Perfect French Pastries at Pâtisserie à la Carte

Back in April of this year, our neighborhood threw its annual potluck party. Some newcomers to our neighborhood left a tray of gorgeous French pastries. I took one of them and was transformed.

Fortunately, they had also left a few business cards behind, so although I did not meet the mystery pastry chef that day, I was able to track down her business on Facebook and send her a message along the lines of, "WHERE CAN I GET MORE OF THOSE OH PLEASE OH PLEASE OH PLEASE"

The mystery pastry chef, who turned out to be Sèverine of Pâtisserie à la Carte, very graciously wrote back and told me that they were working on finding a space to open a food trailer, and that she would let me know as soon as they were set up.

Fast forward to November 2nd. I get a Facebook message from Sèverine: "We are opening tomorrow at Top Drawer Thrift on Burnet Road!" The next day, I hurried over, gave Sèverine a big hug upon meeting her for the first time (I'm sure she was thinking I was a terrifying stalker at this point), and bought a little selection of pastries for our dessert that evening.

(Upper left - Le Butterbliss; lower left - Canelé; center - Bourdaloue Pear & Almond Tart; lower right - Mogador Milk Chocolate & Passionfruit Tart)

Every bite was absolutely sublime. The Butterbliss was what I'd tried at our neighborhood party and I didn't think anything could possibly be better, but the rest of the pastries we tried gave the Butterbliss a hard run for its money. The canelé was so incredibly rich and custardy; the pears in the Bourdaloue tart absolutely sang; and, while I don't usually like fruit mixed in my chocolate, the passionfruit and chocolate were so perfectly married in the Mogador tart that it was almost another substance altogether. We stuffed ourselves absolutely silly on these beauties.

Bourdaloue Pear & Almond Tart

Canelé

Mogador Milk Chocolate & Passionfruit Tart

Le Butterbliss

Séverine and her husband are also serving coffee and tea at Pâtisserie à la Carte, making it the perfect spot to stop on your way to work, or for a little pick-me-up in the afternoon. Burnet Road is a long way from France, but a taste of Pâtisserie à la Carte will make you think you're at a charming café in Paris. C'est magnifique!

Pâtisserie à la Carte

Their Austin Facebook page

Their Austin Instagram page

Their Austin Twitter page

4902 Burnet Road (at Top Drawer Thrift)

Austin, TX 78756

They are still working out their hours, but right now they're working with a tentative schedule of

M-F 8-10a and 2:30-6p. Check their social media channels for updates!

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Soursop Asian Trailer

Despite the fact that my friend Jennie blogged about Soursop's soft opening back in early November, word seems to be trickling out slowly about this outstanding trailer serving Asian fusion goodness (only four reviews on Yelp at the time of this post). I promise you that it is not because Soursop is in any way lacking in the quality department - everything I tried there last week was unique and exceptionally delicious.

I got to try them recently thanks to a little gathering of friends we attended at St. Elmo's Brewing. We were hungry, so we wandered over to Soursop (which is nestled on St. Elmo's patio) and ordered a few things to try. Word to the wise: if you're there on a busy night, it might take a reallllllllllllllllllly long time to get your food. I didn't look at the clock when we ordered, but I am quite sure it took over an hour before our meals came out. Others who ordered much earlier and much later than we did got their food quite a bit more quickly, though, so we must have just hit it at a particularly busy time.

It was worth the wait, though. I ordered the panang curry ($10) with a side of jasmine rice ($3). The curry was vegetarian - loaded with eggplant bathing in an impossibly creamy panang curry sauce and garnished with Thai basil and peanuts. The curry was so luscious that it almost felt like eating dessert, only it was appropriately savory with just enough kick to remind you that no, this was most decidedly not dessert.

I also stole a bite (or two) of my husband's fried chicken sandwich ($8.50), which eschewed banality by incorporating green curry, fermented green tomato, and burnt scallion aioli.

Our meals were plentiful even despite our hunger level by the time we arrived, so our order of fries ($8) was sort of superfluous. They got eaten anyway, though (oops)! I thought these were nicely seasoned, but a teeny bit less crispy than I prefer. Again, however, they kicked up the interesting factor by serving these with a side of banana ketchup.

My favorite carb of the evening had to be the roti, though. This flaky fried bread reminded me of really good scallion pancakes from a texture perspective. They serve this with curry dipping sauce, but it's flavorful enough to be eaten plain, too.

No need to go thirsty - St. Elmo's has you covered with a nice selection of beer. I washed down my food with a wonderful hefe-barley called Dampf that paired beautifully with the Asian flavors at Soursop.

Given the relative dearth of interesting Asian food down in south Austin, Soursop has every reason to take off. Add in the fact that you can enjoy a great brew with your meal, and it's worth going out of your way for a visit.

Soursop Austin

440 E. St. Elmo Rd, Bldg G-2 (patio of St. Elmo's Brewing)

Austin, TX 78745

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Melted Food Truck

Recently, the management of our office complex has been arranging for various food trucks to visit us at lunch time. Our office has very few food options nearby, so this development is quite exciting. I love trying new food trucks but I hate eating outside when the temperature is in the 90s, so being able to take the food back to my delightfully climate-controlled office is pretty happy-making.

One of my favorites of the parade of trucks that has come by is the Melted Grilled Cheese Truck. Their menu piqued my interest immediately - almost every single one of their offerings sounded like something I wanted to eat. After much internal debate, I settled on a Farmer's Market BLT ($10). There were a bunch of us ordering from our office, so we also got a couple sides of tater tots ($2) and a side of Asian crunch salad ($3).

The Asian salad was pretty well portioned for $3, but it could have used a little more oomph, maybe a bit of salt or acid to zing it up a bit. This would be an easy fix, though, and it was nice to have something relatively healthy to help justify the tater tots.

While I'd be hard pressed to recall a tater tot I didn't like, these tots were excellent specimens - nice potato flavor with a satisfyingly crunchy exterior.

The Farmer's Market BLT was excellent. The flavors and textures played perfectly off one another. Tangy goat cheese, juicy fried green tomatoes, crispy bacon, spicy arugula, garlic aioli - the ingredients are a virtual greatest hits of "things I like on sandwiches." And the locally-made sourdough bread was just the right texture - awesomely buttery-toasty, but soft enough to avoid feeling like I was scratching up the roof of my mouth. Full disclosure: approximately ten napkins were harmed during the "research" for this blog post.

Best of all, 100% (yes, you read that correctly) of the truck's profits are donated to the International Justice Mission, an organization that works to protect people in developing countries from violence.

In a saturated food truck market, it can be overwhelming to figure out which to try. My vote is that you put Melted at the top of your list. Delicious food and a charitable cause make this truck a standout from my perspective.

Melted Food Truck
Mobile locations - check here to find out where they'll be
(512) 710-MELT

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Trailer Treasure: Three Little Pigs

I have long been a fan of Three Little Pigs and was quite surprised to discover that I'd never written about them, despite the fact that they've been in business for many years. This unassuming little trailer is barely decorated and doesn't look like much from the outside, but the guy on the inside, Raymond Tatum, is a longtime Austin chef whose résumé includes a 12-year gig as the executive chef at Jeffrey's. Happily (for me), Chef Raymond's menu tilts toward Asian flavors, and nothing on the menu will set you back more than $12. Their recent move to the patio of the Aristocrat Lounge (formerly the Poodle Dog Lounge, for you longer-term Austinites) means that they are now in my neck of the woods. I couldn't be more thrilled. The flavors here play right to my palate, the dishes are always interesting, and their location means you can bring your pup along and that you can enjoy a Live Oak Hefeweizen with your meal. What else do you need?

Venison Sausage & Brussels Sprouts with Jasmine Rice

Beef Short Ribs Nam Tok

Black Eyed Pea Salad with Crispy Pork Belly, Arugula, and Gorgonzola (usually comes with pickled beets, but my husband hates pickled things and I hate beets, so this one is beet-less at our request).

I highly recommend that you point the hair on your chinny chin chin toward Three Little Pigs.

Three Little Pigs

6507 Burnet Road (on the patio of the Aristocrat Lounge)

Austin, TX 78757

(512) 653-5088

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Chi'Lantro's New Brick & Mortar Opens on South Lamar

When Jae Kim first started Chi'Lantro BBQ, he didn't have much in the way of funding. So he put all the money he had together, threw in some credit cards, and opened a mobile food business. "I was all in," he says.

Five years later, with many of the same staff that started out with him back in 2010, he is once again "all in" on a shiny new brick and mortar space on South Lamar. For Jae, it's a dream come true. And Chi'Lantro's fans are pretty thrilled about it, as well.

I was excited to be invited to a complimentary media event at their new space, which is cozy but bright, and full of thoughtful touches stemming from Jae's desire to inspire others. Printed blocks on the tables encourage diners to create their own fun phrases, and a mural on the wall provides a whimsical reminder of where it all began.

The evening started with guacamole, queso, and chips. The guac was super fresh, and made interesting with the addition of a little sesame oil and ginger. The queso was tasty, too - a little on the mild side for my palate, but I'm sure many will appreciate that.

Next up were the kim chi fried rice balls, a combination of rice, cheese, and kim chi, all deep fried to create these comforting, yummy bites that tasted great on a chilly evening.

The next offering, Chi'Lantro's Korean fried chicken wings, or K-pops, was my favorite of the dishes we tried. You can order them in a honey butter flavor or in a spicier gangnam style version. I had a slight preference for the honey butter, but both were fantastic.

In case you're still sticking to a new year's diet, you can order your choice of protein (ribeye bulgogi, spicy pork, spicy chicken, soy glazed chicken, or marinated tofu) atop Chi'Lantro's house salad. 

But hopefully you've abandoned your new year's diet by now and can instead indulge in Chi'Lantro's famous kim chi fries. Crispy fries are topped with your choice of meat, carmelized kim chi, cheddar & monterey jack cheese, onions, cilantro, "magic sauce," sesame seeds, and sriracha. This dish is a stroke of genius and I find it difficult to visit Chi'Lantro without indulging in an order of these!

We topped off the evening with an order of Chi'Lantro's dulce de leche'd, cinnamon-sugary churro tots - which I personally thought read more like super moist doughnut holes, but I most definitely did not hold this against them. They're outstanding.

Congratulations to Jae and his crew for this exciting new chapter for Chi'Lantro! I'm very much looking forward to many more meals in your new digs.

Chi'Lantro BBQ

1509 South Lamar

Austin, TX 78704

(512) 428-5269

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner: 
7a - 10p M-Th
7a-12a Fri
9a-12a Sat
9a-10p Sun

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Veracruz All Natural

I recently discovered what may very well be my favorite tacos in town. I'd heard many raves about the charms of Veracruz All Natural, and finally made my way to their trailer down south for a late lunch one Sunday afternoon. It was well after 2:00 and I hadn't eaten anything all day, so I'm afraid my usual propensity for copious photo-taking was a little hampered. But don't let my lackluster photos dissuade you. These tacos are amazing, featuring fantastic tortillas (both flour and corn are housemade), flavorful fillings, and addictive sauces that almost make you wish the fillings were ever-so-slightly less flavorful, so as to justify more sauce usage.

Migas

Al pastor

Rich & luscious chicken mole

Full o' flavor fish

The tacos run around $3ish apiece; an absolute steal. And the south location is conveniently located outside the lovely Radio Coffee & Beer, so you can order any number of caffeinated or adult beverages to complement your taco goodness. I fell madly in love with this white blueberry tea made by one of my favorite local companies, Zhi tea, as well as the sweet infuser pot it was served in.

Veracruz All Natural has quickly earned a spot on my shortlist for a freshly prepared, very reasonably priced meal. Enjoy it on Radio's patio while basking in this absolutely gorgeous fall weather, and you have the recipe for a perfect Austin meal. 

Veracruz All Natural

1704 E. Cesar Chavez

Austin, TX 78702

or

4204 Manchaca Road

Austin, TX 78704
Hours at Manchaca location: 
6:30a - midnight (weekdays)
7:30a - midnight (weekends)

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Shawarma Point

Not long ago, my friend PJ posted a bit of smack talk on my Facebook page about his willingness to pit Shawarma Point's shawarma against any shawarma in town. I'm certainly no shawarma expert and I have no idea how many shawarmas are in town, but I can't resist a good shawarma smack talkin' and so I agreed to meet PJ for lunch.

Shawarma Point has a couple of locations - one at 519 E. 7th Street and another at 1503 S. 1st Street. We met at the South First location because it's near Vuka which, thanks to PJ, meant we had an indoor place to camp out and eat.

Shawarma Point's menu is easy even for the chronically indecisive. First, you decide whether you want a wrap, a plate, or a salad (I got a plate). Then you choose your protein: chicken, beef/lamb, or falafel (I picked beef/lamb). Other than add-ons and sides, the only other thing you need to decide is how spicy you want it. I chose "brown people spicy" which, besides being delightfully un-PC-sounding to say, was a mid-range spiciness level that I felt sure I could handle even if shawarma spiciness levels rivaled Thai food spicy. It was just right.

We also got a side of fries to share ($3), which I did not at all need - the shawarma was plenty of food.

I loved it. The amount of kick was not shy, and was perfectly balanced by the creamy white sauce and the feta (which we had added for $1 extra), tender meat, and wonderful basmati rice. If only it was nearer my house or my office, I know I'd be a regular here.

Shawarma Point
Two locations:
519 E. 7th Street and 1503 S. 1st Street
Austin, Texas
(512) 887-0076
Their Facebook page (I could not find a website)

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T-Loc's Sonora Hot Dogs

"Man is only great when he acts from passion." ~ Benjamin Disraeli

If Benjamin Disraeli is to be believed, Miguel and Zulma Kaiser are pretty damn great. One has only to visit with them for a few minutes about their three-week-old business, T-Loc's Sonora Hot Dogs, to become firmly convinced of their deep passion for the food they're serving from their little trailer on Burnet Road.

Miguel graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in Arizona and started his career with a bang as a commis at Thomas Keller's Per Se. He's held a number of jobs since then, most recently in a local hotel, working hard to hone his skills both in the back of the house and the front. He recently put in his two-week notice at his day job so he can focus on T-Loc's, which means that they will soon be able to provide lunch service in addition to their current dinner hours (EDIT: They are now open for lunch!).

Miguel and Zulma met while they were both working at a restaurant in Tucson. He was in the kitchen, she was bussing tables, and he was attracted to her work ethic. "She was always hustling," he says, with a note of great respect in his voice. She worked the morning shift and he worked nights, and he started going out of his way to say hello to her when he left. Years later, he proposed to her atop a pyramid in Honduras. They plan to marry later this year.

So, what's a Sonoran hot dog, you ask? You video-lovers can check out this clip from Man vs. Food; you readers can instead devour this short piece from Sunset magazine. Or, in case you don't feel like doing any homework, just drive on over to T-Loc's and check out their graphic menu:

Better yet, don't bother with the menu and dive into the real thing.

Sonora Hot Dog, just $5.

About to Bite Cam

I'd never tasted a Sonoran dog before, and I was instantly smitten. The combination of flavors and textures just works - the soft, steamed bun and the earthy beans serve as mellowing influences to the bite of the mustard, the tangy jalapeno sauce, the sharpness of the raw onions, the acidity of the fresh tomatoes, and the salty, bacon-wrapped dog. The crowning slathering of mayonnaise just pulls it all together and, as Miguel put it, "helps it go down a little easier."  This is a hot dog.

After tasting the Sonora dog, I would never have given anything else on the menu a second glance. But my husband wanted to try the carne asada burrito. He loved it so much that he ate three of them this week alone.

I am pretty sure my husband finished the other half of this burrito 

before I finished taking this photo.

After the carne asada success, of course I had to try the bean and cheese burrito on my next visit. This is not a dish I would typically order, but after trying the one at T-Loc's, I just may have to start.

Bean & Cheese burrito - ridiculously cheap at $4.

Despite their incredibly affordable prices, Miguel refuses to skimp on quality. He insists on getting the ingredients right and in order to ensure that he does, he has buns and tortillas Fed Ex'd to him from Tucson. He and Zulma make their own sauces and their own beverages, which include a rotating selection of homemade agua frescas and horchata (my husband is completely addicted to the pineapple agua fresca).

In short, T-Loc's Sonora Hot Dogs offers wonderful food at excellent prices. Best of all, you'll be helping a very sweet, exceedingly hardworking couple realize their dream.

Miguel and Zulma Kaiser, owners of T-Loc's Sonora Hot Dogs

T-Loc's Sonora Hot Dogs

5715 Burnet Road (across from the HEB at 2222 and Burnet)

512-994-8982

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Maine-line This: Garbo's Lobster Truck

Last summer, two girlfriends and I headed off to Maine for a first annual girls' trip and food pilgrimage. We spent four glorious days escaping the Texas heat, reveling in the gorgeous Maine landscape, and eating lobster. Lots and lots of lobster.

One of the (many) casualties of our trip.

This summer, as the heat has slowly taken hold of our fair city, I've found myself spending an undue amount of time dreaming of Maine. I'd cast about a little for the perfect lobster roll here in hopes of transporting at least my taste buds north, but to no avail. Then, I discovered Garbo's lobster truck.

There is something to be said for doing one thing, and doing it really, really well. Garbo's has two offerings: a Maine-style lobster roll and a Connecticut-style lobster roll. On the Maine-style roll, the lobster is tossed in Garbo's homemade mayo with a bit of celery and some seasonings. On the Connecticut-style roll (my favorite of the two), the lobster is dressed with lemon tarragon butter and topped with some chopped scallions. In both cases, the rolls are made on lovely buns from Sweetish Hill. And in both cases, the rolls are ah-may-zing. Overflowing with tender lobster. Just enough moisture from the mayo or the butter to tie it all together without overwhelming the lobster flavor. In short, a $14 trip to Maine without having to jam yourself into a tiny seat for three hours.

Connecticut-style, baby.

These rolls truly rival their counterparts up north. Now if Garbo's could just bring some of that gorgeous Maine summer weather down here, I'd be the happiest woman alive.

Garbo's Lobster Truck

(various locations - check website for schedule)

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Food Photo Friday: Snarky's Moo Bawk Oink

I find it hard to resist the siren song of a banh mi, even when I'm dining somewhere that isn't likely to serve up real banh mi (my screen name is Optimista for a reason). And if it's authentic banh mi you're looking for, you may want to pass on this one from Snarky's Moo Bawk Oink - honestly, this is more like a cheesesteak with an assortment of Asian-esque toppings than anything approaching what you'd find in a Vietnamese restaurant.

That said, it's a pretty tasty sandwich - the meat was tender, the baguette crusty but not too crusty, if you know what I mean, and it went down just fine with an ice cold Topo Chico on yet another unseasonably-warm "fall" day. I didn't have room left over for the s'mores doughnut I was eyeing on Snarky's menu, but here's hoping that I'm able to rally next time.

Pork Banh Mi from Snarky's Moo Bawk Oink ($5.49)

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The Day I Became a Sandwich Lover: Lucky's Puccias

Have you ever had the experience of eating something so amazing that you immediately regretted all those previous meals that didn't involve said item?

That happened to me last week during my first visit to Lucky's Puccias.

Nestled on the patio of the Tiniest Bar in Texas, Lucky's offers up wood-fired Italian sandwiches. Now, sandwiches aren't usually my first choice when it comes to selecting a meal; I love bread, but for some reason, I don't usually want it taking up so much space in the main course compartment of my plate. But the wood-fired goodness that is Lucky's puccia bread is more like soft, airy, fragrant pizza dough. Nestle some paper-thin prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, juicy tomato, peppery arugula, basil oil (!!!), and chipotle mayo up in there, and you've got yourself a serious treat.


The Lucky's Puccia, $9.25

They don't bake the bread till you order it, so it comes out hot and fresh and warms up the ribbons of prosciutto so that they very nearly melt in your mouth. Seriously, I'm getting all verklempt over here just thinking about this thing.

Which is why I'm adding this more or less redundant post to the chorus of bloggers and Yelpers and other food writers who have already covered this place - in case there is a single poor soul out there who hasn't been, perhaps I might help light their path to the mecca that is Lucky's Puccias.

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Food Photo(s) Friday - Hot Dog King

Workin' all week, 9 to 5 for my money
So when I go out to eat it had better be yummy
Rollin' down the street, I saw this food truck it was pumpin'
I winked my eye, got outta my ride, walked on over, it was jumpin'
Checked the menu; finally said, "A Deer Dog's my desire,"
She said, "One venison dog comin' up, baby doll - and these jalapenos are on fire,"
Word to the ranks: if you want a great frank, look no further than Hot Dog King
They're so all right that baby, just one bite will make you want to do the wild thing.

- Wild Thing, revised (with apologies to Ton Loc)

Deer Dog made with local smoked venison sausage (onions and jalapenos are add-ons) - $4


Chili cheese dog (Fritos added!) - $5 (without the Fritos)


The King.*

*Actually, THIS is a picture of The King. And it is awesome.

Hot Dog King
8th and Red River Streets
Austin, Texas
Their website

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El Naranjo

"Honest."

That is the word my friend Penny de los Santos used to describe the dishes emanating from El Naranjo, a new(ish) food trailer that has garnered some serious buzz since arriving on the scene about a month ago. Indeed, just a few minutes of visiting with owner/chef Iliana de la Vega helped me understand the element of her food that so spoke to me, but that was so hard to put my finger on:

"I cook as if I'm cooking for my family," she said. "I've just expanded my definition of 'family' a little."

Yes, the meal we shared here - under the trees, in the rain, tended to by a welcoming Chef de la Vega, who insisted on pulling dry(er) chairs out for us from under the awning of the house where her trailer is parked and wiping them down herself - spoke of community, of tradition, of family. For me, the mole in particular - a rich, complex concoction tasting deeply of chocolate, paired with tender pork - evoked a feeling of comfort that seemed somehow larger than the dish itself.


No ordinary mole ($11)

We also sampled the molotes, little cigars of corn masa that were stuffed with either chorizo and potatoes; or plantains, black beans and cheese, then fried ($4.25 for three)...



...and an order of tacos, one al pastor and one cochinita pibil. At $4.50 for two generously-filled tacos, these are the bargain on the menu.



We crowned our meal with an order of fried plantains with cream ($2.95):



Despite the modest surroundings, Chef de la Vega - who previously owned an acclaimed restaurant in Oaxaca also called El Naranjo and who is currently an instructor at the Culinary Institute of America - takes as few shortcuts as possible, making most everything from scratch. The one exception to this, at least at the moment, is that they purchase their tortillas - but that may change in the future when they have more space (they are hoping to eventually open a restaurant in the house where the trailer is currently parked).

El Naranjo is showing Austin, once again, that remarkable food can be found in the most unexpected places. I loved everything we tried here and am thrilled that Chef de la Vega and her family have decided to expand their definition of "family" to include Austin.




El Naranjo
85 Rainey Street
Austin, TX 78701

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