Drinks at Josephine House

Big Top Candy Shop

When it comes to Big Top, I'm definitely a kid in a candy shop...

The South Congress wonderland boasts over 300 different types of candy available in bulk or wrapped forms. My nostalgia lies in the rock candy, Big League chew, ice cream-less ice cream cones, and that rock hard Bazooka replaced by the much softer Dubble Bubble. 

 

Big Top Candy Shop

1705 South Congress Avenue

Austin, TX

 

 

* Images courtesy of Big Top *

Texas Pecan Coffee by Texas Joe

I love the mornings when I wake up to the smell of my husband brewing a pot of Texas Pecan. Whether still asleep or half awake, I know the smell right away. It's heaven.

 

 

Brought to you by Central Market

 

Peoples Pharmacy

Peoples Pharmacy is another one of those iconic Austin institutions (founded in 1980!) that you hear so much about and ultimately have to make your way there. And when I heard this holistic pharmacy made sandwiches at their in-house deli, I just had to give it a try.

The curry chicken salad sandwich was perfectly flavorful with complimentary flavors to the chicken, all in the right proportions:

And the veggie sandwich did not come light, it was packed full of goodness:

Pop into one of the six different Austin locations to check out some of the great products on display - from food to cosmetics, all sourced with a natural and nutritional approach. And being the holistic wellness center that they are, Peoples carries Kombucha on draft! with free samplings...

And of course, don't forget to refill your prescription while you're at it.

A Day Trip to Blanco, TX

One of the things that brings me back to Blanco each year is the annual Lavender festival where I have been introduced to some lovely products, but each time I go back, I remember what a wonderful town it is on its own.

Starting with the center square, Blanco is like any other old classic Texas town. The beautiful, almost intimidating County Courthouse stands tall and proud right smack in the center of it all. It's magnificently breath-taking on its own.

Redbud Café

410 4th Street

A perfect stop for lunch, Redbud Café offers a plethora of soups, salads, and sandwiches. I lean towards the Reuben, the husband likes the French Dip, the Fish Taco is delicious, and of course there is always the Pimento Cheese. And during the lavender festival, they take it to another level with lavender dishes, both to eat and drink. The lavender tea is a must.

Hacienda El Charro

49 Main Street

Open every day of the week from 7am to 10pm, El Charro provides that classic Tex Mex comfort food that we all love. For breakfast you can get eggs any and every style. Lunch provides tacos, tortas, gorditas, and a few classic plates. Dinner offers just over 50 different options to choose from - enchiladas, flautas, fajitas, and more!

Real Ale Brewery

231 San Saba Court

And just right on the edge of the outskirts of town, make sure to stop in and visit the genius behind one of Texas's finest beers, Real Ale. Take a tour if you want, or just visit the tap room and enjoy some of their refreshing product on-site. Some of my favorites include the year-round Fireman's 4 Blonde Ale and Rio Blanco Pale Ale, or the seasonal Oktoberfest and Coffee Porter. Yum, yum, delicious!

So go to Blanco, walk the town square. Take in, enjoy, and indulge.

Snowmen in the South

Down in Texas we don't get much snow in the winter, so we have to get creative...

 

 

Bourbon Bombs

Recently I came across a new brand - No. Four St. James. A Texas brand with a London address? Sounds perfect for Slone Ranger! After all, we both share previous London Pride with current Texas true. Even cooler, catch the story of their name:

 

"We’re often asked about our name, and just as often we’re happy to explain. From 1836 to 1844, Texas was a proud republic—a country of its own. Like other sovereign nations, the Republic of Texas maintained foreign legations (small embassies) abroad. The Texas Legation in London, England was located at No. 4 Saint James’s Street. Nearly 170 years later, we’ve taken that address for our name."

 

 

But more importantly, their products are really cool. Especially the Bourbon Bombs, I'm not sure if Santa is going to be putting those in my stocking or my husband's - hopefully both!

 

 

 

Christmas in Fredericksburg

The Christmas Pyramid

 

Fredericksburg, Texas is a German town, so it is only fitting that come Christmas time, the town decorates its main square with a 26-foot tall Christmas pyramid.

 

Christmas pyramids were initially used as a sort of woodworker's storybook, capturing attention in both children and adults alike. And watching the figurines go 'round and 'round on this magical tiered mountain truly is a delight. You have to see it to believe it...

 

Deep South Barrels

 

Looking for a cool Christmas gift? Check out Deep South Barrels. They're not just decorative, they're actually useful!

Oktoberfest 2016

Today marks the start of Oktoberfest and Real Ale has the perfect beer to celebrate.

A Day Trip to San Antonio, TX

San Antonio is a Texas city rich in history. Even myself having grown up in the northern Midwest always knew to Remember the Alamo.  But since those days, the continuous growth of population has changed the city dramatically. What used to be known only a century ago as a small town has now become a city has house over one million residents.

While remembering the past and embracing the future, the city of San Antonio has a lot to offer from heritage and museums to dining and cuisine. And thus begins our San Antonio foodie tour at The Guenther House. Located in the old home of the Pioneer Mills family, this museum and restaurant serves up some delicious brunches right next door to the still operating, still family owned flour mill, and is open for tours.

The Guenther House

205 East Guenther Street

San Antonio, Texas 78204

www.guentherhouse.com

Next up on the list of a mix of old and new is The Granary. Serving up the Texan's dream of beer and bbq, The Granary is located in a converted house of the old Pearl Brewery Complex.  What was once the home of the original Texas Pearl beer now houses businesses, shops, restaurants, and a farmer's market. After feasting on some delicious brisket, sausage, ribs, or whatever 'cue might do it for you, stroll around and marvel at what used to be and what has become.

The Granary

602 Avenue A

San Antonio, Texas 78215

www.thegranarysa.com

Water has always been an alluring majestic to migrators both north and south, and San Antonio holds the same. One of the most popular attractions in San Antonio, which brought about the many settlers and today brings many tourists, is the San Antonio River Walk. Walk up and down the river, or take a ride on one of the many boat tours, but don't forget to pop into many of the delicious eateries along the way serving up food and spirits galore, one of my favorite being Casa Rio. For classic Tex-Mex and a great ambiance, there is no better place to go.

Casa Rio

430 East Commerce Street

San Antonio, Texas 78205

www.casa-rio.com

Further inland is a restaurant that has been in operation since the 1930s, La Fonda on Main. Serving up Tex-Mex and more authentic interior Mexican cuisine, La Fonda never ceases to disappoint me, especially given the different various specials of the day, whether it be food, drink, or dessert.

La Fonda on Main

2415 North Main Avenue

San Antonio, Texas 78212

http://www.lafondaonmain.com

Last but not least, on the northern edge of the city is a breakfast one mustn't go without. Whether it be an in-house original omelet, a can't-ever-go-wrong hash, waffles, French toast, or the namesake pancake, it's all served up warm and toasty at Magnolia Pancake Haus. Sure, they serve up lunch items too, but I'm a breakfast all day any day kind of gal...

Magnolia Pancake Haus

606 Embassy Oaks

San Antonio, Texas 78216

http://www.magnoliapancakehaus.com

A Day Trip to Fredericksburg, TX

For many years one of the main attractions bringing visitors to the Hill Country town of Fredericksburg was a stroll along Main Street to pop in and out of the fabulous antique, artisan, and other specialty shops, and that is still the case to this day, 170 years after it was originally founded. What's more, many of the old, historic buildings have been preserved, so while the interiors may have changed over the years, the facades still maintain the original buildings and store-fronts. It's a timeless small-town Texas.

And speaking of time, celebrating over 40 years of family business is the wonderful cafe and gift shop known as The Peach Tree. It's a great stop for lunch, and to do a little shopping.

The Peach Tree

210 South Adams Street

Fredericksburg, Texas 78624

www.peach-tree.com

One of my favorite times to visit Fredericksburg is during Christmastime when the Market Square on Main Street is overtaken by a 30-foot Christmas tree, 26-foot German Christmas pyramid, skating rink, and chop chop train. It's a tribute to the town's founding German heritage and a wondrous joy to marvel for all ages.

Despite becoming increasingly popular for it's new association as Texas wine country, Fredericksburg was initially founded by Germans, which meant for many years the drink of choice was beer. And that still remains true to this day with beer gardens a'plenty! The Auslander and Der Lindenbaum have fun, traditional decor, or there's Fredericksburg Brewing Company for a more modern atmosphere. Get a Corned Beef Reuben and a beer (or two or three...) at any of these fine establishments.

Fredericksburg Brewing Company

245 East Main Street

Fredericksburg, Texas 78624

www.yourbrewery.com

The Auslander Biergarten

323 East Main Street

Fredericksburg, Texas 78624

www.theauslander.com

Der Lindenbaum

312 East Main Street

Fredericksburg, Texas 78624

www.derlindenbaum.com

Lastly, it may not be Fredericksburg proper, but 10 miles down the road is the music loving spot  of Luckenbach, made famous by Waylon Jennings. There isn't much to this quiet little community, just the remains of a retired post office and a general store turned gift shop, but there is a Feed Lot and saloon, so pop on over and grab a beer, just for fun.

Image courtesy of Luckenbach, Texas Inc

Luckenbach Feed Lot

412 Luckenbach Town Loop

Fredericksburg, Texas 78624

www.luckenbachtexas.com/feed-lot

A Day Trip to Bastrop, TX

The sun truly shines over the old city of Bastrop, Texas (figuratively, and literally as pictured here at the Courthouse). This small country town makes you feel like you can step back in time with it's old-school southern architecture, each one well preserved and unique in its own. For Austinites, it's the perfectly close and quiet day trip escape.

Take a short walk or drive through the streets - Pecan Street, Walnut Street, and even Austin Street, just to name a few... The quaint Victorian houses are a perfect match for the lovely, historic southern town.

While quite small, with Main Street consisting of only two blocks, this tiny town still has a lot to offer, especially when it comes to cuisine. Here are a few of my favorites:

Maxine's on Maine

Starting with breakfast and lunch, I like to stop by Maxine's on Main Street, for both the food and the drink served up in classic Mason jars, some of the biggest you've ever seen. The breakfast menu is filled with many options, all delicious, and well portioned like the pancake that doesn't even fit on the plate. Good luck resisting the urge to finish your meal with a slice of pie, or a whole pie to go!

905 Main Street

Bastrop, TX 78602

www.maxinescafe.com

Paw Paw's Catfish House

Another fun and popular lunch fare is at Paw Paw's. It's hard to go wrong with the fried catfish platter or the Po Boy. After all, Catfish is very southern comfort food. Don't forget to order up the house specialty of hushpuppies, yum! But heads up - they are closed on Mondays.

1014 Main Street

Bastrop, TX 78602

www.pawpawscatfishhouse.com

Gracie Miller's

Soon to celebrate it's 10 year anniversary, Gracie's is a great stop for a southern home cooked dinner. Best known for its chicken fried steak, it's casual and kid-friendly.

706 Pine Street
Bastrop, TX 78602
www.thegracemiller.wix.com/the-grace-miller#!__page-1

Baxter's on Main

For fine dining and a classic Texas abode, Baxter's on Main is the perfect spot. The starters are all terrific with a Texas Shrimp Diablo, Thai Tuna Stack, or Jumbo Lump Crab Cake. I'm also always a sucker for a good French Onion soup and Caesar Salad. Main Entree selections allow for many options to please all palates.

919 Main Street
Bastrop, TX 78602
www.baxtersonmain.com

Piney Creek Chop House
 Just off Main, Piney Creek is a new restaurant in old digs. With a classic steakhouse menu, it's a bit more upscale if you're looking for a fancier finish to the day. Go for a pre or post dinner drink next door at the Colorado River Winery, housed in another oldy but goody - they kept the original gin and oysters sign.

703 Chestnut Street
Bastrop, TX 78602
www.pineycreekbastrop.com

Simply Sweet

 Last but not least, save room for desert at Simply Sweet. The interior goods are just as sweet as the adorable exterior. And who can resist a place that serves Amy's ice cream!

 1010 Main Street
Bastrop, TX 78602
www.simplysweetbastrop.com

Trees along 360

It's begun! 

At this time of year the beautiful pines alongside highway 360, a.k.a. Capital of Texas Highway, are morphed into decorated Christmas bliss. 

While not technically legal, and not for those faint of heart considering you decorate alongside a two-lane highway of cars, it has become a family tradition for many, year after year.

Again, 360 is well-known for its traffic, so sometimes you have to sneak a peek in between cars...

Affogato at Walton's

Starting Wednesday, September 16th, Walton's Fancy and Staple will be offering Affogatos - ice cream served with a side of espresso (and a cookie for dipping!).

My recommendation:

Take the espresso, pour it over the ice cream, spoon a couple of bites into your mouth, allow the rest to melt and then dip with your cookie. Yummm, delicious!

Peach Picking

As my 10-year-old nephew says, "It can't get much fresher than that."

Now off to bake a pie...