Austin Food & Wine: A Foodie’s Paradise

Lisa – Now, let me think. The food was…

Homer – Mmm… – not undelicious.

Lisa [paraphrasing Homer for a food article] – The food is delicious.

Homer – [Gasps] THAT’S BRILLIANT!

Austin Food & Wine Fest just happened this past weekend, and it blew me away. It was like I had died and gone to food and drink heaven. When I got word that I received a media pass to go to the event, I was beyond stoked. Having never been before, I really didn’t know what to expect. Like any food festival, AFWFest wasn’t without it’s faults, but the massive amount of good things I experienced completely overshadowed any imperfections. It was near flawless.  Continue reading

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Brunch @ Jenna’s

Twas a moonless night, dark as pitch, when out of the mist came a beast more stomach than man. – The Sea Captain in the Springfield courthouse, describing how much Homer ate at his seafood buffet.

It’s an exciting time in the Lakeline area. Asian restaurants have been around this area for a while, but with the recent introduction of H-Mart and its one of a kind Market Eatery (think Fareground, but inside of a grocery store, and all Asian food), the competition is ramping up. Interestingly, each restaurant in this area is very differentiated – you have hand pulled noodles at Xian, modern Asian fine dining and sushi at Soto, and fried chicken, Korean tofu, and ramen at H-Mart. Then you have Jenna’s, which offers a modern and pan-Asian dining experience. But that’s not what makes it unique. Jenna’s delivers a one of a kind all you can eat brunch experience that focuses on quality over quantity.

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My Ontario Trip in Pictures

Ted Mosby [envisioning what a Canadian wedding would be like]: Canada? Are you registered at Tim Horton’s?

Lily Aldrin: What, are you gonna walk down the aisle wearing snow shoes?

Barney: What do we ask on the wedding invitation, will you be having the elk, or the moose?

I went to Ontario, Canada for work last week, and I have to say: Good job Toronto, and good job Markham, for having amazing food everywhere. I literally was not disappointed by a single dining experience I had. No, I didn’t only go to the $$$ 5-star Yelp places. Although amazingly, that’s what it felt like when I ate. Here’s what my experience was like, in pictures. Continue reading

Beginner’s Guide to Sushi Junai

[Waiter]: Excuse me. [Arthur Spooner]: Yes? [Waiter]: Are you also having the buffet, sir? [Arthur]: How DARE you make such an accusation?! I fought for this country!

[Doug]: Yes, we have been sharing. Here’s $20 for two buffets, keep the change.

I’m no sushi expert. But even I know that what you’re getting at Sushi Junai isn’t the best sushi. It’s a $30/person all you can eat where everything is made to order. From appetizers to rolls, nigiri to dessert, there’s a vast array of choices here that may overwhelm the first timer. It’s a lot to process, so unless you’re a competitive eater, I highly suggest that you walk in with a strategy. This guide isn’t meant to help you maximize value – it won’t give you a sense that you’ve beaten the system. Instead, it’s meant to give you the most enjoyable experience.

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Texas-Sized Food That Actually Tastes Good

Food always tastes better when you’re hungry, and when it’s free – my mama

My mom is absolutely right. Now that this blog and my Instagram page are getting more attention, I’ve been getting more invites and offers to try food around town. And when I go these places, I make sure that I’m hungry – mainly so that I’ll feel less guilty when I inevitably stuff my face and am too full to workout afterwards. So naturally, I can understand why when I write about restaurants that treat me, people may question the legitimacy of my words. I get that. There’s not much I can do to change that. What I CAN tell you, however, is that I loved my Driskill dining experience so much that I will be taking my parents – ie the hardest to please self-proclaimed food critics – to eat there.  Continue reading

The BEST Fried Chicken in Austin

What’s with the word ‘y’all? You know, just two words just… pushed together. Are we all allowed to do that, because if so, I say why stop there? You know, your – your new poodle could be your noodle. And fried chicken? Could be fricken. Waiter, waiter, ‘scuse me, I’ll have the fricken! – Chandler Bing

‘Drum’ roll please…

*Waits for awkward laughter to end*

Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken is by far the best in Austin. Hands down. I think about it once a day. And when I’m eating it, I can’t stop until I’ve had at least 4 pieces of that perfectly seasoned and fried perfection. No, I am not being paid to say this. In fact, I’ve dropped a load of my own money just to go back time and time again to eat there. So now, I’ve finally decided to write about it. Continue reading