comes to Houston, where would you take them ... to show off the food and spirit of the city???
The first question would be, what kind of food does the friend like? Or what kind of food do they expect when you hear "Houston"???Houston is a diverse land or people and food ... BBQ ... Tex-Mex ... Country ... Seafood ... Steak???
How about the varying and refined cuisines that make-up the city ... Cajun ... Southwestern ... White Linen ... Soul Food???
Or the flavors which have migrated to 29/95 (our latitude and longitude) through the years ... Italian ... Chinese ... Vietnamese ... Greek ... Indian ... Columbian ... Guatamalan ... Czech???
And where do you go for a really good hamburger (or in Houston's case, a hot dog) ... or a cold one???
So much food - so little time!
When discussing this topic over the past weeks, I thought about the family and friends who have come here and where I've taken them. And where would I take, say, a classmate from high school in Michigan, a displaced Texan living in Philadelphia, or even a visiting head of state?
The first place I would take someone visiting Houston would be - Goode Company BBQ on Kirby Drive. It's quintessential Texan! It's basic BBQ, but also some fancy 'cue (turkey and chicken). There's basic sides, but also nice touches (fried okra and mac and cheese). And then there's Goode's Pecan Pie (I just voted GCPP as my favorite "Comfort Food" in the Houston Press Best of Houston poll). You can eat inside, or out on the covered porch (next to one of the town's busiest streets). They have a couple of other locations and even some company variations (I'll do a report on Houston Food chains later), but the original location says - "Welcome to Houston."
For Tex-Mex, I'd head down Navigation Boulevard to the original Ninfa's Tacos al Carbon. Mama Ninfa is gone and the Laurenzo sons don't have anything to do with the operation any more, but it's a Houston favorite and one of those "Bucket List" places where you have to eat. Sure, there's other places that have better this or that, and we'll talk about them at a later time, but if you only had one place for Tex-Mex in Houston, this would be it.
For good o'l country cooking, like a chicken fried steak or friend chicken or even pot roast. some mashed potatoes and gravy, good biscuits and the like, I'd take you to Hickory Hollow just off washington Ave. Even their "small" is good sized. They also serve good BBQ and sides, but just staying IN Houston -that's the best CFS. If you want to travel a little, my favorite place for CFS is Vincek's Smokehouse in East Bernard. Like the name says, you'll find BBQ there (and lots of good meat cuts), but they have a great CFS and sides.
A good place in Houston for seafood is Christie's. They have a location in Galveston. In fact. many places in Galveston once had Houston locations. The seafood is fresh there and it's served like the olden days. you can get dressed up or be casual. Now, if you wanted to eat yourself silly with catfish, then I'd choose Sudie's on the Gulf Freeway. Or for a good selection of seafood done right - Jim Goode's Seafood place over on Westpark near the original BBQ location. Oooops ... there's three places ... and if I did that with every food catergory I'll never get through writing.
Texas was (and still is) a cow town. We love our steaks ... as you can tell by all the national chains coming here and doing a great business (even Don Shula is here and doing well at the top of the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Oiler fans have let the Dolphins fade from memory). Truth be told, I don't go out for steak - I grill them myself. Get a great cut of meat ... fix the fire just right ... I'll put my steaks up against anyone's. But to recommend a place to dine besides my house, I'll recommend Perry's. They started with one restaurant and have become a bit of a chain. Not as much as Brenner's and Vic & Anthony's is part of the Landry's chain ... or Pappas has their multi-restaurant chain that includes a couple of good steak places.
Getting a good hamburger is just as easy - or difficult. So many places. If I was trying to impress you with atmosphere and environment, I'd take you to Beck's Prime. They have a couple of locations, they have saved huge oak trees in building them, and they have great burgers and buns. But if I was going to impress you with taste, I'd be taking you to Bubba's Burger Shack. Bubba's sits on some right-of-way property just off the SW Freeway at Westpark and Chimney Rock. Bubba's keeps things pretty simple with burgers and burgers - 8 different ways to order.. NO FRIES, onion rings or even tater tots. They do have a baked potato, jalapeno potato salad, and bags of chips. They also have buffalo burgers. If you ever eat a bison hamburger, you'll have a hard time being satisfied with "just beef" ever again. I eat here about one a year and it's the same thing.
The Houston palate has expanded ... and it's come from the east. Recipes have crossed the Sabine River from Louisiana and my personal favorite is Zydeco Louisiana Diner. They have great recipes, authentic flavorings, and generous portions. The only problem is, they're only open for lunch Monday through Friday. For places that are open longer, I like Mandola's Ragin Cajun. There's the original on Richmond Avenue (inside the loop by the railroad tracks) and several neighborhood locations.
But if you ask me to take you to MY FAVORITE place to eat in Houston ... that would be Collina's Cuccina Italia on Richmond at Wesleyan. It's nothing fancy - just good food, great service, good prices, great atmosphere. Collina's started with 8 tables in the fall of 1993. It's now grown to 30 tables and several other locations. Paul Hill uses family recipes for dough and pasta and sauces. The menu isn't too complicated and I can say that in 16 years I've had everything on it and a few off the menu chalkboard items. Our family has celebrated milestone birthdays and graduations here, as well as eating before and after Houston events, and just having fun. One of the catches is a throwback to when HISD headquarters and Poe Elementary were across the street ... they couldn't get a liquor license so it's BYOB. Collina's now serves beer and wine, but you're still welcome to bring your own for $1 per person (bring as much as you'd like!).
Well, there's a start on places where I take people to eat in Houston.
The first question would be, what kind of food does the friend like? Or what kind of food do they expect when you hear "Houston"???Houston is a diverse land or people and food ... BBQ ... Tex-Mex ... Country ... Seafood ... Steak???
How about the varying and refined cuisines that make-up the city ... Cajun ... Southwestern ... White Linen ... Soul Food???
Or the flavors which have migrated to 29/95 (our latitude and longitude) through the years ... Italian ... Chinese ... Vietnamese ... Greek ... Indian ... Columbian ... Guatamalan ... Czech???
And where do you go for a really good hamburger (or in Houston's case, a hot dog) ... or a cold one???
So much food - so little time!
When discussing this topic over the past weeks, I thought about the family and friends who have come here and where I've taken them. And where would I take, say, a classmate from high school in Michigan, a displaced Texan living in Philadelphia, or even a visiting head of state?
The first place I would take someone visiting Houston would be - Goode Company BBQ on Kirby Drive. It's quintessential Texan! It's basic BBQ, but also some fancy 'cue (turkey and chicken). There's basic sides, but also nice touches (fried okra and mac and cheese). And then there's Goode's Pecan Pie (I just voted GCPP as my favorite "Comfort Food" in the Houston Press Best of Houston poll). You can eat inside, or out on the covered porch (next to one of the town's busiest streets). They have a couple of other locations and even some company variations (I'll do a report on Houston Food chains later), but the original location says - "Welcome to Houston."
For Tex-Mex, I'd head down Navigation Boulevard to the original Ninfa's Tacos al Carbon. Mama Ninfa is gone and the Laurenzo sons don't have anything to do with the operation any more, but it's a Houston favorite and one of those "Bucket List" places where you have to eat. Sure, there's other places that have better this or that, and we'll talk about them at a later time, but if you only had one place for Tex-Mex in Houston, this would be it.
For good o'l country cooking, like a chicken fried steak or friend chicken or even pot roast. some mashed potatoes and gravy, good biscuits and the like, I'd take you to Hickory Hollow just off washington Ave. Even their "small" is good sized. They also serve good BBQ and sides, but just staying IN Houston -that's the best CFS. If you want to travel a little, my favorite place for CFS is Vincek's Smokehouse in East Bernard. Like the name says, you'll find BBQ there (and lots of good meat cuts), but they have a great CFS and sides.
A good place in Houston for seafood is Christie's. They have a location in Galveston. In fact. many places in Galveston once had Houston locations. The seafood is fresh there and it's served like the olden days. you can get dressed up or be casual. Now, if you wanted to eat yourself silly with catfish, then I'd choose Sudie's on the Gulf Freeway. Or for a good selection of seafood done right - Jim Goode's Seafood place over on Westpark near the original BBQ location. Oooops ... there's three places ... and if I did that with every food catergory I'll never get through writing.
Texas was (and still is) a cow town. We love our steaks ... as you can tell by all the national chains coming here and doing a great business (even Don Shula is here and doing well at the top of the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Oiler fans have let the Dolphins fade from memory). Truth be told, I don't go out for steak - I grill them myself. Get a great cut of meat ... fix the fire just right ... I'll put my steaks up against anyone's. But to recommend a place to dine besides my house, I'll recommend Perry's. They started with one restaurant and have become a bit of a chain. Not as much as Brenner's and Vic & Anthony's is part of the Landry's chain ... or Pappas has their multi-restaurant chain that includes a couple of good steak places.
Getting a good hamburger is just as easy - or difficult. So many places. If I was trying to impress you with atmosphere and environment, I'd take you to Beck's Prime. They have a couple of locations, they have saved huge oak trees in building them, and they have great burgers and buns. But if I was going to impress you with taste, I'd be taking you to Bubba's Burger Shack. Bubba's sits on some right-of-way property just off the SW Freeway at Westpark and Chimney Rock. Bubba's keeps things pretty simple with burgers and burgers - 8 different ways to order.. NO FRIES, onion rings or even tater tots. They do have a baked potato, jalapeno potato salad, and bags of chips. They also have buffalo burgers. If you ever eat a bison hamburger, you'll have a hard time being satisfied with "just beef" ever again. I eat here about one a year and it's the same thing.
The Houston palate has expanded ... and it's come from the east. Recipes have crossed the Sabine River from Louisiana and my personal favorite is Zydeco Louisiana Diner. They have great recipes, authentic flavorings, and generous portions. The only problem is, they're only open for lunch Monday through Friday. For places that are open longer, I like Mandola's Ragin Cajun. There's the original on Richmond Avenue (inside the loop by the railroad tracks) and several neighborhood locations.
But if you ask me to take you to MY FAVORITE place to eat in Houston ... that would be Collina's Cuccina Italia on Richmond at Wesleyan. It's nothing fancy - just good food, great service, good prices, great atmosphere. Collina's started with 8 tables in the fall of 1993. It's now grown to 30 tables and several other locations. Paul Hill uses family recipes for dough and pasta and sauces. The menu isn't too complicated and I can say that in 16 years I've had everything on it and a few off the menu chalkboard items. Our family has celebrated milestone birthdays and graduations here, as well as eating before and after Houston events, and just having fun. One of the catches is a throwback to when HISD headquarters and Poe Elementary were across the street ... they couldn't get a liquor license so it's BYOB. Collina's now serves beer and wine, but you're still welcome to bring your own for $1 per person (bring as much as you'd like!).
Well, there's a start on places where I take people to eat in Houston.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Which camera should I buy?
This is one of those questions where you have to decide what you want and need in a camera. What are you going to use it for ... Travel pix? Sports and action? Indoor hobbies?
It's like asking ... what car should I buy??? There are hundreds out there, both cars and digital cameras.
Here is the web-site I used when I taught photography in high school and I still use it in private classes ... it's not biased toward any one camera or brand and has some great decision assisting functions.
go to ...
http://www.imaging-resource.com/
go down the left side and look for the "Compare Models" and "Find the Best Camera For You" links. Both will help you make a decision.
Compare Models helps if you have an idea of what camera you'd like ... or a price range. You can chose up to 16 models, but keep it to about 5 or so (your computer model and connection speed will decide how fast this works). The website will post them on a single page. Then you can compare item by item. Again, this is what I make students do. What's important in a camera to YOU? I like things like Image Stabilization, ISO range of at least 1600, a higher level of Optical Lens Zoom rather than digital lens zoom, and a rechargeable battery. Others may prefer AA batteries and want a camera that's waterproof. Choose and click away. In the end, the site will also give you some buying options. I'll discuss that in a moment.
Find the Best Camera For You will open another page and take you to a site called MyProductAdvisor.com ... but don't be afraid. There are buttons at the top to click - answer questions to set your parameters, then click on "Make Recommendations" ... and in a few moments, you'll have some choices to compare.
You can also see "Dave's PIcks." Dave is the owner and camera guru and spends plenty of time using and writing about the cameras. They have really tekkie explanations, and they have reviews in plain English. It gets "straight to the point" as the copy says ... click on a section and see what they suggest. There are categories called Mom, Sports, Grandparents, Beginner, Budget, Most Popular, Megapixel and Most Popular This Week.
imaging-resource.com has a great monthly newsletter. You can click on the box on the right-hand side of the main page and subscribe. I read it and make notes. Spend some time at their web site and click around.
soooooo ... Canon versus Nikon versus Olympus versus the others ... ???
Personally, I have used Olympus and Canon digital cameras and like them. Olympus makes good single lens cameras and they were the first two I owned. I bought them because I saw the images produced by Deb and Neal and Johhny ... they looked the best and they had Olympus models (back in 2001, 02 and 03). I sold the middle camera (a Super Zoom as it was called) but still have my original 3-megapixel clamshell that I took to Alaska and the Pacific NW in 2003. It STILL takes great outdoor pix ... but I'm not going to use it on sports or action or family portraits. It came in handy a few weeks ago when the Xsi was in the shop.
Canon makes a good digital SLR and I'm on my second. I have experience in all of the models - from the original one I owned and we had at the high school to all the new ones. I currently have the Xsi and my best friend has the T1i. The T1i does HD video. I've also had good experiences with Canon repair. Yes, if you use your camera a lot (or if it's used by teenages in high school), it will need "repair."
I've seen the new Nikon ads and I'm intrigued with the model with swivel screen. I rarely uses the screen as a viewfinder, but there are times it comes in handy.
http://www.ashtonsdslr.com/?cid=usat09hold3000
I always shoot through the viewfinder because I think you can hold the camera steadier holding it closer to your body than using the screen at arms length!
You can look at all of the cameras locally at Best Buy and other places. I'm a Sam's Club member so I go there.
I get shopping info from ...
http://dealnews.com/digital-cameras/
If you subscribe, they'll send you daily info on camera prices (and other things if you ask) and you can make it specific to a camera brand. I've been a subscriber to DealMac and DealNews for 15 years. I've bought a number of products using their price alerts (over $10,000).
My favorite places to buy on-line are ... in order of preference ...
http://www.abesofmaine.com/
http://www.buy.com/
http://www.buydig.com/
I've had good experiences with all three places. I'm not getting any commissions from them or from DealNews or Imaging Resource for mentioning their pages here. If you have a good or bad experience with any of them, please let me know.
FINALLY ...
Here's a tip for entering sports stadiums. Many prohibit taking video. I've had several screeners ask me - "does that camera do video?" Learn to quickly say "NO!" or they'll ask you to take it back to the car or check it at guest services. The irony is - the 7 year old camera DOES take video, the newer (and more expensive) Xsi does NOT. If you do slip up and get rejected, go to another entrance ... practice your answer (no, no, no) ... and try again (again ... experience!!!)
It's like asking ... what car should I buy??? There are hundreds out there, both cars and digital cameras.
Here is the web-site I used when I taught photography in high school and I still use it in private classes ... it's not biased toward any one camera or brand and has some great decision assisting functions.
go to ...
http://www.imaging-resource.com/
go down the left side and look for the "Compare Models" and "Find the Best Camera For You" links. Both will help you make a decision.
Compare Models helps if you have an idea of what camera you'd like ... or a price range. You can chose up to 16 models, but keep it to about 5 or so (your computer model and connection speed will decide how fast this works). The website will post them on a single page. Then you can compare item by item. Again, this is what I make students do. What's important in a camera to YOU? I like things like Image Stabilization, ISO range of at least 1600, a higher level of Optical Lens Zoom rather than digital lens zoom, and a rechargeable battery. Others may prefer AA batteries and want a camera that's waterproof. Choose and click away. In the end, the site will also give you some buying options. I'll discuss that in a moment.
Find the Best Camera For You will open another page and take you to a site called MyProductAdvisor.com ... but don't be afraid. There are buttons at the top to click - answer questions to set your parameters, then click on "Make Recommendations" ... and in a few moments, you'll have some choices to compare.
You can also see "Dave's PIcks." Dave is the owner and camera guru and spends plenty of time using and writing about the cameras. They have really tekkie explanations, and they have reviews in plain English. It gets "straight to the point" as the copy says ... click on a section and see what they suggest. There are categories called Mom, Sports, Grandparents, Beginner, Budget, Most Popular, Megapixel and Most Popular This Week.
imaging-resource.com has a great monthly newsletter. You can click on the box on the right-hand side of the main page and subscribe. I read it and make notes. Spend some time at their web site and click around.
soooooo ... Canon versus Nikon versus Olympus versus the others ... ???
Personally, I have used Olympus and Canon digital cameras and like them. Olympus makes good single lens cameras and they were the first two I owned. I bought them because I saw the images produced by Deb and Neal and Johhny ... they looked the best and they had Olympus models (back in 2001, 02 and 03). I sold the middle camera (a Super Zoom as it was called) but still have my original 3-megapixel clamshell that I took to Alaska and the Pacific NW in 2003. It STILL takes great outdoor pix ... but I'm not going to use it on sports or action or family portraits. It came in handy a few weeks ago when the Xsi was in the shop.
Canon makes a good digital SLR and I'm on my second. I have experience in all of the models - from the original one I owned and we had at the high school to all the new ones. I currently have the Xsi and my best friend has the T1i. The T1i does HD video. I've also had good experiences with Canon repair. Yes, if you use your camera a lot (or if it's used by teenages in high school), it will need "repair."
I've seen the new Nikon ads and I'm intrigued with the model with swivel screen. I rarely uses the screen as a viewfinder, but there are times it comes in handy.
http://www.ashtonsdslr.com/?cid=usat09hold3000
I always shoot through the viewfinder because I think you can hold the camera steadier holding it closer to your body than using the screen at arms length!
You can look at all of the cameras locally at Best Buy and other places. I'm a Sam's Club member so I go there.
I get shopping info from ...
http://dealnews.com/digital-cameras/
If you subscribe, they'll send you daily info on camera prices (and other things if you ask) and you can make it specific to a camera brand. I've been a subscriber to DealMac and DealNews for 15 years. I've bought a number of products using their price alerts (over $10,000).
My favorite places to buy on-line are ... in order of preference ...
http://www.abesofmaine.com/
http://www.buy.com/
http://www.buydig.com/
I've had good experiences with all three places. I'm not getting any commissions from them or from DealNews or Imaging Resource for mentioning their pages here. If you have a good or bad experience with any of them, please let me know.
FINALLY ...
Here's a tip for entering sports stadiums. Many prohibit taking video. I've had several screeners ask me - "does that camera do video?" Learn to quickly say "NO!" or they'll ask you to take it back to the car or check it at guest services. The irony is - the 7 year old camera DOES take video, the newer (and more expensive) Xsi does NOT. If you do slip up and get rejected, go to another entrance ... practice your answer (no, no, no) ... and try again (again ... experience!!!)
Friday, August 6, 2010
Digital versus Film
I get asked many times if I take film pictures ... or not ... and why I like digital.
I took my last serious film photo on the top of the Seattle Space Needle on July 17, 2003.
It was memorable for two reasons. One - it was a rare day in the Pacific Northwest when you could see all three mountains from the top - Rainier, Hood and Olympus. This was my third trip to the Emerald City and the first time we had the visibility to see one, much less all three. Reason two - I was interviewed about being a tourist in Seattle and it was featured in a front page article on Sunday, July 20, 2003 edition of the Seattle Times. Okay, I've taken film pix using those Kodak underwater cameras since then, but those pix of "The Mountains" were the last photos on film with my Canon A-1.
No, I don't take film photos anymore. But that being said, I know that my 35 years of taking film pix up until 2003 (i started with a Kodak Instamatic and black and white film in the 1960's) gave me a tremendous background to go forward in digital. I, and many others of my generation, know the things we had to go through in taking film pix. We learned bracketing, over and under exposure, pushing ASA, and other tricks and tips. All of those elements combine to help me take better digital images. We couldn't see our immediate outcome and only had to guess we were doing the right thing to get a good photograph.
This doesn't mean you have to know and understand all of those items. But taking pictures is like anything in life - the more you know about what you are doing, the better you are going to be.
Why do I like digital? I like the immediate feedback. I can look in the viewfinder and tell how I need to adjust my exposure to take a better picture. I can see if someone's eyes were open or closed. I can tell if the flash was too strong or not enough. I can see mergers, lack of focus, and camera shake.
I don't have to worry about running out of film. I have a 16 GB class 6 HCSD card for my Canon XSi. At 12 megapixel resolution, that will give me about 3,000 pictures. If you drop your resolution to 6 MP .,.. which will be good enough for 4x6 standard prints and anything you want to post on the web, you'll be able to snap 8,000 images. I have two 16 MP cards and two 4 MP cards. I'm set. If you're using a smaller capacity card and you "run out," then you can go back and delete pix to make room. That's NOT something you could do with film.
Another reason I like digital is that you can change ISO and white balance from frame to frame. Again. that is NOT something you could ever do with a film camera. Shooting film, you were stuck with 200 Daylight, 400 Black and White, or 64 Kodachrome for 20 or 36 exposures. It's one of the reasons we had two (or more) camera bodies - for the different kinds of film. Now, if you are shooting in the State Capital in Austin (as I was recently), you can set you white balance to incandescent, then florescent lighting(depending on the room you're in) ... and when you go outside, you can shoot the building in full sunlight and take pictures of statues using the shaded sunlight white balance settings - changing your white balance (and even your ISO settings) from frame to frame to frame.
You don't have to have a mid-level or high end Digital SLR to be able to do this. Most digital cameras allow you to change ISO and white balance (if you read the manual or have someone show you how).
So point, frame, click ... check it ... and take a better photo!
I took my last serious film photo on the top of the Seattle Space Needle on July 17, 2003.
It was memorable for two reasons. One - it was a rare day in the Pacific Northwest when you could see all three mountains from the top - Rainier, Hood and Olympus. This was my third trip to the Emerald City and the first time we had the visibility to see one, much less all three. Reason two - I was interviewed about being a tourist in Seattle and it was featured in a front page article on Sunday, July 20, 2003 edition of the Seattle Times. Okay, I've taken film pix using those Kodak underwater cameras since then, but those pix of "The Mountains" were the last photos on film with my Canon A-1.
No, I don't take film photos anymore. But that being said, I know that my 35 years of taking film pix up until 2003 (i started with a Kodak Instamatic and black and white film in the 1960's) gave me a tremendous background to go forward in digital. I, and many others of my generation, know the things we had to go through in taking film pix. We learned bracketing, over and under exposure, pushing ASA, and other tricks and tips. All of those elements combine to help me take better digital images. We couldn't see our immediate outcome and only had to guess we were doing the right thing to get a good photograph.
This doesn't mean you have to know and understand all of those items. But taking pictures is like anything in life - the more you know about what you are doing, the better you are going to be.
Why do I like digital? I like the immediate feedback. I can look in the viewfinder and tell how I need to adjust my exposure to take a better picture. I can see if someone's eyes were open or closed. I can tell if the flash was too strong or not enough. I can see mergers, lack of focus, and camera shake.
I don't have to worry about running out of film. I have a 16 GB class 6 HCSD card for my Canon XSi. At 12 megapixel resolution, that will give me about 3,000 pictures. If you drop your resolution to 6 MP .,.. which will be good enough for 4x6 standard prints and anything you want to post on the web, you'll be able to snap 8,000 images. I have two 16 MP cards and two 4 MP cards. I'm set. If you're using a smaller capacity card and you "run out," then you can go back and delete pix to make room. That's NOT something you could do with film.
Another reason I like digital is that you can change ISO and white balance from frame to frame. Again. that is NOT something you could ever do with a film camera. Shooting film, you were stuck with 200 Daylight, 400 Black and White, or 64 Kodachrome for 20 or 36 exposures. It's one of the reasons we had two (or more) camera bodies - for the different kinds of film. Now, if you are shooting in the State Capital in Austin (as I was recently), you can set you white balance to incandescent, then florescent lighting(depending on the room you're in) ... and when you go outside, you can shoot the building in full sunlight and take pictures of statues using the shaded sunlight white balance settings - changing your white balance (and even your ISO settings) from frame to frame to frame.
You don't have to have a mid-level or high end Digital SLR to be able to do this. Most digital cameras allow you to change ISO and white balance (if you read the manual or have someone show you how).
So point, frame, click ... check it ... and take a better photo!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Top 50 Hamburgers in Texas
When I'm looking for an eating reference, I read Texas Monthly. I've been "depending" upon them for 35 years. They have a list in the back and it's organized by city. They review the top dollar places and the common places.
I still remember going to the Rio Grande Valley in 1982 and eating at their recommendation in Reynosa, Mexico. The "especial de casa" was about 4 plates worth of food that included typical Tex-Mex border fare, as well as mashed potatoes and gravy and onion rings!!! the Texas Monthly review is how I found La Fogata in San Antonio.
Through the years, Texas Monthly has done articles on Best BBQ in Texas 3 times. I have a separate post on Texas BBQ and much of it was because of their information. They also did Country Cafes - and between 1985 and 1989 I ate at about 20 of them. My favorite was Schoenneman's in Brenham. While the name has changed, there's still a cafe there and they were glad I came by on a recent trip to Blue Bell ... but that's another posting.
In 2009, Texas Monthly did and article on the Top 50 Hamburgers in Texas. The info is below. I've only eaten at a few of these places (indicated with ***), and will try to eat at more - time and health permitting!
Enjoy!
From Texas Monthly ...
The list is ranked in order of our preference from one to fifty, with the name of the restaurant first. The exact burger we sampled is listed–if you haven’t had it, go try it before you leave a comment. The same place may offer burger variations that range from great to good to yuck. Trust us on this–we ate at more than 250 places to choose the top 50.
1. The Grape, Dallas, Classic Cheeseburger
2. Counter Cafe, Austin, Counter Burger
3. Alamo Springs Cafe, Fredericksburg, Cheeseburger (with green chiles on a jalapeno-cheese bun)
4. Toro Burger Bar, El Paso, Toro Burger
5. The Cove, San Antonio, Texas Burger
6. The Porch, Dallas, The Stodg
7. Perini Ranch Steakhouse, Buffalo Gap, Hamburger Steak on a Bun
8. Dutch’s, Fort Worth, Bacon and Bleu Cheese Burger
9. Beck’s Prime***, Houston, Bacon Cheeseburger
10. Orlando’s, Lubbock, Cheeseburger in Paradise
11. White Buffalo Bar, Gage Hotel Marathon, Buffalo Burger
12. Cover 3, Austin, Chop-House Burger (with cheese and bacon)
13. Burger Fresh, Conroe, 1/2 Pound Burger
14. Burger Tex II, Austin, Burgogi Burger
15. Twisted Root Burger Co., Dallas, Hamburger
16. Max’s Wine Dive, Austin and Houston, Kobe Beef Burger
17. Love Shack, Fort Worth, Dirty Love Burger
18. Fatty’s Burgers & More, San Antonio, Ref Burger
19. MoMak’s Backyard Malts & Burgers, San Antonio, MoMak Classic Burger
20. Kelly’s Eastside, Plano, Southwestern Burger
21. Big’z Burger Joint, San Antonio, Big’z Famous No. 1
22. Chicken Oil Co., Bryan, Snuffy Burger
23. Cafe Michael Burger, Galveston, Tiki Burger
24. Burgers, Fries and Cherry Pies, Midland, The French Connection Burger
25. Mockingbird Bistro, Houston, American Kobe Beef Burger
26. Parkside, Austin, Cheeseburger
27. Black Sheep Lodge, Austin, Black Buffalo Burger
28. Miss Hattie’s Cafe and Saloon, San Angelo, Miss Hattie Burger
29. Mel’s Country Cafe, Tomball, Double Hamburger
30. Roaring Fork, Austin, Half Ass Burger (also in San Antonio)
31. Gene’s Tasty Burger, Wichita Falls, Frisco Burger
32. Cliff Cafe, Dallas, Brie and Granny Smith Burger
33. Bracken Store Cafe, San Antonio, Bean and Frito Burger
34. Sam’s Deli Diner, Houston, Hamburger
35. Dry Creek Cafe, Houston, The Regular (with asadero cheese)
36. Hamburger Store, Jefferson, Build-Your-Own Burger
37. Mighty Fine, Austin, Hamburger
38. Roadhouse, Bastrop, Jalapeno Cream Cheese Burger
39. Lankford Grocery and Market, Houston, Old-Fashioned Hamburger
40. Classics Burgers and “Moore,” Kerrville, Cheeseburger
41. Koffee Kup Family Restaurant, Hico, Jalapeno Cream Cheese Burger
42. Hruska’s Store and Bakery***, Ellinger, Cheeseburger
43. Rosco’s Burger Inn***, El Paso, Rosco Burger
44. Port Aransas Brewing Company, Port Aransas, Stopher Burger
45. Goode Company Hamburgers and Taqueria***, Houston, Mesquite Burger
46. Snuffer’s Restaurant and Bar, Dallas, Green Chile Swissburger
47. Fred’s Texas Cafe, Fort Worth, Diablo Burger
48. Speedy’s Burger, Houston, Hamburguesa Mexicana
49. Gourmet Burger Grill, San Antonio, Hamburger
50. Jakes, Dallas, #1 Jakes Special
page dedication - to Lynn, who asked for a good place to eat when he was in El Paso
I still remember going to the Rio Grande Valley in 1982 and eating at their recommendation in Reynosa, Mexico. The "especial de casa" was about 4 plates worth of food that included typical Tex-Mex border fare, as well as mashed potatoes and gravy and onion rings!!! the Texas Monthly review is how I found La Fogata in San Antonio.
Through the years, Texas Monthly has done articles on Best BBQ in Texas 3 times. I have a separate post on Texas BBQ and much of it was because of their information. They also did Country Cafes - and between 1985 and 1989 I ate at about 20 of them. My favorite was Schoenneman's in Brenham. While the name has changed, there's still a cafe there and they were glad I came by on a recent trip to Blue Bell ... but that's another posting.
In 2009, Texas Monthly did and article on the Top 50 Hamburgers in Texas. The info is below. I've only eaten at a few of these places (indicated with ***), and will try to eat at more - time and health permitting!
Enjoy!
From Texas Monthly ...
The list is ranked in order of our preference from one to fifty, with the name of the restaurant first. The exact burger we sampled is listed–if you haven’t had it, go try it before you leave a comment. The same place may offer burger variations that range from great to good to yuck. Trust us on this–we ate at more than 250 places to choose the top 50.
1. The Grape, Dallas, Classic Cheeseburger
2. Counter Cafe, Austin, Counter Burger
3. Alamo Springs Cafe, Fredericksburg, Cheeseburger (with green chiles on a jalapeno-cheese bun)
4. Toro Burger Bar, El Paso, Toro Burger
5. The Cove, San Antonio, Texas Burger
6. The Porch, Dallas, The Stodg
7. Perini Ranch Steakhouse, Buffalo Gap, Hamburger Steak on a Bun
8. Dutch’s, Fort Worth, Bacon and Bleu Cheese Burger
9. Beck’s Prime***, Houston, Bacon Cheeseburger
10. Orlando’s, Lubbock, Cheeseburger in Paradise
11. White Buffalo Bar, Gage Hotel Marathon, Buffalo Burger
12. Cover 3, Austin, Chop-House Burger (with cheese and bacon)
13. Burger Fresh, Conroe, 1/2 Pound Burger
14. Burger Tex II, Austin, Burgogi Burger
15. Twisted Root Burger Co., Dallas, Hamburger
16. Max’s Wine Dive, Austin and Houston, Kobe Beef Burger
17. Love Shack, Fort Worth, Dirty Love Burger
18. Fatty’s Burgers & More, San Antonio, Ref Burger
19. MoMak’s Backyard Malts & Burgers, San Antonio, MoMak Classic Burger
20. Kelly’s Eastside, Plano, Southwestern Burger
21. Big’z Burger Joint, San Antonio, Big’z Famous No. 1
22. Chicken Oil Co., Bryan, Snuffy Burger
23. Cafe Michael Burger, Galveston, Tiki Burger
24. Burgers, Fries and Cherry Pies, Midland, The French Connection Burger
25. Mockingbird Bistro, Houston, American Kobe Beef Burger
26. Parkside, Austin, Cheeseburger
27. Black Sheep Lodge, Austin, Black Buffalo Burger
28. Miss Hattie’s Cafe and Saloon, San Angelo, Miss Hattie Burger
29. Mel’s Country Cafe, Tomball, Double Hamburger
30. Roaring Fork, Austin, Half Ass Burger (also in San Antonio)
31. Gene’s Tasty Burger, Wichita Falls, Frisco Burger
32. Cliff Cafe, Dallas, Brie and Granny Smith Burger
33. Bracken Store Cafe, San Antonio, Bean and Frito Burger
34. Sam’s Deli Diner, Houston, Hamburger
35. Dry Creek Cafe, Houston, The Regular (with asadero cheese)
36. Hamburger Store, Jefferson, Build-Your-Own Burger
37. Mighty Fine, Austin, Hamburger
38. Roadhouse, Bastrop, Jalapeno Cream Cheese Burger
39. Lankford Grocery and Market, Houston, Old-Fashioned Hamburger
40. Classics Burgers and “Moore,” Kerrville, Cheeseburger
41. Koffee Kup Family Restaurant, Hico, Jalapeno Cream Cheese Burger
42. Hruska’s Store and Bakery***, Ellinger, Cheeseburger
43. Rosco’s Burger Inn***, El Paso, Rosco Burger
44. Port Aransas Brewing Company, Port Aransas, Stopher Burger
45. Goode Company Hamburgers and Taqueria***, Houston, Mesquite Burger
46. Snuffer’s Restaurant and Bar, Dallas, Green Chile Swissburger
47. Fred’s Texas Cafe, Fort Worth, Diablo Burger
48. Speedy’s Burger, Houston, Hamburguesa Mexicana
49. Gourmet Burger Grill, San Antonio, Hamburger
50. Jakes, Dallas, #1 Jakes Special
page dedication - to Lynn, who asked for a good place to eat when he was in El Paso
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Eating in Chicago
Headed for the Windy City? Here's my food suggestions for Chicago:
My favorite places to eat are Giordano's and Gino's ... I can eat
there two or three times each trip and NEVER have the same thing.
My favorite is Giordano's ... several locations .. and I now get my Chicago Italian fix when I go to Florida.
http://www.giordanos.com/main.php
They have a good selection of Italian cuisine in addition to the pizza.
Gino's ... aka Gino's East
http://featuredfoods.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/a-store/c-GinoAns_East.shtml?E+scstore+ginos
They also serve thin crust pizza and you can get pizza by the slice
For "hamborgerz" and history, there's nothing like the Billy Goat Tavern ... which originated "The Curse" on the Chicago Cubs. The original is downtown and there are other locations.
http://www.billygoattavern.com/locations.html
And what's a trip to Chicago without a hot dog (or two)??? There's a
real Chi Town treat!!! My recommendations are:
Superdawg ... it's MY favorite ... great atmosphere
http://www.superdawg.com/
Another with a great history is Demon Dogs but when I was looking at the web, they don't have a dedicated site - several locations - but can't tell which ones are open. If you see one, enjoy.
http://www.hollyeats.com/DemonDog.htm
Portillo's is another great hot dog spot (and they have several locations ... and the family has other restaurants)
http://www.portillos.com/
if you're out towards Evanston there's Bill's Drive In for hot dogs.
If you're by Wrigley Field, there are several places ...
Cubby Bear and Murphy's Bleachers are bars ... activity will vary depending upon the baseball schedule. Both are legends!
Harry Caray's Tavern, Dugout Bar and Grill, and Vines on Clark offer bar and grill type food and unique atmosphere.
Here's a note for Astros fans not used to the concept ... you CAN carry in food (and drinks) to Wrigley Field!
Finally ... recommendations from trusted palates ...
Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse ... a little pricey but a good value. Very good steak! Lots of baseball memorabilia!
http://www.diningchicago.com/2008/show_banner.php?restID=270
there's also the Weber Grill. You know the grills in the backyard? This a restaurant where they just cook on the kettles ... YUM
http://www.webergrillrestaurant.com/
if you like beer ... Goose Island is a local brew ... they have brew pubs ...
http://www.gooseisland.com/pages/home/56.php
Those are the places I've been to and eaten or have a good recommendation from my BFF Neal (he takes great trips) and my sister (who goes there often).
Lots of good food to choose from in Chicago ... let me know how your trip went and where you ate.
dedications: to Jeanie - glad you had great seats and the Astros won for you!!! to Josh and Ellen - enjoy!!!
My favorite places to eat are Giordano's and Gino's ... I can eat
there two or three times each trip and NEVER have the same thing.
My favorite is Giordano's ... several locations .. and I now get my Chicago Italian fix when I go to Florida.
http://www.giordanos.com/main.php
They have a good selection of Italian cuisine in addition to the pizza.
Gino's ... aka Gino's East
http://featuredfoods.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/a-store/c-GinoAns_East.shtml?E+scstore+ginos
They also serve thin crust pizza and you can get pizza by the slice
For "hamborgerz" and history, there's nothing like the Billy Goat Tavern ... which originated "The Curse" on the Chicago Cubs. The original is downtown and there are other locations.
http://www.billygoattavern.com/locations.html
And what's a trip to Chicago without a hot dog (or two)??? There's a
real Chi Town treat!!! My recommendations are:
Superdawg ... it's MY favorite ... great atmosphere
http://www.superdawg.com/
Another with a great history is Demon Dogs but when I was looking at the web, they don't have a dedicated site - several locations - but can't tell which ones are open. If you see one, enjoy.
http://www.hollyeats.com/DemonDog.htm
Portillo's is another great hot dog spot (and they have several locations ... and the family has other restaurants)
http://www.portillos.com/
if you're out towards Evanston there's Bill's Drive In for hot dogs.
If you're by Wrigley Field, there are several places ...
Cubby Bear and Murphy's Bleachers are bars ... activity will vary depending upon the baseball schedule. Both are legends!
Harry Caray's Tavern, Dugout Bar and Grill, and Vines on Clark offer bar and grill type food and unique atmosphere.
Here's a note for Astros fans not used to the concept ... you CAN carry in food (and drinks) to Wrigley Field!
Finally ... recommendations from trusted palates ...
Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse ... a little pricey but a good value. Very good steak! Lots of baseball memorabilia!
http://www.diningchicago.com/2008/show_banner.php?restID=270
there's also the Weber Grill. You know the grills in the backyard? This a restaurant where they just cook on the kettles ... YUM
http://www.webergrillrestaurant.com/
if you like beer ... Goose Island is a local brew ... they have brew pubs ...
http://www.gooseisland.com/pages/home/56.php
Those are the places I've been to and eaten or have a good recommendation from my BFF Neal (he takes great trips) and my sister (who goes there often).
Lots of good food to choose from in Chicago ... let me know how your trip went and where you ate.
dedications: to Jeanie - glad you had great seats and the Astros won for you!!! to Josh and Ellen - enjoy!!!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Eating in San Antonio
Every Texan has two homes ... their own and San Antonio. The Alamo City attracts people from across the country and around the world for meetings and seminars (they have the HUGE Henry B. Gonzalez center, as well as business headquarters and Army and Air Force bases), but people from all over the Lone Star State go there for vacations, playcations, and a general good time. That's one reason you see so many smiling faces in San Antonio
When you think of San Antonio, you think of The River Walk and Mexican food.
The oldest place with the best food is Casa Rio. I ate here the first time I visited in 1972, and I keep coming back, not as often as in the past, but still once in a while. My favorites are the enchiladas. You can eat inside, but it's fun to sit on the patio along the river. Yes, everyone will look at your plate, so take your time eating - and clean up your plate!
Also on the River Walk is the Original Mexican Restaurant. They have the usual Mexican fare here, but they have something no one else has - Kangaroo Court Cheesecake. The KC was a great dining place for years well known for their desserts. Many lamented their closing. But they live on at the Original Mexican Restaurant.
A trolley or cab ride away from the river is El Mercado - The Market. You'll find two San Antonio traditions here ... Mi Tierra and La Margarita. Mi Tierra has the basics and is open 24 hours - serving breakfast and late nite munchies. One of the reasons to visit is their bakery (Panderia in Spanish). There's all kinds of goodies - I like the candied fruits and empanadas.
http://www.mitierracafe.com/default.html
La Margarita bills itself as "Restaurant and Oyster Bar." It is the home of fajitas, one of the first restaurants in San Antonio to serve them. They have many traditional recipes, as well as strolling musicians. My favorite musical "incident" happened here ... the mariachi band sang "the Yellow Rose of Texas" in Spanish for a group of Japanese tourists.
http://www.lamargarita.com/
BOTH places will have long lines at peak times (like Friday and Saturday nights), so be patient.
The Cortez Family also has the little Mexican Restaurant there to the side of Market Square - it's not as flashy and serves more fish dishes. It's a good place to eat as well.
Over in the covered market will be a couple of places to eat. I've always wanted to try them but haven't. There really aren't too many bad places to eat in San Antonio. If they can't compete, they close!
The one thing you WILL see in this area are a number of locals eating. My friends from San Antonio tell me most of them went to Mi Tierra on prom nite, or prom morning after.
Away from The Mercado and River Walk, my favorite Mexican places include El Jarro de Arturo (north side on San Pedro past the Airport)), La Fogata (near down town), Martha's (on the 410 near the airport and two other locations), and Taco Garage (on Broadway near 410).
http://www.eljarro.com/
http://www.lafogata.com/main/index.php
http://www.tacogarage.com/
Just once in your life, eat at the top of the Tower of the Americas. If nothing else, have an appetizer, dessert, coffee or drink. It violates my "don't eat at chain restaurant" rule, especially in a great food town like San Antonio, but this is one of the best views in Texas.
http://www.toweroftheamericas.com/
San Antonio was also a cattle town and a German town.
My favorite place is Schilo's. It's a German Deli and cafe ... open Monday thru Saturday. They close early (like 8pm). It has home made root beer and daily lunch specials. The very first time I ate there is was a VERY cold day. They said their split pea soup would warm me up. I don't care for green peas, and I couldn't imagine I'd like them split in a soup, but when in Rome (or San Antonio) ... yummmmm. Lots of ham in it - served with lots of rye bread ... it's delicious! I plan my San Antonio eating around Schilo's lunch specials! It's reviewed and recommended by Frommer, Zagat, Mobil, AAA, Yahoo Travel, Urban Sppon, Guy Fieri ... and now me! one word - go. Two words - go often!!!
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/sanantonio/D12649.html
The Little Rhein Steak House on the Rive Walk is a good place to get a steak. Great Steaks and a great view. A romantic splurge.
http://www.littlerheinsteakhouse.com/
Across from The Alamo is the G-M Steak House. They have a great steak and eggs breakfast! The food is nothing too exciting, but decent and cheap.
In the King William District, I like two places ...
The Guenther House serves breakfast and lunch 7 days a week. It's part of the Pioneer Flour Mills, which Texans will recognize. As you might expect, eat their biscuits!
http://www.guentherhouse.com/
For quirky, fun and good, there's the Madhatter Tea House and Cafe. Don't be fooled by the name. There's more than sandwiches (and tea). Order at the counter and find a table. There's a Saturday and Sunday brunch. Relax and enjoy. Save room for dessert!
http://www.madhatterstea.com/menu/
There's lots of places to get a drink, but none more famous than The Menger Hotel. Teddy Roosevelt recruited his rough riders in the lobby. There's a brunch in The Colonial Room Monday thru Saturday.
... a couple of off beat places ...
The Fourth Street Cafe. It's run by the First Baptist Church of San Antonio and only open Tuesday thru Friday 11 -2. They serve one of the best Chicken Friend Steaks you'll eat! Your purchase supports their food ministry to SAT’s homeless.
http://www.fbcsa.org/templates/cusfbcsa/details.asp?id=34507&PID=354546
the other "BEST PLACE" for CFS is Lulu's. It's also the place for the two pound cinnamon roll. Yummmmmm! My parents found this place a few years back and were surprised I hadn't made it there sooner. Truth is, I'd been at Mi Tierra and other panderias around town. Their CFS is great and comes with homemade sides. It's enough food for two. And that two pound cinnamon roll - it;s good for the entire group.
http://www.luluscafeinsa.com/
I hesitate to eat at national chain places when traveling. But I will recommend Hard Rock Cafe. To me, it's as much "museum" as "place to eat." It has a good location in SAT, so go. You'll probably see this post in "things to do - San Antonio" as well.
I haven't mentioned eating at The Quarry - which has developed over the years, or up in Boerne, or out west Castroville. I'll save that for other posts. If you're going thee before it gets written, send me a request. After all, it's how this blog got started.
Finally ... I lament the closing of a couple of faves. One was The Pig Stand. I got to eat at two San Antonio locations. They are credited as the inventors of onion rings. God bless them for that! The other was Truffel's on New Braunfels Ave. When my dad had an extended assignment from his company in the mid-1980's, we'd visit him on weekends and eat there on Sunday mornings. We would check out the dessert tray first and actually ATE dessert first, then had custom omelets, sliced ham and prime rib, and all kinds of sides. One thing you can be certain - if my dad and I were eating together, we weren't wasting tummy space on salads!
page dedication ... to my daughter, who loves the food of San Antonio; my parents, who helped me discover the fun and food; Terry, who twice said "I'm full" ... and to Lisa, happy 21st birthday!
When you think of San Antonio, you think of The River Walk and Mexican food.
The oldest place with the best food is Casa Rio. I ate here the first time I visited in 1972, and I keep coming back, not as often as in the past, but still once in a while. My favorites are the enchiladas. You can eat inside, but it's fun to sit on the patio along the river. Yes, everyone will look at your plate, so take your time eating - and clean up your plate!
Also on the River Walk is the Original Mexican Restaurant. They have the usual Mexican fare here, but they have something no one else has - Kangaroo Court Cheesecake. The KC was a great dining place for years well known for their desserts. Many lamented their closing. But they live on at the Original Mexican Restaurant.
A trolley or cab ride away from the river is El Mercado - The Market. You'll find two San Antonio traditions here ... Mi Tierra and La Margarita. Mi Tierra has the basics and is open 24 hours - serving breakfast and late nite munchies. One of the reasons to visit is their bakery (Panderia in Spanish). There's all kinds of goodies - I like the candied fruits and empanadas.
http://www.mitierracafe.com/default.html
La Margarita bills itself as "Restaurant and Oyster Bar." It is the home of fajitas, one of the first restaurants in San Antonio to serve them. They have many traditional recipes, as well as strolling musicians. My favorite musical "incident" happened here ... the mariachi band sang "the Yellow Rose of Texas" in Spanish for a group of Japanese tourists.
http://www.lamargarita.com/
BOTH places will have long lines at peak times (like Friday and Saturday nights), so be patient.
The Cortez Family also has the little Mexican Restaurant there to the side of Market Square - it's not as flashy and serves more fish dishes. It's a good place to eat as well.
Over in the covered market will be a couple of places to eat. I've always wanted to try them but haven't. There really aren't too many bad places to eat in San Antonio. If they can't compete, they close!
The one thing you WILL see in this area are a number of locals eating. My friends from San Antonio tell me most of them went to Mi Tierra on prom nite, or prom morning after.
Away from The Mercado and River Walk, my favorite Mexican places include El Jarro de Arturo (north side on San Pedro past the Airport)), La Fogata (near down town), Martha's (on the 410 near the airport and two other locations), and Taco Garage (on Broadway near 410).
http://www.eljarro.com/
http://www.lafogata.com/main/index.php
http://www.tacogarage.com/
Just once in your life, eat at the top of the Tower of the Americas. If nothing else, have an appetizer, dessert, coffee or drink. It violates my "don't eat at chain restaurant" rule, especially in a great food town like San Antonio, but this is one of the best views in Texas.
http://www.toweroftheamericas.com/
San Antonio was also a cattle town and a German town.
My favorite place is Schilo's. It's a German Deli and cafe ... open Monday thru Saturday. They close early (like 8pm). It has home made root beer and daily lunch specials. The very first time I ate there is was a VERY cold day. They said their split pea soup would warm me up. I don't care for green peas, and I couldn't imagine I'd like them split in a soup, but when in Rome (or San Antonio) ... yummmmm. Lots of ham in it - served with lots of rye bread ... it's delicious! I plan my San Antonio eating around Schilo's lunch specials! It's reviewed and recommended by Frommer, Zagat, Mobil, AAA, Yahoo Travel, Urban Sppon, Guy Fieri ... and now me! one word - go. Two words - go often!!!
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/sanantonio/D12649.html
The Little Rhein Steak House on the Rive Walk is a good place to get a steak. Great Steaks and a great view. A romantic splurge.
http://www.littlerheinsteakhouse.com/
Across from The Alamo is the G-M Steak House. They have a great steak and eggs breakfast! The food is nothing too exciting, but decent and cheap.
In the King William District, I like two places ...
The Guenther House serves breakfast and lunch 7 days a week. It's part of the Pioneer Flour Mills, which Texans will recognize. As you might expect, eat their biscuits!
http://www.guentherhouse.com/
For quirky, fun and good, there's the Madhatter Tea House and Cafe. Don't be fooled by the name. There's more than sandwiches (and tea). Order at the counter and find a table. There's a Saturday and Sunday brunch. Relax and enjoy. Save room for dessert!
http://www.madhatterstea.com/menu/
There's lots of places to get a drink, but none more famous than The Menger Hotel. Teddy Roosevelt recruited his rough riders in the lobby. There's a brunch in The Colonial Room Monday thru Saturday.
... a couple of off beat places ...
The Fourth Street Cafe. It's run by the First Baptist Church of San Antonio and only open Tuesday thru Friday 11 -2. They serve one of the best Chicken Friend Steaks you'll eat! Your purchase supports their food ministry to SAT’s homeless.
http://www.fbcsa.org/templates/cusfbcsa/details.asp?id=34507&PID=354546
the other "BEST PLACE" for CFS is Lulu's. It's also the place for the two pound cinnamon roll. Yummmmmm! My parents found this place a few years back and were surprised I hadn't made it there sooner. Truth is, I'd been at Mi Tierra and other panderias around town. Their CFS is great and comes with homemade sides. It's enough food for two. And that two pound cinnamon roll - it;s good for the entire group.
http://www.luluscafeinsa.com/
I hesitate to eat at national chain places when traveling. But I will recommend Hard Rock Cafe. To me, it's as much "museum" as "place to eat." It has a good location in SAT, so go. You'll probably see this post in "things to do - San Antonio" as well.
I haven't mentioned eating at The Quarry - which has developed over the years, or up in Boerne, or out west Castroville. I'll save that for other posts. If you're going thee before it gets written, send me a request. After all, it's how this blog got started.
Finally ... I lament the closing of a couple of faves. One was The Pig Stand. I got to eat at two San Antonio locations. They are credited as the inventors of onion rings. God bless them for that! The other was Truffel's on New Braunfels Ave. When my dad had an extended assignment from his company in the mid-1980's, we'd visit him on weekends and eat there on Sunday mornings. We would check out the dessert tray first and actually ATE dessert first, then had custom omelets, sliced ham and prime rib, and all kinds of sides. One thing you can be certain - if my dad and I were eating together, we weren't wasting tummy space on salads!
page dedication ... to my daughter, who loves the food of San Antonio; my parents, who helped me discover the fun and food; Terry, who twice said "I'm full" ... and to Lisa, happy 21st birthday!
Friday, July 9, 2010
Eating in Austin
As much is Austin is a football town, Austin is a food town! And the Capital of the Lone Star State is perhaps the best topic to be blog entry numero uno.
My connection began in 1974, the moment I arrived at Sam Houston State University. My roommate graduated from John H. Reagan High School in Austin and took it upon himself to teach this Yankee about all things Texan. He learned me about Friday Night Lights, CFS, bar-b-que being both a NOUN and a VERB, and other great things for which I am eternally grateful - like Gary P Nunn, Jerry Jeff Walker, Michael Martin Murphey, and, of course, Willie, Waylon, and the boys. I think of him every single time I enter Travis County and start humming "I wanna go home with the armadillos ... "
And the music brings us to the food ...
My favorite place to eat is Threadgill's - both the original place on N Lamar and the place I like best on Barton Springs at Riverside. Both have great a place in Texas history. Take a moment ot read about them on their web site ...
http://www.threadgills.com/
Biggest reason I like them - no matter who goes with you, everyone in your party will find something they like. Texas country favorites are on the list (Chicken Fried Steak, Pecan Crusted Chicken) as well as burgers, meatloaf, and grilled items. There's even Liver and Onions which I hear are good but NO amount of money will ever get me to eat. There's also all kinds of sides - 28 choices. Now, I'm a meat and potatoes guy - but mostly MEAT. But they have GREAT vegetables. My faves are the San Antonio Squash, Broccoli Rice Casserole, Texas Black-Eyed Pea Caviar, and Garlic Cheese Grits Threadgill's offers a 3-choice or 5-choice plate. And while they don't ADVERTISE all you can eat, you do get refills on your sides (within reason). They have great portions, good prices.
My next favorite place is Mandola's Italian Market. They have two locations, the original on N Lamar at Guadalupe in The Triangle, and the new one out on Bee Cave Road. His twin son's run the locations and Damian is a frequent visitor. I went to college with Damian Mandola (co-founder of Carrabba's) and that surely might prejudice this recommendation were it not for the good food ... and the happy responses from others! It's a casual atmosphere. They have good Italian food (to go and sit down, as well as menu and table service). There's meats and food in the Deli. An then there's DESSERTS!!! Cakes, cookies, gelato - yum! All homemade and fresh. The varieties change with demand. Lots of choices and sampling is encouraged!!! You can tell this is authentic Italian ... photos of the Virgin Mother, the Holy Father, Damian's mama Rosa, and Frank Sinatra greet you as you enter he Bee Cave location. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia winks at you on the way to the restroom (you'll need a chair to read the letter). There's a lighted Bocce court out back. Wine is served by the glass or you can buy a bottle. Portions are generous. We got a "small" gelato, asked for two flavors, and had enough to share (had I wanted).
http://www.mandolasitalianmarket.com/
Across the parking lot from Mandola's Italian Market on Lamar is Flying Saucer ... aka - BEEEEEEEER! 75 taps from all over the world, including Austin and the Hill Country. On the other end of the strip center on Bee Cave is Spec's - Spirits and Fine Food (one of several Austin locations). Enjoy ... and enjoy responsibly.
I HAD to eat at Bess Bistro the first time because it's owned by Sandra Bullock. I'll come back because of the food. They offer half price appetizers (they're called "morsels" on the menu) for happy hour (2:30 - 6:30 M-F), daily specials, and brunch on Sunday. They have a wonderful atmosphere - nice but not pretentious.
I had the Smoked Bacon Mussels for $5. There were 18 in a great tomato bisque with a bacon ragout. But the pan grilled garlic-butter ciabatta bread ... OMG!!! The bread MADE the meal. Okay - everything else was well crafted, and who expects 18 mussels in an appetizer? It was dinner for me on a Friday evening. They "only" had 4 beers taps and I was thinking - sure, B, M, C and SB (Shiner Bock) ... but NO - Independence's Austin Amber, Abita's Purple Haze, Victory's Hop Devil IPA and (512)'s Pecan Porter. Yummmmmm! Great choices. BTW - I missed Sandra by 18 hours. According to my sources, so did most other in the restaurant as she sat unassumingly at a table with baby Louis, her hair pulled back, no make-up, and blue jeans.
Went back for a second trip to Bess. This time, it was a date, and could there be ANY more pressure on a guy? We had (shared) the Caramelized Onion and Wild Mushroom Tart with petite mache salad (burgundy shallot vinagrette) and the Creole Shrimp Bess - 7 Jumbo/Extra Jumbo Gulf shrimp (about the size of your thumb and 16 - 24 per pound category) with grilled ciabatta. One of the chefs, Janelle, came out and chatted. To me, THAT is some kinda' pressure - to be willing to face your customers. She's from Lubbock, spent time in the US Navy (where she acquired her love and knowledge for seafood), and is doing what she LOVES. She had nothing to fear as everything was perfectly prepared. The waiter was punctual and informative; the maitre de stopped by several times, as well. Next trip - will it be for happy hour morsels or something on the newly revised menu???
http://www.bessbistro.com/
A surprise find was the Texas Embassy on 6th Street - Cuban food! The traditional Cuban sandwich was spot on to Tampa ... 16 beers on tap at $4 per pint was great. It's touted as a gathering spot for games - there's a back porch and upstairs. I was there with Neal Scott for the World Cup (USA - England 6/12/10). We sat at the bar and had a 50-inch TV within easy eye sight. I loved the restroom doors - y'all better pay attention when running to the bath rooms!!!
http://www.texasembassyaustin.com/
Austin is a BBQ town. Uncle Billy's Brew and 'Cue on Barton Springs and Stubbs are two places I've eaten. They do well with whatever you like. I'm a sausage guy. Uncle Billy's has moist and tender BBQ, generous portions, plentiful fried okra ... and very tasty home-brewed beer. There's a Honky-Tonk Happy Hour sat and Sunday 2-6 ... and it what Austin is all about. one word - Go!!!
http://www.unclebillysaustin.com/
Stubb's is close to the downtown action, just a few steps off Sixth Street. It's been ages since I was there but the line down Red River on a recent Friday night shows there's something worth waiting for inside ... like fried green tomatoes, smoked duck quesadillas, and Texas onion rings!
http://www.stubbsaustin.com
Take a drive out FM 1826 towards Driftwood (at Camp Ben McCullough) is Salt Lick BBQ. It's a wonderful place with spacious grounds and live music most nights. Expect a wait at prime times. It's cash only and BYOB. The meats are good but I pretty well stuff myself with their slaw.
http://www.saltlickbbq.com/
There's also a little blue stand, BBQ Heaven, on the corner of 7th Street and Red River that has GREAT food and you can see it being cooked on the pit outside. Nothing fancy ... but honest, hard-working folks making great food at a great price ... $3 and $4 sandwiches.
Austin also has lots of good Mexican food. The tried and true is Matt's El Rancho. If you drive to the east side of I-35 into the Hispanic areas, there are lots of good places.
http://www.mattselrancho.com/
Once place I'd never visited in previous trips was The Oasis. It has the best sunsets in Texas, and it was lovely the night I was there. We had great guacamole and good queso on chips which were way too thick and mass produced (I like my chips thin and crispy). I asked a friend what was good on the menu and he said it was all down hill from there. I've heard the same comments from friends in the two weeks after my visit. The hamburger I had was edible but not memorable. But the sunset ... awesome ... bring your camera!!! Learn to use your manual setting or you'll miss out on spectacular pix!!!!
http://www.oasis-austin.com/
Again - the opines here are my own. Yes, LOTS of places I've missed and many I wanna try - Artz Ribs, House Park BBQ, Hey Cupcake, Taco Hut and more. I haven't been compensated in any way from any of the above establishments.
Hey, wanna save some $$$'s on eating in Austin??? Some SERIOUS $$$$$$$$$$'s ... ???????
Here's a site that'll help you lots (it did for me!!!)
http://www.frugalfeaster.com/
This post dedicated to: Lisa, who was headed to Austin and asked for food info (and under deadline pressure I wrote and wrote) ... and Jeanie, for putting me up and putting up with me.
My connection began in 1974, the moment I arrived at Sam Houston State University. My roommate graduated from John H. Reagan High School in Austin and took it upon himself to teach this Yankee about all things Texan. He learned me about Friday Night Lights, CFS, bar-b-que being both a NOUN and a VERB, and other great things for which I am eternally grateful - like Gary P Nunn, Jerry Jeff Walker, Michael Martin Murphey, and, of course, Willie, Waylon, and the boys. I think of him every single time I enter Travis County and start humming "I wanna go home with the armadillos ... "
And the music brings us to the food ...
My favorite place to eat is Threadgill's - both the original place on N Lamar and the place I like best on Barton Springs at Riverside. Both have great a place in Texas history. Take a moment ot read about them on their web site ...
http://www.threadgills.com/
Biggest reason I like them - no matter who goes with you, everyone in your party will find something they like. Texas country favorites are on the list (Chicken Fried Steak, Pecan Crusted Chicken) as well as burgers, meatloaf, and grilled items. There's even Liver and Onions which I hear are good but NO amount of money will ever get me to eat. There's also all kinds of sides - 28 choices. Now, I'm a meat and potatoes guy - but mostly MEAT. But they have GREAT vegetables. My faves are the San Antonio Squash, Broccoli Rice Casserole, Texas Black-Eyed Pea Caviar, and Garlic Cheese Grits Threadgill's offers a 3-choice or 5-choice plate. And while they don't ADVERTISE all you can eat, you do get refills on your sides (within reason). They have great portions, good prices.
My next favorite place is Mandola's Italian Market. They have two locations, the original on N Lamar at Guadalupe in The Triangle, and the new one out on Bee Cave Road. His twin son's run the locations and Damian is a frequent visitor. I went to college with Damian Mandola (co-founder of Carrabba's) and that surely might prejudice this recommendation were it not for the good food ... and the happy responses from others! It's a casual atmosphere. They have good Italian food (to go and sit down, as well as menu and table service). There's meats and food in the Deli. An then there's DESSERTS!!! Cakes, cookies, gelato - yum! All homemade and fresh. The varieties change with demand. Lots of choices and sampling is encouraged!!! You can tell this is authentic Italian ... photos of the Virgin Mother, the Holy Father, Damian's mama Rosa, and Frank Sinatra greet you as you enter he Bee Cave location. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia winks at you on the way to the restroom (you'll need a chair to read the letter). There's a lighted Bocce court out back. Wine is served by the glass or you can buy a bottle. Portions are generous. We got a "small" gelato, asked for two flavors, and had enough to share (had I wanted).
http://www.mandolasitalianmarket.com/
Across the parking lot from Mandola's Italian Market on Lamar is Flying Saucer ... aka - BEEEEEEEER! 75 taps from all over the world, including Austin and the Hill Country. On the other end of the strip center on Bee Cave is Spec's - Spirits and Fine Food (one of several Austin locations). Enjoy ... and enjoy responsibly.
I HAD to eat at Bess Bistro the first time because it's owned by Sandra Bullock. I'll come back because of the food. They offer half price appetizers (they're called "morsels" on the menu) for happy hour (2:30 - 6:30 M-F), daily specials, and brunch on Sunday. They have a wonderful atmosphere - nice but not pretentious.
I had the Smoked Bacon Mussels for $5. There were 18 in a great tomato bisque with a bacon ragout. But the pan grilled garlic-butter ciabatta bread ... OMG!!! The bread MADE the meal. Okay - everything else was well crafted, and who expects 18 mussels in an appetizer? It was dinner for me on a Friday evening. They "only" had 4 beers taps and I was thinking - sure, B, M, C and SB (Shiner Bock) ... but NO - Independence's Austin Amber, Abita's Purple Haze, Victory's Hop Devil IPA and (512)'s Pecan Porter. Yummmmmm! Great choices. BTW - I missed Sandra by 18 hours. According to my sources, so did most other in the restaurant as she sat unassumingly at a table with baby Louis, her hair pulled back, no make-up, and blue jeans.
Went back for a second trip to Bess. This time, it was a date, and could there be ANY more pressure on a guy? We had (shared) the Caramelized Onion and Wild Mushroom Tart with petite mache salad (burgundy shallot vinagrette) and the Creole Shrimp Bess - 7 Jumbo/Extra Jumbo Gulf shrimp (about the size of your thumb and 16 - 24 per pound category) with grilled ciabatta. One of the chefs, Janelle, came out and chatted. To me, THAT is some kinda' pressure - to be willing to face your customers. She's from Lubbock, spent time in the US Navy (where she acquired her love and knowledge for seafood), and is doing what she LOVES. She had nothing to fear as everything was perfectly prepared. The waiter was punctual and informative; the maitre de stopped by several times, as well. Next trip - will it be for happy hour morsels or something on the newly revised menu???
http://www.bessbistro.com/
A surprise find was the Texas Embassy on 6th Street - Cuban food! The traditional Cuban sandwich was spot on to Tampa ... 16 beers on tap at $4 per pint was great. It's touted as a gathering spot for games - there's a back porch and upstairs. I was there with Neal Scott for the World Cup (USA - England 6/12/10). We sat at the bar and had a 50-inch TV within easy eye sight. I loved the restroom doors - y'all better pay attention when running to the bath rooms!!!
http://www.texasembassyaustin.com/
Austin is a BBQ town. Uncle Billy's Brew and 'Cue on Barton Springs and Stubbs are two places I've eaten. They do well with whatever you like. I'm a sausage guy. Uncle Billy's has moist and tender BBQ, generous portions, plentiful fried okra ... and very tasty home-brewed beer. There's a Honky-Tonk Happy Hour sat and Sunday 2-6 ... and it what Austin is all about. one word - Go!!!
http://www.unclebillysaustin.com/
Stubb's is close to the downtown action, just a few steps off Sixth Street. It's been ages since I was there but the line down Red River on a recent Friday night shows there's something worth waiting for inside ... like fried green tomatoes, smoked duck quesadillas, and Texas onion rings!
http://www.stubbsaustin.com
Take a drive out FM 1826 towards Driftwood (at Camp Ben McCullough) is Salt Lick BBQ. It's a wonderful place with spacious grounds and live music most nights. Expect a wait at prime times. It's cash only and BYOB. The meats are good but I pretty well stuff myself with their slaw.
http://www.saltlickbbq.com/
There's also a little blue stand, BBQ Heaven, on the corner of 7th Street and Red River that has GREAT food and you can see it being cooked on the pit outside. Nothing fancy ... but honest, hard-working folks making great food at a great price ... $3 and $4 sandwiches.
Austin also has lots of good Mexican food. The tried and true is Matt's El Rancho. If you drive to the east side of I-35 into the Hispanic areas, there are lots of good places.
http://www.mattselrancho.com/
Once place I'd never visited in previous trips was The Oasis. It has the best sunsets in Texas, and it was lovely the night I was there. We had great guacamole and good queso on chips which were way too thick and mass produced (I like my chips thin and crispy). I asked a friend what was good on the menu and he said it was all down hill from there. I've heard the same comments from friends in the two weeks after my visit. The hamburger I had was edible but not memorable. But the sunset ... awesome ... bring your camera!!! Learn to use your manual setting or you'll miss out on spectacular pix!!!!
http://www.oasis-austin.com/
Again - the opines here are my own. Yes, LOTS of places I've missed and many I wanna try - Artz Ribs, House Park BBQ, Hey Cupcake, Taco Hut and more. I haven't been compensated in any way from any of the above establishments.
Hey, wanna save some $$$'s on eating in Austin??? Some SERIOUS $$$$$$$$$$'s ... ???????
Here's a site that'll help you lots (it did for me!!!)
http://www.frugalfeaster.com/
This post dedicated to: Lisa, who was headed to Austin and asked for food info (and under deadline pressure I wrote and wrote) ... and Jeanie, for putting me up and putting up with me.
Welcome
Thanks for reading my little spot of cyberspace. No trees were harmed in the making of this blog, but a few atoms will be greatly disturbed.
As the title says - it's about Pix, Plates, and Places. I asked for names. Held a contest. Finally came up with two names on my own and this was the one selected by an unscientific vote of 5 people - they all agreed on this one. I value their opinions since three of them were my students and the other two are great graphic designers and wonderful female thinkers.
Why am I doing this? Simply put, people ask me ... What's a good camera to buy? Where's a good place to eat in (insert town here)? What should I see in (again, name a town)?
David Brinkley once wrote a book "Everyone's Entitled to My Opinion." I'm glad to share mine.
Confucius once said "A man who learns from a mistake is wise. A man who learns from his own mistake is TEN TIMES as wise!" We don't have time to learn from our own mistakes, or to eat bad food, drink bad wine (or beer or tequila), or make too many wrong turns. I hope to help in those respects.
This blog will contain my own personal opinions and observations. If you're reading this, chances are you might know me. If you respect my opinion and think I have good taste in eating, then great. If you want the advice of others, that's fine, too. I'll post links to blogs I read and places where I learn. I think the WWW is an awesome place!
As I've admitted, I don't have a passport, so don't ask about things in Europe or Asia.
Taking pictures is about developing skills, it ain't all about the camera. I'll post my thoughts and advice ... and I'll gladly answer questions, hold classes, and even provide tech support over the phone.
That'll have to do for a welcome for now.
Ohhhhh ... I saw a post that said "pressure is writing emails and sending emails to friends who are copy editors." I soooooo disagree. Pressure is writing a blog and knowing your mother, your former college professor, your HS journalism teacher, your sister, your niece (who got a perfect score on her ACT writing segment and is going to an Ivy League school), and several of your former students are reading what you write. Now THAT, my friend ... THAT is pressure!!!!!
thanks again for reading ... thanks, too, if'n you chuckled.
As the title says - it's about Pix, Plates, and Places. I asked for names. Held a contest. Finally came up with two names on my own and this was the one selected by an unscientific vote of 5 people - they all agreed on this one. I value their opinions since three of them were my students and the other two are great graphic designers and wonderful female thinkers.
Why am I doing this? Simply put, people ask me ... What's a good camera to buy? Where's a good place to eat in (insert town here)? What should I see in (again, name a town)?
David Brinkley once wrote a book "Everyone's Entitled to My Opinion." I'm glad to share mine.
Confucius once said "A man who learns from a mistake is wise. A man who learns from his own mistake is TEN TIMES as wise!" We don't have time to learn from our own mistakes, or to eat bad food, drink bad wine (or beer or tequila), or make too many wrong turns. I hope to help in those respects.
This blog will contain my own personal opinions and observations. If you're reading this, chances are you might know me. If you respect my opinion and think I have good taste in eating, then great. If you want the advice of others, that's fine, too. I'll post links to blogs I read and places where I learn. I think the WWW is an awesome place!
As I've admitted, I don't have a passport, so don't ask about things in Europe or Asia.
Taking pictures is about developing skills, it ain't all about the camera. I'll post my thoughts and advice ... and I'll gladly answer questions, hold classes, and even provide tech support over the phone.
That'll have to do for a welcome for now.
Ohhhhh ... I saw a post that said "pressure is writing emails and sending emails to friends who are copy editors." I soooooo disagree. Pressure is writing a blog and knowing your mother, your former college professor, your HS journalism teacher, your sister, your niece (who got a perfect score on her ACT writing segment and is going to an Ivy League school), and several of your former students are reading what you write. Now THAT, my friend ... THAT is pressure!!!!!
thanks again for reading ... thanks, too, if'n you chuckled.
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