My cousin recently found this amazing little gem of a recipe for Nutella Blondies at TheFoodCharlatan and insisted we make them, now, if you love blondies you should absolutely give it a try! They were really delicious and I haven't ever used much Nutella in my life... I've had it on toast a few times and it was ok, but WOW, this was the first time I really tasted Nutella for what it really is and I was immediatly having visions of delectable swirls of Nutella and cheesecake topping a plate of brownies and decided I had to give it a try. Here are the results, and I have to say they were AMAZING (very modest, aren't I?)! Now, I will admit for all the hard core bakers out there I cheated and used pre-packaged brownie mix, but they were still divine and it simplified the process. I love how the Nutella forms an almost crunchy top crust on the brownies and the cheesecake cuts the over-the-top sweetness a little by adding the cream cheese tang, couple with uber chewy brownies delectable-ness... MMmm

We recently visited this amazing little spot with some friends, it is a very intimate setting. The restaurant takes it's name from the fact that everyone sits at a counter literally surrounding the kitchen, and they only three, five or seven course pre-set meals, offering innovative cuisine based on what is fresh today. We also got the wine paring and they did a great job selecting wines that complemented the dishes. Here's a run down of all the great things we got to try for our seven course meal

Overall it was a really fun experience and we will absolutely be back. Everything was tasty but I do feel like on just a few of the the dishes they were trying too hard to push the envelope and maybe lost a little focus on overall taste, but since I love trying new things that wasn't really an issue for me :) 

I have been slacking on visiting (and writing about!) great spots in Austin. To work on this I have been coming up with a list on the places I really want to go (or go back to!) and tell you about.  I really hope you can help add to my list!!

I recently stumbled on Gin and Ginger, and actually thought that I created (and named) it. Imagine my disappointment when at a work event my coworker went up to the bar and ordered my new "signature" drink! While I am still a huge fan of a plain old Gin and Ginger, my new at home drink is my "Summertime GINger" It is super refreshing on a hot day and isn't too sweet but I really want to try doing half and half Ginger Beer and Soda Water in place of the Gingerale, it'll give it a stronger ginger kick and cut some of the gingerale sweetness.

My husband and I have been obsessed with the culinary stylings of Chef Paul Qui since he was making amazing and innovative dishes at Uchiko. Watching him go through Top Chef we were confident from the beginning that he would be the winner. After easily wrapping up that competition he proceeded to open this amazing little gem and we have been delighted on our numerous visits to Qui (and that is apparently pronounced /kē/). The restaurant originally started as a standard, “choose your own adventure” menu but it has since morphed into a "what's fresh today, best of the best". Now when you go (and do make reservations, they fill up fast!) you have just two options; a choice of a Standard (aka Carnivorous) or Vegetarian tasting menu of roughly seven courses at a set- and I feel VERY reasonable for what you get- price. They also offer a “beverage pairing” which I highly recommend, they get it right. Every beverage perfectly complements the course and adds yet another layer of complexity.  Since we just went this past Friday and did the Carnivorous menu (with beverage pairing… of course!) I snuck some photos of my amazing grub and wanted to post a play by play of the greatness.

I actually had one of the "best bites" of my life here a few months back and want to make sure I specifically call it out as well. They had amazing Amberjack sliced sashimi style that they brought to the table with smoking, red hot chunk of binchotan (a white oak I believe) that they rested directly on the wood for the briefest of moments before pulling it off and setting it carefully in a squid ink/sumiso (type of sweet miso vinegar sauce). AMAZING. We ordered a second round of it. They had something similar last week, and it was really-really good... but WOW, the Amberjack... that sauce... mmm...

Check out their website!

When we lived in Cedar Park we went to the Noble Pig (now renamed to Noble Sandwiches) on RR620 for lunch pretty regularly but haven't been since we moved to South Austin a year ago. We just realized there is a Noble Sandwiches on Burnet close to the triangle so headed up there to check it out. It is just as great as the original and the interior is a beautiful, sleek industrial/cottage feel. I wish I had gotten a picture of the decor, it was really nice.

On to the food, we got a few half sandwiches so we could try a few things We had a Duck Pastrami Ruben sandwich (on bacon bread... excuse me while I wipe the drool off the keyboard), Knuckle Sandwich and the Noble Pig on challah. 

The smoked duck pastrami is extremely tender with a wonderful smokey flavor, and -according to my husband- it is "super tastie-fied." But really, I think the house made pickles and bread really make their sandwiches, it is all fresh made, light, fluffy and flavorful. The level of pride they put into making something generally thought of as being "simple" is really the secret. Everything they serve is fresh and handmade by them, and it is all delicious. 

Check out their menu here!

I have been waiting patiently (or not so patiently!) for the South Austin Ramen Tatsu-Ya since one of the nice waitresses at the North location let it slip a year ago that they were opening one up MUCH closer to me.

I am an Asian soup junkie, and Ramen tops my list of must haves, and I would say Ramen Tatsu-Ya is the most amazing Ramen I've had. I love the stuff. It is like liquid crack. With an egg in it.

So, now that I've already said how crazy I am about this place I was SOO excited when I found out they are doing a soft opening before they are "Open-Open" next week. Probably no need to say, but we were THERE as soon as I knew it was an option. 

The South Austin location was honestly a little classier and I don't think it'll be as noisy as the North location, I love that they took the feel of their North restaurant and took it up a notch design wise. Every one there was so nice and helpful and the food was 100% as amazing as what I've come to expect from Tatsu-Ya. 

I always get the #2 (Tonkotsu Sho-Yu -Tonkotsu broth with special blend of soy sauce, chashu, ajitama egg, menma bamboo, crushed peppercorns, scallions and nori.) with an extra Ajitama (egg) and a spicy bomb

But my husband gets the #1 (Tonkotsu Original - Creamy pork bone soup with chashu, ajitama egg, wood ear mushroom and scallions) with extra chashu pork and the corn bomb.


They are both always amazing. I highly reccomend this spot. It is amazing! Oh, but you probably want to get there early, the North location gets a line around the building starting about 6:15, so try to beat the crowd!

We have been driving by Porter Gastro Pub heading to one restaurant or another several times and always say "we need to check that out!" Well this was the day! It is a very cool vibe and folks had dogs on the patio (I am a sucker for anything dog friendly). The inside was a cool industrial zibe that I loved.

Looking over the menu there were so many great sounding things! We ended up going with the list below and the Pork Belly Slider, Oxtail Croquette and Country Pate were all so flipping great! The Pork Belly Slider is a "small plate" and was only one so we had to share, I really wish we had gotten more because I could have stuffed myself on just that. 

The Oxtail Croquette  was crazy good... I can't explain it... just do it! We talked to the chef and if I remember right he said they braise it crazy long in wine. SOOO tasty

I am a big fan of pate, and their country pate was a really nice pate and I would definitely get it again, but the big WOW for me was the homemade pumpernickel bread. Carb Crack.

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Swoop Supper Friend Website

This weekend I had my second visit to Swoop House for their Fowl Play meal. It was AMAZING. It was duck heaven. 

If you haven't been to Swoop House, let me start by saying... It isn't a standard, walk in and sit down restaurant. They have scheduled events, where they have a specific chef plan a meal, then they sell seats for that specific event in advance. So you never get the same thing. It is a really great concept and makes it a lot of fun.

Onto Fowl Play... While everything was ridiculously good, I have to make a shout out for the Seared Duck Breast dish, it was so incredible and the cauliflower was beyond divine. My other big call out was the Smoked Duck & Julienned Roots appetizer, I have never had anything like it. The duck had this nice smokey, almost bacon like flavor to it and the crunchy interior with the kick of the vinaigrette was to die for.

In addition to the food, the house is adorable, and it is such a beautiful setting to spend a relaxing evening!