Hot Sauce Festival

'The only way to beat the heat, is to eat the heat'. The saying was perfectly true for last week's 21st Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival. With triple-digit temperatures, the only way to get through the day was with an equally scorching mouth!

My friends and I noticed many people with Camelbacks walking into the event at Waterloo Park, and once we got in realized their purpose... Lets just way water was in high demand throughout the day.

We even made a picture in the Austin American-Statesman!

I was reppin' my Torchy's shirt, of course

http://galleries.statesman.com/gallery/austin-chronicle-hot-sauce-festival/#210091

Back in Austin!

Boy, does it feel so right to be back in Austin! I was out of the country for nearly all of July, and was in Dallas for the rest of the time. I tried to go to the movies as often as I could, and hit up some awesome restaurants in Dallas. Ziziki's, Eno's, Rise nº1, The Porch, Park on Henderson, The Common Table, Lumi, and La Duni were just a hanfull of some of my new favorite spots I ventured to this summer in Dallas. The majority of films I saw were decent... nothing stuck out as 'the must-see summer blockbuster', but my two favorite films were JJ Abram's secretive 'Super 8' and The New Times' 'Page One'.

 Abram's sci-fi epic was captivating and fresh. The cast's camaraderie and youthful spirit was reminiscent to Speilberg's 'Goonies', while the plot steered more towards Abram's bulk of work ('LOST', 'Fringe'). The film had me laughing, sympathetic, and on the edge of my seat -- a true roller-coaster of emotions! The short film that the kids entered into their contest (titled "The Case") played during the credits and was genius. A neat side-fact is that the children actually wrote and filmed the humorous film without any intervention from Abrams.

The New York Times' all access documentary was great. A film crew followed the newspaper tycoon for over a year - a very interesting period for print media as social media outlets and online news has taken over the 'age of information'. The current global recession occurs, and forces major cutback and layoffs within the media giant. During that same time, Wikileaks breaks on the scene and turns the news industry upside-down. The New York Times eventual compliance with the rouge media source eventually lands much them much critisism.. all the way up to the White House.

Dallas: Eno's Pizza Tavern

I love pizza of all shapes and sizes: cheese-crust, Chicago deep-dish, New York, and thin-crust. Eno's Pizza Tavern has not only mastered the thin-crust pizza in Dallas, but has a great atmosphere (often with live music multiple times a week), great service, and a beer selection that would please even the most sophisticated beer nerd. As a Dallas native, I've had pizza from all over the city. It was not until just recently I was introduced to Eno's Pizza Tavern... and my perception of Dallas' pizza capabilities were changed.
For starters, I ordered the Honey Chile Hog Wings, which the table ended up ordering another because they were amazing. This tender piece of pork came still on the bone (although it fell off instantly) in a cast iron skillet. The pork was glazed with local sweet honey and a red chile sauce. While the hog wings were sweet from the honey, the after-burn from the red chile was enough to make you reach for that cold brew -- but a good temperature burn.. the kind that makes you want to take another bite! The bleu cheese buttermilk dip was a great way to neutralized the spice and added a great deal of flavor. I also ordered the Harvest Pear Salad. Consisting of a mix of Arugula, local greens, and fresh Basil. The salad contained Bleu Cheese crubles, sliced Pears, Pancetta, and was all brought together with a Champagne Vinaigrette. The contents of the salad worked wonderfully together,  and the dressing really brought out their flavors.

When I go to a pizzaria like Eno's, I know I should just trust them and choose a pizza that is a selection on the menu, but when they offer customized pizzas.. I can't help but indulge. The pizza that I concocted was: Pepperoni, Hot Sausage, Charred Green Onion, Garlic, Fresh Basil, Jalapenos, Artichoke, and Sun Dried Tomatoes. These customized pizzas are called 'iPies' at Eno's. These thin-crust pizzas are the perfect size to split with somebody, or fully satisfy you if you are pretty starving.
In addition to great pizzas, Eno's offers a wide selection of salads, sandwiches, and Italian pastas.
It was quite unlike me, but I just couldn't push myself to get any dessert -- I was stuffed! I was regretting my decision when I saw some kind of Hot Brownie Sundae brought to the table next to me.

-- Their dedicated beer menu is vast and contains variety and character. From seasonal draughts, many local Texas microbrews, to 'Micro Cans', they have almost every flavorful beer you can think of. They also have a great wine selection.

Emo's Pizza Tavern is a must if you live in Dallas, or stopping by the area. I can't wait to venture back for dinner, possibly to try a sandwich or homemade pastas -- and most probably a desert!
A must-go for any pizza or beer lover!
Overall I give Emo's Pizza Tavern 5/5 stars! ★★★★★


Eno's Pizza Tavern: Menu (Dinner)

Eno's: Drink/Dessert Menu 

Out of the country!

Going to be out of the country for the next couple of weeks, I'll try to keep you guys posted.. but expect more updates and posts in August!
Thanks!
- Movies and Meals

'The Tree of Life'

       Written & directed by Terrence Malick and starring Brad Pitt and Sean Penn, 'Tree of Life' was sure to be an amazing production with high Oscar expectations. Although the trailers released did not shed much light on the plot or story line, I was excited to see it.

       With the guilt of his brother's teenage death heavy on his mind, Jack (Penn) looks back on his adventurous childhood, reflecting on his upbringing and family dynamic. His father (Pitt) was a stern  disciplinary who always made jack feel like he was never loved. Tensions with his father still exist today, and as Jack looks back at the guilt and grief his parents endured over his brother's untimely death, he tries to imagine what losing a child was like for them. While his father was strict and aggressive towards Jack and his brothers, his mother was quite the opposite - showering love onto her boys and allowing them to grow up free and rambunctious. His mother and father never did see eye-to-eye on parenting, but it was the stark contrast of discipline and love that made Jack into the successful man he is today "Father, Mother. Always you wrestle inside me. Always you will".
       'The Tree of Life' was a very deep and telling film. The cinematography was possibly one of the most stunning and interesting I have seen. The movie was littered with quick cuts to beautiful scenes spanning any situation, but always with a relevant theme. From shaky and honest scenes of Jack and his brothers playing in the front yard, cuts to the cosmos with distant and vibrant nebulas and stellar clusters, and flashes of nature's beauty or an architectural wonder. It was similar to a carousal of the beautiful and wondrous images one acquires throughout their life, flashing throughout the entirety of the film.

       With the likes of Brad Pitt and Sean Penn, I knew the performances in the film would be great, but in my eyes the great performances did not come from Pitt and Penn, but two unexpected actors. Jessica Chastain, playing the Jack's mother, and Hunter McCracken, who played Young Jack. Chastain's portrayal of grief was painfully realistic, as she morned for the death of her boy. As the film chronicled the life of her children, you could understand the genuine growth and love Chastain portrayed due to her exceptional performance. I was blow away by the honest and natural performances given by both child actors in the film, Mccracken, and Laramine Eppler (who played Jack's younger brother). They were believable and did an incredible job for 'Tree' to be their first project, ever.


      The film did an amazing job of portraying the growth and life of the O'Brien family. Such small and humanistic situations are portrayed during the boy's childhood, things that everybody can relate to and say, "Oh, I remember when I was a kid and used to do/think that!". Overall, the film was strangely fresh and raw. It had a true essence of nostalgia that simply mirrored the flittering and flashing memories that we think back to.
       I walked out of the theater and for the next day or two was stuck with the images and quotes from the movie. It really does make the viewer look into their own life and reflect on themselves. I really enjoyed the movie and thought it was a perfectly executed performance by the actors and writer-director Terrence Malick. I haven't given too many movies 5/5, but this deep and philosophical drama deserves it! ★★★★★

Dallas: rise nº1

I felt like I was in Southern France when I sat down at my table at rise nº1. The charming and rustic Southern France atmosphere was infectious. Every detail from the silverware to the service was perfect. The water was served in plain wine bottles and the glasses were wine bottles with the large divot on the bottom that had been cut where the neck begins and fashioned into perfect cups - I was infatuated with them! Rise nº1 is a French restaurant that has a very unique and particular cuisine -- soufflés. From entrees to appetizers, they have about twenty different soufflés on their menu ranging from classic Chocolate to Escargot or Jambon & Gruyere.

Wine bottle water glasses! Check out their online store to purchase

I ordered the rise nº1 salad for an appetizer, it is a light starter salad of baby greens, blue cheese, roasted pecans, Granny Smith apples & a pecan vinaigrette. To begin, we also got an order of the Artichoke Andrée for the table, which is a MUST HAVE when you go to rise nº1! Its a steamed artichoke served with the 'Hedda's family sauce', a light creamy and buttery sauce.

The Artichoke Andrée

 For my entree I ordered the Southwest Chicken soufflé. I was surprised how quick it came out - despite soufflés notorious slow reputation. It was unbelievable. I'm not going to lie...I love a good cheese or chocolate soufflé, but was skeptical about the more unorthodox soufflés. The Southwest Chicken was great. It was light and fluffy, but packed with flavor and much more filling than I imagined it would be. The texture of the top of was great, adding a little crunch... but the green chile salsa sitting on the top was my favorite. It really brought the dish together, giving it a little spice.

My Southwest Chicken Soufflé! SO good

I was FULL by they time it came to dessert, but couldn't pass it up! I ordered the apricot soufflé, and was blown away. I would go back to rise nº1 solely for the apricot dessert.. I really enjoyed rise nº1 because of its uniqueness and originality. With such a diverse menu, I can't wait to try the other options (but I think I'll have to get the apricot soufflé!). Overall I give rise nº1 5/5 stars! ★★★★★

Click HERE for rise nº1's online menu