Month: August 2020

Restaurant Review – Recuerdos (Round Rock, TX)

“Recuerdos” – That is the Spanish word for memories. At least according to Google Translate! And for me, this was memorable. Of course, with memories, as we all know, there are varying degrees of memories. There are small memories like trying to remember where you misplaced the remote control. Then there are those huge milestone memories in your life – getting married, graduating college, the birth of each of your children, etc. No offense to the folks at Recuerdos, but this won’t rank up there with those latter memories. But, nonetheless, it was an experience worthy enough to warrant a review in Heataholic – after all, if I don’t have a good memory from eating your food, it was likely not worth remembering and not mentioning in this blog!

A typical morning (at least in the COVID era) – wake up, take the dog for a quick walk, get the kids ready to start (virtual) school after giving them breakfast, make coffee and then once the kids are squared away, realize – I’m hungry! And not just hungry for anything, but got a craving for breakfast tacos! But where? Lots of great Tex-Mex, including breakfast tacos in the Austin area, but I just didn’t feel in the mood to drive much – had a busy work day ahead and wanted something fresh and satisfying, yet fast and convenient. And despite the time crunch, I wanted to try something new – a place I could review for Heataholic. Again the million dollar question – WHERE?

Utilizing today’s high tech (back in my day – ha ha, the standard way to date myself – we’d have to use Yellow Pages), I simply entered “breakfast tacos” into my phone and voila! Recuerdos popped up. I’d never heard of this place in all my years living in the Round Rock (suburban North Austin) area. Popping it into Google Maps, I drove out there – only took a whopping 8 minutes to get there and turns out it is a small hole-in-the-wall establishment (and looks like it took the place of a restaurant called “Recession Cafe” my wife and I ate at nearly a decade before).

Hole-in-the-wall establishments are often hidden treasures just like I’d discussed previously about food trucks. They’re often small, thinly-staffed and the insides are typically plain with minimal seating. Home improvement/renovation is often needed both inside and out, the decor is not fancy by any means and the technology is not really “modern” by today’s standards (limited to no website, credit card machines that involve swiping as opposed to chips, etc.) but what these establishments lack in style and technology, they often make up for in food taste and quality – at least the good ones! And like food trucks, the low overhead in the restaurant, itself, can be tied to lower prices and sometimes, smaller menus. But, as with so many things in life, it’s not the quantity that matters, it’s the quality – I’d rather a restaurant (or other food establishment) with only 5 items, all of which are great, versus one with 50, with none. Usually, most places fall somewhere in between, but I’ve had my share of establishments that had nothing good.

While their menu is heavily meat-based, Recuerdos offered the one thing I went there for – breakfast tacos! Two, specifically, caught my eye. The first is their Miga taco with thinly sliced Serrano peppers and sweeter red peppers, giving Heataholic his much-needed desired morning spice. The second is the generic breakfast taco with eggs and the choice of potatoes, beans or cheese. I chose both potatoes and cheese, paying a little extra for the additional topping. And asked for their spiciest salsa – they don’t have different ones, but do have one salsa they make freshly in-house.

(As a point of reference, their beans do have a pork base, so if you are vegetarian (like me) or vegan, be sure to avoid them.)

The result – FANTASTIC! The Miga was the favorite of mine between the two, but it was a photo finish! Those Serrano peppers, as expected (as opposed to the sweeter, red ones), gave the Miga taco a YUUUGGEEE kick! But outside the spice, the eggs were cooked to perfection and the tortilla strips were crispy and had the adequate amount of oil and were blended in consistently with the eggs. The extra salsa, while it wasn’t spicy, was fresh and flavorful.

The egg, potato and cheese, was similarly hot off the grill and since it did not have the pre-built Serranos and red peppers, I added much more of the homemade salsa before gobbling it. Again, freshness dominates.

I washed everything down with a cup of home-brewed iced black coffee and voila – I was now ready to start my day and knock it out of the park! Recuerdos gave my taste buds some great memories!

Details:

Spicy Flavors:

  • Miga taco (with spicy Serrano peppers)

Personal Faves ((since this was my first time, I will likely add to these after repeat trips):

  • Miga taco
  • Egg, Potato and Cheese taco
(Left to Right) Miga taco (with those wonderfully spicy, thin-sliced Serranos), Egg & Potato & Cheese taco and Recuerdos’ homemade salsa (Not spicy in and of itself, but goes well with everything).

Spice on, my friends!

Food Truck Review – Cedar Pork (Cedar Park, TX) – Alternately, Why I Love Food Trucks

Food trucks – what an innovative concept! I love food (well, only good-tasting and spicy!) and the concept of being able to make, serve and sell it in a vehicle is just too cool – even in today’s high-tech world where anything is possible. If your customers can’t come to you, you can go to them. For aspiring restaurateurs, this can be a great way to get started without investing a ton of capital in potentially expensive markets and real estate therein.

Many cities have come to understand this too, and you start to see “food truck trailer parks” opening up all around. Even my own Austin suburb of Round Rock has a large food truck park, dwarfed in comparison to Austin, but formidable for sure. And as I write this, the U.S. is still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, so food truck restauranteurs need not worry about enforcing social distancing guidelines as all their customers are take out ones (although food truck parks often have open seating for their customers)! Food trucks also provide a way to highlight some very unique cuisines and/or dishes (with limited menus) which may not have the large market (and therefore, sustainable revenue) to justify the need to open a full-fledged restaurant.

Food trucks, in fact, have become so popular that even the Food Network has a show (The Great Food Truck Race) solely dedicated to them.

Net Net – I love food trucks (as long as they serve great food) and will review them whenever possible!

Today’s review is on a food truck I heard about by chance called Cedar Pork, adequately named for its location in adjacent suburb, Cedar Park, and its pork-centric menu. You normally wouldn’t find too many reviews on Heataholic about places like this, because Yours Truly is a vegetarian, but as I’d mentioned in one of my earlier posts, the key to being a Foodie and Spice Connoisseur is the art of finding treasure in hidden spots. And Cedar Pork is no exception to that rule – in fact, the food I tasted was an absolute gold mine – spicy, fresh and tasty – not adjectives a spice-seeking vegetarian typically uses to describe a BBQ-based restaurant. Finding this treasure made me feel like a pirate who’s found his loot – ARRRRGGGGGHHHH!

Make no mistake, however. Cedar Pork is not a pure BBQ food truck – actually it is a hybrid “Smokeyard and Mexi-grill” as they call it – 50% Tex-Mex, 50% BBQ, 100% DEELEECIOUS! A first glance at the menu may make the average vegetarian cringe and say “No thanks”, but as you all know – I am NOT the typical vegetarian!

Oh yes, Cedar Pork is a carnivore’s safe haven, but use a little creativity and dig a little deeper, and there’s more than enough to offer this heat seeker. Namely, the breakfast tacos, which are served ALL DAY! In case you haven’t noticed, I LOVE places that serve breakfast all day – especially when breakfast tacos are involved!

For heat seekers, Cedar Pork has its own aptly named “Torch Breakfast Taco”. I had to get it without the Chorizo and Jalapeno/Cheddar sausage, both of which likely would have made it more spicy, but Cedar Pork left everything else in place and gave me extra onions and Jalapenos. I got two Torch’s and a Potato and Egg breakfast taco (their beans have a meat base so I could not order bean and cheese) with Jalapenos, onions and cilantro, for some variety. Also, when asked for hot sauce, they gave me both their Verde and regular salsa (neither of which is explicitly on their menu – see why it pays to ask these things!). Altogether, a fresh explosion of flavor, taste and yes, spice. Neither of their sauces was uniquely spicy in and of itself, but poured over their freshly made tacos, made for a great, heated meal!

Goes without saying (but I will say it anyway!) that Heataholic will definitely be visiting Cedar Pork again! And next time, I will try some other options too – their queso, cheese quesadillas with mushrooms or the Sauteed Mushroom taco.

And here’s to food trucks – may we see more of them!

Details:

Spicy Flavors:

  • Verde Salsa (you have to ask – it’s not on the menu)
  • Torch Breakfast Taco

Personal Faves ((since this was my first time, I will likely add to these after repeat trips):

  • Torch Breakfast Taco (without the meat)
  • Potato and Egg Breakfast Taco
Some carry the torch, but I eat the Torch!
Potato and egg breakfast taco with added onions, Jalapenos and cilantro.
Two Verdes and a Salsa – one per taco! But I tried to include both types in each for that added kick!

Spice on, my friends!

Restaurant Review – Torchy’s Tacos (Special Hot Item Menu)

I did a review of Torchy’s Taco’s a while ago – this was before I started my standard review posts that I have now. I did not even label it as a review, but discussed their fantastic tacos and their homemade, trademarked Diablo sauce – a fitting name – which you can buy in bottles at Torchy’s, and yes, I have consumed an entire one in a single sitting! 🙂

Why I’m revisiting Torchy’s on Heataholic – because from now through the end of August, they are having a special menu for spice connoisseurs like myself and i want to make sure that you, my dear readers, know all about this!

Here are the time-sensitive offerings, aptly named “Some Like It Hot”:

  • Daredevil Queso Blanco
  • Bottle Rocket Shrimp Taco
  • Ring of Fire Margarita

I tried the Daredevil Queso Blanco, except had to order with regular tortilla chips instead of the chili lime salted Chicharrones, as I’m vegetarian. It’s a fiery sensation for your mouth – the extra roasted Jalapenos and Serrano peppers along with the extra Diablo sauce provide for that jolt my tastebuds were desperate for. And it was a great opening act for the main course – the “shrimpless” Bottle Rocket Shrimp Taco.

Hats off to Torchy’s for accommodating my unique request – I had them substitute eggs (though they also gave me the option of beans) in lieu of shrimp, but everything else was still there. Phenomenal heat! My mouth was on fire and the Mexican Coke I drank helped put it out – somewhat. It didn’t help that I put on so much extra Diablo sauce, but I’m used to the Diablo and dumping it on in copious amounts – but not used to this new Bottle Rocket flavor.

Unfortunately, I did not try the Ring of Fire margarita – gave up that bottle 5 years ago and have not looked back. No, I was never an alcoholic, but as I aged, I found I could not handle it anymore like I could when I was much younger. So cannot give you a good review of it, but if it’s anything like the queso and taco, it will give you a burning sensation so intense you will need another “normal” drink just to put it out! 🙂

Details:

Spicy Flavors:

  • Daredevil Queso Blanco (limited time)
  • Bottle Rocket Shrimp Taco (limited time – I had mine without the shrimp)
  • Diablo Sauce (they’ll give you plenty for free and they sell bottles of it)
  • Regular Queso (they put Diablo sauce in it, but not as much and no Jalapenos or Serranos like the Daredevil Queso Blanco)
  • Street Corn (They dust with chili powder and will add as much as you want)

Personal Faves:

  • Breakfast Tacos (served all day)
  • Damn Good Tacos (Fried Avocado, Independent, Brushfire – without the chicken but with eggs substituted)
  • Queso (Daredevil and Regular)
  • Guacamole (Not spicy, but I love how they load it up with Cotija cheese)
  • Street Corn
  • Lil’ Nookies (for all you Sweet-Toothers)
Ask and thou shalt receive – when I ask for “extra” Diablo sauce, they are very generous!
You can purchase this Diablo sauce to take home! I love how it’s in a bottle similar to old-school alcoholic flasks – seems like they know people like me have and are always tempted to drink straight out of the bottle! Just try to control yourself (I keep telling myself that)!
Delicious Bottle Rocket taco with eggs, in lieu of shrimp. Always love those nice criss-crossed lines of Diablo sauce!
Top: Regular Torchy’s queso. Yellow colored, has Diablo. Bottom: Daredevil Queso Blanco. Notice the whiter color, the extra Diablo and the submerged Jalapeno and Serrano peppers. Spot the difference?

Spice on, my friends!

Restaurant Review – Rio Grande Tex Mex Restaurant (Hutto, TX – Austin, TX Area)

Having recently completed 18 years and counting in the great state of Texas – just in Austin – I have still barely scratched the surface of so many great Tex-Mex restaurants. There are just so many and as I’ve mentioned in some of my previous posts, some come and stay, while others go. And make no mistake, even the restaurants (not just Tex-Mex) that I’ve seen depart in recent years – it’s not that their food or service was bad. There were other factors – some weren’t in the best areas, others didn’t advertise or market themselves effectively (I still remember this fantastic Italian restaurant my wife and I would go to before we had kids that shut its doors only because it was so out of the way and too many folks just didn’t know about it or feel the need to make the drive – the restaurant was called Ciola’s), and still others, had great food, service and traffic, but just couldn’t manage their business, specifically, cash flow, effectively to prepare for unexpected tough times, be it the 2008 crash or the recent pandemic.

No matter what the reason, it’s sad when good restaurants close. But the opposite is true when a restaurant is open – it’s two feelings combined into one – on one hand, you’re happy because you can tell yourself “Woo hoo! There’s a new <insert cuisine type> restaurant nearby! I don’t have to drive so far to get <insert cuisine type> food!”. Of course, that happiness also comes with a healthy dose of skepticism. Skepticism only because you don’t know what the ultimate quality of that restaurant will be. Even if it’s a chain restaurant (large or small) you’ve had a great experience with, there is no guarantee this one would meet the standards of its predecessors. And as a rule of thumb, it’s usually not the best idea to go to a restaurant the first two or three weeks after it first opens – it’s always better to let them get their bearings straight, get settled and learn from their mistakes to get a good rhythm of their operations (and food) before trying. This way, you as the customer won’t have an unfavorable experience due to initial setup headaches and learning curves from a place that you, otherwise, would have loved.

That brings us to Rio Grande Tex Mex Restaurant in Hutto, Texas – one of the more far out suburbs/exurbs in the Austin, Texas metropolitan area. Located north of Austin, Hutto is still a new suburb and still has a lot more small-town features than big-city suburban. Located near the Dell Diamond where Austin’s minor league baseball team, the Round Rock Express play, it was the perfect place for a hungry family of four to go when our baseball game was cancelled at the last minute due to COVID. Using Google maps, we found Rio Grande when we looked at options. We all saw it had opened hardly two days before, but had good reviews (from its other location), so despite knowing the risks, we all agreed we would try it. Thankfully, it turned out to be a great decision – fantastic food, good spice and a great venue – needless to say, we’ll be heading back – maybe after another baseball game, this time one that won’t be cancelled! 🙂

Appetizers – you start with the usual chips and salsa – duh! No Tex-Mex restaurant can call itself such if it doesn’t have this basic staple! The core salsa was moderate. I asked for a side of hot sauce off the menu, and that was just a tad (although not significantly more) spicier. But, the Poblano Queso (sans the bacon) gave the much needed spice and had the desired flavor – the roasted poblano peppers was all that was needed to spice things up! This could have been a meal in and of itself with the tortillas provided. I saw the Shrimp Diablos, but given I’m a vegetarian, and wife and kids are allergic to seafood, that was verboten for all of us. Next time, I may try it by having them cook something else using the mix they use for that or at least bring me a side of it.

That whet our appetites for the main course. With so many options, I went for the Stuffed Avocado. Shaped like a ball, stuffed with cheese (definitely Monterey Jack and if my taste buds weren’t mistaken, Queso Asadero) and deep fried, it’s like an explosion of melted cheese and flavor once you “pop” the balloon! Served with an enchilada (I chose cheese, naturally), and your choice of sauce, I went with the Habanero (since I was told it was the spiciest of all). I also ordered, as a side, the Jalapeno Toreados (fire-roasted, whole Jalapeno peppers – 3 per order). Suffice to say, no regrets! The Habanero sauce didn’t set my mouth on fire but did give a fair kick, especially in conjunction with the roasted peppers. And since the beans have a meat base in them, I just got two times the rice.

We were so full, we didn’t have room to order dessert – next time for sure! 🙂

Details:

Spicy Flavors (since this was my first time, I will likely add to these after repeat trips):

  • Habanero enchilada sauce
  • Jalapeno Toreados
  • Poblano Queso (without the bacon)

Personal Faves (since this was my first time, I will likely add to these after repeat trips):

  • Poblano Queso (without the bacon)
  • Stuffed Avocado with cheese
  • Jalapeno Toreados

Starting at the top, 1) Core salsa that comes with every basket of chips, 2) Spicy, orange habanero sauce with cheese enchilada, 3) Jalapeno toreados, 4) the Stuffed Avocado “balloon” is “popped”!

Spice on, my friends!

Restaurant Review – Tony C’s (Austin, TX)

Continuing my tradition of posting restaurant reviews over my last few posts, I figured – “Why not keep a good thing going?” (at least for now). In Texas, we’ve been out of quarantine for a few months now, but even then, with things not fully back to normal and the perceived risks, we still tend to order in food more than we have before. And I’ve had some great spicy food and want to share my experiences with my readers!

My last review was on pizza, specifically Blaze Pizza, known for their “Hot Link” pizza for a Heataholic like myself. Today’s is a little more broad – not just pizza, but full-fledged Italian!

That brings us to Tony C’s. Tony C’s is a quaint little Italian and pizza place not too far from my house in suburban North Austin, Texas. Located in a semi-strip mall (no, not one of those loud, obnoxious ones with loud, chatty teenagers and tweens running amuck), it provides a way to enjoy nice Italian food in a quiet, relaxed setting. Oh yeah, and not only can you eat outside, but if you have kids (like I do), the outside area is enclosed and has toys for them to play.

Alright, on to the food! So many great options. Starting with the appetizers, first off, the Peroni (beer-battered) mushrooms are hands down, the best fried mushrooms I have ever had – EVER! The truffle aioli and the deep frying just makes these mushrooms melt in your mouth. No, they’re not spicy in and of themselves, not spicy at all, but the flavor in both the mushrooms and the breading is out of this world and they just hit the spot – whether you dip them in hot sauce or not!

Continuing with the appetizers, the antipasto…I’ve often wondered – if I eat a plate of antipasto and a plate of pasta, will that cancel each other out? 🙂 Sorry, had to insert that dad joke! While the antipasto does contain meat, you can request without if you’re a vegetarian like me. This does include three spicy tidbits – the first are the Pepperoncini peppers. I like Pepperoncini’s but there’s nothing unique about them. A good kick that I enjoy, but I can just as well get at Papa John’s. The second and third, however, are what made the meal and added the spice to it. The second are the sweet and spicy roasted red peppers – possibly, pickled, or maybe just spritzed with vinegar and salt, but a low-spice and flavorful way to kick off your meal. Saving the best of the antipasto for last are the red Peppadew peppers stuffed with goat cheese. Neither baked, nor fried, nor even toasted, it’s simple, but oh so good and has just that perfect kick you’re looking for! Small red Piquante peppers with soft goat cheese – you can eat one or more in a single bite, but after you’ve had one, you’ll want to savor that taste, as I did, and eat slooowwwwwwllllllyyyyy.

Peppadew peppers are based on the Peppadew brand name of the South African food company Peppadew International. They are well known for their brand of Piquante peppers named accordingly. These peppers are pickled before being jarred and shipped globally.

Added to all of this, with the appetizers were those delicious zucchini sticks with lemon aioli. And finally, who can forget the baked Buffalo Mozzarella – while some may think of it as a gigantic fried cheese stick, with its homemade breadcrumbs and melted texture, it’s an awesome precursor to any main course!

Done with the appetizers, it became time to move on to the pizza! My personal favorite is the eggplant – if pizza and eggplant Parmesan had a kid, it would taste like this! 🙂 Crushed pepper is a staple, as always! But truth be told, the appetizers filled me up so much that I could barely eat a slice and saved the rest for tomorrow’s lunch – happens every time at Tony C’s. EVERY SINGLE TIME! However, no matter your preference, pizza connoisseurs alike will embrace all they have to offer.

Finally, if you have enough room for it (I never do and it becomes part of next day’s meal), save room for dessert – I always love Tony C’s Tiramisu, but heard a lot of great things about their NY Cheesecake, which, one of these days, I’ll try if I can make it that far down my meal!

Details:

Spicy Flavors:

Personal Faves:

  • Peroni (beer-battered) mushrooms – THESE ARE THE BEST FRIED MUSHROOMS EVER! NO CONTEST!
  • Antipasto (without the meat)
  • Baked Buffalo Mozzarella
  • Zucchini Sticks
  • Eggplant Pizza
  • Truffle Shuffle Pizza (the truffle oil is strong in this one, but your taste buds will thank you!)
  • Tiramisu (for all you sweet-tooth-ers)
(Left to Right)
1) Are these some of the best fried mushrooms you’ll eat? NO! These are THE BEST, HANDS-DOWN, NO-CONTEST fried mushrooms you will EVER find. EVER!!! 2) Antipasto – yes, they everything including the peppers on a bed of salami – THIS TIME! – but that’s purely my fault for forgetting to tell them no meat. Starting with the left-most and going clockwise – Parmesan cheese, Provolone cheese, pickled Mediterranean olives, tomatoes and artichokes, roasted red peppers, Pepperoncini peppers and goat-cheese stuffed Peppadew red peppers. 3) A closeup of the stuffed Peppadews.

Spice on, my friends!

Slower than Normal Posting

Dear readers – Apologies for the slower-than-usual rate of posting. Been a very busy last couple of weeks, between putting in a new home theater in the family room, kicking off a major, 3-month house expansion and getting the kiddos ready for (virtual) school this fall. All of this in the midst of the “day job” that still pays the bills.

Please rest assured – I haven’t forgotten about Heataholic or my duties therein. Just please bear with me as we get through this busy hump and soon enough, it’ll be back to normal!

Thank you dear readers, and as always…

Spice on, my friends!

Restaurant Review – The Blaze Pizza (Austin, TX but various locations throughout)

Aah, pizza places – nothing like the taste of hot, bubbly cheese in a sea of marinara sauce surrounded by sporadic islands of toppings all on a toasted crust – thick, thin, gluten-free, cauli, keto – whatever your choosing!

Pizza has always been one of my favorite foods – even as a child, I remember the old school Pizza Hut commercials with aah’s and ooh’s. I love all kinds of pizza – the crispy thin genuine Italian, the thick Chicago style, the thin and flat New Yorker, the crispy Detroit and just about any other one you can find. The one challenge, about pizza places, is that when it comes to trying to find your spice, normally you are limited to just pouring copious amounts of red pepper flakes and maybe asking for jalapeno peppers as one of your toppings. Not that that’s a bad thing – I do that all the time anyway, and I love it! But it’s just that outside the core pizza itself, it can be tough to find unique ways to make your pizza spicy.

However, worry not! Every now and then, you can find a place that does offer something for us Heataholics…enter Blaze Pizza! Fitting name, don’t you think? Yes, it’s a chain, I know, and a large one too, but dear readers, you should know that I am NOT anti-chain. I welcome any place, large or small, that offers good food, good spice and a venue worthy of a visit! Blaze has locations all throughout Texas and the South, and it’s one of several modern chains that specializes in a Chipotle or Subway-esque BYO (build-your-own) style of pizza. But, to make things easy, they also have custom made-to-order combinations for those who know exactly what they want and can either add or subtract ingredients when needed.

So what is this offering I speak of? Simply put, it is their “Hot Link” pizza. Loaded with banana peppers, jalapeno peppers, red onions (all in all, hotter than white ones), and Blaze’s own spicy red sauce (something I recommend no matter what kind of pizza you get). The standard Hot Link comes with spicy Italian sausage, but being a vegetarian, I requested none. I did, however, request both extra spicy red sauce, and keeping with my recommendation I’d described in a previous post about how the spiciness of food can be significantly intensified simply by adding the hot condiment (be it sauce, powder, rub, etc.) DURING THE COOKING PHASE, in addition to after, I requested they add the crushed red pepper to the pizza before putting it in the oven.

End result? It was spicy and delicious! It met and exceeded my expectations! I’ll keep going back!

Details:

Spicy Flavors:

  • Spicy Red Sauce
  • Hot Link Pizza (in my case, without the Italian sausage – make sure to ask for crushed red pepper before they bake it!)

Personal Faves:

  • Any of their pizzas suit me well
  • Veg Out pizza
  • (Low carb and Keto days) Cauliflower crust and Keto crust pizzas
  • Dough Knots
  • (For all you sweet-toothers) S’more pie
Fresh out of the oven! You can see the one slice I added extra crushed red pepper and the red pepper flakes baked in!
The extra spicy red sauce provides an even greater kick!

Spice on, my friends!

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