dinner at drink.well austin

birds and brews at lucy’s fried chicken

Finally made it out to Lucy’s to investigate what all the clucking was about. Loved everything about the space and design. The menu was quirky and featured awesome things like Mexican Coke Sweet Potatoes (which I consumed like they were crack), and deep fried deviled eggs (which I ate so quickly I didn’t even get a photo first). There was even a grumpy old tabby cat playing gatekeeper to the patio grounds. Love grumpy old cats.

Sadly, I didn’t like the chicken as much as I liked Ms. P’s Electric Cock just up South Congress (check out the Booze a la Cart report on 360). Lucy’s was heavier, greasier and the chicken didn’t pack the same juicy oomph as the birds at Ms. P’s.

rainey st. cocktails and grub

b-sides: bourbon, bbq and bluegrass

Last week was one of my most favorite holidays…er…events of the year. Bourbon, BBQ and Bluegrass at Stubb’s, hosted by the local chapter of the USBG. You can check out the full recap on Liquid, and here are some additional photos I couldn’t squeeze into the post for your visual feasting.

latin love at xoco chicago

If you know me, you know I don’t tolerate waiting in lines, for anything. It’s one of my biggest pet peeves. So for example, the nation’s best barbecue, Franklin’s, yeah haven’t been there yet. I refuse to line up two hours in advance for a piece of brisket. While that might get me tossed out of many levels of the local food blogging ranks, It’s the truth. When I think of all the other things I could be doing instead of waiting in line for that slab of delicious meat, I just can’t justify it.

Now, Tortas on the other hand, I’ll wait in a substantial line if the end product is going to blow my mind. Especially if the wait is 45 minutes and not two hours. So every time I go to Chicago I try to visit Xoco. Usually we beat extreme lines because we know when to hit it, but this time around, it was just a matter of needing badass Tortas to deal with the fact that it could very well rain all day and ruin our only full day together in the city. The line was long, it was pouring rain, but was that going to stop us? Nope. So we hung out in the rain for awhile, and when greeted with a tasty local beer inside to wait out the rest of the line, no problem.

I indulged in the special of the day, the Goat Barbacoa Torta, which led me to the conclusion that goat is a highly underrated meat. The Barbacoa style was tender and cooked to the point where it falls apart but wasn’t squidgy or awkward. Taste-wise, I’d say it was a middle ground between beef and lamb. Paired with the best of standard taco seasonings — onion, cilantro, avocado, black beans — it had my eyes rolling back in my head.

And of course had to wrap up the meal with their Aztec Hot Chocolate. A self-professed chili pepper fiend, a little cayenne and chili goes a long way when paired with chocolate. Sexy.

absurdly good pig parts at the purple pig

Unfuckingbelievale Porchetta Panini. The space was also designed impeccably. I should have snapped more pics, but I was in a massive pig part coma after lunch, so it didn’t happen (Yes I may have consumed the entire sammich, after which I may have sprawled out in Milennium park for several hours watching clouds.) Narf.

new orleans nibbles

pig and punch at tales of the cocktail

San Francisco’s Bon Vivants  hosted Pig & Punch in Washington Square Park again this year. Despite the fact that I was still suffering from the fleeting remains of my fever, and only having an hour and a half between seminars, we made it out for a bit to chow on some tasty pig parts. It was worth the trek. I love me some pig parts.

parkside.

So I went to Parkside to check out their cocktail program, shot a bunch of drink photos for austin360.com (which will reveal themselves in time), and then got carried away so I shot some of the food also. It was too pretty to pass up. I’d also really like to get more into food photography (cliched? maybe. do I care? no.), so I need to practice. Feedback is welcomed, I intend on improving over time. Here are the highlights…

blood orange massacre.

More photos from the cocktail competition where this was shot on Austin360.com.