Maggie's Austin

Maria Maria

maggie — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:36:57 +0000

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:

Storefront at 4th and Colorado

Delicious trio of salsas, I love when restaurants have a fire-roasted option.

Super strong sangria and marg, just how I like it!

Seafood Guacamole

Braised Short Ribs. These melt in your mouth.

Soft Duck Tacos

Crispy Chicken Flautas

Soft Duck Tacos, restaurant portion size.

Very trendy and dark interior, super long bar, and an amazing real sized tree that I did not capture!

Maria Maria 415 Colorado St. Austin, TX 78701 www.mariamariarestaurants.com 512-687-6800

Get Sum Dim Sum

maggie — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:23:02 +0000

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:

Storefront at Lamar and 44th next to Chipotle

Law Bak Go: turnip cake w/ sausage. These came highly recommended and did not disappoint. Just a heads up.. expect sausage in every bite.

Chau Siu Baked Bao, really sweet honey bread with BBQ pork inside.

Siu Mai Chicken. the menu is amazing in that they include pictures of every item. This chicken potsticker type thing was too cute to pass up.

Fried Vegetarian Spring Roll

Vegetarian Wor Teep, basically potstickers in a spinach wrap, the favorite item of the day!

Gai Mei Bao: baked bao w/ coconut. This dessert was shockingly good, savory bread with a sweet coconut filling, an interesting combo that works.

Law Mai Gai, nondescript rice dish in a banana leaf.

Sesame Ball & “Cha Sui” BAO. The sesame ball is the dessert that arrives with each of the combos and if you are someone who does not like cakes layered with fruit filling, you will hate this. The crust is amazing though! The Cha Sui is a steamed bun with barbecued meat inside. Very messy and hard to eat with chopsticks

Fried Rice, great basic. This one was cooked just fine.

Get Sum Dim Sum 4400 N Lamar Blvd Austin, TX 78756 www.getsumdimsum.com 512-458-9000

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

maggie — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 00:39:22 +0000

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:

Storefront at 2nd across from the Convention Center

The Bikini-Tini, only 99 calories compared to a martini’s 500. Marshmallows on the straw, awesome touch! Pretty sweet (Splenda takes the place of sugar) so one is enough, IMO.

If only every meal was like this!

Lump Crab Louis Wraps, makes me nostalgic for lunches at the grandparents country club. The kitchen at Fleming’s is very generous with the crab and bacon, two thumbs up!

Roasted Mushroom Ravioli w/ freshly shaved parmesan. I went back for seconds if that says anything (but don’t I always?).

Tillamook Bay Petrale Sole w/ crab beignets and lemon butter sauce. Fantastic fish and the beignets were out of this world. I stole a few off my compatriots plate.

Sauteed French Green Beans w/ Shiitake Mushrooms & Porcini Essence

Roasted baby carrots tossed w/ golden raisins & toasted California Mission almonds

Chocolate Lava Cake w/ vanilla ice cream and chopped pistachios. It would be a nice touch if Fleming’s went local and used Amy’s Ice Cream. Hint, hint.

Creme Brulee w/ creamy tahitian vanilla bean custard & seasonal berries

Flemings 320 E Second St. Austin, TX 78701 www.flemingssteakhouse.com 512-457-1500 plus a location at The Domain.

Taco Deli

maggie — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 23:55:30 +0000

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:

The new location on Lamar and 42nd, strange parking lot but super cool building. FYI: you can make reservations at Uchi’s younger sister Uchiko and enjoy half price the regular menu until July 4th. What are you waiting for?!! I said half price!

Queso, watery but just how I like it!

Taco Deli 4200 N. Lamar Austin, TX 78751 www.tacodeli.com 512-419-1900 plus 2 other locations

Song of the Day: June 25

maggie — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 23:42:19 +0000

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’:

www.myspace.com/brahmsisaband

Dish of the Day

maggie — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:46:52 +0000

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

Song of the Day: June 20

maggie — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:44:28 +0000

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’:

www.myspace.com/phish

Shuck Shack

maggie — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:19:43 +0000

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:

Just as I fondly remembered, the flies are rampant and a nightmare!

Hush Puppies

New Orleans BBQ Shrimp. It true gluttonous form, we dipped the hush puppies in this butter sauce. MMMM.

Green salad, the one health redeeming item of the meal!

Lila soaking up the sun!

Shuck Shack 1808 E. Cesar Chavez St. Austin, TX 78702 www.shuckshack.com 512-472-4243

Gibson Bar & Trailer

maggie — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:25:26 +0000

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:

Gibson popped up on S. Lamar back in February. Across the street from Maudies and Drafthouse.

Cool, trendy interior.

The Trailer is next door and although the food is made here, you must order off the menu through a waitress in Gibson’s.

Buenos Dias: beef hot dog split and seared, wrapped in bacon, topped with a fried egg, and of course, topped with melted Swiss.

Welcome to Texas Chicken Sammie

Dedos and Tater Sticks: chicken fingers and buttermilk battered seasoned fries. The Trailer Sauce and Honey mustard both need to be bottled and sold.

The loaded Baked Potato: hot dog split, wrapped in bacon, crisp slice of Idaho Russet, topped with queso, sour cream, and chives.

Gibson Bar 1109 S Lamar Blvd Austin, TX 512-386-1345

Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka

maggie — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:13:05 +0000

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:

THE DEEP EDDY SPLASH

½ Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka

½ Water

Wedge of Lemon

Served over ice in a tumbler glass

THE BEACH CLUB

½ Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka

½ Club Soda

Splash of Orange Flavored Liqueur

Served over ice in a tumbler glass

THE 72 AND SUNNY

½ Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka

½ Lemon-Flavored Mineral Water

Wedge of Lemon

Served over ice in a tumbler glass

THE DEEP EDDY MARTINI

2oz Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka

1oz Dolin Sweet Vermouth

3 Dashes Angostura Bitters

Combine in a mixing glass and stir

Strain into chilled martini glass

Garnish with a cherry

THE SWEET BETTY

1oz Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka

1 oz Chambord

Splash of Lemon

Served in a martini glass

THE SKINNY DIP

½ Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka

½ Diet Sprite

Twist of Lemon

Served over ice in a tumbler glass

LORENA’S DIVING HORSE

2oz Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka

1oz Lemon Juice

½ oz Simple Syrup2 Basil Leaves

Combine, shake for 20 seconds, and strain over crushed ice into a tumbler glass

Garnish with spanked basil leaves

THE HIGH TEA

1½ oz Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka

2 Blackberries

4 Mint Leaves

1 oz Simple Champagne Syrup

Muddle 2 blackberries and 4 mint leaves with ½ oz of champagne syrup

Add Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka and shake

Strain into champagne flute and top off with champagne syrup

Garnish with a mint leaf or blackberry