Maria Maria is music legend Carlos Santana’s fifth outpost of his famed regional Mexican cuisine eatery.  Located in Austin’s warehouse district, expect modern decor, strong drinks, and a killer playlist.  The gracious folks at Maria Maria invited food bloggers in for a tasting, and the food is a force to be reckoned with.  While prices exceed Maudies, Tuesdays are $1 taco night, which is hard to beat!  You must visit this restaurant if not for a meal, to at least enjoy a drink at the longest bar in the city!

Sorbet Trio.  Sorbet is always refreshing after a mexican meal.

To see pictures of Maria Maria:

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I have been wanting to try Get Sum Dim Sum upon opening in Austin last year, because sad to say but I have never experienced Dim Sum!  When Livingsocial offered a $30 coupon for $15, I knew it was time.  Get Sum Dim Sum is the perfect way to acquaint oneself with the famed Dim Sum Style of Eating because the menu has pictures, the staff is happy to make recommendations, and there are no snobby patrons looking over you!  Dim Sum is the Chinese version of Tapas, so expect small, individual portions of food, often in a steamer basket.  Get Sum is the fast food version of Dim Sum while Chinatown is considered classic and wins the awards.  At Chinatown,  dim sum is ordered off a cart and only served on weekends.  Most items are around the $2 mark so go ahead and try everything.  Two of us covered two tables, yet only spent $30!

Spinach Dumpling

To see pictures of Get Sum Dim Sum:

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The gracious folks at Fleming’s invited the Austin food blogging crew for a tasting event featuring new chef creations from the Fleming’s menu.  While I love Fleming’s, I rarely frequent national chains, and had not visited since I was a freshman in college (8 years, oh lord).  Yet, I was quickly reminded how fantastic this spot is for date-night, business meals, and an inexpensive happy hour, as they have multiple food and drink items for $6 until 7pm daily.  This tasting menu was paired with wines by the glass, AKA my week was made.  The term ‘tasting menu’ was a bit deceiving as every course was a full size meal.  In hindsight, I should of taken a doggie bag!  Thank you Fleming’s operating partners and chefs, this was truly a memorable meal.  I apologize for the less than stellar pictures, but the room was dark and romantic!

One of Fleming’s New Menu Classics, Peppercorn Steak: prime new york strip, cracked black and white peppercorns, and proprietary “F17″ steak sauce on the side.  I’ve never ordered a 12 ounce prime steak before but now I see what I’ve been missing!  A meal fit for a king, not to mention a kings appetite and ransom.

To see pictures of Flemings:

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Austin favorite Taco Deli opened up a 3rd location in new fancy digs on N. Lamar.  Now those in central austin have to make a daily decision between Taco Shack, Torchy’s, and now Taco Deli!  While this space is small, it sure is spectacular.  I visited during lunch to catch up with an old friend, but the place is crowded and noisy, so much for intimacy!  Definitely call in an order if taking to-go, there is no room for those waiting to stand or sit during peak hours.   My next visit to the new center will be to Uchiko, Uchi’s new younger sister, any recommendations?

Bean & Cheese Taco and a Cowboy Taco, after 11am they won’t make eggs so I ordered the Cowboy Taco in lieu of The Vaquero (cowboy mix with eggs)

To see pictures of Taco Deli:

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Today’s song of the day is ‘Another Time’ by Brahms, an electro-pop Brooklyn band.  I have been out of the music scene for too long but I’m hoping these guys play in Austin soon, I see Beauty Bar in the near future!

To watch ‘Another Time’:

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East side darling Blue Dahlia Bistro ran out of Rockstar bagels by my late lunch, so I ordered the next best thing!  Today’s dish of the day is the Smoked Salmon w/ Garlic and Herb Cream Cheese Tartine (French style open faced sandwich) on fresh baked whole wheat bread.

Blue Dahlia Bistro 1115 E. 11th St. Austin, TX 78702 www.bluedahliabistro.com 512-542-9542

Today’s song of the day is ‘Farmhouse’ by Phish, and old oldie but goodie.  Catch these guys in Austin on Friday, October 8 at the ACL Festival!  The last time they were in town was at Southpark Meadows (now extinct) back in 1999 so take advantage of the reunion!

To watch ‘Farmhouse’:

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Austinites, please do not be deterred as the cooking takes place in a trailer on the side of the restaurant, because Shuck Shack is first rate and THE east side destination for cajun/seafood.  Shuck Shack is a destination establishment, but not just for the eats.  You can easily spend an afternoon here, if they flies don’t force you out first!  Grab a $2 Pearl beer and challenge friends to bocce, washers, horseshoes, or dominos.  FYI: Because of the problems in the Gulf, fresh-shucked oysters are not available at Shuck Shack currently.  The remaining seafood offerings are inspected and healthy.  I highly recommend the BBQ Oysters and Hush Puppies, both items are consistently a crowd favorite here!

BBQ Oysters.  Though in Texas, the term BBQ holds up to it’s New Orleans root; butter, garlic, and herbs.

To see pictures of Shuck Shack:

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A new bar, a new food trailer, a new day!  Gibson Bar is the latest nightlife contribution from Matt Luckie, of Red Fez, Star Bar, and Lavaca St. fame.  Expect a sleek Joel Mozersky designed space (he was purportedly inspired by There Will Be Blood for this project), cheap drinks, and a food menu of American classics with a gourmand twist.  The adjoining food serving airstream trailer, named aptly, The Trailer, is run by Johnny Gross, a former Parkside line cook and Texas Culinary Academy graduate.  Although we sampled the more caloric goods, and boy are they decadent, edamame and hummus are also available, and every menu items can be made vegetarian.  If you like a hip crowd, dark bar, jukebox music, and inventive bar food, (and what’s not to love) Gibson’s is right up your alley!

Trailer Burger: Burger, bacon, swiss, all sandwiched between a Round Rock glazed donut.  Hello gluttony!

To see pictures of Gibson Bar and Trailer:

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Austin-based Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka is the brainchild of Savvy Vodka’s Chad Auler and Sweet Leaf Tea’s Clayton Christopher.  These kind folks offered to send over a sample, and Maggie Hoffman does not turn down free vodka!  This is the first sweet tea vodka made from real brewed tea (sorry Firefly) and the first flavored vodka made in the state of Texas.  Local ingredients include water from a Texas Hill Country aquafer, 100%  pure cane sugar from Sugarland, TX, and clover honey from Austin’s Good Flow Honey Co.  Say no to high fructose corn syrup and artificial coloring!  Where can you find it?  Purchase a bottle at Twin Liquors or Spec’s and order at the bar at Paggi House, Hula Hut, Abel’s on the Lake, Guero’s, Matt’s El Rancho, Ranch 616, Black Sheep, Red’s Porch, Cedar Door, Kung Fu, and the Ranch.

My friends and I mixed Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka with water over ice and loved it.  Very refreshing for these 90 degree days!

For Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka cocktail ideas:

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