Mangosteen in Austin?

Heck yeah!

So, the MT Supermarket and Hana World Market have been selling these for a while now. Since they keep getting them, I have to assume people buy them. I've been suspicious though because I know how far these things need to fly to get to the US. On top of that, they need to be quarantined for a period of time as well. I figured that I may as well try them. They were my favorite fruit back the Philippines. I remember that they had to be soft enough to be pressed apart, so, in a move of sheer jerk-dom, I pressed a few of them to see if they would split, and they DID! I got excited and then quickly unexcited as the price per lb is $6.99 making each bag about $13-$14 :(  

You can crush them between your palms or between your fingers, the hard outer rind will crack like above. 

When you pull the rind apart, you get to the segments in the middle. You just pick them out and eat them. Compared to the fresh ones, they were a little gummier, and gooier. Not bad. The flavor is not quite how I remember, they tasted like blend of a grape and a banana when I remember them being more like grapes. It could just be the lag time. Fresh is always better. These were not bad, but not worth $14 either.

#31: Uchi...a learning experience

I just reviewed my eating experience at Uchi on Yelp.

I don't know what I was expecting to get out of it. Perhaps I came in with an already biased opinion because of how many people rave about it and how my flavor palette doesn't always agree with that of the general public.

I could rely on the ingredients being high quality. I could also count on them wanting me to eat a bunch of things at once to achieve a kind of flavor bouquet. Pork belly, because pork belly is trendy.

For a moment, I just came to the conclusion that I didn't like Japanese food as much as other kinds, after all, I'm Filipino (Bataan Death March people!!), I like Korean, Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese food - so either SE Asian food or food from countries disposed to hating the Japanese. One thing that sticks out from this assumption is my liking of Niki's Tokyo Inn in San Antonio, TX. It's hole in the wall and very traditional.

Sushi had an original concept. It was fast food originally and in modern times, it's gone on steroids. Most of the time it feels like something you have to wait a long time for and pay a lot more for since it's gone over a crazy American makeover.

#30 Austin on the Cheap

I have not been eating out as much lately. I'm making a big effort to bash down my credit card bills before they start charging interest, so eating out has not been too much of an option. Just when it is a special occasion.

I've been living on a ramen diet. It's not so bad as I make ramen according to these specifications. I shop at the MT Market now more than ever. A lot of the things that I eat most often are just cheaper there, the best example being fresh shitake mushrooms. The Chinatown square is a real life saver for those who have to live on the cheap. My latest intake: Banh Mi. I feel like I'm getting a good dose of all the food groups when I eat a Vietnamese sandwich. I generally get annoyed buying sandwiches when I know nearly all of the ingredients are far below the cost of the sandwich, but at $3.50 a pop, I don't feel too shabby. What makes it so fab over the average sandwich? I'd be lying if I didn't say price, but also fresh crunchy ingredients, none of the average meat and cheese taste, and overall just a really awesome flavor. Go Baguette House!!

#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.