HIMYS Recommends Austin Eats: SXSW Edition (Part One)

While I always discuss my travels or talk about new Boston events or restaurants I’ve encountered on this blog, I was thinking about this great time of year: time for the annual South by Southwest festival in Austin. For me, it’s hard to ignore the festival – and it really got me missing Austin. Now that the commotion is dying down, I thought this would be a good time to throw out a few restaurants musts including some staples (part one) and some new hot eats I’ve been reading about or heard good reviews on (part two). Clearly, this isn’t a complete list of my restaurant recs since there are so many incredible places to eat, this is at least a good starting place for those making a trip to the ATX.

Austin Staples (aka from the Travel Book or Local Recs for First Timers)

BBQ: The Salt Lick

Of course, if you’re making a trip to the ATX and you’re looking for great barbeque, you’ve got to try the the Salt Lick. My personal recommendation is to take some time to visit the original in Driftwood. It’s not far outside the City but you’ll definitely need to devote a few hours for this. The great thing about the original location, is that it’s very classic, picturesque Texas Hill Country. Two things to keep in mind: it’s BYOB and cash only! If you’re looking to bring wine though, check out the winery up the street from the Salt Lick.

Mexican: Chuy’s

Chuy’s is a quirky Tex-Mex restaurant is trademark Austin, and by quirky, we’re talking from decorations to the massive burritos. This is another restaurant, like Salt Lick, that you can find multiple locations of because, well, it’s just that popular. If you get stuck on the details, the original is the Barton Springs location – which if you’re visiting for Austin City Limits or heading to the Trail of Lights in the winter, is pretty close to where the action is. Chuy’s is just great Tex-Mex. Pure and simple. Austin is full of amazing Tex-Mex restaurants though but I like to think that Chuy’s is good for those looking for somewhere to set the bar. My personal recommendation, whether you have an enchilada or “Big As Your Face” burrito (which is totally worth the belly ache), go with the deluxe tomatillo sauce.

Comfort Food: Kerbey Lane

I have a confession. I used to be skeptical about Kerbey Lane. It was a destination in college that I always had a bad experience with, particularly the location near the UT campus. That all changed the day I visited the original location on Kerbey Lane. Started in a cute house on what probably used to be a quiet street, Kerbey Lane is probably best known for its fantastic breakfast fare – which is available at pretty much any time of day (i.e. it’s open late). The pancakes are to die for and when I venture to Austin for trips, I always pick up some mix. If you’re not really in the mood for breakfast, try the Kerbey Queso (cheese queso with guacamole in the middle). I think that Kerbey Lane is a great way to either start or end your day. Quick tip: Sunday’s can be packed – so get there early if you need to park at the original location.

Comfort Food/Southern Staple: Broken Spoke

Most Austinites know the Broken Spoke for its two-stepping, as it is a dance hall. What I later learned, after being introduced by a fellow Bostonian, was that the Chicken Fried Steak was probably some of the best you’ll ever have. Similar to the Salt Lick, if you’re looking for a traditional Texas experience, this is your place. This is a ten gallon hats, belt buckle and cowboy boots kind of place. Funny enough, it’s in an area of Austin that’s being flooded by new mixed use condo/retail units. However, the experience straight from the gravel driveway around the restaurant to the huge plates of chicken fried steak remains the same: a classic.

Kerbey Lane Pancakes!

What are your favorite staple restaurants in Austin? Leave them in the comment section below.

Activity Time: Shuck It To Me!

North End Fish Market

When I first moved to Boston, I reviewed a lot of materials about a variety of fun activities around the city. One activity that caught my attention, but kinda scared me, was oyster shucking. First, you must know a little secret: I actually didn’t like oysters until I moved here. However, I love seafood and figured that oysters would just be a natural fit for me. What better place to learn about how to eat and prepare a proper oyster than Boston, right?

Well, that was a much more difficult feat than I initial anticipated. It was hard to find brave souls that already enjoyed eating them – and trying various kinds of oysters soon became a regular activity during visits from out of town friends. As I initially suspected, I did love oysters and soon started to assemble a short list of local friends who shared my secret obsession. One of whom mentioned on New Year’s Eve how much they wanted to learn to shuck. It seemed that the opportunity had arrived!

A month ago, this friend and I took a stroll down to the North End Fish Market to try out a free shucking class. The fish market is a small location on Salem St. (parallel to Hanover) and was started by two women who were tired of their day jobs and wanted to do something they truly loved.

In the market, they sell fresh and pre-prepared fish, as well as sushi and some sides. The shucking class is held every Saturday, between 1 to 3 pm, and it usually takes around 15 or so minutes. The best part? You only pay for what you shuck! There is no additional fee to learn. You can also grab a nice bottle of wine and bring it with you – which of course I did.

Despite what I thought about shucking before, I now know that it’s much harder than it looks. It’s also really easy to cut yourself (which I was thankful I did not do). Our instructor and the owner kept telling us that it wasn’t about strength – it was about the force and opening it depended on where the pressure was being placed. Also, the owners noted that opening oysters worked your core – can you say bonus?

The oysters that we shucked and ate were so flavorful that they just needed a squirt of lemon juice. Though, it was a little weird to learn that the oysters were technically still alive when we were shucking and eating them. I’m not sure why I didn’t realize that before though.

I managed to come away from the class with a new found respect of oyster bars – and with a belly full of some fresh, delicious seafood in my belly. If you are looking for an activity in the North End, and are fond of oysters, I would absolutely recommend the class (and my friend noted that she thought it was a great place for an adventurous date).

HIMYS Looks Back to Look Forward

Last year, I made a few resolutions for myself … well, not exactly resolutions, more like goals (if you don’t already know, I hate resolutions – I prefer to think about a to do list or goals). These related to places I wanted to visit or try within the New England area. The list below is from my post last January, and I’ve crossed off those activities, venues or restaurants I was able to get to in 2012:

Food:

1. Blue Ribbon
2. Firefly
3. Erbaluce
4. Orinoco
5. Regal Begal
6. Giacomo’s
7. South End Buttery
8. Bee Hive
9. Silvertone
10. The Capital Grille

 Places/Activities:

1. Harpoon or Sam Adams Brewery Tour
2. Bunker Hill
3. Visit Maine or Rhode Island
4. Boston Public Library
5. Marathon Monday
6. Fall Foliage/Leaf Peeping
7. Corn Maze
8. Haunted Boston Bus Tour
9. Celtics or Bruins Game
10. Institute of Contemporary Art

When I look back at the places I wanted to visit or cross off my list, it doesn’t seem that impressive. However, I do feel like I got to experience quite a bit in 2012 that wasn’t on my list – likely because I hadn’t even thought about it. For example, rather than the Harpoon brewery, I visited Red Hook up in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and got to try a delicious lobster roll from the Beach Plum. I also went camping up in Maine and tried a ridiculous amount of local eateries around the Boston area, that weren’t necessarily even on my radar. I also got to be a part of two weddings for some of my closest friends, visit places I haven’t been to (and ended up getting stuck in) *cough* San Francisco, and return to places I love like Minnesota, Texas and Disney! It was a full and fulfilling year, for sure. 

While 2012 was amazing, I’m looking forward to checking off a few more of the items above in 2013 (and going beyond this). If I learned anything last year, it’s that you have to be open to the unexpected and ready to embrace it. So, here I am, ready, willing and hungry! 

A September 1st Tale

Moving Day!

As I reflect back on the day that was September 1st, I’m filled with much less anxiety and frustration. In fact, now I just laugh. Moving at the beginning of September may not seem like much in other areas of the country, but here in Boston, it’s absolute madness. I’ve talked about the day before – the traffic jams, the trash and the general insanity of it all. However, observing the day and moving on the day are two very different things. I was fortunate enough to have moved on this particular day this year – and it was a doozy. 

Let me set up the situation because truly, the odds were staked against me and the other fortunate souls forced to move on this day.

First, this September 1st fell on a Saturday, which meant that the probability of it being more ridiculous than normal was at an all time high. Knowing the chaotic nature of the day, it’s important to make logistical plans well in advance, which is why I along with my new roommates reserved a truck several months ahead of the day. However, a few days prior, the truck company called and was unable to provide any standard moving truck. As you might expect, it’s not easy to move three people’s stuff without a truck. Instead, a caravan of cars (accompanied by a group of amazing friends) and a rented pickup truck served as a backup, meaning that it took the entire day to move rather than a few hours.

That was just the tip of the iceberg as there was a mound of trash on the side of the apartment, some of the previous tenants goods in the apartment, five new upstairs neighbors moving at the same time, the opening day of a college football game, insane traffic, etc etc.

I’ve heard other stories about September 1st moves and I’m sure there are plenty more unpleasant tales that make my experience look more like a fairy tale. The upside to all of this is that I absolutely love my new apartment – and I’m so glad I made the move.

I also feel like moving on September 1st is the City of Boston’s way of hazing new residents. So, now that I’ve survived my first Moving Day, I think I’ll stay a while. Just try to get rid of me now Boston!

Catching up after a crazy Fall!

Whoa! It’s been a while since I’ve posted an update. Well, it’s been quite a crazy Fall that have included trips out of the state to Dallas, Austin, Florida, New Jersey/Pennsylvania and New York. Oh and let’s not forget moving day, Sandy and then a Nor’easter. Phew! I think crazy might not be the right word to describe the Fall.

Not to worry! More posts are coming soon recapping the ridiculous last few months and talking about what is hopefully a relaxing (and not too chilly) Winter.

Stay tuned!

HIMYS Shucks On: Oysters at Summer Shack

Oysters at Summer Shack

The great thing about summer in Boston, besides the glorious weather (note: compared to Texas, this is amazing!), is all the delicious seafood. Lobster rolls are absolutely one of my new favorite foods – and something I didn’t experience until I moved.

Despite my love of seafood, there is one item that I don’t take advantage of very often: oysters. In my experience, many of my friends who are New England natives don’t like seafood quite like outsiders do. There are plenty of people in New England that love the seafood, don’t get me wrong, but for the people I usually go to restaurants with, seafood is a no no.

So, when my out-of-town friends visit, the first item on the agenda is visiting a seafood establishment. Recently, I had the opportunity to eat at Summer Shack, a restaurant from Chef Jasper White. It’s a frequent mention on the local restaurant review show Phantom Gourmet, which is one of my favorites for discovering new restaurants (both in events and on the show).

Classic Clam Chowder

I definitely need to go back to Summer Shack to try the lobster/clam bake, what I like to call the more traditional route when testing out seafood establishments. However, a night full of oysters is a good jumping off point.

I had an opportunity to try each of the Oysters offered from the raw bar – which change based on the season. My absolute favorite was the Cotuit oyster – a very smooth with a lot of flavor but not a fishy aftertaste. Honestly, like wine, I’m not good at describing the “flavor profiles” you experience with Oysters. Though, I will say, over the course of the night, my table split around 40 oysters and a majority of them were Cotuit. I also really enjoyed the ceviche (also a part of the raw bar) and the spicy bermuda fish & crab chowder.

After spending a night feasting on oysters, it reminded me that the summer is winding down – and I need to spend the next month or so getting my fill of seafood while it’s still in season. Excuse me while I enjoy this lobster roll…

Two Years!

I meant to bust out this post in June – but as usual, time got away with me. And look! It’s almost August.  

Time does certainly fly and it’s hard to believe it’s been two years since I moved to Boston from Texas. I’m not going to lie and say that I don’t miss Texas. In fact, as many of my friends know, I actually have a hard time leaving Austin whenever I visit. However, I really feel at home in Boston and don’t feel like I’ve managed to explore or experience as much as I can yet.

Until I’ve run my course on adventures, or I absolutely cannot stand winter anymore, Boston has my heart. I can’t wait to see what year three brings! Fingers crossed that it’s not a blizzard.

The Boston Summer is Wet on Arrival

Summer is alive and well in Boston, and it’s one of my favorite times of the year. It’s so amazing to be in the City during the summer, when there are so many things to do and Bostonians are dead-set on enjoying as much of the nice weather as possible! No one wants to think about how the cold and gloomy winter will be back soon.

However, this summer has been incredibly wet and rainy. It’s a little discouraging, to wait for this time of year and then not get to actually spend much time enjoying it! However, as someone that’s from drought ridden areas of Texas (which is pretty much the whole state), I appreciate that the rain is keeping everything in bloom and keeping the sweltering heat to a minimum.

This got me thinking. What are some of fun activities around the City during mucky, rainy weather?

1. New England Aquarium – during the summer months (because school is out and tourists flock to the area), the Aquarium can be incredibly packed! It’s a very cool facility and there are four or so floors of aquatic life that will keep the entire family (or animal lover) engaged. Of course, don’t miss the scheduled animal chats, where the keepers provide you with a look at the life of the animals at the facility and there is a fantastic sting ray touch tank, among other activities. I would definitely recommend putting on those rain boots and hiking it out to the Aquarium, which is located by the waterfront and the Faneuil area. Check out the schedule for the IMAX Theater, while you’re out there also.
2. Museum of Fine Arts – another destination in Boston that gets incredibly crowded on the weekends, the MFA is a great place to hit up during those wet weather days. The museum is large, and you can easily spend a whole day there. Plus, the MFA has food inside the building but you’re not far from anything in the Fenway area, if you want to eat somewhere more unique. In the summer, the MFA holds Summer Friday events, where they host live music (and have a cash bar). The best part? They keep these scheduled even during rainy days – you just report to the Upper Rotunda in the museum.
3. Let’s Bowl! – one of my personal favorite activities is bowling (big ball, for those of you New Englanders). A great place in the City to bowl is Jillians/Lucky Strike. It’s in the Fenway area, and has three floors of bowling, pool, etc. If you’re in the Boylston area, try Kings instead. While it doesn’t have three floors, it does have a considerable amount of space for its bowling alley, a large arcade and a restaurant/bar. Plus, the Summer Shack (a Phantom Gourmet recommended seafood locale) is right next door. If you would rather get in touch with your “New England” roots, and try candlepin bowling instead, I would recommend Boston Bowl (Dorchester) or Lanes and Games (Cambridge).
4. Roller Derby – a favorite summer activity for me is attending Roller Derby matches hosted by the Boston Derby Dames. Rain or shine, these local events are held in Wilmington, MA at the Shriner Auditorium and are less than $20.00 for tickets. Beer, derby and “sick” player names like the Secretary of Hate Killery Clinton? Yes, please!
5. Eat! – of course, no rainy day would be complete without a day spent snacking or eating. As you’ve seen on this blog, there are always plenty of restaurants to grab delicious grub from, so I’m not going to necessarily make any recommendations for food places but you can always check out the Boston Globe’s Chow Down Beantown blog, for reviews of the newest restaurants. I like to watch the Phantom Gourmet on Saturday’s, and pick out new or yummy looking places to try. Or you can mix it up, and try to attend a cooking class at the Boston Center for Adult Education.

Hopefully, the rainy season will end soon but until then, I’m going to try to enjoy the Boston summer as much as I can…even if it’s indoors.

HIMYS Travels: NYC

Being an East Coaster now, I find it easy to travel to so many places in such a short amount of time. It can probably be easily explained by the fact that every state is significantly smaller than Texas. It feels a bit like there are these wonderful places outside of my door – New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, Maine…the list could go on and on. So it’s only natural that I explore these options.

One of my most recent stops was New York City. Of course, I know many tried-and-true Bostonians who boo and hiss at the mention of New York (at least, that’s the stereotype). However, I find Manhattan to be fascinating. It seems like a place where anything could happen, at any time. Now, it’s important to note that New York City was not a place I had traveled to prior to moving to Boston. I never had an occasion to come out to NYC, though the desire was always there.

Since moving, I’ve had the opportunity to travel to the Big Apple a few times. And something I recently realized was that I don’t take advantage of the opportunity to head out to NYC enough.

On my last trip, I visited a few places that were especially cool. First off, a bar call Society. It seemed to have an intimate feel to it, but not overwhelmingly dark, small or loud. The bar also had an alley of pool tables, which is a fun activity when hanging out with friends or looking to make new ones. Similarly, on a separate visit, I went to a bar called Spin. The bar is full of ping pong tables – in fact, I saw a small group of kids training for an upcoming tournament while I was there for happy hour with some coworkers. (Like I said, you never know what you’ll see.)

Of course, for a relatively new visitor to the City, doing the touristy items is a must. On my first official visit, I faced a long-time fear of heights to travel to the top of the Empire State building. It was beautiful to see all of the area. However, the day I went to the observation deck, it was overcast and a bit windy. But it was a great experience! I also went on the NBC Studios tour where I saw a Saturday Night Live rehearsal in progress.

Another location I was able to visit was the USTA Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows. This is where the US Open is played – and honestly, the grounds are really cool. It was, obviously, deserted since the US Open is in September but was still a cool sight to see. Equally interesting, the Flushing Meadows Park is where the World’s Fair was held. Personally, it’s interesting to see the area where buildings are, and imagine what it must have been like to be there at the peak of its existence.

I’ve also gotten a chance to eat some incredible food in NYC. Again, on this last trip, I ate at Eatly, an Italian Marketplace around the Flatiron building. The panini I had was delightful – and even better, was eating outside on a 70 degree day. My first visit, I was able to eat myself silly at Max Brenners, which they now have in Boston. While this trip, I had an intimate brunch with friends at a small place in Hell’s Kitchen called Nook. Let’s just say: the name suits the restaurant.

The few times I’ve been able to visit New York, I’ve had a great time. For me, I have a wonderful group of friends and family who live in and around the City, so it is such a joy to see the sights and eat with people who have the inside scoop. Despite the enjoyment that comes with traveling to New York, I’m positive that I would not want to live in NYC. I have incredible respect for those who love it. This girl, however, likes coming home to Beantown.

Compare Contrast

It’s around this time of year when I fondly remember all the reasons that I came to fall in love with Boston. The beautiful weather accompanied by the colors of Spring when all the flowers are blooming, the trees are finally green with new leaves and the City is full of people who want to spend every second outdoors. Of course, let’s not forget one of Boston’s favorite things about this time of year, baseball season.

This year is very special for the Red Sox, as Fenway Park celebrates its 100 year. The Boston Globe compiled a wonderful slide show of pictures that showcase the celebration itself (which was on Friday, April 20).

Contrast that with a fantastic time to be in Texas – bluebonnet season. Sure, baseball is also underway in Texas, but it’s the bluebonnets that seem to have me missing home more and more these days. If you haven’t gotten a chance to see the bluebonnets, I would absolutely recommend it. The great part about seeing bluebonnets is that they are everywhere. Just drive around the Hill Country and you’ll see them off the highway.

CNN actually put photos of the bluebonnets on their website (which was surprising to me) but a great look at these wonderful flowers. If you want a really fantastic photo essay on the flower, check out the April edition of Texas Monthly.

While Spring is winding down in Texas, it’s only just begun here in Boston. Despite the differences of Spring in each place, it certainly is a season to get people out and about again. Maybe that’s why it’s my favorite…but you never know. It could be all about baseball.