Burger Boy

Doing it old school is what Burger Boy is about.  Serving quality, familiar hamburger’s.  Foie gras huh?  Absolutely NOT!  The place itself is very small, there are probably no more then 10 chairs total lining up the small bars to the side, so it you decide to go, it’s better to plan to take out, or go thru the drive thru.  The menu is no nonsense.  Prices are pretty good. I ordered the Bates Special, for $5.39 you get a burger, french fries, and a drink.  The most expensive thing on their menu is The Working Man for $6.99 you get a Double Boy with Large Fries.  Ohhhhhh the fries.  I guess this is where I should throw out a “Moo".  I LOVE crinkle cut fries from Culvers, Churches, and here as well.  I have always had them fresh when I go, so either the Fry Gods smile upon me as I make my order, or they are dedicated to making every order fresh.  You can choose to add jalapeno’s, bacon etc to your burger as well.  The burgers are a few steps above Whataburger.  Just very old fashioned, cooked to order, good burger.  I want to take a minute to reminisce.  My very first job was down the street at Baldwins Prolab, I vividly remember walking my tweenself over here for lunch and loyally ordering some type of specialty drink every single time I went.  I wasted no time with the soda’s!  It never fails, their shakes (my favorite is the strawberry) are delicious!  I’d imagine this is what the 1950’s soda shops would dish out, no wonder everyone was taking their dates there, and then got to score at a ‘parking’ spot.  They are also known for their Orange Freeze.  This drink is particular to this place, I have not had any other drink like it anywhere.  I wouldn’t call it a dreamcicle.  It taste more like the slush that you get from the icee pops sticks when you let it melt a little, or drink the last of it.  To me, the flavor takes me back to summer’s as a kid.  The question, “Would you go back?”.  I think it’s pretty obvious, I have been going since before I could drive, it’s that good that I would walk...and those who know me, know I would not walk just anywhere.

Choicolate-Artisan Chocolates

Choicolate-Artisan Chocolates

Move over Willy Wonka for this chocolatier.  Located in a chic Stone Oak location are these delicious hand-crafted chocolates that look almost too pretty to eat.  After a stroll from Auden’s Kitchen we wondered in this white on white spot, so clean it was hard to believe that any cooking went on inside.  We were enthusiastically greeted by part owner Young Yang, husband to Jaime Choi (notice a similarity to the name of the shop?).  He spoke with us about his wife’s education, the Belgian chocolate and fresh ingredients.  He encouraged us to try the sample’s in the window, and no one had to ask us twice.  The two available for sample were the Pecan Caramel Ganache and the Strawberry Balsamic.  The Balsamic in the chocolate was sutle.  It had that “what is this factor?”.  The sample’s is what drew us in, you could taste the quality in the chocolate.  We purchased a five piece box for $11.  The boxing is equally aesthetically pleasing and in each box comes a chocolate guide to let you or the gift receiver know what chocolate they are eating.  We choose 5 of the 14 flavors.  The honey hazelnut, cut into a dark jewelry style cut.  Honey is a subtle flavor and the dark chocolate didn’t pack as much as a punch as you typically get from a dark chocolate at the supermarket.  The next one we got was a Dulce de Leche Coffee.  In each of the chocolates the filling has a very velvety texture.  The coffee is the predominant flavor, for me it masked the Dulce de leche flavor, but for Joseph he said he got the flavor immediately after the coffee.  It could be because I don’t care for coffee.  The third and my second favorite was the Grapevine.  It has a golden raisin on top and is made with port wine.  I LOVE red wine with chocolate so the creamy, mousse middle with the co-star wine flavor was excellent.  I loved the small tartness of the raisin in the end.  The fourth one, and surprising favorite of mine was the Pumpkin Caramel!  Again, middle filling was excellent texture, after the visit here I can definitely tell the different between quality ingredients and the ones you get from chocolates made for the masses.  You definitely get the pumpkin spice, this one would be a holiday favorite.  Perfect for a small gift, or a small, sweet after dinner treat.  The last was the Mango Habanero.  Mango was very tropical, mixed with white chocolate and what taste’s like lime.  As only a habanero can, the heat comes up on you gradually.  It was a great balance.  This was was the most complex, creative one of the fab five we got.  Thank you Young we will be returning soon!

Urban Taco

Urban Taco is a newer hip restaurant located in the Alamo Quarry.  It’s a modern take on Mexican taqueria’s introducing fun twists to old favorites.  I went during a beautiful day on lunch and it was pretty busy.  I still got attended to right away and opted to sit inside, although they do have a very nice shaded patio area.  I loved the buzz I got from inside, it had a hip, downtown feel to it. 

Our service was very quick and friendly.  They have a great lunch time special where you can get any two tacos on the menu with poblano green rice and black refried beans for $7.75.  Unless it is a seafood taco, you need to pay one dollar more.  Even with the lunch special comes the free yucca chips.  They are so thin they look like fried corn husk’s and have a lime chile seasoning on them that is very fresh.  I also opted for the chips and salsa trio.  The chips are made in house, this is a secret fetish of mine.  I love homemade, warm tortilla chips, especially with a little butter and hot salsa on them, but that is another tangent blog.  The three salsa’s I got were the peanut habanero, the jalapeno zucchini, and the rooster pico (a crowd favorite that our waitress recommended).  The peanut habanero is a must try for spicy food lovers.  It has a wonderful sweet peanut flavor in the beginning, but since it is habanero, about a second later your mouth feels like it’s on fire.  I could handle it in small doses with lots of glasses of water.  On a side note, as a consumer I love it when server’s never let your glass get empty, and even with the seven glasses of water I had to have, my server kept up with me, on a very busy lunch hour.  The rooster pico was a very run of the mill red sauce.  It was very mild, and reminiscent of a black bean salsa.  I could see why it was a favorite though, it’s a crowd pleaser, one of those salsa’s you couldn’t go wrong with.  The jalapeno zucchini was hands down my favorite.  So cool tasting and creamy, they went really well with both the yucca chips and the tortilla chips. 

On my entree I loved the cilantro flavor but the way the rice was bland, it kind of tasted like rice o roni.  I like a more fluffy rice.  The black beans were really good. I am not sure if it was all natural.  They top it with queso fresco, but they taste sinfully good, in only a way refried beans with lard can taste.  I am lucky that my dining partner let me taste her taco’s too!  I tried the Al Pastor it’s cooked rotisserie style and topped with roasted pineapple, salsa, onions, and cilantro.  I loved the pineapple it in, went well with the chile rubbed pork in the taco.  The meat could be a little more tender and juicy though. I also tried the Dos Equis Amber Barbacoa taco.  The meat is braised in the beer along with other chile’s and topped with roasted corn and pickled red onions.  Again, pairing something sweet with the taco.  I loved this adventurous take on a classic taco, the meat was flavorful.  Moving on the the Chicken Al Carbon, it’s a garlic mojo grilled chicken with a green salsa and topped with manchego cheese and pico de gallo.  I loved the salsa on it.  The chicken was dry to me though, but the salsa and the fresh tomato helped to mask it a little.  The last taco I tried was a big step for me.  It was the Pollo con Mole.  I have not had any kind of mole since my Aunt Sandra and Uncle George’s wedding when I was in the fifth grade and I vividly remember getting sick in a bad way at the wedding.  I had since sworn of mole.  However, in the name of journalism I retracted that fear and jumped in the water.  The clouds parted and the mole gods took pity and mercy on me with this taco.  It was sweet, and creamy.  I didn’t know that the presence of chocolate would be so palpable.  It’s like a sweet old friend that creeps up next to you.  If I knew that I would be greeted like that, I would have tried mole a long time ago. 

 One of the endearing things at the end of my meal was the tiny chicle's that they have at the front of the restaurant for the end of your meal.  I love the mini familiar mexican gum, it was a sweet touch.  So the question...will I go back.  Yes, not only will I be back, but I am recommending this restaurant to my fellow Dallasonians.  See you soon Urban Taco.

Boardwalk on Bulverde: New Food Trailer Park, Tin Can Tacos

Food Trucks!  No longer are the day’s of the “Roach Coaches”, food trucks are a new trend now, bringing elevated and fresh cuisine idea’s to you street food style.  In this trailer park there are seven food trucks, but I could only fit two in my stomach, regretfully.  I went there specifically for Tin Can Tacos.  The owner/chef was really friendly and informative.  He is very health conscious.  His corn tortillas are all natural.  They contain no trans-fat, oil or butter.  His get’s his cilantro and other greens from a local “farmer Bob”.  I personally love when restaurant’s support their local farmers, everything is just fresher.  The owner is a definite farm to table advocate.  He explained that even in his lamb they would soon be using only grass-fed locally raised lamb.  He extends his healthy cooking to all the other menu items, again not using any oils, trans fats or butter.  The chipotle chicken is so tender and juicy, so when I called him out on that he says he uses a vegetable puree to cook it with.  Interesting.  The chicken reminds me of a dish your Hispanic grandma would cook up in the kitchen.  Very reminiscent of the tomato bouillon and cumin flavors.  The fish tacos had great texture to them.  It comes with red cabbage, cilantro, grilled fish, queso fresco and a mango peach jalapeno ranch salsa on top, wrapped in an all natural corn tortilla.  The fish was a tiny bit fishy to me, but very fresh.  I loved the pairing of the sweet mango with the slight spicy fish.  The cost was five dollars for two tacos.  In addition to the fish tacos I had the five tacos for seven dollars.  I know; five tacos?!  But these tacos are super small, maybe the size of your palm.  I didn’t like how you could only get one meat per order.  Not because I tired of the lamb, but just because as a first timer I would have liked to try other meats.  I got the lamb with a pinneable habanero salsa.  The lamb is ground and very lean.  The tacos have very earthy flavors.  The small tacos include cilantro, grilled onions and queso fresco.  “This is the healthiest taco you will every eat”- say’s owner Manny.  But here, not only do you get a healthy, guilt free meal, but no sacrifice in flavor!  Will I go back?  Yes, most definitely.

La Tuna

La Tuna is a super laid back eatery located in South Town off of Probant.  From the outside you wouldn’t guess they would be serving up such big flavor items!  The inside is very small, but I was greeted very warmly from the cashier.  I had been there once before and had their fish and chips, and I remember them being pretty good, but for some reason, I hadn’t returned until today, years later.  The place is designed so that you place your order at the counter, and then take a seat of your choice.  The inside is rustic and very homey. The outside has some spots of shade on lawn chairs or picnic benches. 

On this breezy San Antonio afternoon, I opted to sit outside.  I started with the White Bean Chili.  This soup was the shiiiiittttt!  It was packed with southwestern flavors.  The soup has cilantro, chicken, white beans, and roasted poblano’s.  It is topped with Monterrey Jack cheese and comes with tortilla chips on the side.  I loved the flavor!  The only thing I didn’t care for was the large piece of mushy chicken skin in my soup.  I loved the palpable taste of the cilantro and poblano’s.  I shared fried mushrooms, and I couldn’t believe how big they were!  It comes with a side of gravy.  The gravy is homemade, I am not sure from what drippings, but it has a nice light brown color. 

My main entrée was the Lamb Sandwich.  Oh my goodness, if you have not tried lamb sandwiches, you better flock to this place to get involved!  I would totally recommend this as a first time try.  It tasted like it was lamb shank.  It was very tender, and lean.  I only wish that the meat was a tad bit more juicy.  It is served on a hoagie bun with peach-mango chutney with cranberries and white raisins.  I LOVED, the pairing of the spread, the tart cranberries really was an awesome supporting back drop to the lamb.  The sandwich also has creamy goat cheese.  Initially I was apprehensive about the goat cheese because it can be very overpowering, but this goat cheese was mild.  I asked the waiter, and he say’s their goat cheese is made in house.  Our waiter was a joking man, making sure to tell me that it cost’s extra to take pictures of my food!  He was a lot of fun, very attentive to our table.  The dish can come with slaw or fries.  The fries are wedge fries, but they were browned well on the outside and very soft on the inside.  I loved this sandwich, it is very craveable. 

My dining partner got the blackened fish tacos.  I think it was mahi mahi.  The fish was not fishy at all, very white with a meaty flavor and a good amount of kick.  It is topped with cilantro, shredded cabbage and a green chile sauce.  The sauce has almost a sweet after flavor to it, but other then that, didn’t taste like too much.  I expected more of a cilantro or chile flavor, but it didn’t matter too much because the heat from the fish paired well with the sauce, it cooled the heat, I should say. 

Would I go back?  Hell yes!  I didn’t have room to try the white chocolate cherry bread pudding w/ brandy sauce, it sounds so good!  I shall return tomorrow ;).