#29: Menudo-ed Out

So, I've been teaching. This has been my first year and apparently this blog got a case of "Summer Blogging." "Summer Blogging happened so fast..., summer blogging thought it would last..." Yeah.

Anyway, as a result of my new work schedule, I'm use to waking up really early. I can wake up at about 8:00am like it's nothing...on a Saturday! Well, I decided this morning to go to my awesome breakfast place: Mi Victoria Bakery.

The awesome thing about places with the word "bakery" in them is that if you get there early in the morning, it smells awesome since things are still baking. Mi Victoria is also one of the few places I know that actually sells menudo on weekends. I just needed my one fix for the year, because truthfully, even if my mom's version of menudo is not as authentic, I still like it better. There's a good proportion of meat, hominy, and tripe. The one I had today had tons of tripe and very little hominy. I was also thinking of my weight loss plan, so seriously, I'm done with menudo for the year.

Among other things, previously I've alluded to Tan My as being the most awesome pho place. That was until I read an article about Pho Dan. I came to the conclusion that being Filipino, I don't know much about authentic Vietnamese food, I just know what tastes good. Tan My and Pho Dan taste really good, but I defer to Pho Dan. Since they're both good, I have to go for the authentic one, that's what gives it the edge. The broth has flavors that are not overpowered by saltiness and I'm a broth kind of person. Also, Pho Dan is closer to where I live. Vermicelli bowl wise, they're both about the same for me.

#28: Hello again

I haven't eaten for the past few months. What's sad is that statement is half true. Teaching consumes a lot of my time, but I find that there's also a need to de-stress and that's partially what my blogs are for. I'm still in Austin. I still eat in Austin.

Here are some places that will need postings:

Tan My - Best Pho place ever
Uncle Billy's Brew & Cue - 2nd visit
Whole Foods - Awesome Brisket & soups
Asia Cafe - I've never said anything about eating here?
Cupprimo - Better than Nyquil
Hey Cupcake - Crack in the cream cheese icing
Little Deli and Pizzeria - The best
Hop Doddy - Oily love
Mighty Fine - a chain worth eating at
Antoinelli's Cheese Shop - I'm jealous
Mei Lien Bistro - as long as you can't smell the smoke
Buco di Beppo - Kid's lasagne with a glass of wine
Mandola's - I'll take an Orange Gyna
The Upper Crust Bakery - really? I haven't talked about this place either?
Mi Victory Bakery - Menudo on weekends!
Torchy's Tacos - it's open late. Butter in the barbacoa
Billy's on Burnet - overpriced beer, awesomely memorable burger

Just a reminder

Every Friday at the MT Market.

In pursuit of bunly goodness

I love buns. I'm a bun woman. There is really no place in Austin to get fresh pork buns. It's a damn shame, and it's the only credit I give to Houston and their pretty awesome Chinatown.

I was at the MT Market this most recent Friday, oh and I should mention that as of late they've been having fresh rambutan and pitaya on Fridays - go and enjoy it before it stops coming. Fridays are awesome since they have fruit, fresh crustaceans, and a surplus of cakes come in.

One of the reasons why I can spend an exorbitant amount of time in grocery stores is the food talks. "I came from Brazil" "Mangosteen doesn't travel well." And most importantly, "this cake came from Lucky Bakery at 9616 N. Lamar." That was the most surprising information. Normally, the coconut leaf cake (half green, half white) comes from the Hong Kong Supermarket in Houston. It was very surprising to see a local place. There was also more variety, not limited to sweet buns and cakes, but also pork buns. I had to check out this place. For one thing, you never know how long buns have been sitting at the MT Market, if I have the opportunity to go to this bakery and get some fresh pork buns, I will.

I should really take down directions to new places, all I remember was that it was past E. Rundberg. I ended up wasting a lot of gas going up and down a stretch of Lamar only to eventually walk into the MT Market to look at a piece of cake to get the address.

What did I find? Selection is kind of small. But of what the Lucky Bakery does have, it all tastes good. While I could spend all day comparing here and Houston, there's not much I can do about it. Lucky Bakery has the Chinese Bakery monopoly in Austin currently.

#26: The schmucks at Google Maps

It really sucks to be the restaurant that happens to be located right next to one of the top restaurants in the city. Of course, I'm referring to Dynasty Chinese Restaurant which happens to be in the same strip mall as Asia Cafe.

It's like being the average girl that's friends with the hot chick. You have to do waaayyyyy more to get attention.

Today happens to be my sister's birthday and she requested eggplant with garlic sauce from Asia Cafe. My brother-in-law calls in to make the order only to find out later at Asia Cafe that they didn't have an order for him. He shows them the number that he called and it turned out to be the number for Dynasty. Dang! The situation was not cool on so many levels.

Moral of the story: don't put all your faith in Google Maps when it comes to looking up phone numbers.

#25: Why Austin rocks

I'm in Dallas right now. I was trying to find a grocery store earlier and having strong ties to Austin and San Antonio, my first inclination was to search for an HEB. What sucks about my current location is that the nearest HEB is 32 MILES AWAY!!! Pardon me, but WTF?

Next, I resorted to Yelp since it can be pretty useful in these situations. I'll admit, before I was always wondering why people would review simple places such as HEB, or any other regular grocery store. Seriously, I never saw a point in it because it was so common place, but now that I think about it, not all HEBs are created equal, likewise, not all grocery stores are created equal. HEB trumps Albertsons, Kroger, Tom Thumb, and Randalls. There's more overall selection. The produce quality is better. And the prices are much better. Back to Yelp, as a result of the lack of, what I would've considered over-Yelping. WHERE MAH AUSTIN YELPERS AT? Austin's Yelp scene is considerably more fleshed out. Thank You Austin.

#24: Pork Belly

I was at Central Market today looking for pork belly. I was going to attempt to grill it to make my ideal bacon steak...thing. Central market had pork belly, they just had to get it from the freezer (minus 1). After that, I started lurking around for some kimchi only to find that Central Market's Asian section is not as extensive and some of the other regular HEBs.

I ended up going to the MT mart to get my kimchi and then realized that I probably could have gotten better quality pork belly there too given the nature of the task I was going to use it for (minus 1 for me).

If you need pork belly, go to the Asian market.