Happy Mother's Day, Mom! Let's Go Have Some Vino

If I could dream up the perfect mother, it would be the one I was given. She is the most amazing woman/mother I know, and I'm so grateful she's in my life. We decided to treat her to a dinner via the Texas version of Tuscany. We headed out to Mandola Estate Winery in Driftwood, Texas. It's about 20 minuets outside of Austin, and quite lovely set in the Hill Country. We arrived about a half an hour before our reservation, and went right into the Winery for a tasting. We tried 6 wines, red and white, for $5 each(Mothers sipped free for their day), and enjoyed the information from the down to earth and knowledgeable wine pourer. Our favorites happened to be at the top of the list. The 2008 Viognier for the white, and the 2008 Sangiovese for the red. We made our way to the restaurant, Trattoria Lisina, on the property and got ready for our Italian spread. Our waiter could not have been more fantastic. He was honest, friendly, and consistent. Mom and I chose a Pinot Noir for dinner (they don't serve the wineries selection at the restaurant, but have many Italians to choose from), and grazed on bread and olive oil. We picked our dishes for the night, thanks to suggestions from our waiter, and melted into the Old World Italian atmosphere. He let us know that each recipe is from owner Damian Mandola's family, except the daily specials which are inspired by Chef John Lichtenberger who hails from New York. I decided on Costolette di Agnello alla Griglia (Texas grass fed lamb chops grilled over oak & pecan, with a reduced balsamic glaze, peperonata & Parmigiano garlic mashed potatoes). I consumed every tiny bit of this dish. It was so incredibly divine. The rack was medium rare, juicy and seasoned with just the right amount of spices. The balsamic glaze, oh I could bathe in it. The potatoes were creamy and velvety next to the meat. Excellent. Mom decided on Cannelloni Lisina (Stuffed with chicken, veal, pork, aromatic vegetables & Parmigiano, baked with besciamella & tomato sauces). She said it was a tad mushy, but still fantastic. Brother went for the Pollo al Girarrosto rotisserie chicken (Rosemary, garlic & lemon, served with roasted potatoes & a cucumber salad). He thought it was great, just a bit dry for his liking. All in all, the meal was wonderful. The best way to celebrate all that our Mom has done for us, and let her know how much we love and adore her. The setting was fantastic, as close to Tuscany as we'd get for the day. Stop by and enjoy a bottle in the courtyard, under a tree lit canopy. If you're in Austin, stop by Mandola Market for a similar bite, which this Sleepy Eater has mentioned before. Arrivederci!

Mandola Estate Winery
Twitter: @MandolaWinery

Trattoria Lisina

Mandola Market from The Sleepy Eater

It's My Birthday, Let's Eat! - Crawfish, Jack Allen's Kitchen & Perla's

My 27th Birthday rolled in and took me by surprise. Late, late twenties...wow. My wonderful newly married friends Bradley & Lindsay offered to throw a crawfish boil for my bday, and a newly graduated friend with her MBA! It was absolutely perfect, especially since all I really wanted for my bday was to eat, all weekend. We gathered at their adorable abode and the festivities began. Bradley, master chef/boiler rallied up his new pot, crawfish from Quality Seafood, and let the good times roll. While he was cooking away, we snacked upon my fabulous friend Laura's homemade crab cakes. Uh, ah-mazing! It was her first attempt, and may I say they were a home run to the max. The perfect amount of crab, seasoning, and bite. I could have eaten them all day, but they were gone in about 2.5 seconds. Lindsay busted out some fantastic Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese frosting for the occastion as well. Delish! We drank our cervezas and Bradley's killer margaritas (we'll call them tequilla with a little lime and ice) and enjoyed the sunny May day. I couldn't imagine a better way to start a new year of mi vida, and celebrate such a major accomplishment as getting an MBA. It was fabulous. The next day, I awoke with an oh so friendly hangover, but ready to jump on the food trail again. My mom, brother and I started with appetizers at Jack Allen's Kitchen in South Austin. The restaurant was opened by Jack Gilmore and Tom Kamm. Jack was the founding chef at Z'Tejas in Austin. Not knowing what to expect, I went in wide eyed and hungry. We sat outside on the fantastic patio and were served a complimentary plate of the House made Pimento Cheese with flatbread. Delicious and creamy. After scarfing that down, we decided on the Bacon Wrapped Texas Quail (Jalepeno jam, peach jam, and micro green fig salad), as well as the Smoked Beef Rib Quesadilla (Pepper Jack, cotija cheese, and Jack's Slaw). They were both like a birthday present to our mouths. The quail was tender, juicy and soaked up every bit of its bacon wrapped flavor. The jellies and fig were outstanding with the meat. I could have licked the plate clean. The quesadillas were filled with moist beef rib in a sauce that was finger licking good. I could have stayed all day and eaten everything else on the menu. Jack's prides themselves on using local farm foods, and it definitely shows. The chefs put everything into each dish, and it makes you stop and appreciate their efforts. As if that little meal weren't enough, I was craving seafood for the big bday dinner. The three of us headed to Perla's on South Congress for the feast. The weather was perfection, so we sat at one of the picnic tables on the front patio. The trees, sunset, and strings of lights were like eating in a friend's backyard. So wonderful. I had been craving the restaurant's Crab Louie (Lump Crab with Cornmeal Fried Green Tomatoes, and Russian Dressing) for weeks, and immediately ordered it with a glass of Pinot Grigio. For our entrees, I ordered the Maine Sea Scallops a la Plancha with poached garlic drawn butter, Mom and brother both got the Oak Grilled Trout (one with Salsa Verde and the other with poached garlic drawn butter), and to top it off we got a side of Shells & Cheese. I have to say my scallops were the most perfectly cooked scallops I've ever had. They were large and in charge, perfectly tender and succulent. The fish was fresh and excellent. The Shells & cheese, heaven with a kick of jalapeno. We finished the happy birthday to me celebrations with an order of the Strawberry Rhubarb Tart, and the Banana Split. The tart was a blissful marriage of tart and sweet with a flaky crust to bind it together. The banana split was kick ass. The BEST chocolate ice cream I've ever tasted, which is handmade at the restaurant in an old fashioned ice cream maker. Rich, creamy, and the most pristine chocolate flavor, ever. It was one fantastic birthday and I loved every minute during every meal. Grateful for another year, and grateful for many more meals to come. Cheers!

Quality Seafood

Jack Allen's Kitchen
Twitter: @jackallens

Perla's Seafood & Oyster Bar

New Orleans, You had me at beignet

Mid April was spent celebrating one of my favorite people/friends/bachelorette, Ms. Lauren. I am lucky enough to be a maid of honor in her wedding, and 11 girls total spent the weekend in New Orleans celebrating her upcoming wedding in May. New Orleans is one of my absolute favorite cities in the world, and it was so amazing to be there with such fantastic girls. We ate, drank, and danced our way through the Cajun paradise and could not of had a better time. We began our bachelorette bash with beignets and cafe au laits at Cafe Beignet. Apparently, Cafe Du Monde changed ownership and the experience is hustled and not as authentic as in years past. We loved the laid back nature and quaintness of the place. The beignets were light, not too doughy, and perfectly warm. The coffee boasted the same flavor as the city it was born in. We loved taking our time and enjoying every bite. Since breakfast was delicious and filling, we decided to reward ourselves with some of the best Bloody Mary's in town. We headed to Olde Absinthe House on Pirate's Alley. This place is about the size of my thumb, but they know what they're doing when it comes to Bloody's. Strong with a kick, and easy to sip. We grabbed our drinks to go, one of the best things about the city, and walked around to our next stop. Yes, it was again time to feast. We decided on lunch at Napolean House, well known for their muffaletas and Pimm's Cups. They did not disappoint. The food was fantastic, the muffaleta was classic and huge. The Pimm's cups were a little bitter, and the bartender had to make the mix from scratch after awhile. We finished lunch off with a few rounds of French 75s (Gin, sugar, lemon, champagne), which were excellent to compliment the gorgeous afternoon. After a major mid-day karaoke session at Cat's Meow, we headed to one of the best restaurants/deals in town, for dinner. Friends and I stumbled upon this place last year during Jazzfest and were hooked. Desire Oyster Bar served up oysters on the half shell, Oysters Desire (broiled oysters, garlic, butter, parmesan cheese), Crawfish, Shrimp & Grits (some of the best EVER), Crawfish Etoufee, and more. We popped champagne and toasted the bride-to-be as much as possible. After many further celebrations, we woke the next morning for a Bridal Brunch at The Old Coffee Pot. Friends and I stumbled across this place last year as well, and it was amazing again. We had a pre-fix menu set with choice of Mimosa or Bloody Mary. We had Eggs Jonathan (Eggs Benedict, ham, tomatoes, shrimp, hollandaise sauce, and grits or potatoes) and Blintzes (apple and strawberry). So fantastic for those who could muster up the strength to eat after the night before. My fellow Maid of Honor and I got an AMAZING red velvet cake from The Cake Cafe in New Orleans for the brunch as well. It was perfect and so incredibly moist. We spent the rest of the day wondering in and out of cute boutiques and resting up for festivities to come. That night, we ended up having dinner at the Green Goddess. We arrived around 10:30pm and left around 1:15am, and even though the service was slow we spent most of that time telling stories about the bride and enjoying every bite. While waiting for our table we ordered a few Green Goddess cocktails. Unfortunately one of the main cocktails ordered was not enjoyable. It was the restaurant's take on a French 75, called the Pear 75 (Oregon Pear Brandy from Clear Creek Distillery, a splash of Austrian apricot liqueur & homemade ginger syrup, topped with bubbly). The menu says not a girly drink, and it nearly knocked all of us on our feet. Way too much pear brandy, we had to ask for a champagne top off for those who wanted to finish their drink. Luckily a few ladies ordered beer, one being Lazy Magnolia's Southern Pecan Nut Brown Pale Ale. It was delicious and much needed after the unwanted kick from the cocktail. The bride to be had a Louisiana Strawberry Bellini (Prosecco, Amato’s La. Strawberry Wine, Beaujolais Strawberry Liqueur, and Pontchatoula strawberries). Perfectly refreshing and sweet. A bonus to our dining pleasure was having one of the two chefs of the restaurant, Chris DeBarr, come out to greet us and offer his extensive knowledge of the food and wine. He helped us pick a lovely Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for the table. We quickly paired the vino with a vast array of cheeses, veggie plate (Roasted asparagus, Mardi Gras Indian cauliflower, duck fat potatoes, radishes, seasonal guest star vegetable, with roasted garlic aioli and romesco sauce), a fantastic Roasted Eggplant & White Anchovy Bruschetta (Griddled bread topped with pureed roasted eggplant, lemon, and capers, with piquillo peppers, fresh-cured white anchovies), and Father Pat’s Grilled Cheese (Cahill’s Irish Porter cheddar cheese, made with Guinness, and pear butter on wholegrain 3 seed bread). We were more than hungry, and the appetizers were the perfect solution. The cheeses were all to die for, each different and chosen by the chef. The veggies were rustic and robust. The grilled cheese rich and oozing with guilty pleasure. Our entrees were just as wonderful, beginning with the Green Goddess Wedge Salad, which was one of the best wedges I've ever had (Boiled LA. Shrimp, radishes, cucumber, hearts of palm, hearts of romaine, sieved eggs, crumbled bacon, romano cheese & green goddess dressing). Light, different and delicious. Other crowd pleasers were the Golden Beet Ravioli (Truffled Chèvre filled, Pomegranate Molasses, Sardinian Saba, & Avocado Oil), “The Old-Fashioned” Gulf Fish Meuniere (Pan-seared Louisiana fish, yucca cake, sea beans, Bourbon brown butter sauce laced with Fee Bros. Whisky Barrel Bitters), and “Spooky” Blue Corn Crepes (Huitlacoche, wild mushrooms, brandy ragout, porcini salt and butter). The hit of the night though, happened to be the Bacon Sundae. Not listed on the menu, but recommended even by the table sitting next to us. "You MUST order the sundae, MUST", they said. We did, and I wish I had one in front of me now. Rich vanilla ice cream, maple covered bacon, caramel sauce, and nuts. AMAZING. DIVINE. PERFECTION. The next morning we dragged our tired little selves out of bed to head home. We were well fed, well partied, and well on our way to looking forward to the upcoming wedding. New Orleans was the ultimate place to honor our bride to be, and we'd all be back there in a heartbeat. Take your time in the city, and enjoy every single bit of what it has to offer. It truly is one of the greatest cities on Earth, and a place to be cherished.

Cafe Beignet

Olde Absinte House

Napolean House

Desire Oyster Bar

Old Coffee Pot

Cake Cafe & Bakery

The Green Goddess