I went to San Antonio for the food. It had a little bit to do with all the best things to do in San Antonio, but my to-try restaurant list was growing out of hand. The culinary scene is growing in San Antonio, like much of the city, and it’s an exciting time to experience it. If you want a weekend trip to a Texas foodie town, you should definitely consider San Antonio.

Here are my recommended San Antonio restaurants! (This post has recs from multiple trips to San Antonio, most recently in 2022.)

Cured

We stepped into the restaurant and discovered it was happy hour, which is always a great discovery! For happy hour, we enjoyed 50-cent fried quail legs and a discount on charcuterie. The fried quail legs were lightly fried and small nuggets of flavor. I almost wish we got more than two each! The charcuterie was a hit also. My favorite things on the board were the salmon rillette, smoked duck ham, and bresaola (dried, salted beef). The accompanying spreads and mustards on the board were perfect pairings.

Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery

While we were only able to try their in-between menu (a short menu available between lunch and dinner service), we really enjoyed our time at Southerleigh. The inside of the building is really cool because you can see the old building mixed with the new. You can try their many beers with a beer flight. Since they focus on flavors of the gulf, we snacked on fried snapper throats and raw oysters, both very tasty! We enjoyed a beer flight each, and my favorite beers were the Koalas, Cocker Spaniels & Unicorns (a cucumber Gose), Darwinian (IPA), and the Drop, Hop & Roll (a Pilsner).

Mixtli

As I mentioned, Mixtli was one of the big adventures we were looking forward to in San Antonio. To dine here, you must reserve and pre-pay your spot online. By serving 12 people every night they’re open, the restaurant is full every night, so get your tickets early if you want to try it. Every couple of weeks, the chefs focus on a different region of Mexico and create the menu around it. Paired drinks – alcoholic and not – are included with the price and they ranged from beer and red wine to tea.

Our menu was La Huasteca, featuring a region that is on the Gulf of Mexico. We enjoyed seven courses with variations of tamales, enchiladas, seafood, and beef. My favorite part of the impressive meal was dessert, of course! The lemon curd tart was perfectly cohesive and I loved the additional drops of coconut meringue, guava, and raspberry. All-in-all, Mixtli was a fun, intimate, and adventurous experience that I’d love to do again!

Bakery Lorraine

This is the perfect breakfast spot and judging by the long line, many others agree! If you’re a lover of baked goods like me, you would probably like to know that this place was created by alumni of Bouchon Bakery. You’ll order at the counter, which will test your limits because you’ll be staring at a plethora of beautiful baked goods. We went with a kouign amann and some macarons. We also ordered the quiche du jour (with roasted red pepper and artichokes) and a sandwich with roasted red pepper, spinach, and poached egg. Everything was fresh, delightful, and filling. My favorites of the meal were the light quiche with flaky crust and the crispy and buttery kouign amann.

La Fruteria

We made a quick stop here because we had spent the last hour outside and were parched! We enjoyed some agua frescas of two different flavors: strawberry lime and cantaloupe. They were a little sweeter than I expected. La Fruteria also has a wide selection of juice, smoothies, and Mexican food options.

Ocho

Ocho is the restaurant at Hotel Havana and swoon-worthy. The room is filled with light and impeccably color coordinated. I especially loved the tabletops. I indulged in the Cubano con Huevo which was an open-faced torta with Achiote roasted pork shoulder, griddled ham, swiss cheese, and pickles with a side of dressed home fries. It was a mess of deliciousness that begged not to be left on the plate.

Dough

When I went to San Antonio to run a half-marathon a few years ago, I re-fueled with Dough after the race. This restaurant makes wonderful Neapolitan pizza in wood-burning ovens and they have a variety of combinations. Sit at the bar to see the pizza-making “show.” You also need to try their burrata made in-house.

Other suggestions on my to-eat list for next time:

• Indy Coffee – If you like coffee, this shop comes recommended and the pretty interior is a plus.
• Supper – Located at Pearl Brewery at Hotel Emma, this restaurant serves American fare and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I had a bite from this restaurant at an event in Austin and it was superb!
• La Gloria – Another restaurant by Chef Johnny Hernandez (same as La Fruteria above), this Pearl Brewery restaurant features the wonders of interior Mexico.
• Cullum’s Attagirl – Come here for the spicy fried chicken and cold beer!
• South Alamode Panini & Gelato – The name says it all: panini sandwiches and gelato. Sounds like a delish combo to me!
• Garcia’s Mexican Food Restaurant – This is a chef-recommended place for tacos and Mexican food.
• Hot Joy – This restaurant is a dinner and late-night spot with Asian fusion food and drinks.
• Freetail Brewing Company

For more about San Antonio restaurants, visit Eater.

Where are your favorite eats and drinks in San Antonio?

Want suggestions of things to do in San Antonio besides eat? Check out this post!

Planning a San Antonio bachelorette party? See the recap of mine for ideas.

You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Best Restaurants in San Antonio appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Fredericksburg is an interesting small town. I’ve been on a few weekend trips, and it’s a good option for a weekend getaway if you live in Texas and you’re itching to explore somewhere new. This small town is walkable, especially if you don’t plan on visiting wineries out of town. While it’s a tourist town, there are gem moments here and there that make you especially glad to be there.

Quick Tips: My Recommended Top Things to Do in Fredericksburg

• Drink Texas wine
• Catch some live music at Crossroads Saloon and Steakhouse or Lincoln Street
• Venture out to Enchanted Rock (since it’s only 20 minutes away)

Getting There

Located in west Texas, Fredericksburg is located on 290 and about an hour and a half from Austin and a little more than four hours from Dallas.

Where to Stay in Fredericksburg

Cotton Gin Village

This spacious yet cozy cabin we stayed in was delightful. It had everything we needed, from a plush bed to a Keurig. The bath products were really nice! It’s a bed and breakfast, so a plentiful breakfast with hot and cold items was delivered in the morning. There are seven cabins on the property and a big house that can fit up to 12 people. You don’t have to go far for good food. Cabernet Grill is on-site and is a great option with Texas wine pairings.

All Seasons

We stayed at the downtown location, which was conveniently two blocks away from Main Street. It was a comfortable walk to all the restaurants and bars we wanted to visit, and we felt very safe walking around at night. We stayed in the Simple Pleasures room, which felt like a cute tiny house since it was complete with a small kitchen area and full-size refrigerator. Though the shower was a tight squeeze, the bed was very comfortable. The stay includes breakfast and our room was stocked with cereal, coffee, milk, orange juice, and a coffee cake. All Seasons has multiple properties around town, and I’d recommend them for a very comfortable stay!

More Suggestions

• For a beautiful, luxury stay, check out Heavenly Hosts.
• For a comfortable stay in Downtown Fredericksburg, check out The Roadrunner Inn.
• A unique stay would be the trailers at Blue Skies Retro Resort.
• Wein Cottage is a cozy spot.
• HoneyTree has some beautiful tree houses.
• A-Fram Ranch is a spacious place to stay.

What to Eat and Drink in Fredericksburg

There is a good variety of eats in Fredericksburg. Here are some options.

Cabernet Grill

Delicious food with perfectly paired wines? I’m in! It’s one of my favorite restaurants in Fredericksburg. They focus on Hill Country flavors and they have a Texas-only wine list. See all the details in this post.

Otto’s

Otto’s is one of the recommended finer dining restaurants in Fredericksburg and it focuses on German food. We had highs and lows with our experience at Otto’s. I really enjoyed my Evy (gin) cocktail and the Foie Gras BLT. The Stuffed Quail (stuffed with sauerkraut) was good but my Duck Schnitzel was overpowering on the crisp breading and the duck flavor was hidden.

Sunset Grill

Looking for breakfast very early one morning, we found the cute Sunset Grill. The colors of mint and salmon inside made me wish I was at the beach. We arrived before 8 am so it was still empty and quiet. One bite of my boyfriend’s smoked salmon eggs benedict and I knew I had lost at ordering. I got the Senorita Omelet, which was good but no eggs benedict. This meal was the highlight of my dining experiences in Fredericksburg!

Vaudeville

I loved the look and atmosphere of this restaurant. It is underground from the home décor store by the same owners. The salmon tartare was a bit salty but the duck confit was very good.

Burger Burger

While a grass-fed Old Fashioned burger with cheese combo will cost you close to $20, it was a good burger and delicious, crispy French fries.

Lincoln Street

This is a great wine bar with a roomy patio with live music. They have a wide selection of wine and not only Texas wines.

Fredericksburg Pie Company

Stop in here for a slice of pie!

Clear River

This spot is for ice cream, deli, and baked goods. Their ice cream is homemade and they have simple sandwiches.

Fredericksburg Herb Farm

A spacious restaurant with a variety of pizzas, salads, burgers, and entrees. They have a big breakfast selection.

Alamo Springs Cafe

Come here for the burger! Some claim it’s the best burger they’ve ever had.

What to Do in Fredericksburg

Main Street Fredericksburg

Main Street is a few blocks downtown and filled with restaurants, bars, and shops. You could spend all day popping in and out of shops, and you’ll find an interesting mix of souvenirs, from cowboy boots to antiques and decorative signs.

Wineries

There are about 40 wineries in the Fredericksburg and Hye area! Wineries usually require a tasting fee to try a few of their wines and the fee differs by each winery. Here are some wineries you should check out:

• William Chris Vineyards
• Lost Draw Cellars
• Hye Meadow Winery
• Hilmy Cellars
• Kuhlman Cellars

290 Wine Shuttle
An easy way to tour multiple wineries is by taking the 290 Wine Shuttle. It stops at over 20 wineries and comes by every 10 minutes. An all-day pass is $29.99. It also stops at distilleries and breweries.

Texas Wine Tours
Since we had a great wine tour experience in Sonoma and we wanted a designated driver with local knowledge, we booked Texas Wine Tours after looking at reviews and pricing. Similar to the Sonoma experience, our guide Darryl was knowledgeable about the wine industry in the region and state. He had contacted us earlier in the week to tailor the four winery destinations to the preferences of the eight people on our tour. We ended up going to Grape Creek Vineyards, 4.0, Becker Vineyards, and Compass Rose Cellars (which is now closed). Overall, it was a good experience, and I found at least one wine I liked at each winery. My favorite wines were at Grape Creek Vineyards and my favorite experience was at Compass Rose Cellars. Here’s a little about each of the wineries.

Grape Creek Vineyards: I enjoyed the most kinds of wines at Grape Creek Vineyards. My favorites were the Viognier and Petite Sirah, though I also enjoyed their Pinot Grigio, Bellissimo, and Cabernet Trois. If you don’t want to venture out of downtown, they do have a tasting room on Main Street. They also have tasting rooms around Texas. The closest one to Austin is in Georgetown!

Four Point Cellars: I liked this winery because it houses three wineries from out of town, so it’s likely to find something for everyone – from very sweet to the dark reds. My favorite wine from the Cellar Selection Tasting Flight was the Doc’s Tribute Red 2014 from McPherson Cellars.

Becker Vineyards: While this winery was very popular based on the crowds, our group was not as impressed, though it could be that it was the last stop of the day. From our tasting, I enjoyed the 2014 Jolie Rose and 2012 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.

Altstadt Brewery

Wait, there’s a brewery in the Texas wine country? Yep! Opened in fall 2018, this huge brewery is a destination! You won’t miss it as you’re driving on 290. They focus on German-style beers, and an Alt, Kolsh, and Lager are their signature beers.

Crossroads Saloon and Steakhouse

We came here after dinner one night and it ended up being one of our favorite activities of the weekend. There were live music, two-stepping and lots of great people-watching. One area is strictly their restaurant and the other was the music, bar, and dance floor. There were the cutest older couples dancing who left early to make way for five different bachelorette parties to hit the dance floor. It was a fun atmosphere!

National Museum of the Pacific War

The 6-acre museum complex includes the Admiral Nimitz Museum, the George H.W Bush Gallery, a Japanese Garden, and Memorial Courtyard. This is a great activity for history buffs.

Enchanted Rock

One of Texas’ most visited sights is only 20 minutes away from Fredericksburg so it would be a great activity to throw into your trip. The entrance fee is $7 per person. Visitors usually take the Summit Trail, which is simply an up and down trip. Check the weather because if it rains more than a drizzle, they will shut down the Summit Trail because it gets very slick. If you hustle, you can get to the summit in 20 minutes. There are several other trails looping around the park if you’d like to hike more. They also have campsites. Check out my post about Enchanted Rock.

Have you visited Fredericksburg? What sights and restaurants would you recommend?

You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Fredericksburg, Texas Travel Guide appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

All the cake at Cake Party
There were so many sweet and savory things at the cake potluck I threw at the beginning of the month.

Customized Pizza at Mod Pizza
This pizza chain is similar to Subway or Freebirds where you pick all the toppings on your pizza or you can use their recommended combos. My little and I loaded up our pizzas with our favorite toppings and really enjoyed the end result!

Cookies from Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap
I received three tasty packages of cookies from three other participating bloggers. Click for the recipes: Brown Butter Eggnog Cookies by Cooking and Beer, Chewy Gingerbread Cookies by The Blond Cook, and Oatmeal Raisin White Chocolate Bars by D Grubs.

Lunch at Swift’s Attic
To celebrate my birthday, my co-workers and I enjoyed a 5-star lunch at Swift’s Attic. I enjoyed the blistered shishitos, devils on horseback (cheese and fig wrapped in bacon), squid fries, extra juicy burger, and popcorn and a movie dessert.

Donuts at Voodoo Doughnut
The doughnut craze continues! Voodoo Doughnut, a Portland original, has made it to Texas with the opening of this Austin location. The Captain my Captain doughnut and sprinkle doughnut are sweet and colorful.

Kettle Corn Ice Cream at SPUN Ice Cream
After I tried SPUN Ice Cream’s liquid nitrogen creation at SXSW, I had a feeling that this interesting concept would be a fun addition to the Austin culinary scene. It is finally open on east 7th. I enjoyed the kettle corn ice cream with a salted chocolate shell. Go check it out and see the process in person.

Carrot cupcake and Strawberry cupcake at Smallcakes (Dallas)
I enjoyed so many good eats in Dallas, including cupcakes from Smallcakes. Located in the Mockingbird shopping center, Smallcakes is a good snack mid-shopping. And with locations all over the U.S., even you can try it wherever you live!

Vanilla Cupcake at Reverie Bakeshop (Dallas)
This vegan and gluten-free bakery is a gem in my hometown of Richardson. Their menu includes cupcakes and a variety of pastries and desserts such as donuts, kolaches, cookies, and ice cream. I tried the vanilla cupcake with vanilla icing and while I could tell that it was vegan and gluten-free because of it’s density and flavors, I thought it tasted good. I can’t wait to make regular visits whenever I’m in Dallas!

NYE Dinner at Bullfight
Yep, back at Bullfight after the November visit. It was similar experience taste-wise, good but not spectacular. The Roasted Mushrooms dish was again the favorite dish of the night. We also enjoyed the Jamon Iberico 24 months, Veal Sweetbreads, Seafood Paella, Grilled Prawns, Urchin Roe, and Tomato Gazpacho. While our foodie group had high expectations, it was still a great time with great friends with LOTS to celebrate!

What flavors have you been enjoying?

The post Flavors of the Month: December 2015 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Here are some San Francisco eats I enjoyed and recommend.

Mr. Holmes Bakeshop
While their cute sign may be the most recognizable part of this small bakery, their baked goods shouldn’t be counted out! They’re known for their cromuffin but you need to line up before they open to get one! I arrived an hour later and they were already sold out. I had a chocolate croissant instead and it was very satisfying. Crispy, flakey, and chocolatey.

$
1042 Larkin Street, San Francisco 94109
Website: http://www.mrholmesbakehouse.com/
Quick Summary: Delicious pastries galore! Cromuffin and their infamous neon sign.

Hog Island Oyster Co.
If you love seafood, this is the place to visit! The company, with multiple locations in California, is focused on cultivating high-quality oysters sustainably. After trying three different kind of oysters, it’s clear their selection is one of the finest. My friend Patrick and I also enjoyed Crispy Anchovies, Tuna Crudo and Mussels and Fries. When I go back, I want to try their popular clam chowder. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the food and the service was top-notch. They have outdoor seating at the Ferry Building location, which was very nice that sunny San Francisco day!

$$
The San Francisco location is at the Ferry Building. They also have locations in Marshall and Napa.
Website: https://hogislandoysters.com
Quick Summary: Great seafood selection. Get the oysters!

Humphry Slocombe
Ice cream! They are known for their interesting flavors. Hibiscus Beet Sorbet, Blue Bottle Vietnamese Coffee, Secret Breakfast, and more. It got hot walking around San Francisco, so I enjoyed a Lemon Sorbet at the Ferry Building location.

$
Three locations in San Francisco: Ferry Building, Mission Bay and Mission District
Website: http://www.humphryslocombe.com/
Quick Summary: ice cream is a great treat after a hot day!

Gott’s Roadside
This restaurant is known for its American classics – burgers, fries, and shakes. For me, it was a quick swirled soft serve ice cream dessert. The perfect ending to a yummy time at the Ferry Building Marketplace!

$
San Francisco location is in the Ferry Building Marketplace
Website: http://gotts.com/
Quick Summary: Vanilla and Chocolate soft serve ice cream

Lers Ros Thai
I was recommended this Thai restaurant by multiple people and I’m so glad I made it! My lovely hosts, Tinna and Ryan, and I enjoyed a selection of four dishes: Yum Woon Sen (spicy silver noodles with ground pork), Moo Prik Khing (Pork stirk-fried with green beans), beef fried rice and mussels.

$$
Three locations in San Francisco
Website: http://lersros.com/
Quick Summary: Tasty, authentic Thai food

Sushirrito
What do you get when you combine sushi and a burrito? Sushirrito! A burrito-sized sushi roll with seaweed, rice and your choice of “fillings.” I really enjoyed the Mayan Dragon with Crispy Chicken Katsu. They also have rolls with raw yellowtail and tuna and cooked salmon, shrimp tempura, beef, pork belly and eggplant.

$
Four locations in San Francisco
Website: http://www.sushirrito.com/
Quick Summary: Burrito-sized sushi rolls; Great spot for a quick lunch

Craftsman & Wolves
This patisserie was on my to-try list but they ended up catering the Re:Make Conference breakfast! I did pass by as I was exploring the Mission District and it’s very cute. The Strawberry muffin with cream cheese filling (yes, inside the muffin) was my favorite!

$
746 Valencia Street (at 18th Street)
Website: http://www.craftsman-wolves.com/
Quick Summary: Delish Pastries; Unique flavors; Also have sandwich, soup and salad items for lunch

Susiecakes
This cute, baby blue bakery has a ton of baked goods options. I went for a vanilla/vanilla mini cupcake and was delighted.

$
Many locations in Northern and Southern California; In SF: on Chestnut in the Marina District
Website https://www.susiecakes.com/
Quick Summary: Cupcakes!

Tartine Bakery
Yes, the wait is worth it! This very popular, award-winning bakery usually has a line but no one really minds. It’s not the prettiest place and doesn’t have a lot of seating, but the wide selection of pastries, breakfast items and sandwiches is the big draw. We enjoyed the raspberry bread pudding, veggie quiche, hibiscus tea and frangipane croissant, but the star was the morning bun. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and coated with cinnamon sugar and candied orange. YUM.

$
600 Guerrero Street or 550 Divisadero Street
Website: http://www.tartinebakery.com/
Quick Summary: Expect a wait but it’s worth it if you love pastries; Get the morning bun.

Bi-Rite Creamery
Bi-Rite’s ice cream is creamy and packed with flavor. I had to go with my favorite flavor, salted caramel, which happens to be their most popular flavor. They have lots of flavors, including seasonal flavors. In addition to regular cones, you can get sundaes, ice cream sandwiches, ice cream cakes, and baked goods. If their products don’t win you over, they are also very focused and proactive on community!

$
3692 18th St, San Francisco
Website: http://biritecreamery.com/
Quick Summary: Great ice cream! If there’s a long line at the Bi-Rite Creamery and you don’t want to wait, you could go next door to their grocery store and buy a pint instead.

Thistle
I got to try this tasty delivery service at the Re:Make Conference. They provided superfood salads and cold-pressed juices that were top-notch! If you live in the Bay Area, you can use the special offer code “FEARLESS” to try Thistle.

$$
They are a Bay-Area delivery company so no physical location.
Website: https://www.thistle.co
Quick Summary: Amazing healthy food!

Kara’s Cupcakes
I enjoyed a lovely mini carrot cake cupcake at this bakery. It was a lovely sweet treat after walking around the Marina District.

$
Many locations in Northern California; 3249 Scott Street in the Marina District
Website: http://karascupcakes.com/
Quick Summary: Cupcakes!

farm:table
We found this spot for breakfast through Yelp one morning. We’re glad we arrived early because they had a steady line in the morning. I really enjoyed my matcha chai latte and spinach and cheese quiche. I had a few bites of boyfriend’s crispy ham and egg croissant too. Great find!

$
754 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94109
Website: http://farmtablesf.com/
Quick Summary: Cute, small café for breakfast.

Tony’s Pizza Napoletana
Recommended by a friend and the home of a world pizza champion, this corner spot in Little Italy was good for a quick bite, though their service was slightly lacking. We split their Little Italy salad and Wood-Fired Margherita pizza. All good!

$$
1570 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94133
Website: http://tonyspizzanapoletana.com/
Quick Summary: Variety of pizza choices

R&G Lounge
Craving crab, we found this spot on Yelp and remembered it was recommended by a friend. It’s a bustling Chinese restaurant with a large menu. On a Monday night, we were able to get a table easily but I’ve heard there are long lines on the weekends. Fried salt and pepper crab is their signature dish and it was meaty and flavorful. We also enjoyed the Prawns with Honey and Walnuts and Mixed Vegetables.

$$
631 Kearney Street, San Francisco
Website: http://www.rnglounge.com/
Quick Summary: Popular Chinese restaurant with the food to back up their popularity

Jane
We walked past Jane one morning one the way to pick up our rental car and turned back around to get some breakfast. This cute coffee shop has a good chia pudding parfait.

$
2123 Fillmore St. and 925 Larkin St
Website: http://itsjane.com/
Quick Summary: Cute coffee shop and bakery

Brenda’s French Soul Food
The early bird gets the worm, especially on a Tuesday morning. Known for their brunch, this popular spot provided a tasty Creole spread for our breakfast. A beignet flight included four beignets with different flavors: plain, chocolate, apple cinnamon and crawfish. The potato hash is seasoned appropriately with spices of the homeland. To top it off, the shrimp and grits are everything you want in the dish: cheesy, greasy, and filling. Try their sweet watermelon ice tea if that’s your thing; I really enjoyed it.

$$
652 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Website: http://frenchsoulfood.com/
Quick Summary: Great spot for New Orleans-style soul food

Comstock Saloon
After dinner, we were looking for a bar to end the night and crossed paths with this intriguing spot. The vibe is very cool, like a speakeasy, and we enjoyed the live jazz music. Their classic cocktails are strong and their fried shishito peppers were a great snack.

$
155 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133
Website: http://www.comstocksaloon.com/
Quick Summary: Chill, snazzy bar with classic cocktails

I got many recommended restaurants from friends and “best of” lists and didn’t get to visit all of them. Here are some highly rated restaurants I hope to enjoy on my next trip!

• La Taqueria: http://www.yelp.com/biz/la-taqueria-san-francisco-2
• Sift Dessert Bar: http://siftdessertbar.com/
• Golden Gate Bakery: http://goldengatebakery.com/
• Roli Roti: http://www.roliroti.com/
• Burma Superstar: http://www.burmasuperstar.com/
• Pachino Pizzeria: http://www.sfpachino.com/
• Flour + Water: http://www.flourandwater.com/

For the latest San Francisco restaurant information, check out these local online resources.

• San Francisco Eater
• San Francisco Chronicle
• San Francisco Thrillist List

What San Francisco restaurants and eats would you recommend?

Check out my recommendations for things to do in San Francisco and my San Francisco Travel Guide.

The post Favorite San Francisco Restaurants appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Homemade Cherry Pie
While this Fourth of July pie didn’t get made until the very end of the full weekend, it was eaten within days. I thought I wasn’t a fan of cherry pie but the sweet, ripe cherries made it perfect. It was a store-bought crust but the cherry filling was pitted and made by hand and spoon.

Margherita and Kale Pizzas at 40 North
The new edition of the Austin Passbook is out, so I thought it was time to get stamping. Linda and I tried 40 North’s pizzas. These pizzas were pretty tasty and with the great trailer food weather and evening lighting, these pizza shots were on point.

Dinner at Swift’s Attic
Boyfriend’s mama was in town and the family got together to celebrate her birthday at Swift’s Attic. We shared a bunch of their plates, including the Charred Edamame, Blistered Shishitos (I still think about these), Korean BBQ Flank Steak, Squid Fries and Seared Scallops. We finished the delicious dinner off with the birthday song and Commander Crunch and the pictured Popcorn & a Movie.

Khao Soi at Chang Thai
As a long-time fan of Yellow Curry and Pad Thai, I am happy that I’ve found a somewhat combination of the two. Khao Soi is yellow curry with egg noodles, veggies and a protein, and has become my new go-to. As with most Thai dishes, this portion at Chang Thai in north Austin was huge!

Toast at Brunch Club
As you saw in the previous Totes Toast post, Brunch Club was all about toast this month and I whipped out some avocado toast varieties. Also consumed: French toast casserole, egg bacon sandwich, and raspberry lemonade champagnes.

Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings) from Wu Chow at Edible Escape
While highly anticipated Chinese restaurant Wu Chow’s opening date is still TBA, they’ve been wowing the culinary community with pop-ups around town and at local events. I tried their soup dumplings at Edible Austin’s Edible Escapes party and I was [emoji face with hearts as eyes]. In other words, I went back for seconds. This soup-filled dumpling is a little package of delight.

Mediterranean-Themed Dinner Party
I love my food-loving friends. Especially when they – well, mostly she – creates a beautiful homemade spread like this. My friend Sarah made the most amazing lamb shawarma, baba ganoush, and beet hummus. Boyfriend and I made tabbouleh and bought red pepper hummus. And as if that wasn’t enough, Sarah pulls out homemade basil with pine nut praline ice cream. Safe to say we left with full and happy bellies and hearts.

All the things in Chicago
One weekend in July was filled with Chicago eats and it was all fantastic. Hop over to my Chicago eats blog post to read all about it!

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream at Mandola’s
I was in the neighborhood and “needed” some sugar. I know, it’s slightly a problem. But Mandola’s has a really good cone! And they have a variety of gelato flavors.

French Toast and Iron Man Omelette at Café Java
I’ve talked about Café Java before in my flavors posts, and I will continue talking about it. This unpretentious and consistent breakfast spot is one of my favorites. They have all the favorite breakfast foods – sweet and savory. Their hashbrowns have secrets in them. To top it all off, their staff is always friendly, even when they have lines out the door on the weekends.

Unicorn Poop Ice Cream at Sweet Ritual
I know people exclaim “this is my favorite” recklessly sometimes. I’m not saying that for fun. This ice cream from Sweet Ritual is my favorite right now. First, it’s called Unicorn Poop. Second, it’s vegan coconut milk ice cream mixed with sprinkles and Skittles, a combination I wasn’t quite sure I would like (vegan coconut milk?) but I can’t stop thinking about.

What noteworthy flavors are you writing home about?

The post Flavors of the Month: July 2015 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Some quick notes:
–Chicago-style pizza is deep dish with a hearty, thick crust. Pizzas may have sauce covering the toppings or like a normal pizza. There are several popular pizza restaurants with multiple locations around Chicago. See Lou Malnati’s below and the accompanying note.
–Chicago-style hot dog is loaded with a pickle spear, mustard, chopped white onions, relish, tomato slices, and pickled peppers. This is known as “dragged through the garden.” Chicagoans think ketchup on this hot dog is unacceptable. See Portillo’s below.
-There are many craft breweries in Chicago. I had Revolution Brewing and Goose Island Beer Company (purchased by Anheuser-Busch in 2011). I really enjoyed Revolution Brewing’s Fist City.

Goose Island Beer Company and Revolution Brewing

Here are some restaurant options I enjoyed.

XOCO
XOCO is celebrity chef Rick Bayless’ restaurant. The restaurant echoes his expertise: traditional Mexican cuisine with a twist. I had the restaurant favorite Ahogada sandwich and a wonderful coconut milk horchata. The Ahogada sandwich is filled with tender pork carnitas and is set in a chile broth. I didn’t fully enjoy the sandwich because it was pretty spicy for me but I enjoyed the components and execution. We also enjoyed a churro with chocolate and the flan. I definitely recommend these.

$$
449 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654 (Sister restaurant is XOCO Bistro)
Website
Quick summary: hearty sandwiches; traditional Mexican food with a twist; don’t skip dessert!

XOCO Chicago: (L-R) Coconut Milk Horchata, Ahogada Sandwich, Flan

Avec
Avec was my favorite meal of the trip. They do not take reservations and at 8 p.m. on a Saturday, our wait was two hours long, which was doable for us because of the heavy, late lunch we had. The problem about eating at 10 p.m. was trying not to fall asleep at the table, but the excitement as the food came out kept us wide awake. We ended up sharing the chorizo-stuffed medjool dates wrapped in bacon (4 to a plate) and each ordered a main “entree.” The restaurant’s menu is divided by small and large plates that can be easily shared. I really enjoyed my dish – the smoked whitefish on thick bread – and the burrata pizza with eggplant, cherry tomato confit, basil, and calabrian chili honey. We also enjoyed the butcher’s steak and squid ink pasta at our table. Other dishes that caught my eye on their menu were: the cauliflower, paella, and all their desserts. This cozy and simply designed restaurant will please your taste buds!

$$$
615 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60661
Website
Quick summary: expect a long wait; highly-rated foodie restaurant; shared plate menu format

Avec: chorizo-stuffed medjool dates wrapped in bacon

Avec

Bongo Room
We enjoyed Sunday brunch at Bongo Room. This Vegetarian Croissant Sandwich had a lot going on but it was amazing. It’s got sprouts, mushrooms, an over-medium egg, spinach, cucumber, and tomato, all on a butter and flaky toasted croissant. I added bacon to it and it suddenly became a “Non-Vegetarian Vegetarian Croissant Sandwich.” Totally acceptable. It comes with flavorful potatoes that are the perfect texture – not too mushy and not too hard. We also had the special white chocolate, caramel and pretzel pancakes that were incredibly rich.

$$
Three Locations in Chicago
Website
Quick summary: great brunch; about an hr wait for brunch; plenty of sweet and savory options

Bongo Room: Vegetarian Croissant Sandwich (with added bacon)

Lou Malnati’s
Pizza! Pizza! Though it takes about 30 minutes or so for the pizza to arrive at your table, it is worth the wait. Of course, get their world famous Buttercrust for 75 cents more. A large Pepperoni and a medium “Lou,” which has mushrooms, spinach and sliced Roma tomatoes, was able to feed 7 people with no leftovers. I enjoyed the Lou more than the Pepperoni. They also have a gluten-free, crust-less option for those with dietary restrictions. All handmade with fresh ingredients, Lou Malnati’s will have me visiting again!

$$
Multiple locations around Chicago
Website
Quick summary: Crowd-pleasing deep dish pizza plus many side options on the menu

>>If you’re looking for deep-dish pizza options, also consider Uno Pizzeria or Giordano’s, two places I enjoyed on my previous trip to Chicago. Uno is where the deep dish pizza originated.

Lou Malnati’s: Pepperoni Deep Dish Pizza

Portillo’s
Known for their Italian beef sandwiches, Portillo’s also offers Chicago-style hot dogs along with a long list of menu items such as salad, pasta, and dessert. The counter service is quick and their food is tasty. The Chicago dog was a burst of flavors and the Italian beef sandwich was juicy. You have the choice of adding spicy or sweet peppers to the Italian beef sandwich. I missed it this time but their chocolate cake and cake shake are recommended!

$
Multiple locations around Chicago
Website
Quick summary: Quick sandwiches; don’t forget dessert

Portillo’s: Chicago Hot Dog

Portillo’s: Italian Beef Sandwich

Garrett Popcorn
This popcorn shop has locations around town and is a great snack to share when you’re out and about. A small bag mix of caramel and cheese popcorn is $5.57 including tax. It’s a popular Chicago original but I didn’t find anything too special about it other than being handmade and very fresh. Ours were a little stale the next day so eat it up quickly! There are also locations around the U.S. Don’t forget wet wipes; it’s messy!

$
Locations all over town, including the O’Hare airport
Website
Quick summary: though it seems expensive, it’s a good snack option

Garrett Popcorn

Chicago Cupcake
My favorite cupcake place outside of Austin – Molly’s Cupcakes – has a location in Chicago (and also in New York) but was out of the way from where we spent our time, so I let the fate of the cupcake find me. And behold, it did. We passed by a Chicago Cupcake food trailer and I had to stop and try it. Good thing because this cheesecake-like cupcake was decadent. I tried the Birthday Cake (vanilla with sprinkles, like funfetti) and while there was a lot of frosting, the cupcake was perfectly sweet and a hit on my list!

$
Two roaming trailers in Chicago; check the website for daily location
Website
Quick summary: cupcake trailer with cheesecake-like, moist cupcakes

Chicago Cupcake: Birthday Cake

Here are some recommended restaurants I hope to enjoy on my next trip to Chicago!
Fat Rice
Longman & Eagle
Katsu Japanese Restaurant
Yusho
Mindy’s Hot Chocolate 
Ruxbin
Grace
Au Cheval
The Purple Pig

Check out this local foodie post from MVMT Blog. Take a look at these websites for the most updated information about Chicago’s restaurants.
Eater Chicago
Zagat Chicago
Time Out Chicago
Chicago Magazine

What Chicago restaurants would you recommend?

Want more recommendations? Check out my Top 8 Things to Do in Chicago.

The post Eating and Drinking in Chicago: Favorite Chicago Restaurants appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Tacos at El Alma
I’ve been very impressed by El Alma‘s dishes at several food events in the last year and it’s been on my list to try. I finally made it there and tried the fish and veggie tacos, guacamole and Sangria Blanca.

June Brunch Club
Our monthly brunch club enjoyed a wonderful and tasty meeting in June. The dishes included my savory galette, MJ’s savory pull-apart bread, Linda’s healthy salad, Ashley’s peanut butter lasagna, and honorary guest Peter’s frittata.

Brioche Doughnuts, Macarons and Duck Confit Hash at LaV
After my taste of LaV at the LiveFire! event, I’ve been meaning to finally dine at LaV. My friend Sarah and I went for brunch and we were very impressed. The restaurant is very gorgeous inside with its high ceilings and color coordination. I’m itching to have a dinner in their private wine room. Their brunch special $15 bottle of rose – perfect. We started with pistachio, French toast and snickers macarons and the brioche doughnuts – all delicious! I also enjoyed the Duck Confit Hash.

5-course dinner at The Hollow in Georgetown, TX
I enjoyed a complimentary media dinner at The Hollow in Georgetown, Texas. The drive from north Austin was the same as going to downtown Austin (about 20 minutes). Chef Jacob is a culinary genius. The easiest way to illustrate it is he described his dishes like a scientist would describe his experiment: very knowledgeable, technical, passionate, and innovative. His French-American cuisine may be strange to some but overall, I thought he made ingredients approachable and his dishes unique. Here’s the menu we enjoyed:

Scallop escabeche, foraged and pressed verjus, melon, sorrel, long bean, almond, olive oil, cucumber, grapefruit, mint, basil, thai chili, preserved lemon

Duck mousse crème caramel, pickled cucumber, peaches, mustard, pistou, toasts

Quail, foie gras, house cured and smoked bacon, ancienne, apricots, sauternes, ras al hanout, saffron, wood, cilantro

Pressed duck, corn risotto, tomato beurre fondue, duck livers cured in dried porcini and cinnamon, mint

Slow cooked rack of lamb, smoked eggplant, charred eggplant salad

Chocolate, blackberry, nuts, cream

While all good, the duck mousse and pressed duck were my favorite dishes.

Naked Nun Beer with Pineapple Mango Gelato at Adelbert’s Brewery
I mentioned this photo/experience being featured in the paper in Tuesday’s Captivations post. After seeing beer floats mentioned by the brewery on Twitter, I commanded my beer companion Aaron that we had plans that night. Adelbert’s Brewery is the perfect weekend hang spot. You get 6 pours for $13, which allows you to try plenty of their fine beers. I recommend the Naked Nun, The Traveler and Philosophizer. They bring in food vendors so no need to hunt down snacks.

Tonkotsu Ramen at Ramen Fukuya
New to the Drag on MLK Jr. Blvd and Guadalupe is Ramen Fukuya. They invited me to a complimentary tasting pre-opening. While I prefer the other ramen places on my top Austin restaurants list, Ramen Fukuya is a solid choice when you’re in the area and has the potential to go far in Austin. I thought the bowl of ramen I had needed a few tweaks but I did enjoy it! #AlwaysInstagramtheRamen

Amazing Dinner at VOX Table
Readers. I kid you not. Go visit VOX Table as soon as possible. To celebrate my good friend Ashley’s birthday, four of us enjoyed about nine dishes. Of the plethora of new restaurants I’ve tried lately, this one is at the top of my list. The service was top-notch because of our friendly and informative waiter and the food runners. The carefully crafted dishes are innovative but approachable. We enjoyed: chickpea fritters, smoked Hamachi pipette, wood fired oysters, braised akaushi oxtail, woodfire grilled Texas quail, roasted Tasmanian sea trout, red crab, Sazerac sundae and crème fraiche cheesecake. My favorite was the oxtail. My friend Jane who writes A Taste of Koko visited and ended up getting almost all the other dishes I didn’t try, except for the oxtail and red crab. Take a look at her VOX Table photos here.

What amazing things have you eaten lately?

The post Flavors of the Month: June 2015 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Here are the places I think are the best restaurants in Austin!

Some notes:

• There are always new and great restaurants opening up in Austin, so please understand this is a live list (last updated February 2020) of the restaurants that I think stand out in this town. There are plenty of restaurants I have yet to try, both newly opened and Austin’s staples.
• This list is my opinion. We all have different tastes we enjoy and have different experiences when we visit a restaurant. If you want to get a sense of the “best” in Austin, study several lists (see the end of this post) and gather the similarities. Have questions or recommendations? I’m all ears!
• See a map of the restaurants at the bottom of the post.

Enjoy!

Chinese

Fat Dragon

• 8650 Spicewood Springs Rd #109, Austin, TX 78759; Website
• Details: Northwest Austin off 183
• Wow Factor(s): soup dumplings
• What I Order: sweet and savory soup dumplings

First Chinese BBQ

• 10901 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78753; Website
• Details: North Austin; Chinatown on Braker
• Wow Factor(s): variety of Chinese dishes; strong flavors
• What I Order: Wonton Noodle Soup; barbecue pork, roast pork and roast duck
  (Note: While I do have family relations with this restaurant, I legitimately enjoy the food.)

Asian Fusion

Kemuri Tatsu-ya

• 2713 E 2nd St, Austin, TX 78702; Website
• Details: shareable plates with Texas and Japanese fusion
• Wow Factor(s): bites are full of unique flavor
• What I Order: smoked brisket; smoked fish collar

The Peached Tortilla

• 5520 Burnet Rd #100, Austin, TX 78756; Website
• Details: Asian food with a southern flair
• Wow Factor(s): fusion done well
• What I Order: banh mi tacos; JapaJam burger

Thai

Sway

• 1417 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704; Website
• Details: North Austin; community tables; sometimes loud and hard to hear if you have a big party; bar seating is great
• Wow Factor(s): Consistently good; their Thai Tea Affogato dessert
• What I Order: Son in Law; Tom Kha Gai; Thai Tea Affogato

Titaya’s

• 5501 North Lamar Blvd, Ste C101, Austin, TX 78751; Website
• Details: Central Austin; Thai food
• Wow Factor(s): authentic and delicious Thai food
• What I Order: Gang Garee (yellow curry); sticky rice with mango

Korean

Chi’lantro

• Seven locations; Website
• Details: Korean BBQ-inspired eats; all restaurants are cashless
• Wow Factor(s): cute restaurant, tasty menu
• What I Order: Kimchi Fries; Korean Fried Chicken Wings; Burger

Vietnamese

Pho Dan

• 11220 N Lamar Blvd, Ste 200, Austin, TX 78753; Website
• Details: North Austin; close to Chinatown on Braker
• Wow Factor(s): flavorful pho broth
• What I Order: Pho with brisket and meatball

Baguette House

• 10901 N. Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78753; Website
• Details: North Austin; Serves Bahn Mi Sandwiches and other Vietnamese dishes
• Wow Factor(s): their fresh crispy French bread
• What I Order: #1 House Special (traditional banh mi sandwich)

Tex-Mex / Mexican / Tacos

La Condesa

• 400A West 2nd Street, Austin, TX 78701; Website
• Details: Downtown in 2nd Street District; park in nearby lots; fancy Mexican food
• Wow Factor(s): great food and very cool restaurant design
• What I Order: guacamole (comes with multiple kinds); hamachi ceviche; carnitas taquitos; tostadas de atun (tuna torta)

American / Fusion

Barley Swine

• 6555 Burnet Rd #400, Austin, TX 78757; Website
• Details: sister restaurant to Odd Duck; check out happy hour
• Wow Factor(s): creative dishes, impressive presentation
• What I Order: specials

Easy Tiger

• 709 E. 6th Street, Austin, TX 78701; Website
• Details: laid-back bakery and beer garden with tasty snacks; has a patio
• Wow Factor(s): homemade beer cheese; wide beer selection
• What I Order: croissant; pretzel with homemade beer cheese; whatever sandwich or sausage I’m feeling

Hopfields

• 3110 Guadalupe St suite #400, Austin, TX 78705; Website
• Details: French-inspired gastropub with great selection of beers on tap
• Wow Factor(s): consistently delicious
• What I Order: Pascal burger; IPA

Mongers

• 2401 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702; Website
• Details: East Central Restaurant; the place for seafood; great happy hour
• Wow Factor(s): seafood!
• What I Order: everything on the happy hour menu

Odd Duck

• 1201 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704; Website
• Details: South Austin; parking lot is valet only; great lunch and dinner
• Wow Factor(s): impressive, regularly changed menu; very cool space
• What I Order: specials

Salty Sow

• 1917 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722; Website
• Details: Central Austin on the East Side
• Wow Factor(s): great happy hour
• What I Order: pork belly taco; fried chicken; DESSERTS

The Soup Peddler

• Five locations in Austin; Website
• Details: Casual restaurant for soup, sandwiches, salads, juices, and smoothies
• Wow Factor(s): Healthy eats that make you feel good
• What I Order: Love Cleanse juice; Nina Simone smoothie; Chicken Soup with Rice; Turkey Sandwich

Mediterranean

Santorini Cafe

• 11800 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78753; Website
• Details: cute and roomy Greek restaurant
• Wow Factor(s): expansive menu; Greek beers available
• What I Order: Gyro Plate; Appetizer Trio

Italian

L’Oca d’Oro

• 1900 Simond Ave, Austin, TX 78723; Website
• Details: restaurant supporting local ingredients
• Wow Factor(s): most of the dishes are made from scratch
• What I Order: whatever pasta dish sounds good at the moment

Patrizi’s

• 2307 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722; Website
• Details: food trailer at The Vortex bar
• Wow Factor(s): fresh noodles
• What I Order: Cacio e Pepe; Carbonara Alexandra

Pizza

Bufalina

• 1519 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702; 6555 Burnet Road, Austin, TX 78757; Website
• Details: delicious Neopolitan-style pizza; expect a wait
• Wow Factor(s): thin-crusted pizza goodness
• What I Order: margherita pizza; fresca pizza

Home Slice

• 1415 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704; Website
• Details: South Congress; NY-style pizza; sit-down restaurant or take out a slice or two
• Wow Factor(s): omgee pizza that you can’t get enough of
• What I Order: even a “regular” pepperoni slice will do

Pieous

• 12005 W Hwy 290, Austin, TX 78737; Website
• Details: Neopolitan pizza
• Wow Factor(s): The best pastrami in the world, Margherita pizza
• What I Order: Pastrami plate

Pinthouse Pizza

• 4729 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78756; 4236 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78704; Website
• Details: counter service restaurant with community seating
• Wow Factor(s): large beer selection; great pizza
• What I Order: The Green Belt; The Works

Via 313

• Two trailer locations plus two brick-and-mortars; Website
• Details: Detroit-style pizza
• Wow Factor(s): the crispy pan crust
• What I Order: The Omnivore; The Cadillac

Barbecue

Franklin Barbecue

• 900 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702; Website
• Details: Downtown Austin; expect a long wait – at least three hours; easily Austin’s most well-known and talked about barbecue restaurant
• Wow Factor(s): it’s like meat heaven; worth the hype
• What I Order: everything I can get; definitely the juicy brisket

La Barbecue

• 2027 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702; Website
• Details: a wait in line is worth it so get there early
• Wow Factor(s): beef ribs like butter
• What I Order: brisket and beef ribs

Stiles Switch

• 6610 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78757; Website
• Details: Central Austin; great sit-down place to enjoy barbecue
• Wow Factor(s): good ole barbecue; potato salad is dill-based
• What I Order: Two meat plate with brisket, ribs, potato salad and mac and cheese
• Read my full review here

Japanese

Ramen Tatsu-ya

• Three locations – North and South Austin; 183 and Braker; South Lamar; East 6th; Website
• Details: cool restaurant design
• Wow Factor(s): RAMEN! and amazing sliders
• What I Order: Katsu Sliders; #1 Tonkotsu Original
• See my review here

Tomodachi

• 4101 W Parmer Ln, Austin, TX 78727; Website
• Details: Far North Austin; laid-back restaurant with a great team
• Wow Factor(s): creativity of dishes; fresh fish; perfect flavors
• What I Order: chef/server-recommended sashimi; anything with Japanese Madai Snapper
• Read my full review here

Uchi

• 801 South Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX 78704; Website
• Details: South Austin; one of Austin’s top restaurants; offers sushi/sashimi and Japanese dishes
• Wow Factor(s): incredible food and attentive service
• What I Order: hama chili; tako pops; Omakase if my wallet is feeling heavy

Uchiko

• 4200 North Lamar, Austin, TX  78756; Website
• Details: Central Austin; great happy hour; offers sushi/sashimi and Japanese dishes
• Wow Factor(s): incredible food and attentive service
• What I Order: hama chili; Brussels sprouts; gyutan (grilled beef tongue); madai; fried milk

Brunch

epicerie

• 2307 Hancock Dr, Austin, TX 78756; Website
• Details: cute little house in central Austin; very popular brunch; also sells grocery items
• Wow Factor(s): food and service are consistently good
• What I Order: quiche

Josephine House

• 1601 Waterston Ave, Austin, TX 78703; Website
• Details: Clarksville neighborhood; they serve all meals
• Wow Factor(s): pastries are always great
• What I Order: short rib hash

Want more options? Check out these lists:

• Best Pastries in Austin
• Best Cupcakes in Austin
• Austin Food Trucks with Brick-and-Mortar Restaurants
• Best Food Trucks in Austin
• 30 Best Cold Treats in Austin
• Craft Beer? Best Craft Breweries in Austin

Thinking you might need some Austin activities to fill the downtime before your next meal? Check out: of

• My recommended Austin sights and activities
• Ultimate Austin bachelorette party guide

Use this map to find the closest restaurant to you!

Please note: I’ve only marked one location for restaurants with multiple locations. Please check their websites.

What are your favorite Austin restaurants?

P.S. Check out some of my favorite food trucks here.

The post Best Restaurants in Austin, Texas appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Carrot Cake Dessert at Fork & Vine
I went to happy hour with some lovely Yelpers and enjoyed this decadent carrot cake with cream cheese ice cream. I ate the whole thing and barely exhaled. It was the right mix of cold, hot, crunch and cake on the plate. Four out of six ladies at our table had the gouda mac and cheese and raved about it. They also have an impressive wine selection.

Crawfish at Crawfish Shack & Oyster Bar
Hooray for crawfish season! I love the crawfish at Crawfish Shack & Oyster Bar because it’s drenched in butter sauce. Two pounds makes me nice and happy. I also learned that drinking beer while eating crawfish is a necessity.

Tonkotsu Original and Sweet and Sour Yoda at Ramen Tatsu-ya
I love ramen and the Tonkotsu Original does it simple and right. The Brussels sprouts (aptly named sweet and sour yodas) are fried and tossed with apricot vinegar and curry spice, which gives them the perfect explosion of sweet and sour flavors. Also, their new south location is smartly designed.

ShackBurger, crinkle cut fries, caramel walnut cake frozen custard and strawberry lemonade at Shake Shack
Shake Shack has arrived! And it is so tasty. SO tasty that I ordered one of everything. SO tasty that I exclaimed “isn’t this tasty?!” to my dinner mate. SO tasty that my dinner mate got back in line before the crowds came to get more to go. SO tasty that I have to remind myself that there are consequences in devouring ShackBurgers every day. What an honor it is for Austin to get a Shake Shack. We are so grateful.

Dinner at Sala & Betty
This cool cat of a restaurant called Sala & Betty opened in central Austin recently. We started with the hit mushroom “meat” balls with spaghetti squash, herb oil and mushroom creme. We also had the gnocchi but agreed the mushroomballs were better. I really enjoyed the Quail with mustard green gratin, pumpernickel crumbs, and white bean puree. Boyfriend gave approval for his fried chicken and no biscuit (he opted out of it). Here I also discovered my current favorite beer made in Magnolia, Texas: The Lone Pint Brewery’s Yellow Rose. This restaurant is a great, cute spot to pop in if you’re in the neighborhood.

Samosa from Anjore
I first heard about Anjore because they won an Austin Food & Wine Alliance culinary grant to grow their business. The business hosts supper clubs around town and sells products at farmer’s markets. I stumbled upon them at a farmer’s market and this vegetarian samosa snack was filled with mysterious goodness.

Basil Eggplant Stir-Fry at Chang Thai
This Thai restaurant is in a strip mall next to Wal-Mart but that fact doesn’t discredit how good it is! Wanting something healthier, I ordered this stir-fry with basil, eggplant, tofu, bell peppers, and onions that ended up being a two-meal plate. I love the colors on the plate!

K-Pops and Tacos at Chi’Lantro
K-Pops (Korean fried chicken wings). They are a must-order when you come here. We got ours half with gangnam sauce and half with honey butter sauce. I was slightly disappointed by my ribeye bulgogi tacos but I hear the burger is worth ordering so I’ll go that way next visit. I didn’t have their Original Kimchi Fries this time, but I’ve had them in the past and they are very tasty.

Dinner at Alcomar
Mariscos y mas! Seafood paradise. I’ve heard a lot about Alcomar so I had to see for myself. We started with the Snapper Ceviche (boyfriend’s favorite) and Crispy Oysters and Shrimp (my favorite). I will rave about the entree I had! Sea Scallop Veracruzana. The scallops were incredibly smooth, fresh and perfectly cooked. The grilled asparagus was a nice touch of greens on the plate. I am a big fan of the accompanying cauliflower flan. It was flavorful and if you love cauliflower, you will love it!

Not pictured because sometimes I am too hungry to wait the extra 15 seconds to take a photo:

Pinthouse Pizza
Pinthouse Pizza is a consistently stellar restaurant and their pizza never disappoints. In fact, the only disappointment is when I’m holding my stomach on the way back to the car thinking, “why was it so perfect that I couldn’t stop eating?!” If you like pizza and beer, this is your go-to.

Tell me: what amazing meals have you had lately?

The post Flavors of the Month: May 2015 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Orange Breakfast Buns at January Brunch Club
As I mentioned in my recent captivations post, some of my lady friends and I started a brunch club and January’s meeting was a delicious success. I made Smitten Kitchen Orange Breakfast Buns and they were gooey and flavorful.

Everything at Kin & Comfort
We gathered six friends, ordered almost one of everything and went to town. Pictured are two of my favorites: Tom Kah Shrimp & Grits and Pork Belly Buns. I also love the catfish fries and Peppered Beef Tongue.

 Dinner at The Peached Tortilla
They’ve opened up a brick-and-mortar! We had Kimchi Arancini Balls, Crispy Umami Chicken Wings, Lush Pork Belly Bowl, Southern Fun (brisket rice noodle stir fry), Singapore Fling (coconut tapioca, grilled Asian pear, lime zest, palm sugar syrup) and the Banana Nutella Spring Rolls (fried). A tasty meal and I can’t wait to go back!

 Hot Pot Feast at Shabu
There were some struggling winter days in Austin in January. For this Texan, I bundled up and ate as much comfort food as possible. Hot pot or fondue is one of my favorite things I ate with my family when it was cold, so I had to satisfy the craving. We got spicy and tomato broths, and our hot pot ingredients were shrimp, enoki mushrooms, fish balls, baby bok choy, tofu skin, and crown daisies. I would also recommend the red chili wontons as a starter!

Happy Hour Bites at Cover 3
Media happy hour at Cover 3’s downtown location! Some of the bites I enjoyed: mac and cheese, seared ahi tuna, Reuben sandwich, Allandale salad, and chicken wings. The Strawberry Basil is my go-to drink. Cover 3 is a great place to watch a sports game and enjoy good (fancier than wings and pizza) food. I think of it as an upscale sports bar.

Noble Pig Sandwich, Mac and Gouda with Brisket and Brussels Sprouts, and Swine Burger at Noble Sandwich
I have a list of Austin places I need to visit for the first time and Noble Sandwich was one of them. I know. After trying their dishes at many food events, I finally made it. I got the Noble Pig, which I won’t order again, but my friend Aaron’s Swine Burger was very good.

Ironman Omelet, Hashbrowns, and French Toast at Cafe Java
One of my favorite weekend breakfast spots is this tucked-away bistro in North Austin. The place is cozy, decorated with art for sale on the walls, and always has a wait for weekend breakfast. No frills and always good eats. Their Hill Country Special (biscuits and gravy, sausage, hashbrowns, and eggs) is one of my favorites but I decided to mix it up this time with an omelet. The hashbrowns are always my favorite. If you’re here for lunch or dinner, try the Cobb salad.

The things I ate that made it to my stomach before my camera:
Dinner Party: my friend Dan recently bought a much-anticipated sous vide machine so he had some friends over for dinner to show us the magic. He made Sous Vide Ribeye, Abby made mashed potatoes, Sarah made vegetables gratin, I made a brown sugar spice cake, and of course we had plenty of wine. It was a night of full bellies and happy hearts!

Gardner: boyfriend and I finally made it to Gardner after much excited talk. (We love our vegetables!) I liked what we ate (brussels sprouts, raw beef, cabbage, gnudi, dry-aged beef and the Japanese pumpkin dessert), but we agreed the restaurant was lacking spark and was less approachable than we had hoped. We’re glad we tried it though.

Xian Noodles: Back again! You can’t go wrong with the stir-fried noodles. The fresh hand-pulled noodles are one of the best things I ate this month!

What eats/drinks were your favorite this month?

The post Flavors of the Month: January 2015 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.