Juan In A Million

When my friends from out of town visit me, they always want to go to Kerbey Lane for breakfast. Why? I love the place, but other than the Cowboy Queso and Hibiscus Fizz, it isn’t that impressive.

Where do I go for breakfast at least once a month? That would be Juan In A Million, where I can get a kick-butt breakfast for $3.80.

Juan In A Million is “Juan” of Austin’s signature restaurants. It’s a big deal. It was even featured on an episode of Man vs. Food!

In case you aren’t familiar with Juan In A Million, let me fill you in.

The place is famous for the Don Juan, a giant breakfast taco…if you can even call it that. You can’t even attempt to wrap a tortilla around the mound of eggs, bacon, potatoes and cheese.

When you order a Don Juan the first question that the server will ask you is how many tortillas you want with it. Does this give you an idea of how giant these things are? (I order mine with an extra tortilla and a side of pico de gallo.)

so. good.

But we all know that size isn’t everything. The Don Juan is as delicious as it is huge. Soooo tasty. (Put bacon and cheese on anything and I get pretty excited.)

Just on the Eastside, Juan In A Million is full of character. With simple (and I mean simple) décor, it’s a neighborhood joint that is no-nonsense and provides you with good food and a solid handshake.

(Yes, if you are ever lucky enough to shake owner Juan Meza’s hand. Please do, it will teach you what a real handshake should be like.)

Titaya's Thai Cuisine

         
This week on my food adventure I decided to follow my craving for Thai food. (My choice was also influenced by the fact that both my dear friend Sara has never had it. FOR SHAME!)

        
So, I decided to venture out to try a different Thai restaurant and ended up at Titaya’s Thai Cuisine on North Lamar.

        
For those of you who have never tried Thai food, please do. And Titaya’s would not be a bad place to start.

         
First of all, I have been to many Thai restaurants that serve delicious food, but look like a total dump. Titaya’s is actually pleasant to sit in, you don’t worry about a ceiling tile falling down and you aren’t hesitant to use the bathrooms.

        
The décor is simple and not tacky.

See? Tasteful

I ordered a Thai iced tea as soon as I sat down. I love Thai tea. It’s strongly brewed black tea with sugar and condensed milk. Titaya’s was a bit on the sweet side, but the smoky aftertaste was so good.

Sara had chicken Pad Thai. I stole a bite, and it tasted so fresh compared to other Pat Thais I’ve had in the past. It also looked fresher. The noodles weren't gooey, and the presentation was kind of pretty.

Isn't that the prettiest Pad Thai you've ever seen?

One of my favorite things about Thai food is the use of coconut milk. So I ordered the Gang Mosmun curry (musmun mild curry in coconut milk, potatoes, carrots, peanuts and onions). Like Sara’s Pad Thai, my food tasted very fresh. The carrots and peanuts were crisp and not soggy. There was just enough spice. But the potatoes were undercooked which was rather disappointing.

Boo uncooked potatoes! Yay everything else!

My roommate ordered Pad Kei Mao (flat rice noodle stir-fried with onions, mushrooms, fresh basils, tomatoes, bell peppers and fresh Thai chili), and it was an excellent choice. It was flavorful and not too spicy at all (I don’t really know how it got two peppers on the one to three spicy scale).

This is what I'm ordering next time.

Overall a very enjoyable meal! I look forward to munching on the leaftovers.

Gourdough's

With the drizzly weather and a stressful week of school, I decided a trip down Lamar to Gourdough’s was the logical remedy. 

Silver bullet trailers for the win.

Gourdough’s serves “Big. Fat. Donuts.” But they are unlike any donut I have eaten before (I’m honestly not usually a donut person). The loads of toppings could not be supported by a wimpy Krispy Kreme, Gourdough’s donuts seem more like funnel cakes than donuts.

And unlike regular donuts, these are the size of your face. 

This is no joke.

 I ordered my usual, the Granny Pie, and my friends ordered the Blackout and the Strawberry Shortcake. 

For a better view of the menu, go to their website!

The reason I always order the Granny Pie is because 1) it is delicious and 2) I try to rationalize my binge eating with the fact that it has fruit and nuts on it, so it can’t be THAT bad for me...right? Pecans, graham cracker crumbs, bananas and caramel, what more do you need?

The Granny Pie tastes like something that Paola Dean would make if she were lucky enough to be from Austin. And I mean that in the best way possible. It tastes like Southern comfort, it’s awful for you and the portion is humungous. 

From the left: Granny Pie and Strawberry Shortcake

I tried my friend’s Strawberry Shortcake. It is not as heavy as the Granny Pie and the fresh strawberries remind me of summertime. 

My other friend ordered the Blackout, which is filled with fudge icing, and covered with brownie batter, pieces of brownie and chocolate covered brownie bites. This donut is only for the truest chocoholics. 

The Blackout, "It's like Hershey, PA exploded on my donut."

Gourdough’s is simply one of those trailers in Austin that everyone must visit. Sure swimsuit season is coming, but to be frank, I don’t give a damn. 

As you eat Gourdough’s ridiculous donuts you feel your arteries clogging and waistline expanding, but again, no damn is given.

Luke's Inside Out

On Sunday I was craving something delicious after an exhausting South by Southwest. I also had a hankering to search for one of Austin’s foodie havens. Mission accomplished: Luke’s Inside Out, a trailer located on South Lamar, home of one of the tastiest sandwiches I have ever eaten.

YES.

Creeper photo of my new favorite sandwich joint.

These sandwiches are like no other. They taste like the creator meticulously studied the art of sandwiches and the perfect combination of flavors that make our taste buds say, “Yes please.”  

With simply named sandwiches like The Cow, The Pig, and The Vegetable, Luke’s Inside Out gets down to business.

Simple menu where the business gets down.

I ordered The Cow; tender brisket, grilled onions, smoked Gouda, and “Chow Chow” (a sundried tomato relish concoction that gives the sandwich extra oomf) all fit between two halves of toasted French bread. Typing this is torture because now all I want is that sandwich.

The Cow = The Bomb

           

My friend Jillian ordered The Pig, and she was also very satisfied. Our entire dinner conversation was: “This is so good…Is your sandwich good? My sandwich is awesome…This is my favorite sandwich…I love this sandwich.”

The Pig - if you like pulled pork, this will rock your world. 

As if the fillings aren’t tempting enough, let me divulge the genius that gives the trailer its name. The French bread is sliced in half and grilled on the flat top. The toasted bread then becomes the inside. Rather than bite into a hard crust, you bite into the bread’s toasted center, hence “inside out”.

Only complaint? Really difficult to eat. But it makes them more rewarding in a way, it's almost a sport.

What I like about Luke’s Inside Out is its simple hours: 4 – 11 p.m. on weekdays, and now open even later on Friday and Saturday, all the way to 2:30 a.m. (I usually face the problem that many trailers have irregular hours that never cooperate with my cravings.)

Inside Out Luke’s location is simple: right next to Gibson bar on South Lamar. Gibson even allows Inside Out Luke’s customers to use their outdoor patio, so customers can buy a beer from Gibson bar and enjoy a sandwich from Inside Out Luke’s. Now that’s good business.

Whenever someone comes to visit me in the fabulous city, I will bring them here. This trailer embodies Austin’s food scene: unpretentious, quality food that can be found anywhere. Food trailers are a critical part of Austin’s unique and diverse food culture, which is why I love them.

La Pâtisserie

On my latest adventure I traveled to La Pâtisserie in south Austin. The place was so adorable I wanted to go home, bake, and paint my apartment in pastels.

Yes. Pastels.

Small Austin eateries do quirky-cute like nowhere else and La Pâtisserie is no exception. 

La Pâtisserie

 Engineer turned pâtissier, Soraya Nagree opened her pastry haven last year and since then Austinites, myself included, have fallen in love with her sweet creations, especially her macarons. 

La Pâtisserie sells boxes of 12 so you can give them as gifts! [Photo from La Pâtisserie's gallery]

 

 My friend Liz, who is coincidently a chemical engineering major whose life aspiration is to open a bakery, accompanied me on my foodie exploration.

We decided to each buy a couple of pastries and try each other’s.  Liz got a lavender macaron, a morning bun and a cappuccino. While I indulged in a lemon macaron, pain au chocolat and French hot chocolate. 

nom nom nom

All of the treats were delicious! My own selections were my favorite. The lemon macaron was light and full of flavor. The pain au chocolat was buttery, delicious, and melted in my mouth.

The morning bun was full of cinnamon and sugar, two of my favorite things. I had never eaten anything lavender flavored, so I was pleasantly surprised with the lavender macaron. It was very delectable and aromatic.

Oh and the French hot chocolate? One of the tastiest drinks I’ve ever had; with homemade whipped cream to top it off. I was severely disappointed when I reached the bottom of the glass. 

Like a hug from the inside.

I should have waited for the macarons to reach room temperature (they’re a little doughy if you don’t). BUT I am impatient, and they were still very tasty.

It’s not just the food that makes La Pâtisserie so great; the baristas are sweet (no pun intended) and make you feel at home. They are friendly in a way that you want to be best friends with them.

It also helps that the little house turned patisserie’s décor is adorable. The little room to the side for children has a homey touch and gives the room a sense of calm (which I’m sure children need after sweets). All of the house’s walls are decorated beautifully and quirky artwork hangs on the walls. 

Room for the kiddies.

Adorable.

Paintings on the wall were for sale.

I highly recommend a trip to La Pâtisserie for a delightful afternoon with friends.