http://www.chow.com/boards/61 Sat, 03 Mar 2007 16:22:38 GMT Keep track of the lastest threads on Chowhound http://www.chow.com/topics/668678#5201299 I rarely see anything really healthy at WF and it drives me crazy. Granted, they have a large selection that includes many vegetables, but everything is too greasy, not cooked in the healthiest way and just not healthy. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:39:38 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/668678#5201299 http://www.chow.com/topics/666874#5200975 SInce P.Terry's attempts to clone In-n-Out to a degree, I've noticed they suffer the exact same problem. At both places, the single patty burger is blah. Something about the double meat-double cheese makes it just right. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:41:23 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/666874#5200975 http://www.chow.com/topics/624217#5200785 Oh noes! I drove by around 7PM on Wednesday to get a salad and they were closed. I thought maybe they just closed early, I didn't realize it was for good. That makes me sad, I loved the chicken cobb with blue cheese dressing. Boo. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:04:32 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/624217#5200785 http://www.chow.com/topics/493389#5200309 I lived in Philadelphia a couple years and was a regular visitor to the Italian Market. I purchased over a dozen different fresh-made Italian sausages and Best Wurst matches my favorite. Non salty, perfectly cooked, no gristle, just great sausage. I'm gluten-free these days, and Best Wurst will gladly subtract $1 and serve it without a bun. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:09:25 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/493389#5200309 http://www.chow.com/topics/668487#5199865 Today is actually your best bet for SoCo Cafe; they have a large glass tank of Tito's vodka loaded with numerous colorful peppers. This infused vodka is their default for their Bloody Mary, but suffice to say it has made their vodka the best in all of Austin when wanting a bit of heat and chili zing. Killer. Beats my home experimentation. They won't serve you a drink this AM before noon w/o food -- get some corn bread bites (last time they charged me a quarter for 'em). The food here is alright, decent and forgettable except that it all costs a bit too much. If you're heading home on Monday, El Meson on Burleson will be open and is on the way to the airport. This is, as far as I can tell, the best little taco joint in all of Austin. I've tested them and tested them and they sometimes disappoint, but usually rock Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:57:14 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/668487#5199865 http://www.chow.com/topics/668962#5199732 My wife, another couple, and I went to Texas French Bread for dinner this past Friday and had an excellent dinner. It wasn't an epiphany but it was solid, tasty, well prepared food. According to their menu most of their ingredients are sourced locally. I had fried smelt and braised buffalo short ribs on top of mashed root vegetables. The smelt were a little bland. The ribs were very tasty and I would happily order them again. The only criticism I have is the fact that because buffalo meat is less fatty than cow meat, the ribs were a bit dry. The root vegetables were nothing short of excellent. My wife got a Mediterranean salad and fettuccine with vegetables. She enjoyed each of them. I had a bite of each too and can vouch for the fact that they were very good. The other dishes ordered were Black Drum and pappardelle with sausage, each of which was reported to meet the satisfaction of the eater. Another big plus: it is BYOB with a $4 corkage fee. Only issue any of us had was with the service. Though the waiter was very friendly and pleasant, he was not as quick and attentive as one would expect from a restaurant with $20+ entrees. That being said, I'd go back to TFB for dinner in a heart beat. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:12:50 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/668962#5199732 http://www.chow.com/topics/431193#5199381 ohhhhh i didn't realize it was a once a year thing. makes sense, given the seasons, now that i think about it. i guess i was too early with my email! Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:42:02 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/431193#5199381 http://www.chow.com/topics/611402#5199380 when i woke up this morning and felt an ominous constriction in my chest, i knew i needed soup. some people rely on chicken soup for their soul, but i'm not having that. i want, no, NEED, tom yum. on my way to target, i remembered muang thai just in time to switch lanes and pull into the strip mall. sadly, i made the mistake of ordering their version of crab rangoon. thai food is not exactly known for it's dairy, but i have a weakness for crab rangoon as a guilty pleasure. the menu said it was blue crab, mushrooms and scallions so it seemed like a good variation. it wasn't horrible, but the rolls were way too large and it just...wasn't right. instead of some gingery fish-sauced dip, which would have been great, they gave you an artfully presented mayo and sriracha sauce instead. but the tom yum was amazing. it was heavy on the chile paste, and had wonderful texture from all the garlic, kaffir leaves, ginger and whatnot in the broth. perfect combination of tangy/citrusy/sour/salty/umami/hot. the shrimp were good (3 i believe). i will warn you: it had a few tomato chunks, which i found totally weird. but the broth and the scallions and lemon grass were all so good, i just didn't care. as i type this, i deeply regret not ordering a large container to take home and keep in the fridge. my standard first-time-at-a-new-thai-place dish is green curry. my pet peeve is when it has hardly any veggies, or relies on lots of bell peppers and onions as the "veggies". it was not too creamy and coconut milky, and it had a nice spice/heat to it. i love the baby ginger strands (not sure of the name in thai), and they were kind enough to sub mushrooms for the bell peppers. it came with zucchini, mushrooms and eggplant. i would have loved to see some green beans and bitter melon in there. or sweet potato. but i never see that here so maybe it's a boston thai food thing. i took a menu home and would love to try their lunch specials, because they are very cheap and there are a ton to choose from. having only been to thai food on parmer once, when it first opened, i can't really recall that it blew me away like muang thai did today with the soup. but, thai food is right around the corner from my work, and has a free soup/salad/appetizer bar at lunch, so i am hoping to check it out again next week when our caf is closed for a week due to the holidays. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:40:09 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/611402#5199380 http://www.chow.com/topics/668679#5198343 Have you looked into Blue Dahlia? They've got some really good hot food, plus great salads and cold plates. They use a lot of local ingredients, too. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:20:29 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/668679#5198343 http://www.chow.com/topics/668561#5196984 If you like banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches), I really like Baguette House. It's in the back corner. First Chinese BBQ is like it sounds - Chinese BBQ and Cantonese cuisine. We really like the BBQ pork, the duck, the lo mein, and the hot pots. Much like Din Ho, they have a very extensive menu. TC Noodle House is supposed to specialize in Teochew cuisine, a regional Chinese style. I am not familiar with it at all so can't speak to its authenticity. Our sole trip we tried a couple of egg noodle dishes that were not unlike the same dishes (hu tieu, I think?) at Tan Tan. Speaking of Tan Tan, it used to be our favorite Pho place, but I think Pho Saigon at Chinatown has it beat. It's sort of a big, warehouse-y atmosphere, but the service is fast and the broth and noodles are great. The bun (vermicelli) is also really good there. Now I want pho for dinner... We have not been to Fortune, Wok on Fire, Korean Grill, or Fresh Tofu. Many of the places have menus or links posted here - http://www.chinatownaustin.com/directory.htm Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:45:23 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/668561#5196984 http://www.chow.com/topics/651560#5196862 I totally agree with you. I was there about a month ago and had the lemon cupcake-awesome. Today there were lots more to choose from and I had the carrot cupcake with cream cheese frosting. It was ethereal---light texture and wonderful flavor. I almost got the Honey Sunshine Bun you mentioned; I'll try that next. We have to keep these folks in business! Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:50:30 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/651560#5196862 http://www.chow.com/topics/621083#5195696 Edible Austin Tea Festival The Edible Austin Tea Festival is a gathering of the Austin area’s fine tea purveyors and tea rooms who will sample and demonstrate all that is mysterious and wonderful about tea. Chef Jesse Bloom of Ecstatic Cuisine will offer tea-paired food plates for $10/ plate. Also featuring tea talks, demonstrations, traditional tea ceremonies and tea products for sale. The Tea Festival is also a stop on the Urban Farm Bicycle Tour. Free. 10 am to 2 pm at the Zhi Tea Gallery, 4607 Bolm Rd. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:46:26 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/621083#5195696 http://www.chow.com/topics/668521#5195448 Looking to put together a Brunch on Sat/Sun. between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Just wondering how many local hounds would be interested. I'll make the arrangements and send out an evite if I get enough bites. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:55:54 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/668521#5195448 http://www.chow.com/topics/666647#5193323 I second the recommendation for Flying Falafel & Pp-Boys - I posted about this place a few months ago. On a recent visit I had the falafel sandwich and I remarked that the falafels were smaller than you normally see. Excellent restaurant Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:31:01 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/666647#5193323 http://www.chow.com/topics/650243#5192869 I went there for the first time a little over a month ago. I loved what we ordered - several appetizers- and great wine list. Really nice rose. Like the space, (the tables were a tad small) liked the waiter, she was helpful, friendly, totally knowledgeable but jesus christ turn the music down!! what is it with restaurants and loud music? El Chili, La Condessa the same, your lunch/dinner turns into a yelling contest with the music. Even drunk it's no fun, I know, I tried that. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:43:21 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/650243#5192869 http://www.chow.com/topics/668192#5192520 Anybody have any insight into what is in this recipe? I've experimented with different ratios of light brown sugar, dried mustard powder, salt and pepper, etc and it's close but I think I'm missing a key ingredient or something. Maybe I should be using some type of prepared mustard? Any help appreciated. I've seen his coffee rubbed brisket recipe is online but haven't found the ribeye recipe anywhere. Thanks! Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:57:34 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/668192#5192520 http://www.chow.com/topics/665126#5192284 I just went on the site...not cheap, either. However, the meal I had at Trio was worth every penny, so I'd imagine the picnic is also worth while. Another option is you both going to Central Market (or you alone if you want to surprise her) and creating a picnic there, complete with wonderful little individual and small-portion desserts and pastries. On a side-note, has anyone seen any fire ants this year? I can honestly say I didn't encounter one this whole year. Can I also suggest NOT going to Zilker Park (the parking and crowds do not instill romance to me), but rather go to the overlook at the Pennybacker (360/2222) bridge? If you park on the Courtyard side (park in in neighborhood, cuz it says no parking on 360) and walk up and immediately turn left and go about 30 yards, there's a really cool little alcove that's perfect for a quiet, romantic picnic. Bring a blanket, but you even have little rock ledges to rest your wine glass and plate. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:28:20 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/665126#5192284 http://www.chow.com/topics/668138#5192017 Just got back from "Man Bites Dog" in the South Austin trailer park. I was gonna post this in the "Best hot dogs" thread, but I realized this wasn't a glorious experience, so decided to create my own thread. The actual dogs themselves were very good. The toppings, however, proved a disappointment. I would definitely eat there again, but would likely take more ownership over what toppings I chose. I had the chili cheese dog, and the Italian Stallion. First the chili cheese dog. I loathe raw onions, so did without the little f*ckers. The dog was a Vienna beef frank, I believe. It was damned good. It was big and cooked perfectly. The bun was also good. Toasted, it held up to the big dog and the generous chili and cheese topping. I will call the chili mediocre (and I'm being nice). I know you shouldn't expect mind-blowing chili from a hot dog trailer, but it was very near "poor" in quality. It wasn't better than the chili at Weinerschnitzel. It was enough of a disappointment that I probably wouldn't order a chili dog from them again. They DID give a lot of it, though. So if you like copious amounts of chili on a damned fine dog, give it a try. The Italian Stallion was a pepperoni-wrapped sweet italian sausage with provolone cheese and marinara sauce. Again, the dog (sweet Italian sausage) and the bun were good. As much as I like obnoxious displays of meatery, with the size of the sausage the pepperoni might have been overkill. The story of the Italian Stallion, however, is with the marinara sauce. It was thick red goop. It was thick and looked like "marinara concentrate" spooned directly from a very large can. It had very little flavor, was visually unpleasing, and was lukewarm (probably warmed from the dog itself). I've had better marinara from Ragu. I'd eat there again, though. The chili dog and the Italian Stallion were from their list of "specials". They have a large list of topping choices from which you can create your own dog. Multiple types of wieners, various cheeses, etc. If I find myself craving a dog and am in South Austin, I'd give them another shot, but would pick and choose my toppings more carefully. Overall, I'd give them 3 thumbs up, out of a possible 5 thumbs. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:53:39 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/668138#5192017 http://www.chow.com/topics/668009#5192000 Yeah, I find their house brand dogs (the same ones the sell in the "cafe") to be too salty and lacking in flavor compared to Hebrew Nationals. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:48:23 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/668009#5192000 http://www.chow.com/topics/608816#5191469 I suppose thin is OK so long as the price is also thin,,,thin and wide is fine also, but I think a good hamburger should really be somewhere around a half pound of beef. Little 1/3 pound burgers dont' really justify 10 dollars or more, IMO. But if you have a thin patty you really need to have a small amount of bun. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:10:04 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/608816#5191469 http://www.chow.com/topics/666483#5190446 I went about 2 months ago also, and I really enjoyed it. It fills a niche that needs filling in Austin, which is affordable fine dining. It's a nice place, but not overly fancy, and the prices are very moderate. I had the spaetzle and schnitzel, and I enjoyed it very much. I also liked the lavender creme brulee more than I expected (I was afraid it would be perfume-y, but it was very subtly flavored). The big revelation of the night, however, was the mussels in savory white wine broth, from the appetizer menu. It was a large bowl filled with freshly steamed mussels swimming in a very rich broth. The waiter brought a second bread basket without being asked, and my friend and I went through the entire basket just sopping up that broth! When the waiter saw that we still had broth, he immediately offered to bring us yet another basket of bread, and we would have been tempted except for the fact that we had already ordered entrees, and we were afraid we would be too full when they arrived. I seriously could have made a meal of those mussels and a basket of bread. I think the dish cost $9, and it was almost twice as big as i expected for that price...probably 25 or so mussels. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:58:51 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/666483#5190446 http://www.chow.com/topics/667015#5190213 If y'all are new to Central Texas I would use this as an good reason to get out and explore some. Head to west to Salt Lick, to Lockhart (I prefer Black's & Smitty's, but I haven't been to Kreuz in a while and need to get it another try), and to City Market in Lulling. In town, Iron Works is great and definitely go to Sams. I think Rudy's is good and has some of the most tender, fall apart with a fork moist brisket of an place, but the flavor is pretty weak compared to a place like Blacks. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:39:07 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/667015#5190213 http://www.chow.com/topics/666623#5190205 The only butcher I know in Austin is Lee's Meat Market on W. 38th. They have always been accommodating to me when I have been looking for different types or cuts of meats--I;m pretty sure they could get you anything you are looking for. http://www.leesmeatmarket.com/Lees_Meat_Market/Welcome.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:36:09 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/666623#5190205 http://www.chow.com/topics/619931#5189945 Gave Pizzaria Corvina another shot the other night. The food and service were both good and the prices are more reasonable. No more $25 entrees! It's good to see them adapting to the neighborhood. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:33:40 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/619931#5189945 http://www.chow.com/topics/499664#5189782 Being a native South Austinite, I think you should consider moving to central or south Austin. South Austin has become a mecca for all things crazy, including the food. You will love it here and adapt somewhat to the style of food here. Pizza, out in Oak Hill there is a Pizza shop in an old historic building that makes good pizza. Can't remember the name. Bella Donna Subs on Burleson was started by a Native New York City guy. We had a language barrier, I didn't understand his New York accent and he didn't understand my Texas accent. Wide variety of subs that he brought the reciepes from New York City. The have New York City Push Cart Hot Dogs. I like everything in the place. BBQ... I just ate at House Park BBQ today and it is great. Been in the same place since '43. Chicken Fried Steak at the Broken Spoke is original. South 1st Street is full of good restaurants with all types of menus. Austin and the surrounding area has a heavy German influence on their food. Many day trips to the hill country will great you great food experiences. I know you will probably miss New York, but in the last 40 years I find that once people get here, they tend to stay. Good luck. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:20:19 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/499664#5189782 http://www.chow.com/topics/666700#5189727 Central Market official policy is that partners (employees) can not accept tips. So there would never be a tip form on a credit card receipt there. That said, if you think someone did a particularly fine job or were very helpful, by all means feel free to speak to the manager and say a few nice words about the person that helped you. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:59:04 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/666700#5189727 http://www.chow.com/topics/665143#5188479 I haven't, tummoi - however, there's lot's of discussion on the Home Cooking board. Do a search on "Heritage." Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:59:30 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/665143#5188479 http://www.chow.com/topics/667800#5188415 Did it just recently open or has it been there awhile? If you're going Thursday- you might want to consider the Groupon too! It's basically like $25 off your bill. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:39:01 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/667800#5188415 http://www.chow.com/topics/665258#5186184 According to Blue Mesa rep, this will be a new concept called Tacos and Tequila Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:50:19 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/665258#5186184 http://www.chow.com/topics/666487#5185536 I like the idea of a local care package. Throw in some Mary Louise Butters Chipotle brownies, maybe local BBQ sauce, etc. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:28:58 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/666487#5185536 http://www.chow.com/topics/523871#5183904 I do like the carrot cake at Upper Crust, and I know that I've had the one at Sweetish Hill. The fact that I can't recall it means that it did not impress me. I think the one that is available by the slice at Whole Foods is surprisingly good, but the best one I've tried lately is the new carrot cake cupcake that Sugar Mama's is offering. Delicious, moist cake and a great cream cheese frosting. If you're up for cooking your own, there was a very simple recipe from Cook's Illustrated that I liked. They called it "simple carrot cake" or something similar. I particularly enjoyed the variation that included cardamom. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:01:54 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/523871#5183904 http://www.chow.com/topics/664762#5183688 Joe DiMaggio's at the Domain has classy $5 appetizers and $5 wines and specialty cocktails. I like the Cable Car Martini and the Fritto Misto Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:21:33 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/664762#5183688 http://www.chow.com/topics/666581#5182977 Do you like fish? Raw? Oysters? Go to Parkside. The burger is good at Parkside, but hardly good enough to justify not crushing their raw bar options, their oysters, their apps, and their mains. Parkside is killing it like no other pricey joint in town right now. They make a number of custom cocktails that are pretty tasty. Place is Downtown, too, so you can go nuts afterwords, and there never seems to be a wait. Repeat visits have validated my opinion on this. (Next in line for fish: Uchi, an absolute Austin point-of-pride in the national culinary scene, and Perla comin' up strong in the rear. Want cheaper fish or something fried? Right now I'll hit Quality Seafood on Airport for standard fare.) You're in Texas, try some Mexican food! Closed on Sunday and iffy on Saturday, El Meson on Burleson is a "dive". Pibil, pastor, chilorio, good stuff. Avoid the enchiladas (microwaved). Still South, but more central is Habenero with amazing fajitas. If you're North central, another hole-in-the-wall with real Austin history is Tamale House #3 on Airport. There are numerous Mexican joints that have crappy food but fun live music. I don't care about them because nothing is more fun than a party of deliciousness in my mouth. BBQ within the city limits is tough in our sad post-Mueller, post-Ben's era. If you're up after two AM but need that fix, Sam's is the only option. Usually got some mutton up in there. In fact, go after two AM and tell 'em the "T-Dog" sent you. Iron Works often gets props for the beef ribs, and rightfully so. I also love their sausage, which many folks don't like, whatever. House Park keeps banker's hours, so good luck. If you're not willing to go for a drive, Austin itself doesn't kill it on BBQ any more. Ruby's on Guadalupe might still be good. (Did they burn down? Haven't been there in ages.) In a pinch, there are passable local chains (Rudy's, Pok-E-Jo's, etc.) Want live music? The venues matter less than the bands. Places downtown that often have decent acts are Stubb's, Emo's, Mohawk, and Antone's. Pick up an Austin Chronicle or visit their website and find out if anyone is playing that you like. The Mountain Goats are playing at Antone's next week; see them if you're around, they're good. French. You're downtown, try Chez Nous, an Austin landmark. On the west side of downtown is Aquarelle, really expensive. Far out east is Justine's, which is a pretty bouncy joint that might be just what you're looking for, style-wise. I had some excellent fish there. Folks are breathlessly raving about the Eastside Showroom for food and for drinks. Apparently the owner is like the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld, only re: cocktails, and will refuse to let you order something that he doesn't personally approve. I haven't been so I can't say if any of this is true, but it sounds amusing. The food is supposed to be good -- can anyone else report? Other places to pick up a solid cocktail include the Peacock, the Good Knight (so I've heard, I haven't been there), Parkside (mentioned above), and Vespaio (along w/ the best Italian in town). Craving beer? Try the Dog & Duck, the Draught House, the Gingerman (semi-chain), or the Flying Saucer (chain). (Is Lovejoy's still open?) Scotch? Your best bet is Opal Devine's (semi-chain, but hey they really have a solid scotch list). Lastly, wine. Mulberry is my favorite place because their food is positively delicious. Great location if you're catching a show at La Zona Rosa or Austin Music Hall. Max's Wine Dine (mini-chain) is also OK, with interesting (if gimmicky) food. Some other wine joints downtown are pretty lame, so I'm leaving them out deliberately. (Looking at you, mini-chain on 2nd street...) Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:16:19 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/666581#5182977 http://www.chow.com/topics/666625#5180024 Glorpisgod returns! Where you been eating.Words?At length?Please? Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:25:55 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/666625#5180024 http://www.chow.com/topics/666551#5178813 Each HEB carries different cuts of beef (and for different prices). I forget which stores regularly carry flatiron but I know I've seen them more than once each at Hancock and Parmer stores. A better cut to look out for is chuck eye. It's a steal lately at $3.49/lb. Often the HEB Natural choice brand is priced less than the USDA select version. -sw Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:26:37 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/666551#5178813 http://www.chow.com/topics/665891#5178767 I just started my CSA membership with Steele Farms so I can't give a full review, but they have been great so far. There is a good variety of vegetables, they deliver to my home, and I can customize the vegetable mix. I will say that I thought I would get a larger quantity of vegetables, but this may change from week to week. They do memberships in 10 week blocks. www.freshtexasproduce.com Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:17:28 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/665891#5178767 http://www.chow.com/topics/485736#5178708 Sichuan Garden (in RR) has fish sizzling rice soup, which I ordered once. Not sure exactly what you mean by 'crisp rice' though -- do you mean just rice cakes, or actual 'Guo Ba' (the caramelized, crisped and hardened layer of rice found at the bottom of the rice pot)? Sichuan Garden uses rice cakes, which, while not bad, are not authentic, and actually tastes quite different. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:03:37 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/485736#5178708 http://www.chow.com/topics/660710#5178683 I love Hat Creek, much more so than P. Terry's or some of the other new-ish burger places in town. The burger patties are juicy and well seasoned. It's more expensive than a combo meal at Mickey D's but tastes a lot better, too. The owner, Drew, is a longtime Austinite. I seem to recall reading somewhere that he played sports for UT. Food is yummy, service is friendly. And their fries are hand cut daily, fried to order. They taste the most like homemade fries of any I've eaten in Austin (and I've eaten plenty). One order of fries is large enough to split unless you are super hungry. Solid choice for a fast food meal. Pics are somewhat blurry, except for the close up of the fries. Sorry, I'm a foodie not a photog. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:56:27 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/660710#5178683 http://www.chow.com/topics/666774#5177701 since it's already mid-november, i feel like it's not too early to be thinking about NYE plans. but austinist, austin 360, the alamo blog and even livejournal (yes, i know, hush) are coming up dry. are you attending any delicious new year's events? Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:05:29 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/666774#5177701 http://www.chow.com/topics/666604#5176979 It makes me so sad that there's nothing good down here. It's all average Americanized crap. What I'd give for a First Chinese outlet down here... Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:18:21 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/666604#5176979 http://www.chow.com/topics/666667#5176355 Has anyone tried it? What would your recommend. Saw they have $10/dz oysters on the half shell. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:20:14 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/666667#5176355 http://www.chow.com/topics/666500#5174736 ive used ham hocks before but to be honest, i hated it. you have to remove the hocks, unlike the ham bone bits, and if you dont you end up with terrible bites of disgusting surprise. ive been told i can get hambones at fiesta? can i get a confirmation? Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:28:34 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/666500#5174736 http://www.chow.com/topics/463600#5174443 I ordered raw milk from the dairy associated with them last week and it was amazing! Their farm stand is great too-- they have yoga in the hayloft on Saturdays. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:43:46 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/463600#5174443 http://www.chow.com/topics/661154#5173373 I can vouch for Whole Foods. It's really the only place I buy my seafood retail. The team members really know their stuff. I work on the product knowledge that trains them, so believe me when I say they have extensive knowledge about sourcing and sustainability. If you have any questions, I'm happy to answer, or point you in the right direction if I can't answer for you. Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:32:57 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/661154#5173373 http://www.chow.com/topics/666107#5170503 Continuing a great idea, the latest thread on new Austin chow. At the Mueller retail center today, saw signs for Mr. Bone's Barbecue and Yo So Cool. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:31:23 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/666107#5170503 http://www.chow.com/topics/665880#5168981 Thanks! Their fries are great. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:42:44 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/665880#5168981 http://www.chow.com/topics/665874#5167706 Tried the new Gourdough's doughnut trailer on South Lamar recently (http://www.gourdoughs.com/) and loved it. They sell over-the-top, loaded, fried-to-order doughnuts along with water, milk, and Dublin Dr Pepper. I sampled the "Funky Monkey" (doughnut topped with maple frosting, a healthy amount of grilled bananas, and brown sugar/butter baste) and the "Mother Clucker" (doughnut topped with honey butter sauce and several fried chicken tenders). Both were good, made with huge crispy-on-the-outside-and-soft-on-the-inside freshly fried doughnuts, but I particularly liked the Funky Monkey. Most of their doughnuts are $3.50. The ones with meat are $1 extra, I believe. You get a lot of doughnut for your money. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:25:40 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/665874#5167706 http://www.chow.com/topics/665675#5166265 Since dozens of food truck reviews are on the board perhaps part of your project could involve reading those reviews,gleaning information from them and utilizing that data for your project. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:44:13 GMT http://www.chow.com/topics/665675#5166265