Fine Dining, Airstream Style

Last Friday, a few co-workers and I decided to grab a bite to eat at Flip Happy Crepes. I know, crepes for lunch? Doesn’t sound very filling, besides, aren't they only sweet? Wrong! Don’t ask me why, but I’ve always associated crepes with IHOP, similar to diner food gone wrong.

We got there right at noon on a gorgeous Friday afternoon, so as you would expect, there was a line. Oh, that’s right the girls of Flip Happy, well, they call an Airstream trailer home. Arrive early unless you want to share a meal over a TV tray. There are only a few picnic tables to go around, and TV trays don’t balance well on gravel.

We stood in line for about ten minutes and I could not make a decision. Did I want the Ham & Gruyere? Yes. The Spinach & Feta? Yes. The Smoked Salmon? Yes. Or, should I defy conventional wisdom and just order dessert? The Nutella & Banana was absolutely calling my name. Thankfully, there was a small note next to the order window marked special. Perfect! I say, go with the special, whenever possible. You know it’s going to be a good deal, and probably something that’s not always on the menu. Luckily, the special of the day was the Moroccan. Fantastic! It was just spicy enough with tons of sautéed veggies and the best part, rotisserie chicken, not that "twice reheated" mystery meat.

My friends and I did decide to order a dessert course; after all, we were celebrating a birthday. We ended up ordering the Nutella & Banana. It was the perfect crepe-to-banana-to-Nutella ratio. I think I may have even noticed some attempted bite stealing at the table, er, tray.

On a recent trip down Guadalupe...

My friend Kate and I recently visited Vino Vino on Guadalupe and 42nd Street. It’s worth the trip just to read the menu, full of personal experiences and lotsa sarcasm. On my visit, the by-the-glass menu had only Italian wines found on the owner’s recent visit through the country. Kate and I were interested in eating elsewhere for dinner, so, we decided on the cheese plate. Absolutely worth the $15, to my surprise. I couldn’t get enough of the Gruyere from Dublin – Texas, that is. Out of this world! The bartenders seemed knowledgeable – even when tested to find a wine for a picky drinker, like myself. I lean more towards sweet white wines, but I was encouraged to try a light red and was pleasantly surprised. They don’t cheat you on the wine either, a nice big pour to enjoy. On a side note, when I visit a wine bar I want overstuffed leather club chairs and soft music, think Ella or Nat. Vino offers more bar space than lounge, and the music a little overwhelming, but it's definitely worth a visit.

Later that night, Kate and I stopped by El Greco, on Guadalupe and 30th, for a “quick” bite to eat. Kate and I decided to share a chicken Gyro plate. I’d never had a chicken Gyro before, but I like to try new things... think of a yummier version of chicken fajitas with a super thick tortilla. The food was amazing, too bad it took 45 minutes to make its way to our table. Athina, the owner’s mother, did make things better by bringing over an amazing salad while we waited. It's a new restaurant, so there still seem to be a few kinks, but it's got potential. Don’t even get me started on the baklava, it was (as Kate would say) ridiculous, pick-it-up off the sidewalk good, if you know what I mean!

In the Beginning

OK, I know, deep-fried and covered in queso? EW! Sounds healthy, right? Those familiar with Central Texas cuisine know that we have our own unique blend of food. Whether it’s deep-fried and/or covered in queso (that’s melted cheese for all of you non-Texans out there), Texas is its own gastronomic adventure.

This space is reserved for all of those places in between. Sure, every now and again, everyone needs a little guiltless indulgence in all things fried or cheesy. Deep Fried, Covered in Queso is a place for my musings on all sorts of Central Texas cuisine.