Pizza Pizza!

I read an article in the Daily Texan a while back that explored three distinct pizza trailers here in Austin. I planned on going to all three up at some point, but I didn't think they would all be the night. This is what I do when I'm bored and have a little too much time on my hands.

Osaka Soul

Osaka Soul's Kabuki Mix

The first trailer I ventured to was the more unusual of the three, Osaka Soul. I would call this pizza more of a pancake than the traditional crusty pizza, but in Osaka, Japan, this is what is referred to as pizza. I played it safe and ordered the Kabuki Mix, which a combination of smoked bacon and kimchi. I was surprised when my order was ready and I picked it up -- It looked more like a dessert rather than a pizza of any sort. Wondering where the bacon was, It wasn't until after I cut into the pizza did I find the bacon goodness and spicy grilled kimchi.

I really enjoyed this pizza as it brought very new tastes and textures in my mouth. The texture and fluffiness of the pancake-like pizza was different and unexpected, while the occasional crunch of the salty smoked bacon really mixed well with the kimchi. But don't let the pancake-nature of the pizza fool you, as it looks light and fluffy, its actually quite dense and filling (I had to take the last 1/4 home with me)  I would recommend Osaka Soul to anyone feeling a little adventurous or who loves Japanese cuisine.

Check out Osaka Soul's Menu Here

I'll be updating yall on the other two trailers via 313 and Firefly Pies later on in the week!

Cool.

Second Bar + Kitchen

Lunch at Second Bar + Kitchen today, and it was excellent.
To begin I had two starters, the Blistered Shishto Peppers and the Avocado Fundido. The peppers came with a miso aioli which was creamy and tangy and was the perfect dipping sauce for the charred peppers. I'm not that big on avocado or guacamole, but this Avocado Fundido was amazing - and much more filling that I imagined. The fundido contained house chorizo that gave it a good kick of spice and was topped with queso fresco. The chips served with the dish were chipotle masa chips, so they added a little extra spice also!

Blistered Shishito Peppers

Avocado Fundido

After these two appetizers I ordered the Black and Bleu Pizza, which consists of bleu cheese, medjool dates (which I excluded from my order), pork belly confit, and red onions. The pizza gets its "black" from the black truffle that is drizzled over the whole pizza. I consider myself a lover of rich foods, and this pizza was very rich, expecially without the dates! The bleu cheese and pork belly confit meshed so well together and created some really bold flavors.

 Click here to check out Second Bar + Kitchen's Lunch Menu

Steak and Jalapeño Scrambled Eggs

Home for the weekend, and the best part about about that is always access to a full kitchen - something I have been deprived of, like so many while at college. This morning I made an amazing dish, and was quite resourceful with my ingredients.

Yesterday I grilled a couple of ears of corn, and had one or two left over that I had used some cajun rub and seasonings on. Also, last night my sister couldn't finish her steak (Filet Mignon) so we brought it back from the restaurant. I used both of these leftovers in the scrambled eggs and they were great. I am not usually big on leftovers, but if you can incorporate them into another recipe or dish, power to you!

I sautéed the large jalapeños and minced garlic then added the steak to heat it up a bit. It didn't take long once I added the corn for the kernels to cook and start cracklin'. I then added my eggs (3 whole eggs and 2 egg whites) and added a splash of heavy cream and a pinch of thyme.

If I was skilled enough I would of made this into a beautiful omelet, but my pan was too small -- so I resorted to making a scrambled egg dish. I made several "homemade" tortillas.. well, ok, sorta. They are from Tortilla Land, and they are in most grocery stores. They are uncooked tortillas and they take about a minute to make, 30 seconds on each side, and they are amazing. SO fresh and taste almost better than homemade tortillas from an authentic Tex-Mex restaurant.

When my brunch was finished, I couldn't wait to get started. I made a simple wrap with my tortilla and just pilled the steak, jalapeños, and eggs on in. It was so good. the steak was so tender and such a great cut of meat it definitely was the star of the plate. The corn was subtle, and the jalapeños added that heat I love. The soft fresh tortilla that wrapped everything together was perfect. I did add a good amount of Pace chunky salsa, and it really added a little extra Mexican flare that was perfect with the steak and jalapeños.

Blue Star Cafeteria

Blue Star Cafeteria is north on Burnet right past 45th. It caught my eye the other week while I was driving by, but I had never heard of it. When some buddies and myself went last Tuesday, we all left really liking the spot.
For starters we ordered the Shrimp Cocktail with Pea Salad, and some Coconut & Cornflake Chicken Tenderloins. Both of these appetizers were great. The shrimp were huge (but not 'Jumbo'), and the pea salad that accompanied the shrimp was fresh and pretty good. Also, a side of "zesty" cocktail sauce came with the shrimp that was excellent. It was how I like my cocktail sauce, with a good amount of horseradish, but there was also a sort of tangy-ness that I couldn't put my finger on what it was - but it for sure added a little something extra to the order.

The chicken tenderloins were definitely my favorite. They were delicious. The exterior was crunchy and crusted with Cornflakes and shredded coconut and flash-fried. The chicken was still tender and juicy, and really tasted great! They came with a mango chutney dipping sauce that I had never had before. It was similar to an Asian sweet chili sauce, but sweeter due to the chunks of mango. It complemented the chicken well and really helped bring out the flavor of the crunchy coconut, making this dish feel light and a like the perfect appetizer if your looking for a tropical "island feeling" in the summer.

Their menu is not extra-large, but they have many options and different venues to go down. Pizzas, almost a dozen different salads (ranging from your classic wedge to a strawberry or Asian chicken salad), pasta bowls, and entrees. Some entrees that caught my eye was their Maple Chicken Fried Quail or their Cafeteria Meatloaf. I ended up going with the Honey Glazed Grilled Pork Chop per the waiter's recommendation - and I was glad I had! I do like pork chops, but they usually aren't the first thing I'd order, especially with such a diverse and tasty-looking menu. The pork was SO tender, and prepared perfectly. It was marinated in honey, red wine, and apple cider vinegar. It was sweet, but the apple cider vinegar was definitely present, but not overpowering. Instead, it  contrasted the sweetness of the honey with a the sharpness of the vinegar. It comes with grilled green beans and macaroni & cheese, but I switched out the mac & cheese for some steamed broccoli.
Unfortunately we were too full to even touch the desert menu, but there were blackberry and peach cobblers along with an assortment of pies on display at the entrance that looked amazing. On Wednesdays they have half-priced wine from 7-10pm, and on Saturdays and Sundays serve a brunch menu from 10am-3pm that looks delicious!

Blue Star Cafeteria Menu (Dinner)

Random, But Funny

This past summer I was in Argentina with my father and a few of our family friends. I had seen a blog called 'People Brushing Their Teeth in Places Other Than The Sink". I thought this was hilarious, so while I was in the field mid-hunt I took a picture brushing my teeth. After I submitted my picture, the site (which was originally a Tumblr) went down before my picture got on. A week or two ago I came across the site again, and was so happy it was back up. I sent in my picture again, and finally made it! haha take a look:


http://peoplebrushingtheirteeth.com/
(I'm the second one down)