kathryn besser/dirt&sunshine » Austin http://blog.dirtandsunshine.com Thu, 02 Jun 2016 20:30:27 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.0.32 if you visit tx: tex mex or bbq! http://blog.dirtandsunshine.com/if-you-visit-tx-tex-mex-or-bbq/ http://blog.dirtandsunshine.com/if-you-visit-tx-tex-mex-or-bbq/#comments Wed, 27 Apr 2011 19:13:00 +0000 http://dirtandsunshine.posterous.com/if-you-visit-tx-tex-mex-or-bbq if you visit tx: tex mex or bbq! if you visit tx: tex mex or bbq! You can see how much I enjoyed being a mom from the very beginning; I feel as if it’s written all over my face. I completely love the stage we’re in now but do miss having two little cuddle-bugs.

Enjoy the ride while you can, parents!

On our trip last week, we made dinner at Chuy’s our first priority. We headed over after Paul’s final meeting of the day and caught the tail end of happy hour (lucky bastards, we are).

Tate, being Texas-born, immediately took to queso. One of the bar waiters sweetly brought over another complimentary bowl for him since the vat at the salsa bar was on its last dregs. Since he loved it so much – and I am anti-Velveeta again now that we’re back in the land of fruits and vegetables – I decided to look for a healthier version I can make at home.

By the way, the top photo is not mine. I found it on numerous websites and can’t find the original artist – to that unnamed person, I apologize. I don’t like using other peoples’ photos without proper credit (though I admit to not publishing photographers’ names when I purchased stock photos in the early days of my blog – I’m better about it now, FYI).

That said, here looks like a really terrific, reasonably healthy version:

http://homesicktexan.blogspot.com/2008/04/more-natural-chile-con-queso.html

We’re moving our annual sangria party to later in the summer in case some of you were wondering why you hadn’t received an invitation in the mail by now. When we get through this especially busy time, you’ll find me whipping this up for friends. It just might become a summer staple around here!

Notice that you’re near the end of this post and I have not yet mentioned BBQ. Frankly speaking, it’s a religion in Texas and I am just not a convert. We did go to Ironworks on Friday afternoon. Paul was in heaven (and Tate to a certain degree) but Dane and I were a bit lost. Maybe it was all the cigarette butts we picked up around Lake Austin that morning – more on that tomorrow – but I could not muster all that much enthusiasm for smoked meat.

If you’re planning a trip to Austin, you should definitely try BBQ. There are LOTS of options: Ironworks or Kreutz’ for Kansas City-style bbq or The Salt Lick for whatever the antithesis of Kansas City-style sauce is (I think the meat is essentially prepared in the same manner however).

]]> http://blog.dirtandsunshine.com/if-you-visit-tx-tex-mex-or-bbq/feed/ 0 central market: 3 visits in 3.5 days http://blog.dirtandsunshine.com/central-market-3-visits-in-35-days/ http://blog.dirtandsunshine.com/central-market-3-visits-in-35-days/#comments Tue, 26 Apr 2011 20:45:00 +0000 http://dirtandsunshine.posterous.com/central-market-3-visits-in-35-days central market: 3 visits in 3.5 days central market: 3 visits in 3.5 days central market: 3 visits in 3.5 days central market: 3 visits in 3.5 days central market: 3 visits in 3.5 days central market: 3 visits in 3.5 days central market: 3 visits in 3.5 days central market: 3 visits in 3.5 days central market: 3 visits in 3.5 days central market: 3 visits in 3.5 days Towards the end is the bread section and deli. Dane and Tate decided upon Kobe-style roast beef sandwiches. At Central Market, you can buy a half loaf of any artisan bread and they will slice it for you. We also bought a small wedge of parmeggiano-reggiano cheese and scored some free Dijon mustard at the in-house cafe. The boys had gourmet sandwiches they made themselves!

We went back the second day (Thursday) for lunch and also made one last lunch and shopping stop on Saturday before getting on the plane to come home. More tomorrow and maybe the next day about our Austin restaurant excursions and heavenly 24 hours at the Four Seasons.

If you want to check out the Central Market website, go to: http://www.centralmarket.com/default.aspx

 

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