Boots in the Oven

Chedd's - Grilling Your Cheese So You Don't Have To

I'm a less-than-functional cook.  No, seriously - everything you see on this blog was made by Logan, with very few (gross!) exceptions.  But even I can grill a freaking cheese sandwich.

But if you can't, or don't want to, now Austin has Chedd's, a new grilled cheese emporium in the Triangle that offers a bewildering array of melted cheeses on super-buttery grilled breads.  And when I say super-buttery, please don't think I'm kidding.  I think there was more butter and cheese on the sandwiches we tried than there was bread.

We tried it out last week with a coupon for a free sandwich and a blogger's deal for 50 percent off our total ticket. 

A Gringo's Lament

A few weeks ago I reviewed a little taco trailer called La Canaria. At the end of the post I mentioned that I had heard that they were really well known for their soups, which we didn't try.

It turns out that I'm actually just really white. Earnest, but still white.

I was thinking sopas when all along we were talking sopes. What a difference a vowel makes. 

I know I said I was in love with the gorditas but I was wrong. I’m actually in love with the sopes. These little masa boats and their savory cargo fillings make my salivary glands work overtime.

Since they’re handmade to order, they’re every bit as slow as the gorditas. But don’t worry, it’s worth it.

-Logan

La Canaria 

810 E 51st St at Airport Blvd (right next to Casey's Snowballs)

 Austin, TX 78751

The Black Buffalo Burger: #27 in the State of Texas

The Texas Monthly burger issue officially got disseminated to the masses yesterday. Accordingly, I figured it’d be a good time to visit another Austin spot that received their accolades. On Sunday we talked about the #2 burger on the list, so today let’s slip a bit lower down and consider #27, the Black Buffalo Burger from the Black Sheep Lodge.

I was surprised to see anything from this place on any list, mainly because its only been opened about 9 weeks. That’s pretty darn quick to whip up the best of anything, especially in slow drawlin’ Texas. But good is good, so on the spur of the moment I dragged Girlie down south to poke around for ourselves.

The Second Best Burger in Texas?

So, Texas Monthly has come out with their 50 Best Burgers in Texas list. Sounds simple and controversy free enough. I mean just like pizza, bbq, and college sports, no one has strong opinions about burgers. Right?

8 of the burgers on the list are from Austin which isn’t too much of a surprise, but apparently the number 2 best burger in the state can be found right down the street at Counter Café.

Seriously? Little ol’ Counter Café? Drive-by-it-all-the-time, minding-its-own-business, squat, unassuming Counter Café? The same Counter Café that served us up overpriced, mediocre brunch food and a totally overrated pimento cheese sandwich? This is the place that has the next to best burger in a state that’s bigger than most of the countries in Western Europe?

That’s the claim.

Could I look more hopeful?

We had to investigate. After a Saturday morning visit to the farmers’ market, the wifey and I piled into the car and made a beeline over to Lamar in an effort to beat the curious crowds that exposure like this is sure to generate. Not only were we able to pull right into a parking spot, but we only had to wait about 3 minutes before scoring a couple of sweet seats at the bar.

A nosey but thorough snooping around revealed that only 4 other patrons were partaking in the Burger of the Hour. Hmmm.

Almost half of Counter Café’s space is occupied by a long open kitchen, so it’s easy to watch the dudes in back cook up whatever it is you’ve ordered. We ordered burgers. Duh. Rachel opted to augment hers with some grilled jalapenos and a side of sweet potato fries. I went purely traditional.

Annie's - Go for a drink, stay for another drink

:GIANT DISCLAIMER, October 2009!  Since I wrote this post in July, the head chef has moved on, and our wonderful bar manager friend David also left, with most of the bar staff following.  I'm not sure what's going on there, but I've heard anecdotally that the bar experience is nowhere near what it once was.  We'll try to get back for another review, but I'm not sure when that will be.:

We've got a new awesome place in town, but I'm not sure how to characterize it.  Ladies lunch spot?  A bar for people in search of a serious drink, mixed by a seriously talented bartender?  Spot to grab some comfort food after a late night drinking downtown?  Purveyor of a full English breakfast, tomato and all?

I guess Annie's is all of these things, but most importantly it's home to a kickass bar.  

The chef is from the much-loved and lamented Cafe 909 in Marble Falls, so it's gotta be good!