Regrets: Fran's Hamburgers in Austin

We spent a recent weekend in Austin, Texas, for a family reunion.  I'd never been to Austin before, and I was really looking forward to the food there.  I wasn't disappointed by much about the trip, but -- golly -- I wish I'd gotten a chance to eat a catfish burger at Fran's Hamburgers.  My coworker Paul recommends it very highly, and that's good enough for me.  But when our group passed by, it was 9am (we were on our way to the Mexican bakery around the corner) and all our meals that weekend were already planned and mapped out.  I just couldn't figure out a way to squeeze it in. 

Other recommendations I'm saving for our next trip? The "Flip Happy" crepe trailer off of Lamar Blvd., Woodland on South Congress, Torchy's Tacos on South 1st, and The Ginger Man for drinks.

Next time, Fran's.

Fran's Hamburgers
1822 S Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78704
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A magical, Mexican beast.

(photo by Dan)

You know you're in the presence of some kind of creative genius when he takes the dragon his aunt (not me) has made out of tortilla dough (which they give kids to play with at Uncle Julio's in Dallas) and tortilla chips...


(photo by Dan)

...and sticks a shrimp on its head. The question is, what do we call this creature he has made?

Poetry Tuesday: What I Ate in Texas

The BBQ of Texas
(to be sung to the tune of The Yellow Rose of Texas)

There's a yellow rose in Texas, but all I find is meat,
Few vegetables or salad, unless they're fried or sweet.
There's BBQ a-plenty, with sauces as high art,
But eating yellow roses might be better for my heart.



(Chorus)
I'd the biggest shrimps with bacon this chow-hound ever knew,
Their bellies stuffed with cream cheese, and jalapeño, too.
You may talk about your San Antone, and sing of Kansas Cee,
But the Mexican of Dallas beat the belly out of me.



Where the chicken gravy's flowing, and the okra fried delight,
I walked with my umbrella* to huge dinners every night;**
I think that I remember, when I left upon the plane,
I promis'd to not eat for days, so I'd feel me again.

(Chorus)

Oh! now I'm going to veg out, for my stomach's full of woe,
And also full of casserole, and things fried long ago;
I'll eat my greens so happily, and I'll sing a song of fruits,
And the BBQ of Texas I will leave for Texan brutes.***

(Chorus)



*It did rain the entire weekend we were in Dallas.
**And lunches every day
***It was really good! But overwhelming. I can't eat like that every day.

Try a Frostie beverage!

Thanksgiving around here means lots of supermarket trips and several impulse buys. Here's one.

We got two flavors of Frostie (made in Texas, it seems). Vanilla Root Beer is heavily vanilla with a hearty dirty (in a good way) root-taste backing it up. Cherry Limeade tastes a little more artificial but not so sweet that your teeth hurt.

Why not?!



P.S. This beverage reminds me of: