Category: Texas

Blood Brothers Texas BBQ – Bellaire, TX

When I think of food from Texas, barbeque definitely comes to mind. When I went to Blood Brothers Texas BBQ I got a little more than what I was expecting. This is a fusion restaurant combining traditional bbq with an Asian flare.

Their menu is extensive, so I would recommend looking at it on your phone before you get there. When you walk in you head right up to the counter and order.

The starter sampler plate is a great way to try a few different bbq options. We got brisket, sausage, and pork belly. There was great smokey flavor to the meat. The brisket was juicy, and the sausage had a nice pepper taste. The pork belly was crispy on the outside and melted in my mouth.

The Mac & Cheese was the perfect side dish for bbq. It was extremely creamy with all the cheese that was used. On a cold day, it was the best comfort food.

And bbq would not be complete without coleslaw. They made it fresh. It had a crunchy texture. It was both sweet and tangy at the same time.

Another thing that stood out to me was their condiment bar. They offered everything from pickles and jalapenos to pickled onions. You definitely need to make a stop here in case you want to add anything to your dishes that you order.

The Jerk Pulled Pork Tacos are a must try, especially if you like spicy food. The pulled pork was smoked and jerked. It was tender and juicy. They served it with a mango slaw on top which added a sweet crunch. It was all wrapped up in Jamaican curry tortilla, which was extremely unique. The tacos came with pineapple salsa on the side. It was sweet but also surprisingly spicy.

If you want to try something really special order the Smoked Brisket & Gai Lan Chow Fun. This combines my love for bbq with my love for Chinese chow fun. It really is the perfect fusion dish. They stir fry thick rice noodles, bean sprouts, Chinese broccoli, and 44 Farms brisket (www.44farms.com) . There was a fantastic smoky taste to the noodles from how they cooked it in the pan. The brisket had beautiful bark on the outside. The meat was tender and juicy. The bean spouts gave the dish a little crunch but did not take away any of the flavors. The broccoli had a slight bitterness. It was a very satisfying dish.

If you want something unique in the BBQ world, then head to Blood Brother’s Texas BBQ. Check out their website at www.bloodbrosbbq.com

Enjoy!

T

Bandito’s Tex Mex – Dallas, TX

When I am in Texas having good Tex Mex is a must have. There are so many places to choose from, it can be a hard decision to make. It is best to leave it up to the locals to make a recommendation. That is how I ended up at Bandito’s Tex Mex.

The restaurant is small inside, so it fills up fast. Once you are able to get seated, they will bring you chips and salsa right away. This way you have something to enjoy while you are looking over the menu.

The salsa was amazing. It was freshly made, and the flavor of the onions and cilantro helped highlight the sweetness of the tomatoes.

I would also recommend ordering some homemade queso. The creamy cheese was great with the crispy tortilla chips.

I ordered a Sangria as well. I got red, that tends to be my favorite. It was sweet but also slightly tart based on the type of wine they used. It was refreshing. I went down easy, so I had to make sure that I drank it slowly.

The menu had many great dishes to choose from.  I ordered the 12 Gauge Flautas. I love flautas and I usually can only find them in Texas. These flautas were shredded chicken wrapped in a corn tortilla and then fried. They were extremely crispy. They were served with a side of queso, sour cream, and guacamole. The flautas were amazing when dipped in the queso. They stayed crispy, and the savory flavor of the chicken was complemented by the richness of the cheese. These were classified as an appetizer, but they were plenty for my meal.

The Red River Chicken Enchiladas were also ordered. This dish came with two chicken enchiladas covered in a sour cream sauce and topped with melted pepperjack cheese. This dish was a lot plus it came with rice and beans. The chicken was shredded and savory. It was the same chicken that they used in the flautas. It just remained juicy in the enchilada.

Another dish ordered was the Low Rider Burrito. This burrito was fully customizable. This one was made with spicy beef and topped with a chili con queso. And of course, rice and beans were on the side. This was a big burrito. The beef was not too spicy. The chili con queso had a nice salty taste that went well with the beef.

These were some excellent Tex Mex dishes at Bandito’s. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone wanting great Tex Mex food.

Check out their menu at www.banditostexmex.com

Enjoy!

T

Jake’s Burgers & Beer – Dallas, TX

I have been to Dallas, Texas many, many times. Usually when I visit, I am looking for some authentic Tex-Mex or BBQ. This visit I was wanting a nice juicy burger. So that is why I visited Jake’s Burgers and Beer, voted best burger in Dallas/Ft. Worth.

Since I was there on a Sunday, I started off by ordering a mimosa. It is not the best pairing with a burger, but I still enjoyed it.

There were a few starters that were shred around the table.  The Hot Hatch Cheddar Tots was a great sharable. They covered crunchy tater tots with Hot Hatch chilis and then melted a ton of cheddar cheese. The cheese was creamy and crispy from the oven. The chilis were not that spicy and gave great flavor with the mild heat they did give off. There was a slight sweetness to them as well that was off set by the sharp flavor from the cheddar cheese.

Another starter that the entire table agreed we had to try was the Kickin’ Chicken Fried Bacon. We could not wait to try this unique item. With all my travels, I have never seen anything even remotely similar.

This was center cut slices of bacon that were battered and deep fried to a golden brown. The bacon was so crispy not just on the outside but the bacon itself was crispy underneath all that batter. They served a side of maple syrup and gravy for dipping.

The gravy was that white country gravy that normally comes with chicken fried steak/chicken. It had a peppery taste that complemented the outside batter. The maple syrup, which was my favorite, complemented the bacon. Tis was a unique item and very delicious. I am glad I had other people to help me eat this because I would have felt so guilty eating all of this by myself.

The main reason I came to Jake’s was because I wanted a burger. I ordered the Double Cheeseburger. This juicy, double patty was a perfect medium and served on a poppy seed bun. I got American cheese on top, which is my favorite cheese on a burger. It was also loaded down with onion, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and mustard.

I took the onion off halfway through eating the burger because it was just too strong in flavor for me. The pickle was my favorite condiment. The dill flavor went perfectly with the grilled flavor of the beef patty. The poppy seed bun helped make this the best burger. The poppy seed did not add a ton of extra flavor but there was a nuttiness that really worked with the burger as a whole. I was afraid that a double patty would be too big, but it was the perfect amount.

I loved the unique menu items that Jake’s Burgers offered. I can also see why they were voted best burger. Jake’s is a must visit when visiting Dallas/Ft. Worth. They have several locations now, so check out their website at www.jakesburgersandbeer.com

Enjoy!

T

House of Pies – Houston, TX

I was in Houston for the holidays, and I was told I had to visit House of Pies to kick off the holidays properly. This restaurant is exactly what it sounds like, a place dedicated to so many different homemade pies. They also have a great menu of breakfast and lunch dishes. They have been making Houston residents and visitors happy since 1967.

The line was out the door when we got there. Now part of the line was customers just picking up pies to go. The other line was for a table. Luckily, we did not have to wait too long. I was starving.

Inside the restaurant, it still had the vibe from the 60s when it opened. I loved it, very retro. Their pie flavors were on the wall so that you could order easily.

Everyone at the table ordered something different to eat. That was good for me because I would get to try different dishes. I ordered the Griddle Platter. I got French toast with scrambled eggs and bacon. I did get something traditional, but I figured the French toast would be great since this was a bakery. The bread was sweet, even without the powdered sugar on top. It was slightly crispy from being on the griddle. I loved how the center of the bread was gooey and soft. The bacon was nice and crispy. I broke it up and mixed it into my scrambled eggs.

A Griddle Platter Deluxe was also ordered. This was a stack of freshly made buttermilk pancakes, topped with chopped up pecans and banana slices. The pancakes just by themselves were delicious. They were light and fluffy. The pecans and bananas mixed with maple syrup made the pancakes more like a dessert.

The other breakfast dish ordered was the Eggsadilla. This was an egg quesadilla. They scrambled eggs with sausage and O’Brien potatoes. They put it all in tortilla shells with Cheddar and Pepper jack cheese. They put it on the griddle to help melt the cheese and make the tortilla a little crispy. They also served it with a side of frijoles (beans). I liked the potatoes that had peppers and onions chopped up. Those mixed in with the sausage and eggs made this a hearty breakfast. I was easy to eat with your hands. This was a different take on a breakfast sandwich.

There was a sandwich ordered as well, the Patty Melt Deluxe. The lean beef patty was cooked up on the flattop to a nice medium. They melted American cheese and topped the patty with grilled onions and tomatoes. They added a special sauce to each side of the herb bread. The bread was amazing because it too was freshly made. They grilled it up and was crispy on each side. The patty was juicy, and the onions were caramelized nicely. The cheese just made each bite creamier.

Now we made sure to order pies but there was no way we could eat them there. We were just too full from breakfast. We thought they would be good for later in the evening. They had pies staged everywhere, so many choices.

Their menu was large; they have something for everyone’s tastebuds.

The first pie we got was the Strawberry Rhubarb. This was a tart pie filled with fresh rhubarbs and sliced strawberries. The tartness hit you when you took the first bite, but then got sweeter as you took the remaining bites. The crust was buttery and flakey. It helped tie the whole pie together.

The second pie was the Bayou Goo. This is a house specialty. This really was a gooey pie. There were chopped pecans in a sweet cream cheese. All of that was under a mix of vanilla and chocolate pudding. They covered the top with a fluffy whipped cream, powdered sugar, and chocolate shavings. This pie was crazy. It was super sweet and really creamy. The pecans added a nice crunch with a hint of saltiness. This was a rich pie. I could not eat too much of it. But it was a hit with everyone.

I cannot wait to go back to House of Pies so I can try something else. I will have to go after the holidays, so they do not run out. They also have some awesome looking cakes and pastries to try.

Their food menu was great, and they portions are big. Everything truly is “Bigger in Texas”. It is a great place to go with family.

Check out their menu at www.houseofpies.com

They are a must visit in Houston. They do have two locations!

Enjoy!

T

Deep Eddy Distillery – Dripping Springs, TX

Thanks to a flight on Southwest Airlines a few years ago I was introduced to Deep Eddy Vodka. When I was visiting Austin, I was excited to see that they had a huge tasting room for me to check out.

They used to make the vodka at this location, but they got too big, so they moved the distillery operation to a different location. But this offered up a huge space for tastings and a place where folks can just hang out.

They had several bars where you can order unique cocktails all made with the different flavors of Deep Eddy. I started with the Southern Hospitality. This blended their Sweet Tea vodka, peach vodka, and lemon juice. They finished it off with a dried lemon for decoration. This cocktail was sweet from the tea. There was a nice accent of peach flavor.

After checking out some of the local vendors that were set up around the tasting room, I went for a different drink. This time I went for the Spring Sling. This cocktail used their original vodka, pineapple juice and lemon juice. They topped the rim of the mason jar with a dried pineapple. I really enjoyed this drink. The pineapple juice was full of flavor and was not overpowered by the vodka.

There was an area in the tasting room that was set up for the crafting of new vodka flavors. It was essentially a kitchen. The day I visited they were working on a coconut vodka. He was explaining to everyone the process of creating the flavors. He was flavoring the vodka by using an actual coconut to ferment the flavor. It was cool that we got to sample this creation right there.

Deep Eddy’s tasting room was a fun place to visit. The drinks were great. It was a great atmosphere to hang out with friends. Definitely stop by if you are in the area. It is worth a small detour out of Austin.

Visit their website at www.deepeddyvodka.com

Enjoy!

T

Dripping Springs Distillery – Dripping Springs, TX

Just outside of Austin, I discovered a local distillery making vodkas, gin, and bourbon, called Dripping Springs.

I had arrived at the perfect time for one of their daily tastings. It was a great setting. The weather was perfect to sit out on their porch with picnic tables all set up for the tastings.

Our guide was fantastic. He explained everything about the process of making the vodka and gin. He was also funny and entertaining.

I am not a gin fan but the gin that Dripping Springs makes had a subtle taste. I had no idea that besides juniper, it also had hibiscus and cardamom in it as well.

The gin was very tasty in a bloody Mary that I was able to try there. The spiciness of the bloody Mary paired well with the earthy taste of the juniper.

For the vodkas, there was a traditional unflavored, which was smooth. It did not have any after burn feeling. They also sampled their Texas Orange Vodka. They used fresh, hand zested oranges to create the orange flavor. It was very refreshing.

They make all their vodka in 50-gallon batches, so each bottle is really special.

In between all the tastings I munched on fresh popped popcorn. The salty taste helped cleanse my palate.

The last thing I got to try was their 1876 bourbon whiskey. They used Texas corn and Oklahoma rye and blend it in aged barrels. They finish it off with Hill Country spring water. I could taste hints of vanilla and smoke from the barrel. It went down smooth and had a sweet after-taste.

 I was really entertained by the tour guide. He was extremely knowledgeable of what we were drinking, what the ingredients are, and the entire process of how it is made. I would recommend anyone stopping by to check them out.

Visit their website at www.drippingspringsdistilling.com

Enjoy!

T

Home Slice Pizza – Austin, TX

Austin may be the capital of Texas, but it is a college town at heart. And being a college town, I expected to find a pizza joint. What I did not expect to find was an authentic New York style pizza place. That is exactly what Home Slice Pizza is.

This place was packed. They have a main restaurant and a separate building for to-go orders or ordering pizza by the slice. That day I ended up visiting them twice.

The first time I went to the take-out building. The line was so long but it was worth it to get my slice of pepperoni pizza. The crust was thin and crispy. They had a generous amount of pepperoni and a ton of cheese. It was perfect to fill an empty belly.

I went back later that evening. This time I went inside the restaurant. I did get another slice of pepperoni.

It was fun sitting at the bar, watching them make pizzas. They were busy all night. They are definitely a hot spot.

If you are in Austin you must stop by Home Slice Pizza. They do make a great slice.

www.homeslicepizza.com

Enjoy!

T

Bucee’s – Texas

If you have ever driven on a major highway in Texas you would surly seen a sign or billboard for Bucee’s. Bucee’s is a truck stop on steroids. They have tons of gas pumps, car washes, and the cleanest bathrooms. And do not think I am making that up about the bathrooms, they even promote it.

What I love about Bucee’s is their food and snacks. They offer everything you would need for a long drive from Houston to San Antonio or Austin to Dallas.

If you like kolaches they have several to choose from. Both sweet and savory.

If you like beef jerky, then they have you covered. It is all fresh, just waiting for you. It is fresh in their cases, not pre-packaged.

When people think of Texas, BBQ comes to mind. In the center of each store is their BBQ pit. They are chopping up fresh brisket, pulled pork, and chicken. They even offer fresh smoked sausages on a stick. They make up sandwiches that are hot and ready for you to grab. I had a pulled pork BBQ sandwich that was delicious. It was smoky and sweet from the sauce.

They also have great cheese and meat trays that they pack up and are perfect for on the go travel. I really liked their summer sausage with cheddar and pepper-jack cheese. The summer sausage was full of peppery flavor.

Their snack mixes are also perfect for traveling. The spicy mix I picked up was not too hot. It had a nice blend of nuts, sesame sticks, and bagel chips. The bags are great for a car or airplane.

And if you have been in the car for a while, Bucee’s has an entire store inside where you can shop for souvenirs.

Bucee’s truly is an experience. It is like nothing I have seen before. During my trip to Texas I visited 4 different ones. Each one offered the same experience. If you are in Texas you must put Bucee’s on your list.

Check them out at www.buc-ees.com

Enjoy!

T

Kolaches – Houston, TX

20 years ago, when I moved to Texas, I was introduced to a pastry called Kolaches. These became a staple for any breakfast get together. And when I moved away from Texas it because impossible to find these specialties.

For those of you that are not familiar with what a kolache is, let me give you a quick history lesson. Back on the early 1800s, Texas welcomed settlers from Central Europe. As they settle the vast land, they introduced a pastry from their homeland called the kolache. This pastry started off as a sweet fruit filling. It later evolved to include savory fillings. There is everything from egg filled for breakfast to pizza filled for a fun afternoon snack.

Since I was visiting Texas for a few days, I decided to indulge on kolaches since it is next to impossible to find outside of the state. I thought it would be fun to write about the different places I went in one big blog post.

My first stop was at Shipley Do-Nuts. While their main focus is donuts, they do offer a few kolaches choices. I went for the ham and cheese. This is perfect for lunch time. They use slices of ham and American cheese. That is then placed inside of the bun. It is baked up till the bread is fluffy and the ham and cheese is hot. When I bit in the cheese was nice and melted. There was a nice saltiness that complemented the sweetness of the bread.

www.shipleydonuts.com

The next shop I visited was the Kolache Factory. This is my favorite place. They offer one of the largest assortments of kolaches. They have breakfast fillings which are perfect for the first thing in the morning. I went for the bacon, egg, and cheese. They scramble the eggs and mix in chunks of crispy bacon and creamy cheese. What I love most about their kolaches is the bread. It is a yeast roll that is a little dense. It holds up well to the more robust ingredients they use for fillings. The yeast flavor gives the bread an extra sweetness.

www.kolachefactory.com

My last stop was to a shop called Bucees. This place is amazing and I will be having a separate blog write up about Bucees. Rather than doing another savory kolache, I went for a dessert one here. This is the traditional kolache that came over from Central Europe, more specifically Czechoslovakia. It is very similar to a danish. I got the cherry filling. It was sweet with pieces of sour cherry throughout. The dough was slightly sour which went well with the cherries. They had other fruit fillings but cherry is my favorite.

www.buc-ees.com

I had such a fun time getting kolaches from Houston to San Antonio. I only hit 3 places but there are so many more places out there to try. I am going to have to do this again for sure. If you are in Texas check of these places. Each of them have several locations. I included links to each of their websites for everyone to visit.

Enjoy!

T

Taco Diner – Irving, TX

There is a casual Mexican restaurant that has been serving the Dallas area called Taco Diner. They have been creating authentic Mexico City dishes for 20 years.

I was in town for a quick trip and needed to get a quick bite so I decided to check them out. The inside of the restaurant was very bright with all the natural light coming in through the windows. I could tell they loved the color green because it was everywhere.

As soon as I sat down I was greeted with a basket of fresh tortilla chips. They included a well made roasted tomato salsa and another green salsa that reminded me of a salsa verde.

For my meal I ordered the Al Pastor tacos.

This was 3 fresh made corn tortillas filled with chopped chicken that was marinated in tres chiles. This marinade added an abundance of flavor to the chicken. It was also extremely moist and pulled apart because it was so tender.

It came with grilled pineapple on the side. I put that on the chicken and it added a great sweet and tangy component to the saltiness of the chicken. I have never had pineapple on a taco before but it worked beautifully.

If the tacos were not enough, they also included an avocado salad and a side of roasted corn elote. The avocado salad could have been added to the tacos. It would have added a creamy and crunchy element. I ended up just eating it by itself.

The roasted corn was extremely tangy. Normally the Mexican corn I get is creamy, this was very different. It was interesting but I still prefer the more traditional taste.

If you are looking for a quick, fresh take on Mexican dishes, check out Taco Diner. They have several locations around the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Find them at http://tacodinerrestaurants.com/

Enjoy!

T