A TRIPLE-MOANER-MEAL

This weekend we went to visit our BFFs in College Station. As soon as we arrived the guys split off to go try a burger joint called Joe's, which had shown up on Texas Monthly's Top 50 Burgers list. We girls opted to try something a little more upscale -- Veritas Wine & Bistro. You may have heard of executive chef and partner/owner Tai Lee, who won America's Favorite Food Truck back in 2011. Unlike most I've heard about, Chef Lee actually started with the upscale restaurant, then opened the food truck later so that he could bring the same quality of food to a broader audience at street-level prices. The students and faculty at Texas A&M love him for it!

Paula had sent me several dinner options to check out on-line ahead of time, and dinner at Veritas looked really good, but pricey. However, when I looked at the lunch menu, I realized that you could get some of those very same items, in smaller portions, at bargain rates, so that's what we did. Paula opted for the crab cakes, while I decided to take on the Wagyu Burger au Poivre with caramelized onions and truffle mayo, served with a side of Parmesan Truffle Fries. Both were really good, but the best surprise was yet to come!

It had started raining by then, and we were no longer in the mood to walk around outside, so we decided to linger with a pot of tea for me, and a pot of French pressed coffee for Paula. Just out of curiosity -- for future reference, really -- we asked to see their dessert menu. That was our downfall, for we both love all things almondy, and there at the top of their list was something called Basque Almond Cake. The one small round, drizzled with caramel sauce and crowned with a mound of Chantilly Cream, was the perfect amount for us both to share.

All I can say is, it's a good thing the restaurant had cleared out by then, for someone would surely have called the paramedics upon hearing all the moans coming from our table!

Since the guys had spent the afternoon at a microbrewery, the women drove to dinner, and they got to squeeze in next to the carseat in back. Got a few funny looks from cars stopping next to us.

Brunch With the Kiddos on Sunday

It was a very good weekend!
 

A FEW MORE SAN ANTONIO "MUST-DOS"

 
Last year when we went on a couples adventure to San Antonio just after Thanksgiving, when all the trees along the riverwalk were just dripping with Christmas lights, I posted my list of San Antonio must-dos here.  And, since we made a couple of new discoveries on our most recent trip there, I thought I'd better add them to the list.

Before leaving on this little trip I decided to dig out my old file of travel articles pulled from magazines like Southern Living and such, to see if there was anything I had missed over the years. I hit pay-dirt when I saw a recommendation for a shopping trip to Alamo Fiesta on Main. It's one of those shops where they probably started out in one section of their own house, and eventually took over the whole building, the one next door, and all the property in between!

As soon as I walked through the door I knew I had found my San Antonio "happy place".

There were rooms full of every kind of party goods imaginable, from pinatas to paper plates, not to mention the rooms full of  Happy Shirts and Dresses, and patios filled with garden decor!

We fell madly in love with these Chihuly-esque glass ornaments which they had stuck on hanging bottle trees, and brought a few home to replace faded bottles on our own tree. Hopefully we can add a few more each time we go.

By the time we had finished exploring every nook and cranny, we were starving. And, since we hadn't had much luck choosing restaurants this trip, we decided to ask the cashier for recommendations. She said there was a great Mexican place that had been around since the 30s just a block or so north of them on Main, and as soon as we drove into the the parking lot, the back of my neck got to tinglin'. Synchronicity, at work again! You see, several years ago our lawyer, an old frat-mate of my brother-in-law's, took us to lunch at a great little Mexican joint when we were over there updating our wills. I've been wanting to go back ever since, but couldn't remember where it was, or even the name.

Now I know. Best cheese enchiladas I've ever had, and believe me, I've had quite a few! Go for the works, and try the La Fonda Special.

P.S. This is for son Austin and son-in-law Nate:

A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

EMPTYING MY BUCKET-LIST AT CYPRESS FALLS

 
Last Tuesday evening the hubby and I finally got to do something that has been on my bucket list for years now -- probably the very first thing I thought of upon learning what a bucket list was. We got to participate in a genuine farm-to-table dinner, hosted by the same amazing family that made my daughter's wedding a dream-come-true for her, just two years ago this week.

Apparently the family who owns Cypress Falls Event Center, right here in Wimberley, has a new protege -- a young chef named Ryan Austin Nickerson who, if I'm not mistaken, went to school at Texas State with one of their kids, then went off to study in Italy and to work at several restaurants, before coming back to do an internship with them and cater some of their events. Since he happens to be passionate about the farm-to-table movement, they decided to co-host this event. Lucky us!

I owe many thanks to two wonderful couples, whom we love hanging out at vineyards with (hence our self-given moniker The Winos), and without whom I might not have heard about this event until it was too late!

The first thing delivered to our table were these adorable little milk bottles filled with fresh raw milk, straight from the cow with a dash of cream, from MooJesus Dairy in Seguin. (The place to go if you want to experience being a farmer-for-a-day!) We were instructed to take a swig between each of the eight courses (yes, eight), as a palate cleanser.

Next came this amazing tomato-basil bruschetta topped with a dab of intensely flavored Balsamic Caviar. Not real caviar, but a molecular gastronomy concoction made from balsamic vinegar and agar, I believe.

After that, well, I guess I was just too busy eatin' and having a good time to remember to take any photos! (check out the "this event" link above to see some of their own lovely photos of the dinner) Suffice it to say, by the time the meal ended about three hours later? Well, we pretty much had to roll ourselves out to the car.

Here's hoping they do it again. Soon!

FIRST HALLOWEEN DILEMMA

What to be? What to be?

Toothless the Dragon?

Or a cuddly little panda bear?

Many thanks to Lexi's wonderful friend Stephanie, of Angry Baby: Badass Baby Wear, for giving us so many great options!
  

WELCOME TO HAVANA

Hubby and I just got back from our latest adventure -- a trip to Havana! Hotel Havana, that is, in San Antonio, Texas. And, from what I've heard about hotel prices in Havana, Cuba, from a friend who just booked a trip there, I'd say we got quite the bargain!

That's Hotel Havana, peeking through the trees.

It's located on one of the more secluded bends of the river walk, near the Tobin Center for Performing Arts and Southwest School of Art, and, after seeing the amazing classes SSA has open to the public, I'm wondering if Hotel Havana might offer me a deal on an extended stay!

We like to stay in places with character and history, which is why we tend to choose small boutique hotels over homogeneous chains. This one was just oozing with personality!

The resident ghost, leading us up the stairs?

Yes, there is an elevator.

We splurged and booked one of their suites, still less than $200, which is always nice when one of you is an early riser and the other is not.

Favorite thing about the room? The vintage fridge they use for a mini bar!

On the down side, there were no shutters or shades on the windows between the bedroom and sitting area, which meant no flipping on the lights in the wee hours of the morn.  Also, the food was a bit disappointing.  Loved the atmosphere in Ocho...

where the weather was perfect for dining with the "garage doors" up, overlooking the river. And you gotta love this fun little patio, which leads to the atmospheric basement bar, and where they were showing films on the wall...

but breakfast cost fifty bucks for the two of us, and was just so-so. The biggest disappointment, however, was the churros -- the ones with cajeta and mocha café con leche dipping sauces that I've been dreaming about for almost a year now, and which were the main reason we wanted to check out this hotel. This time they served them with a blob of whipped cream and some lemon curd to dip them in. Lemon Curd! Not only that, although they were hot and crispy on the outside, they were kinda cold and doughy on the inside. I was crushed, I tell you. Crushed. Gotta wonder if they changed chefs or something.

Still, I'd come back to this hotel in a heartbeat. Just wouldn't plan on eating much there.

JUST A TOUCH

When we first bought this place in the Hill Country, sold our last house in the 'burbs, and rented a townhouse to work from in Houston until we were both ready to retire, I got rid of a ton of holiday decorations. I was no longer that person who thought you needed a tree in every room and a wreath on every door, for every season! I ended up quitting my job a couple of years before Hubby, and moved up here full time to start turning this weekend place into a full-time home. In the process, I went through even more of a metamorphosis, and even more detritus got carried away. When we finally merged those two houses into this one -- one of the most difficult tasks we've ever undertaken -- most all of the remaining decorations went by the wayside. Just about the only things left are the tiny bits that can be tucked below in the cabinet where I display them, such as this...

and this...

No more hauling crates full of stuff down from the attic for every season!  Well, except for these guys, which we discovered in the mystery space above the garage when we hauled the cradle down for Little Goober.

I was planning to haul that whole crate of stuff off to the thrift store when it got closer to Halloween, but then Little Goober actually arrived, and I decided I'd better give that crate one more looksee before I dropped it off and, well, these two pieces decided they really needed to stay here with him.

Can you guess what my very favorite piece of fall decor in my whole house is? One I love so much it stays out year-round?

Bakelite! Still making my heart go pitter-patter, every time I walk through that kitchen.

And now we're off for a belated celebration (5 months belated) of our 41st anniversary. Hotel Havana, here we come!