Flavors of the Month: November 2019

Austin restaurants and dishes are featured in my monthly Flavors of the Month posts. Check out this post for recommendations on where to eat next!

Wow, there were so many good meals in November! That’s not even counting Thanksgiving. Keep reading for some recommendations.

Dinner at Inka Chicken
It’s been a long time since I first ate at Inka Chicken and now I can’t believe it took so long for me to return. This dinner was delicious! They serve Peruvian rotisserie chicken and you have to pair it with the cilantro rice and fried plantains.

Healthy Lunch at Honest Mary’s
When I think of a good, healthy meal, I think of Honest Mary’s grain bowls. Their new seasonal bowl is the Butternut Fall Bowl with Basmati Rice, Butternut Squash, French Green Lentils, Kale with Lemon, Pickled Onions, Crispy Chickpeas, and Green Herb Sauce.

All the Barbecue at Texas Monthly BBQ Fest (Complimentary)
Will and I were excited to go to Texas Monthly BBQ Fest this year and for the first time! We ate so much good barbecue and you can see all the details in this post.

Pastry Snacks at La Patisserie
Have you tried this bakery on my best Austin pastries list? Their CroBrio – croissant brioche donut filled with vanilla pastry cream – is delightful! Crispy, buttery, and lots of cinnamon sugar. We also tried the chocolate chip cookie and it’s a very strong contender for the best in Austin.

Plant-Based Protein from Pure Farmland (Complimentary)
My friend Janna invited me to this dinner event with Pure Farmland, a plant-based protein company. It was my first time trying it and it’s the best meat-alternative I’ve had. They are not trying to imitate meat like other companies but they are providing a solution for those who want to eat LESS meat. My friend Monique is a personal chef and created all four dishes of the hosted dinner. We tried the maple patty, home-style meatball, dairy-free cheddar patty, and seasoned protein starter. Taste-wise, these products are a solid alternative to eating less meat.

Craft Beer at Central District Brewing (Complimentary)
It’s been a few months since I first visited this brewery (they opened in May), and I’m so glad to taste their beers again. I wasn’t a fan then but I am now! For the previously mentioned dinner, each dish was paired with a beer. The Hazy IPA was my favorite.

Pizza at Meteor Cafe
Roman-style pizza is here! Its crust is thick and airy, similar to focaccia bread. Meteor Cafe, a restaurant from Bentonville, Arkansas, recently opened a location in Texas, and is part pizza joint, coffee shop, and bicycle shop. Their pizza can be bought by the weight, which makes trying all their flavors easier. I liked their pizza with garlic oil, fontina, broccoli rabe, and mushrooms.

Ice Cream at Connor’s Creamery
In collaboration with the Glossier pop-up set up on South Congress, Connor’s Creamery is posted outside the temporary make-up store selling their soft serve ice cream. This strawberry swirl was delicious and also humongous.

Homemade Beef Stew
We had a couple of cold snaps in November, which meant I was craving all the warm weather foods! We made this Instant Pot beef stew recipe by Food Banjo twice and it was hearty and satisfying. We will definitely be rotating this recipe all season long.

Brunch at Gabriela’s (Complimentary)
From the first sip of a pineapple mimosa to the last bite of the Tipsy French Toast (hint of rum is the secret) and every bite of carnitas, gorditas, and choriqueso in between, Gabriela’s spoiled our Austin Food Blogger Alliance members with an awesome brunch! We loved it all, plus it was perfect patio weather. I can’t wait to go back for more! On the weekends, they have a free parking lot about a block away.

Quick Dinner at MezzeMe Turkish Kitchen
Before we went to an escape room, we grabbed a quick dinner at MezzeMe Turkish Kitchen. Their custom dishes can include ingredients like braised lamb, roasted red pepper hummus, shakshuka, and tabouli. Pro tip: get a bowl with half greens and half grain. You can also get the ingredients in a pita or wrap.

Taco Lunch at Trill Taqueria
One of my birthday activities included trying this taco trailer on the east side that opened earlier this year. Everything, including the masa tortillas, are made to order and the ingredients are locally sourced. Their tacos are packed with fresh veggies and the breakfast tacos have a fried egg on top. It’s worth a visit!

Dumplings at Julie’s Noodles
Another craving on a cold day – soup dumplings! Will and I stopped at Julie’s Noodles (one of my Austin noodle recommendations) for all the dumplings.

Dinner at Hunan Bistro (Dallas)
For my birthday dinner with my family, we went to Hunan Bistro in Plano and ate everything. My favorite dishes were the fish filets, eggplant and peppers, and tofu.