Blog Archives

The Breakfast Klub in Houston

7/21/2018

Remembering... My First Wings & Waffle Experience

The first time my daughter mentioned the combination of fried chicken wings and breakfast waffles, I sort of gagged. It sounded like just another food gimmick.

Joining the Line in 2011

So we checked out the craze on a Sunday morning in March, 8 years ago. Both kids had come home from Austin, for the weekend. Our family of 4 headed into Houston to enjoy a food adventure! The line at The Breakfast Klub was crazy.

A Fun Wait

We were handed menus right away. The restaurant staff was very much used to dealing with crowds. All were in good spirits.

The cool spring weather made the wait tolerable. But the people watching, made the wait entertaining. Some came dressed in their Sunday Best. Others looked like they had rolled out of bed. But all seemed happy and eager to be there.

Our Breakfast Table

Once seated, we studied the menus with big cups of coffee. The youngins ordered Wings and Waffles, so I knew I'd get a bite. I went ahead and ordered the other dish The Klub is known for...Catfish and Grits!

Catfish and Grits!

I don't love grits, I'm just drawn to them for some odd reason. Catfish? I'm not even a fish person. But I kind of loved my comfort food meal, with big biscuit and fried eggs.

Waffles & Wings

The kids loved theirs. I was intrigued with my sample tasting, but I'm not sure it's a combo I'll ever crave. Sweet and Savory, I get it. But it's just not my favorite.

So it's been 7 years and the breakfast combo is seen on more and more menus. It wasn't a short trend, afterall. They probably even serve wings and waffles at Denny's.

It might be time to head back for some Catfish and Grits!

0 Comments

Lunch in Pie Town, New Mexico

7/18/2018

0 Comments

Gatherin' Place Cafe

Today, it's about 100 degrees in Houston. I'm thinking back to a cozy lunch last February, in Pie Town, New Mexico!

Road Trip to California

I heard about Pie Town a few years ago and I made a mental note. So last winter when Don and did a TX to CA road trip, I was pretty excited to study the map and realize we could go a little off-route, between Truth or Consequences, NM and Gallup.

Open!

The weather was a little worrisome, but the winding drive on US 60 was scenic. Luckily, one of the three pie-related cafes was open.

A Welcome Truck

The old truck outside of Gatherin' Place was a pretty good reminder that we'd made it to Pie Town. Evidently the town of under 200, got its name because of a bakery that served up pie to travelers, back in the 1920's. Pie is still pretty much what the town is known for.

The Bakery Door

There were two doors on the front porch. The door on the right took us into the bakery where 3 women greeted us, while their flour covered hands worked at various tasks.

Eating Room

We stepped into the other room which held 3 community tables. An older couple from Iowa was finishing up their pie. We chatted a little road trip talk, until they headed off. Then we had the place to ourselves.

Snowed In?

We kept an eye out the window, watching the snow. We worried a little over the drive ahead, but also figured this would be a pretty good place to get snowed in. Not only did the place have pies to last for days, but each table had a few games. We could have played Cribbage and Checkers, into the night.

Cowboy Bob

Bob the Cook, popped up in the window when our food was ready. He seemed pretty eager to come out and chat since there were no other food orders.

Chat Break

Bob didn't grow up in Pie Town. He told us he sold his ranch and retired to Pie Town, where his wife worked as a school teacher.

Somewhere in the conversation, Bob mentioned that he usually wore a gun. Hmm? The town seemed safe enough to me. But, I guess the gun was more about completing his outfit, than safety. "They wanted me to wear it when I started working here. But it was just too heavy." He laughed.

Chili and Cornbread

Don ordered chili, which seemed like the perfect food for a snowy day. Bob did a good job. The chili had big chunks of meat and the cornbread was fresh.

I ordered a baked potato, which is my comfort food of choice. We saved room for pie.

Pie Waitress

I was excited to know our waitress was actually from Pie Town. She didn't have much to tell us about the town, because there wasn't much to tell. She was mostly excited about the weather. "It's been so dry. We need the moisture!"

Small Pies

We had about 25 pie flavors to choose from, but only one size. I kind of loved the mini size, which is good for people like me who love a good crust!

We split a caramel-apple pie and got a chocolate-cherry to take on the road. Both were fresh out of the oven, rolled out on the cooling cart!

Yum!

Bye Pie Town!

Five months later, I'm still thinking about that snowy visit to Pie Town. I can't believe we got to spend a cozy time chatting over chili and pie, with a few welcoming people. We also had just enough snow to make it fun! We faced no travel issues after we got back on the road.

Yay for Pie!

0 Comments

Chando's Tacos in Sacramento

7/18/2018

0 Comments

A Quick Bite

Chando's in Sacramento, is all about the authentic taco experience.

I however, had a memorable experience with a mystery food, that makes our quick lunch worthy of a dining adventure write up.

Lunch in February

Don and I visited our son and daughter-in-law, just after they moved to Sacramento. Their furniture hadn't arrived, so we helped them with other important tasks, like exploring the food options, near their home.

We had noticed long lines, every time we drove by this tiny yellow taco restaurant.

Order Window

We studied the chalkboard menu, with numerous taco options.

Tostilocos!

But as soon as I got up to the window, I noticed a picture on the glass. "Tostilocos!" I loved the name right off.

Once I read the word peanuts I was excited! It sounded like the kind of creation a kid would make for an after school snack. A "Frito-Pie" with peanuts!

I placed my order!

Dining with Lola

Part of the attraction of Chando's, was that we could dine with Lola, the pup. Lola was adjusting to her new life in Sacramento, too. We tried to include her whenever we could.

All the seating at Chando's was outdoors. Luckily there was a table left for us, in the back, away from the busy line and street traffic.

The Food

Our order was ready! The others went for tacos, because that's what Chando's does best. The owners follow their family's taco tradition, that began in Tijuana.

Everyone seemed pleased!

Mystery Ingredient

My Tostilocos was served in an opened chip bag. I squeezed some lime and dug in! I wasn't really sure what all the ingredients were, but the peanuts were good. I liked the crunchy cucumber and jicama.

Hmm? The little slices of onion seemed to have an odd flavor and texture. Chali took a bite and wondered with me. "There's a strange aftertaste." Then I looked at the list of ingredients, on the sign. "What's cueritos?" I asked.

Pig Skin! That wasn't an onion that I tasted. It was written right on that bright ad, but I don't speak Spanish. Luckily there was no table service and I didn't have to insult a server by not finishing my meal.

I'll have a taco, next time!

0 Comments

Deer's Head Inn - Upstate New York

7/16/2018

0 Comments

Elizabethtown, New York

While on a road trip in June, Don and I shared a Cookbook Dining Adventure with Jennifer and Kate!

The town had a beautiful name, which made the outing twice as fun!

The Book That Inspired the Stop

Before heading off to New York, I made sure to peek inside a couple of our old Ford Motor Cookbooks. I was excited to find a featured recipe, from an inn which was located in an area we planned to visit. The book was printed over 50 years ago, so I was excited to learn that the inn was still in business.

Closed on Sunday

Our route from Lake George to Saranac Lake, took us right through Elizabethtown!

Elizabethtown was a little sleepy when we arrived on a Sunday at noon. Don and I could tell the inn was closed before we even parked.

Posing in E-Town

Jennifer and Kate pulled up minutes later, when I was taking photos of the inn. We 4 wandered the town a bit. My sister and I had some fun taking pictures... and being in them.

I posed with the rusty sign that showed my name. Then we spotted another sign and posed. It turns out, we were standing in front of a shop that benefits a local organization, which reaches out to women experiencing domestic violence.

Meeting Greg

The shop was closed, but Greg saw us and stepped outside. He filled us in on the organization that he and his wife run. We learned about some of the struggles in the community.

We also learned some fun news. Greg's son was chef at Deer's Head Inn. "You need to come back!" Greg insisted. So we did.

2 Days Later

We returned on a Tuesday, after staying in Sarnac Lake. It was a lovely day when we arrived for lunch. It was tempting to dine on the porch. I love porches.

But first I had to take in the exterior, which had a homey, farmhouse look to it.

Side View

I had to study the side view too. The business reopened a couple of years ago, as a "tavern, inn and grocer". What fun it would be, to stay in one of their 4, second story rooms.

I looked at the flowers and cute window, the painted boards of different sizes. Then I began to wonder.

This looked nothing like the illustration of the inn, featured in the book.

We headed towards the front door on the porch, hoping to find some answers.

The Market

We entered the inn's hallway, with stairs leading up to the guest rooms. I peeked at the Market, to the right. The little food/coffee shop was where the old tavern used to be. The original bar was being used as the shop counter.

My eyes were drawn to the potted herbs absorbing the window light.

The Tavern/ Restaurant

We headed into the classy-comfy new dining room, where we were greeted by a deer head above the white brick fireplace. I'm not sure if he's been around since 1808, but the building has.

Only, the building we were in, was located elsewhere and was actually The Annex to the older and larger Deer's Head Inn.

History is confusing.

Photo in the Hall

This old photo shows the original Deer's Head Inn, which was torn down in 1968. It didn't exactly match my cookbook image either, but it is the building that was featured in the book. I'm guessing, after they moved The Annex to it's current location in the 1830's, they added more gingerbread and porches to the original old inn.

Charming Interior

It was fun having Jennifer and Kate join us for our cookbook dining adventure. They were just as excited as Don and me, hoping to show the book to Chef Josh. Funny that we had just chatted with his dad, 2 days earlier.

Where to Sit?

There were some cute little alcoves and bay windows for seating. There was even a great area with dartboard and pool table, if only we'd had the time.

The New Bar

Driving by, you would never have guessed there was such an inviting, modern, Sazerac serving bar, inside this old building... in a town of 1,000.

I love vintage bars, with antique or retro decor. Usually I cringe when things are modernized. But there was something fun about having this new fresh interior, inside a 210 year old building.

Courtney

Our server, Courtney was a total hoot. She handed us our clipboard menus, with a happy welcome, then rushed off.

When she returned, I asked if they served Maple Sponge Cake with Maple Icing. She looked at me as if I'd asked if they sold puppies. "No?" I responded. "Well, you used to." I handed her the cookbook. She took a quick glance at the page, then boomed with a grin, "Get Out!" Her reaction was perfect. "Where did you get this? I can't believe this! Can I show this to the chef?"

I knew they were getting busy and Courtney seemed to be the only waitstaff, but I begged. "We talked to the chef's dad the other day. We were hoping to meet him..." Courtney agreed to bring him out a little later, so I held onto the book.

Yummy Options

Jennifer ordered the House Maple Lemonade, which was pretty refreshing. We shared some locally picked and pickled Fried Dilly Beans with Ancho Chile Spiced Aioli. Yum!

I had the Eggplant and Pickled Beet Sandwich, with Feta, Olives, Capers and Herbs. Don got the Roast Chicken Breast Sandwich with Roasted Peppers and Sweet Basil Pesto. I stole his fries and he snitched my greens! All good!

Deer's Head Bamboo Rice Bowl

Kate's rice dish looked as garden fresh as her blouse. She was a brave one, ordering the dish that Courtney said was very yummy, with "furry" bamboo rice. We had to laugh at that description. It was interesting, with marinated tofu and miso ginger dressing. But I liked my eggplant better.

Waiting on Chef Josh

The cozy tavern at one point, was practically full. Courtney was rushing about, serving diners on the porch and even at the bar. She kept assuring us that Josh would try to make it out to meet us, but we had to get going.

Courtney Poses

It would have been a treat to have met the busy young chef, but we were happy that we had a fun people encounter with Courtney. She was young and she was busy, which usually means there's little interest in posing with a cookbook. But Courtney was game.

We did our pose in front of the deer. Hopefully we'll return someday and meet the chef AND stay at the inn.

0 Comments

The Breakfast Klub in Houston

Lunch in Pie Town, New Mexico

Chando's Tacos in Sacramento

Deer's Head Inn - Upstate New York

Archives

Categories