Hello friends, greetings from San Antonio! I had great intentions of using some of my vacation time to blog and cook in my parent’s great kitchen, but it didn’t happen! I’ve been much busier than I imagined so forgive me. Shopping, visiting friends and family and taking care of three kids has kind of taken priority.
One thing I was so excited to do on this trip home: EAT good food! Absence really makes the heart grow fonder. In the past year that we’ve been living in small town, Missouri I can count on one hand (okay maybe two) the number of times we’ve eaten out at restaurants. There just aren’t many in the area so we don’t bother going to places like Cracker Barrel or Ryan’s Steakhouse when I can cook for us. So when I planned to visit Texas for over two weeks I knew I would be eating out more than I usually do when I come home. I tried a lot of new places which was great and did my best to snap a iphoto along the way.
These were some of my favorites places:
Ahh, the gyro sandwich. One of my favorite foods. This restaurant on Blanco Road in San Anotnio has been around for over 30 years and my family has been going there since I was a little girl. Not much has changed- small place, simple decor and awesome gyros.
Another long time favorite, my friends and I have been known to throw back a few margaritas here. It’s been around forever too, has a great atmosphere and serves some of the best authentic Mexican food in town. Their margaritas never disappoint! Sorry, forgot to take a picture of my food.
One of my top 3 favorite Mexican restaurants of all time (this one is in Austin). The Lakeway location was a few minutes away from our Austin home so we used to go here almost every Friday night for dinner and drinks. You must order the Florita for the hands-down best margarita ever. The enchililadas are amazing- mole, verde and ranchero sauces are all top notch. Their queso is AMAZING too. It is laced with poblano peppers and is ultra smooth. Oh how I miss this place.
Mexican again? Why yes, I am in Texas. This is authentic, interior Mexican food experience, called “street food” and has only been around for a few years, therefore it was my first visit there. I took friends who were visiting from Austin. Their menu is awesome- great “small plates”- very unique and unlike the traditional Tex-Mex restaurants you’re used to seeing in Texas. I got the al pastor (marinated pork with onions, cilantro and pineapple). The chef/owner, Johnny Hernandez, was featured on the most recent season of Top Chef Texas. Put this at the top of your list when visiting San Antonio.
Famous chef Andrew Weissman runs the show here in this Italian osteria in the historic Pearl Brewery. The dinner was amazing. It’s been a long time since I had such a good dinner. I got the crispy duck with a cherry balsamic reduction. We got a babysitter for this one!
Chef/owner Doug Horn (Doug H….get it? Dough?) opened his great restaurant in Castle Hills, a little over 4 years ago and the best part is it’s practically in my parent’s back yard. I went for the first time this trip and fell in love. They make all of their mozzarella homemade in house and everything else comes straight from Italy. The pizzas are fired in a authentic wood-burning oven created by a master oven mason from Naples, Italy. It cooks the pizzas at 800 degrees in approximately 90 seconds! The dough is perfect- light, fluffy with a few burnt spots. The toppings are a little more gourmet- I got the prosciutto di parma with arugula, house-made mozzarella and truffle oil. Dad got the margarita (tomato, basil and fresh mozzarella). It was delicious and I could have eaten a dozen pies.
Although we have a pretty good sushi restaurant in Missouri, we always get sushi when we come home. Sushi zushi is always a hit and it delivers. WHAT. A. DREAM! I’d order weekly for sure. I can’t tell you exactly what was ordered because my brother took care of that, but the tray pictured above features two orders of sushi rolled in a fine sheet of cucumber and daikon instead of rice. Perfect for those watching their carbs.
I am so impressed we have a restaurant like this in San Antonio- 100% Kosher and Vegetarian. It’s also “green” in the environmental sense which is pretty cool. You’ve got to click on the link and check out the menu. Very inspiring for fun vegetarian cuisine. I got a raw veggie wrap (mushrooms, dried cranberries, carrots, sprouts, pecan hummus wrapped in collard greens. Tabouli and fruit on the side. It was yummy and felt so good to end my eating frenzy with something super healthy.
And now that the vacation is coming to an end I’ve got to start meal planning for my family again. I will be back in town late Tuesday so this week will be pretty unorganized. Like I mentioned earlier, I am sending home a box of goodies that need to be used up so I will try to incorporate some of those things.
Menu for the Week of March 18th
Sunday
Leftovers (Lamb shanks, couscous, veggies)
Monday
? still on vacation
Tuesday
Cereal, sandwiches ? (home late from the airport)
Wednesday
Breakfast for dinner- eggs, fruit, maybe pancakes
Thursday
Potato and Corn Chowder, Salad
Friday
Pizza
Saturday
Unsure (will most likely pull some sort of protein from the freezer), pesto pasta
Question: What do you feel like eating this week? Even if you are unorganized like me, I’d still love to hear your ideas/meal plan!
Travel: Walla Walla, Washington {Wine Country}
Eating Healthy When Dining Out
Meal Planning Monday
Review: Celebrating Earth Day with CalNaturale Svelte Protein Shakes and Wine
All of these places sound wonderful. I am going to make a note of these restaurants, so that we can check out some of them the next time we get down to that part of Texas. You can never have too much Mexican food! That prosciutto di parma pizza looks and sounds amazing.
Yes Tempie, you will definitely have to try next time you visit SA! 🙂
Yep…you hit some of the best!! I think I would eat gluten, dairy, and meat to someday take a bite of their proscuitto and arugula pizza and their giant mozzarella buratta (or whatever it is called that is gooey in the middle) with balsamic reduction. One of my most favorite meals ever!
SO great to see you! You haven’t changed one bit!
Sunday: Practicing what I will be making Thursday
Monday: butternut squash and sweet potato chili for us and Gretchen and fam.
Tuesday: Long meeting early in the evening: big salad night.
Wednesday: New potatoes, Brussels sprouts, peppers, and onions, all roasted together with s and p. Fast, easy, healthy.
Thursday: Mashed cauliflower/potatoes, peas, and asparagus
Friday: Pizza night
so great seeing you too! Have a great week!
Here is our menu for the week.
Sun–swedish pancakes with strawberries
Mon–britt’s chili
Tues–pests pasta salad
Wed–your black bean, corn, and poblano tacos
Thurs– leftovers if not enough we will have paninis or quesadillas
Fri–pizza night
Sat–pioneer woman’s Asian salad with a few modifications to make it gf
It was so nice to get to meet you in person. You did eat at some great places. Some I will have to try or get back too.
Gretchen, it was great meeting you too! Have a great week in the kitchen. The asian salad is one of my favorites!!
Just finishing your tacos. We all loved them!
So fun–Love San Antonio!