livin tejas

IS YOUR HEALTH GETTING THE BEST OF YOU? THIS INFO COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE!

2014-06-24T02:37:00.003-07:00

HUGE BREAKING NEWS!!! Just received my own official radio show website from Youngevity. Basically, you can listen to Doctor Joel Wallach's radio show entitled Dead Doctors Don't Lie from my site and his radio show archives 24/7 and search his huge database of past shows for a specific illness or disease that you would like addressed. Click on that link and bam, you'll have the past radio show where he talks about it and recommends supplements to take for that specific condition and a link to buy the specific products he recommends from me. Now, something you should know, l'm a walking testimony of taking nutritional supplements daily to treat a condition (took a year of trial and error but I got the line of supplements I need down to a science, no prescription involved) and having all the success doing so. I'm not ashamed to say this and because of my success, I feel a calling to steer others in the right direction. This site is the key to that and a dream come true because even before the Dr Joel Wallach's radio affiliate announced this, I was searching for a way to get Dr Wallach's message out in this way by simply sending people a link to hear this brilliant Doc speak about the benefits of nutritional supplementation. I'm so serious about this that my site also has my telephone number and email address so you can contact me and ask any question you want. Best Regards and best of luck! Click the link to listen: http://deaddoctorsradio.com/100916152

Fred's Texas Cafe: A Nationally Recognized Dive Offers Up The Good Stuff

2012-07-05T22:03:00.007-07:00

At first glance, driving into Ft Worth's Cultural District you might miss the average and aged outside that proclaims that it is Fred's Texas Cafe. That's if you hadn't seen it before. There's a good chance you have as this old Ft Worth eatery has been featured on Food Network's Diner Drive In's & Dives. There's also a reason that I've seen it plastered all over my local access channel and written about in several publications very frequently over the years. This nationally recognized eatery offers up the goods in the form of some of the best tasting burgers this side of Texas.

I gotta tell you that if you come to Fred's be ready for a delicious and hearty 1/2 pound burger. That's advice not to skimp for the 1/4 pound burger. No, you're going to want something heartier trust me on this one. Don't worry, if you can't finish it you can let the always hungry kiddos have at it. I took my own advice in advance of giving the advice and got the 1/2 lbs Fredburger with fries. It was quite a burger with very well seasoned meat and sandwiched in between what seemed like above average buns. Now, it was good don't get me wrong but I did need something a bit more on it besides mustard (yes I held off on the cheese). I wish I would of given myself some more advice in advance and was more daring. As delicious tasting and filling as my burger was, Fred's is the kind of burger that would be 100x better with the bonus extras. That's because after I ate my burger, I opened up the menu again (it's nice when a eatery leaves their menu on the table - a lot of places scoop them up so fast like you're going to run off with em) and knew immediately that I could of upped my burger happiness. Just looking at some of the burgers descriptions such as the BBQ Cheddar Burger and the Blue Cheese Burger, it's like they were staring in the face from the menu saying, "you missed out buddy"! The one on the menu that probably proclaimed this the loudest was the Bacon Mushroom Burger which comes topped with a a portabello mushroom, bacon, grilled onions, melted Swiss cheese, pickles, lettuce, and tomato. Oh well, reasons to go back.. always a good thing.

It was so hot even our burgers were sweating!

Now, my foodie partner in crime, she did an extraordinary thing by getting the Portabella Burger. Mind you that it was meatless but when you have a Portabella mushroom as succulent and juicy as the one I taste tested, then going meatless is not the end of the world. My taste buds were very happy that she was kind enough to let me sample this wonderful veggie creation. It was also nice to see that they offered this choice for fans that aren't as big of burger lovers as some of us.

Speaking of lovers, you might know by now (if you've been following this blog) that I'm not a huge fry lover as some of your kind might be. As tempting and great sounding as the menu was at Fred's Texas Cafe my heart was a little saddened that they did not offer the choice in the form of onion rings to those of us that share my sentiment. Ok, I'll hand it to them though, the fries at Fred's couldn't of been much better. They came out warm and it was obvious that they were cut fresh. What more could you ask for? Silly me, I shouldn't of asked that because the onion rings, if they did make them would of been made in the fries likeness. If you're reading this Fred's, make at least a secret menu where my kind could order O-rings! Ok, I'll stop complaining but you should know this was coming. Hell hath no fury like a man that loves his onions!

Gotta love a place that has such a sign as spotted behind the bar.

You should also know (and if you don't I'll tell you) that I don't seek to sit outside and eat. I sweat way too easily in this scorching Texas heat. Oh but I didn't have a choice because all those that appreciate the A/C were jammed inside so I sat wherever I could. The reason I mention this is because this is not a bad thing to do at Fred's especially as hot as it was. Fred's not only has satisfying your stomach in on the menu, they also have your comfort in mind. Comfort in the form of a huge nicely decorated covered patio with plenty of tables to be exact. One of the most important comfort features being oversized and powerful fans blowing on us sweltering hungry customers.. nice touch Fred's.. thanks! That reminds me, the service was A+ for as busy as it was. I like to see that in my service and I surly thanked them in the tip department.

All in all, Fred's Texas Cafe was a experience worth writing home about and then going back and sampling some of their already awesome burgers and then writing home about it again. In other words, I am going back and I'm going to be daring enough and go all out for some fabulous fixings on my burger. When your in town be sure to do the same and don't pass up this nationally known foodie gem right middle of the Ft Worth cultural district. Fred's Texas Cafe will satisfy your beefy burger mood like few others.

Burger House Hamburgers: A Dallas Staple SInce 1951

2011-12-01T19:06:00.000-08:00

If you mention "Burger House Hamburgers" to anybody that has lived in Dallas awhile, it's guaranteed that they will automatically know of that of which you speak. That's for a good reason too. Mainly because the Burger House in Dallas has been around since 1951. To be around that long and still thriving as a burger joint is a testament to the quality of burger they produce for all their loyal customers that keep coming back for more. You can count Livin' Tejas in that group of loyal customers because we will testify to the satisfaction of consuming many of their tasty burgers.

All this begs the question, what keeps customers ordering a Burger House Burger for over 60 years now? These questions need answers and I'm pretty sure I can offer a few up for you. First of all, we have to focus on what they are known for and what people think of when you talk about Burger House. They would tell you about the special seasoning they use on their burgers and more obviously so on their french fries. While Burger House won't give you the recipe for obvious reasons, they will tell you that it's a special salt. Special salt or not, it kind tastes of cumin, which take it from us, does greatly enhance the taste of their food and is part of the reason we love Burger House so much. We're pretty sure that we aren't the only ones that keep coming back to the addictive and distinctive taste of whatever the seasoning is that they use.

We recommend the burger first and foremost but the quality of the chicken in the chicken sandwich was way better than it should of been but that image is a great injustice to how good those fries taste!

While we'd love to tell you that it's all in the seasoning that they use, that wouldn't be completely fair to Burger House's delicious food. Everything we've tried there, has left us completely satisfied and is way beyond what you'd expect from a fast food kind of experience. While we wouldn't exactly consider Burger House fast food because it deserves a lot more recognition that, someone that is new to Dallas and doesn't know what Burger House is, might lump it into that category.

That aside, Burger House's hamburgers are very juicy and it tastes like a real treat, when we are able to go there and eagerly bite into their burgers. Which we might add, is not often enough. We'd come back not only for their juicy mouth watering burgers but for their fries and onion rings.

If you've been reading Livin' Tejas, you'd quickly realize that we are onion ring junkies. Some people love their fries and we don't take anything away from that but we like to order onion rings before the fries. Here at Burger House, an exception to that rule does take place. Why? As we mentioned earlier, while it's not all in the seasoning, we have to admit, that it is for their fries. When you order them they'll automatically know why because before you get to taste them, the smell of the special seasoning will overpower you into a deep trance. This is not a bad deep trance... just go with it; rather it's a delicious food one where your taste buds start salivating. While this is a little bit of exaggeration, it is partially true. You'll know it's Burger House by the smell should be a slogan of theirs. We digress, the smell is one thing but the taste of their special seasoning has to be tasted to be believed because it is very unique and addictive. Ok, their onion rings are good too (as they have very awesome breaded texture) but by all means try their fries first even if you aren't a fry fan like us, and there's no doubt you'll order them with every visit.

Burger House Hamburgers has been around for awhile so it's no wonder they have several locations in the Dallas area. There is nothing wrong with that, as it cuts down on our drive for sure. While it isn't neccessary, you'll want to try their original location in the famous Highland Park area of Dallas that has been opened since 1951. Do this at some point because it's a great nostalgic experience of a time long past. We say that because the location is small, wood abounds, and last but not least, it's very old looking with picnic tables. This location is very appropriate especially if you're showing someone around Dallas for the first time. If you can't make it to this location, by all means any location will do, just go there and be overpowered by the greatness this Dallas staple.

OldWest Cafe in Denton, TX: Living Good Country Style

2011-09-01T00:25:00.002-07:00

It might not look like much from the outside but the food at OldWest Cafe in Denton, TX just outside of the DFW Metroplex is simply down home country good. As a bonus, OldWest Cafe is known for really packing on the portion size in serving country style breakfast and lunch until 2pm. This is plenty of time to fill up for the start of the day but still gives you the rest of the day to burn it off.... or sleep it off for that matter. We're guessing, it'll be the couch because we've have been that route on more than one occasion. Yes, we really love those kinds of places so it was only a matter of time before we ended up at OldWest Cafe.

We also figured we could stretch our dollar a long way in the value side of things which we consider a part of the Livin' Tejas philosophy. That leaves more money to "Live Texas" and find the next great Texas destination. With that being said, Livin' Tejas is not all about portion size and how much food you get for your dollar. If we wanted that, we'd of stopped in at the Golden Corral down the street, but it's our take that the food has to be good and delicious too or it's all for nothing. Was it all for nothing at OldWest Cafe that obviously and proudly proclaims good food on their sign? Livin' Tejas had no qualms about finding out...

It's impossible to go wrong with the Almond Crisp, well maybe for your waist line but this blog isn't about that

We started with a daring plate, affectionately (not really but it sounds good) as the Almond Crisp. How can you resist ordering a plate that features french toast coated in almond syrup with whipped cream and bananas to top it off? We couldn't. If that wasn't enough, the Almond Crip breakfast plate which almost could be called dessert included two eggs of your choice and your choice of two bacon, sausage or grilled ham. Even with all that packed into one breakfast plate, we polished it off and we can safely say there has probably been plenty of customers that have done just that and left happy.

For our second swing, we went with the Bronco Buster. Any plate with the word "Buster" could mean we'd be bustin' at the seams afterwards but Live Goode definitely has a healthy appetite so we could handle it. The Bronco Buster (the two plates at the right of the of the picture) which was my responsibility and consisted of two very large buttermilk pancakes, two scrambled eggs, two sausages, and a biscuit was not as daring as the Almond Crisp. Although I was satisfied after finishing this plate, I sadly regretted that we didn't test something more tempting that really stuck out on the menu called the U.S. Marshall. Believe or not this U.S. Marshall almost sounds like the most daring thing on the menu which we didn't think could be possible after conquering the Almond Crisp. Alas, we will have go back and get the scoop for you so look for an update at the bottom of this post very soon. We really can't resist going back and trying it for too much longer. For now though, we can do our best describe it. Ready? It boasts of Texas toast topped with hash browns, and we're assuming by the menu description, that piled onto that is three eggs of your choice with three pieces of either bacon, sausage, or grilled ham topped off by sausage gravy.

We appreciated not only the goodness of this great country style eatery but also the decor that went hand and hand with the experience that OldWest Cafe offers.

It's hard to sum up a place that is very generous with their portions, but that would be all in vain if the food didn't leave you miserably happy. Miserable in the sense that your full but also happy because it had the quality of food that you'd expect from a place that has country and good written all over it. The menu at OldWest Cafe is extraordinary in that there is so much variety there, that we literally spent almost 20 minutes agonizing over what to get. You see, we almost got so wrapped up in telling you how big the portion size is and how satisfying those portions were, that we almost forgot to mention how extensive OldWest Cafe's menu is. Extensive being so many choices on the breakfast menu which include, omelets, breakfast burritos (tip for you... which we've heard through the Grapevine are a hit and huge if you're up for the task), breakfast sandwiches, and chicken fried steak with eggs. Live Goode considers that a cornucopia in itself but that is not even half of the breakfast menu. Appealing as that may be, the breakfast and lunch items have appealing names such as the Bull Rider, Lucky Ace, the Gambler, the Alamo, Panhandler, and the Rough Rider so there is no way anybody couldn't leave feeling like they were cheated except maybe by the Gambler. Nothing wrong with that plate, it sounds good as it's a sour dough breakfast sandwich so you know we're just poking at the name. Speaking of poke, poke out of OldWest Cafe slowly is what you'll do, all the way to your car and that comfy couch waiting for your attention. With a lot of bang for your wallet in the quality, variety, and portion size department it's easy to fall in love with a place like this. To be swept away by all it's country charms please visit OldWest Cafe

Scotty P's Hamburgers in Dallas, TX Equals Attention To Detail

2011-05-29T17:01:00.000-07:00

The bang for your buck feature is at play here as all this awesome American grub came in at just under $19.

Livin' Tejas has a theory when it comes to knowing whether a restaurant is going to be a winner or a loser and we like to think it comes down to attention to detail. We found such a place that proves our theory correct and what a delicious find it is. Yes, it's name is Scotty P's Hamburgers and they truly live up to expectations and not to mention their catchy little motto that says, "That's One Historic Burger." We found ourselves whole heartily agreeing with that motto in every bite we took.

When a burger looks like that you know it's gonna be good, it was.

Case numero uno with the attention to detail that was exhibited at this burger eatery started with the bun. Case in point, a ton of hamburger joints that we've been to overlook the importance of having a tasty bun. Have no fear though because Scotty P's has this covered and then some. Then some was the fact that not only was the bun very tasty but it was toasted to a buttery perfection. How do they do it? We don't know because this was one of the best buns we've ever consumed. Ok, come to think of it, we did wait awhile for our food, maybe they were back there baking them fresh. We really don't know but they sure tasted like it. This should tell you that, I can be a little impatient when it comes to waiting on food at a restaurant probably like most of you if you can admit to letting your hunger get the best of you. What really counts as my wife likes to tell me when I complain as I did here, as that probably means they are really cooking your food and that it's going to be good. How right she was as it was totally worth the agonizing wait.

Also, come to think of it this place was PACKED and got even more so as we lucked out and get there in the nick of time before an even bigger rush came whooshing through the restaurant and I kid you not, took every available seat! I was thankful that, my party got a booth and was not the table next to me, where we heard a customer ask another if they could share their long table. Yeah, hate me, but I like my space and privacy when I'm chowing down on my grub. It's a very intimate moment when your a foodie like me so let no women, man, or child interrupt that. I digress, but you know when a place gets as packed as this restaurant was, you know it's probably word of mouth and that it's a good sign that it's gonna be good!

A couple of winning bites into my Scotty P's experience and I was in burger heaven.

Case numero dos, for greatness and attention to detail which leads to perfection, the quality of the ingredients and in this case, (forgive me for over using case but I have to make my case) the quality of the beef. Damn, Dang it, every word that comes to mind but not in a bad way, Scotty P's gives their choice of beef the attention it deserves. The ground chuck that I chucked into my mouth was so unimaginably tasty, it had me wanting to bum rush the counter and ask them where they got it. Alas, I didn't but I should of.

What kind of burger did I get you might ask? You gotta give me mucho props for this and I'll tell you because you'll never guess on you own. The name for this creation was called the Borchardt Cheeseburger. I told you that you'd never guess. Yes, funny name but serious burger, to kind of borrow a famous fast food phrase but if the burger fits then it works. This Borchardt did work in ever sense of the word, with not with an ordinary ol' slice of American cheese but with grated cheese, fresh tomato and shredded lettuce.

You've seen this before but you got to have these to believe it.

Case numero tres, deeeee-licious sides. Scotty P's put the P in scrumPtious and sealed the deal with none other than my favorite kind of onion ring known as onion strings. It would of been one thing if these were average onion stings but that wasn't the case. These were fried to onion string perfection and had that tasty crunch where you can't stop eating them because they fall into the addictive category.

These are not even the onion rings that Scotty P's is known for. Believe or not they offer two different kind onion rings, the other affectionately known as Scotty P's O'mazing Onion Rings which as the menu states are handmade every morning. That right there makes me want to try them but it will have to wait until next trip as I couldn't pass up the onion strings because like I said in past posts, you don't find them everywhere you go.

How were the fries you might ask? You might know from reading this blog that I'm not a french fan fanatic because I like my onion rings too much but I know a good fry when I taste one. The fries at Scotty P's were no exception. Just like the onion strings, they were fried to perfection and had a very addictive quality to them. Seems to be a trend at Scotty P's.

The atmosphere at Scotty P's (at least at the Frisco, TX location) is nothing fancy, which is just fine for a burger joint. Ask any Texan, and they'll probably tell you that it's not about that when it comes their burgers, they just want a mighty tasty one. I think we've made the case that Scotty P's has that and more. However, while Scotty P's is not big on atmosphere, it does have a very easy going casualness that I look for. What I mean, is it's an order at the counter, sit where you want, and pick up you food when it's called system which is very convenient and relaxed.

We now can close this case of Scotty P's Hamburgers but it trust me, it will be reopened time and time again in the future when I return to this winning hamburger joint. To dive into your own case of Scotty P's please check out their website: Scotty P's Hamburgers for the 7 locations that have spread hamburger greatness across the Dallas metroplex.

Goode Co. Seafood in Houston: "Goode" Seafood Is The Keyword Here

2011-05-14T02:04:00.000-07:00

Nothing like eating "Goode" Seafood in a train car.

If you're a lover of seafood and you grew up eating it as I did, then you know that it's hard getting enough good seafood. Goode Co. Seafood in Houston, TX happens to be one of my favorites seafood joints that I have fond childhood memories of. No wonder I like seafood so much, I was born and raised eating some of the best which can be found in Houston since it's only 45 short minutes from the Texas Gulf Coast. That makes it very fresh therefore good by inheritance but not a guarantee as I've been to some lousy seafood restaurants in the Houston/Galveston area which I won't mention here.

Like most times eating out, to make sure I get the most out of my visit, if one is available, I go for the platter. My reasoning is, if you're going to eat good food, and in this case seafood you might as well go all out and sample not only the fish but all the usual awesome seafood suspects. This platter just happens to include just that with shrimp, oysters, stuffed shrimp, stuffed crab, and catfish. Did it meet expectations in the quality department? You don't even have to ask, the freshness combined with the way Goode Co. Seafood fries and lightly batters their catch, is a winning a combo.

This Mexican Seafood Cocktail at Goode Co. is a starter that is hard to pass up.

There's no doubt that Goode Co. Seafood is a guarantee for seafood satisfaction. Not only is the seafood some of the best in Houston but the atmosphere is very casual and unique because it's in a train car building. I probably need to clear that up so that there won't be any confusion. This is not a building that is fashioned to look like a train car, it is a real train car. They may of added some building elements to it but I'm telling you, you'll be surprised when you see it for the first time.

As the first seafood restaurant they opened in Houston in 1986, that makes this particular location on Westpark Drive a standout from the other seafood locations they've since opened. That's another winning combo...good food plus awesomely good atmosphere. To check out this Westpark location, along with the other Goode Co. family of restaurants, visit: Goode Co. Seafood

Chip's Old Fashioned Hamburger in Dallas Has It Right

2011-04-23T13:51:00.000-07:00

Some eateries just know how to do food right. When it comes to American food, Chip's Old Fashioned Hamburger in Dallas has it right and then some. On first look, you might pass up the old building that sits on a old street called Lover's Lane in Dallas. Mainly because its overshadowed by the Dallas Tollway's looming overpass. To do this, if your in the mood for American food in the way of hamburgers, french fries and the best shoe-string onion rings this Texas boy has had in a long time, would be a food crime. Of course, if you know where to look and did your homework, (I'll help with that) you'd know that Chip's has been a Dallas favorite since 1981. That's how I found my way to Chip's for the first time, on one very hot summer afternoon in late June a year ago. As summer is on our doorstep once again and American food is appropriate especially during the summer, I'd be doing no wrong by making it an excuse to Chip's.

To be totally honest, I was not convinced that I'd like this place as much as I did, when I walked in the door. It's like a place you might think needs updating but hey you know that people always say don't judge a book by its cover. I'm really glad that I've learned that worldly piece of advice or I would of missed out some extraordinary old fashioned American food.

To start with it's an order at the counter system which is always more than ok with me because in this economy it's always nice to save a little money on not having to give a tip. On having saved that bit of money by paying at the counter, I proceeded to take my seat at one of many picnic patterned vinyl covered tables of my choice...hey they fit this place perfectly. Then after a brief wait, I received the goods back at the counter when they called my name.

The big piece of fried chicken in this sandwich was better than most places can do.

The goods in this case was not a hamburger as you might presume since it's a hamburger joint in name....no not this time, I was in the mood for a American food favorite of mine, a good old fried chicken sandwich. The rest is history, because one bite had me saying nothing because it was so good. The reason, well simply, it was wonderfully fried, big and juicy piece of chicken in between two very tasty poppy seed buns, with all the trimmings of mayo, lettuce, and tomato. Needless to say, it put a lot of chicken sandwiches that have met my stomach to shame! I would certainly rank it up their in the best 5 chicken sandwiches that I've had the pleasure of tasting in my life. That's saying a lot because I've eaten a lot of them.

These shoe-string onion rings are what dreams are made of. Eat slowly, I know it's hard but these have to be savoured first.

Hold on, I'm not done yet because this eatery got 2 of 2 right. The second of my favorites being shoe-string onion rings! I wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to have some here because onion rings in the shoe-string kind are not always on the menu at some American food eateries. Believe it or not they can be a little hard to find especially if you're a fan and desire them over traditional onion rings. Alas, I don't think I have to tell you how I thought of Chip's onion rings because after all, I did say they got it right. However, I'd go a step further, and say I'd come back just for those! Oh yeah, that and the chicken sandwich, then maybe next time after that I'd go for the burger because the odds are they can do that right too! How can they not? At a place that impressed with this much on my first visit. Impossible! If you're in Dallas, find a way there by all means, a good start would be the website: Chip's Old Fashioned Hamburger

Guadalajara Hacienda (Tex-Mex) in Houston, TX

2010-11-02T18:23:00.000-07:00

In our last post, we told you that we'd get around to sampling some Tex-Mex for our readers and as you can see, we couldn't resist long, Although, this is going to be a Livin Tejas first because it's a review of a chain restaurant. While we love chain restaurants just as much as the next person, we normally don't review them because we think they can be a little cliche. Guadalajara Hacienda on the other hand, in Houston, Texas is a huge exception to that. It exhibits originality in every department and exceeds in exceptional food.

Eating there one fine Sunday, Livin Tejas had the privilege of tasting some extraordinary above and beyond salsa and that's when we had a sneaking suspicion that the rest of the food would follow in its footsteps. It was like the salsa, which a had a really good tingling lime taste that we had never tasted in salsa before, was speaking to us. It was addicting to say the least, as chip after chip met its demise thanks to this flavorful salsa. We could go on forever about how good the salsa was, the best we've ever had as a matter of fact, but that wouldn't be fair to the rest of the delicious food.

Whenever Livin Tejas trys a Mexican (or Tex-Mex because the lines are blurred between those categories a lot here in Texas) restaurant for the first time and we've tried countless ones, we always start with the chicken enchiladas. We just believe they're a good test of a Tex-Mex restaurant. We always say, if they can get the chicken enchiladas right, which is a staple of Tex-Mex here in Texas, then they are likely to succeed in other areas.

We proceeded to order the combo plate, that consisted of a beef enchilada, beef taco, empanada, and substituted the cheese enchilada for a chicken enchilada. We also ordered a portobello mushroom stuffed with chicken....very brave. How did both how dishes stack up?

When we first tasted the chicken enchilada it was apparent that Guadalajara Hacienda cares about serving the best food possible. The reason we say this is because I almost burned my mouth at first bite. We've never had a enchilada plate at any Mexican restaurant, be served as piping hot as this one was. After that, we were thoroughly impressed with every bite as the beef and chicken enchiladas were plump, cheesy, and done just right with lots delicious Mexican flavor. A plus, and hard to beat.

Just looking at this portobello mushroom stuffed with chicken and spinach, brings to mind that we need to eat out more and be adventurous and try unique dishes on the menu. Livin Tejas was brave and it paid off because we had no complaints.

We can't end without telling you that the service matched the food in every regard. The wait staff were very friendly and did an awesome job refilling our drinks whenever it even got close to running out, not to mention refilling the salsa; very attentive for a chain restaurant. Like big portions? You won't be disappointed here as you get great value for your money. All in all, if you ever find yourself in the Houston area, and looking to satisfy a Mexican food craving, Guadalajara Hacienda will knock you out with its salsa and keep delivering the best Tex-Mex this side of the Rio Grande. To find out locations as there are several in the Houston area, their website is a good place to start: Guadalajara Hacienda

Yucatan Taco Stand (Tequila Bar & Grill) in Southlake, TX

2010-10-24T17:07:00.000-07:00

This ain't no ordinary Taco Stand. Taco Stand is not even a good way to describe Yucatan Taco Stand in Southlake TX, deep in the heart of the suburbs in the DFW metroplex. The name does have a nice ring to it and besides, it is order at the counter easy so the name fits none the less.

What also fits is the food Yucatan Taco Stand serves up. As we walked in and gazed at the generous variety on the menu, we found many choices that would please even the most picky Mexican food eater. Those same Mexican food connoisseurs and there are plenty of them in Texas, would recognize Yucatan as not a Tex-Mex place which Texas is famous for (which Livin Tejas will do posts on in the future), but a redefined Mexican restaurant. Redefined because they have food selections that can be found where else but the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. To us, for an order at a counter place that has taco stand in it's name, it is rare to have food of that nature. This left Livin Tejas very intrigued and ready to sample this Yucatan's adventurous menu. One visit is not enough to do this so we are unfortunately going to have to go back and explore some more of that menu so be ready for an update. The reason is, Livin Tejas wants to be very thorough in showing the best of Texas eateries.

Gravity defying nachos combined with high quality ingredients are a rare breed even in Texas

We heard a rumor while reading reviews for this Taco Stand, that Yucatan serves up a mean nacho plate. By "mean" we mean good in every sense of the word. Livin Tejas had no idea that it would surpass us in even that expectation so we thought it very important to sample the nacho plate for our readers to see if the rumors were true. One rumor being that it's almost a foot high tower of nacho heaven. As soon it reached our table we knew that rumor stood on solid truthful ground and thankfully that ground was our table.

They have five different nacho plates that accomplish this gravity defying feat and we'd love to have tried them all which include ground sirloin, Tequila lime chicken, grilled vegetarian, and Carne De Puerco (pork). With so many different choices it was obvious that it was going to be hard to choose the right plate. We love food challenges though so the one we did test was the garlic shredded beef nacho plate and it did not disappoint our taste buds in the least. How could they? They were met with an infusion of melted Chihuahua cheese and not your ordinary nacho cheddar cheese as this is a Mexican cheese from the Chihuahua region of Mexico that is white in color and melts well and can be used for fondues. Simply an amazing ingredient to get beyond your ordinary nachos.

The other ingredients that really pushed this dish to be one of the best nacho plates we've ever had in Texas were high quality crispy tortilla chips that had the right kind of crisp and a special seasoning that brought a ton of flavor to the plate. Added to that important ingredient were tomatoes, red onions, cilantro, purple cabbage, topped with sour cream and very fresh stand out guacamole. All these quality ingredients combined with a very generous portion that could easy feed two hungry stomachs and coming in at a value of $8.75, has led us to believe that you could search Texas your whole life and not find nachos of this caliber.

Livin Tejas didn't stop at that nacho plate, which we could of easily and been more than satisfied but we also decided to sample the Tequila Lime Tacos. After all, the name does have Taco Stand in it so it wouldn't be fair to our readers not to go for the tacos.

It's hard to see covered in fresh lettuce and cabbage but like the nachos these tacos were above expectations. Speaking of expectations we were expecting that we wouldn't find much of the main ingredient of tequila lime chicken but we very surprised that we had to use two hands to eat these. That is to say that the chicken filled this taco more than enough. As evidence of this is, Yucatan uses double the corn tortillas to keep everything from falling out. If that wasn't enough, we found the shredded chicken to very moist just the way Livin Tejas likes it and we're assuming that is the majority of people on Earth. Also, like the nachos, we were met with the wonderful taste of Chihuahua cheese.

With all of this for only 3.50 a taco, you'd swear you were in a taco nirvana. Then imagine in this perfect taco world, that three of these bad boys would set you right the rest of the night. Taco fans you should indeed rejoice for not only is this more than likely true but there would be nothing to stop you from getting the most out of the taco menu. Accomplishing this would be by not just ordering the same tacos for each but sampling some of the others that include tempura fish tacos, special ground sirloin, garlic shredded beef, grilled vegetarian, pork, spicy aged chorizo, spicy shrimp all for 3.50 a piece except for the chorizo and shrimp taco which are only a dollar more. That is quite a taco feast for such a low price, and guaranteed you'd walk out the door a happy taco camper.

Does this really look like your typical order at the counter place?

With all great food aside though (which it's hard to put great food aside), Livin Tejas does appreciate a comfortable and laid back atmosphere. Yucatan Taco Stand was above reproach in this category as it was very different from your typical order at the counter eatery. We usually go to those kinds of places which don't warrant a post, and it's like going to a fast food restaurant all over again. This is one of the ways Yucatan Taco Stand surprised us because like we said, it is order at the counter like a fast food restaurant but when we got past the order counter, we were amazed to see a spacious, clean, well laid out place with more than enough booths and tables to go around. We were very pleased with this because in all our days of eating out, this was the nicest and most pleasant order at the counter place we'd ever been to. Perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon where you might want the privacy of someone NOT coming to your table every couple minutes and interrupting your conversation as the servers only bring you the food that matches your number and nothing else.

It was so impressive and tasty, we had to demolish this once towering to almost a foot nacho plate

By all means and right away, get your delicious Mexican food number served at Yucatan Taco Stand. For help in achieving that and hitting this taco stand up for impressive items that consist of nachos, tacos, burritos, salads, burritos bowls, grilled Yucatan foods that include fajitas and chimichangas, grilled Latin sandwiches, and this only names a few items of their impressive and extensive menu, please visit: Yucatan Taco Stand

Flying Fish in Dallas, TX, Don't Miss Out On The Fresh Catch

2010-10-16T16:48:00.000-07:00

On our journey to find the best eateries Texas offers, Livin Tejas decided to get the lowdown on something Texas does right, fried catfish. We found it at the Flying Fish in Dallas, TX. This was only after an exhausting journey that included several failed attempts to find a parking spot at two other well known catfish haunts. We will let them go unmentioned but just say to these places, you don't have to change a single thing in your restaurant (we like holes in the wall and all that) but if you have a popular spot, spend some money to enlarge your already small parking areas or find a way to accommodate for your customers if it overfills and this doesn't include having valet. That way, your customers don't have to do battle before they even get to the ordering counter. With our rant aside, we have to tell that if you're looking for great catfish and exhaustive selection of tasty seafood and you don't want to hassle with the parking, we found your place, as it has plenty of parking in front and a free parking garage right across the way.

Preston Center is a premier shopping and eating destination in Dallas

Flying Fish also happens to located in very established shopping center in Dallas called Preston Center with plenty of shops for you to browse around once your done with your meal or as we like to say, if you make yourself hungry while your shopping then fried seafood will surely satisfy that.

As you can see, we weren't joking when we said that Flying Fish has an exhaustive selection of fried and not to mention grilled seafood goodness on their menu. We aren't complaining in the least though, as we love variety and we're pretty sure that most of this menu is sure to satisfy your seafood fix. Just to give you a brief summary of what they have, theres hamburgers, boiled shrimp, snow crab legs, fish tacos, and even a big breakfast menu until 10:30am. You might be asking, how did Livin Tejas ever decide what to get? Easy, we just went for what Texas is known for in the seafood department and catfish would be at the top.

As you can see, we happened to make the right choice in getting this catfish and butterfly shrimp combo basket that includes fries and hushpuppies as a bonus. We were also very surprised at the size and quality of the butterfly shrimp because unless you live near the Gulf Coast in Texas, then good quality shrimp is hard to come by. Not to say that it can't be found, just a little more difficult. Thankfully, we were very pleased to have found great shrimp here and again, that was very unexpected. It definitely took this place up a notch on the list of best catfish holes in Dallas. Ok, we'll get to our opinion of the quality of the fries because we know that is very important to some people but let's focus on what we came here for in the first place and that would be first rate catfish.

We said focus didn't we? Livin Tejas has visited plenty of catfish eateries in Texas and to be honest with our readers, we have to say... this is some of the very best catfish on this side of the Red River (for those that don't know, the Red River is the border of Texas and Oklahoma). As you might be able to tell, and from our honest opinion, this fish of whiskers was quality in being as fresh as it was. It was also exceptional in the meatiness and tenderness of the fish without any fatty meat which can be common if the cut is not done right. These two factors, freshness and the meatiness quality are very important if you want to experience the best catfish. In other words, the picture doesn't lie, it is as good as it looks. The other most important tip in finding great fried catfish is how they fry and bread it. We found the batter at Flying Fish to be very light and not overwhelming as to be able to taste the fish itself. Also, they fried it to perfection as it was not overdone but just right for our taste buds. A lot of catfish joints don't get that frying part right so needless to say, we were very impressed.

We couldn't leave without ordering up a catfish po'boy as they call it down south. A po'boy (or poorboy as it is also called) is simply a sandwich filled with your choice of seafood. That's if you're from other parts and are not aware of the name. At the Flying Fish, it happens to be called a poorboy loaf (interesting because we've never seen it called a loaf before). All naming issues aside, this poorboy loaf was good but not as good as we've experienced at other seafood restaurants in Dallas, Ft Worth, and Houston. This left our only regret because when we were driving home, we told ourselves that we of should tested some of the desserts. The desserts include banana pudding, key lime pie, bread pudding, and cobbler. All of those sound really good to us. That is ok though, this only gives us an excuse to go back and update this post for you at a later date. You probably know that is only a excuse to go back and eat this delicious fried seafood again. Ok we admit it, we have a sweet tooth too and that's why we were so hard on ourselves for not satisfying it.

The Famous Wall of Billy (talking) Bass can be found here

We just can't end without a silly but entertaining note because not only does Flying Fish have wonderful seafood, they have more personality to boot than most restaurants combined. We noticed this the minute we in the walked in door and decided it was too interesting to pass up by not including it in this post.

Everywhere we looked, we saw fish and not in our baskets, but on the walls and even on the ceiling. There happens to be an interesting story to this and it goes as follows...

As you might be able to read in the sign (click to enlarge if you need to) the Billy Bass collection is not only pretty to look at but it will get you free catfish if you participate. All you need to do, is give your Billy Bass up (that's not too much to ask for as you probably won't miss him, poor Billy though). No wonder we saw so many of those Billy fish, people are crazy about getting something for free. Not only is that fun, but what a way to entertain your kids when you take them here.

The Liars Wall is also very amusing as it contains countless bragging rights of people and their catch

We are definitely a fan of the humor that fills this stand out eatery but that would be all for nothing if the food wasn't up to par. Livin Tejas knew it would be though, because when a restaurant has a good vibe you can feel it the minute you walk in the door. The vibes were buzzing at the Flying Fish and there is no doubt that Livin Tejas found a new favorite in a State known for many a great catfish hangout. We have to say in the end, we are glad that we had parking issues at those other catfish joints because then we wouldn't of been able to experience the goodness of the catch and the personality of the atmosphere at the Flying Fish. If you want to find yourself at the Flying Fish and park yourself here with no hassle, then please visit Flying Fish

And...

Famed Kincaid's Hamburgers in Ft Worth, TX, The Original!

2010-10-09T21:37:00.000-07:00

Last week when Livin Tejas went to original and legendary Sonny Bryan's BBQ in Dallas, we knew that it was only right to follow that up with something in the same ballpark. Livin Tejas only wants to show our readers the best eateries that Texas offers and there is no doubt that we did that again for this week.

The original Kincaid's Hamburgers that we visited is in Ft Worth and is what the original Sonny Bryan's is for Dallas. This is to say, as with Sonny Bryan's, the history of Kincaid's is part of what makes it as legendary as the food they serve.

Inside Kincaid's, it's storied history lives on in the original store shelves that lead to the ordering counter

The background of Kincaid's dates back all the way to 1946 when it started as a bustling grocery store and full service meat market named Charles Kincaid's Grocery and Meat Market. As you can see from the first picture that name was never disregarded. Evolving from that, in 1964 the meat cutter for the meat market, a man by the name of O.R Gentry (who'd been working there since 1947) started cooking up hamburgers for the customers. The rest was history as in 1967 he bought the place and Kincaid's Hamburgers was born. It's safe to say, that they probably never looked back, as the burgers soon became a hit and the news about how good they were got out and still does today.

We know that Mr Gentry, the man who started it all, would be proud that his popular burgers still bring in the crowds. This is true, as we went on a Saturday afternoon and were hard pressed to find a table. After a little patience and a good eye, we found a smaller table near the order counter and waited for our order to be called. Finally, it did and we unwrapped our food like giddy little children on Christmas Day. You see, Kincaid's is known for serving their food in a paper sack even if you're dining in.

It all was worth our time and unwrapping effort though because the first bite of Ft Worth's famed 8 oz Kincaid's burger was as good as the last. Maybe, the reason that it was so good, is that Kincaid's states that it only uses the best U.S.D.A Black Angus chuck and we could tell by the freshness of the meat. Also, the juiciness of the meat, topped with fresh tomatoes, lettuce and pickles in combo with a tasty bun really packed a delicious punch.

There is no way that we could forget to tell you about the onion rings pictured above. If we thought Sonny Bryan's in the below post had knockout onion rings and they do, these take the heavy weight prize for the best we've ever had. Livin Tejas, really didn't think that was possible after Sonny Bryan's so we see no way, that onion rings could possibly be any better than at Kincaid's. It's hard to put into words how great they were because you'd have to taste them to believe it. Simply.... warm, fresh, juicy, breaded, and fried to taste like heaven is the closest we can come. Go immediately to Kincaid's if you're town just to try them and we know you'll agree.

These stand up counters were popular back in the day and people still enjoy them at Kincaid's today

During our experience at Kincaid's, we could see why countless articles have been written about how good Kincaid's burgers really are. We feel like it's only right to back them up by saying that in our opinion, Kincaid's has to be one of the best burger joints in the Texas and we've tried many in Texas. We hope you'll get to experience it's one of a kind burger and history so please don't pass up the opportunity if you're ever in Ft Worth. To find this original location and others, please visit Kincaid's Hamburgers

Legendary Sonny Bryan's BBQ in Dallas, TX, The Original!

2010-10-02T14:56:00.000-07:00

You might of seen this coming from a mile away but it had to be done. This Texas blog wouldn't be complete without a post (and more in the future) about Good Ol' Fashion Texas BBQ. Furthermore, Livin Tejas didn't just go to any BBQ joint, no sir ma'am, we went to visit the legendary and nationally known original location for Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse BBQ (it didn't make it onto to Rachel Ray's show for nothing) in none other than Dallas, Texas. As you can see from the sign, this BBQ has been around longer than your Aunt Sally Mae, and mine too. Words can't describe how old this place is, you might not be able to tell from this picture but this original Sonny Bryan's is basically a shack! Don't let the shack door hit you on the way out though because the mystique of this place is just as refined as the BBQ.

As we just mentioned, the old fashioned nature of this place, goes right along with the BBQ. If you sit inside, expect to sit your keaster in a desk. Yes, you heard right, no fancy table tops can be found at this famous landmark of BBQ. Many of a famous persons have done just that, unfortunately not while we were there, or guaranteed we'd got a shot for ya. However, a story was told to me by a family member that they witnessed Cowboy's owner Jerry Jones eating some BBQ here not too long ago. Livin Tejas is based in Tejas so as the Tejas people say, yee haw, stick it to em Cowboy's. That's a different post though. Getting back to this one, if you ever find yourself at this Sonny Bryan's look around because plenty of pictures of famous people especially famous Texans can be found hanging on the wall. Just might be what you fancy. Livin Tejas fancies the BBQ though so as a Texan might say, let's dig in....

Just looking at this, can make you want to go out of your way to experience Sonny Bryan's BBQ.

Words can't describe, how wonderful tasting, Sonny Bryan's BBQ is. There are also surprisingly, many great meats and sides to choose from considering this is an original location. Livin Tejas went for what we thought we'd be the most popular items on the menu to give you a show of them.

First up, came the sliced brisket sandwich, because if you eat BBQ in Texas you're going to want to go there. The brisket is fall off the bone quality, although if you know BBQ then you know that there is no bone in brisket, just all flavor. Fall off the bone is still a good way to describe good BBQ though and Sonny Bryan's brisket lives up to that. Now, go ahead and be generous with the sauce because you won't find sauce of this caliber at many BBQ stops. As you can see, we did just that.

One of the biggest tips I can give you is to try the onion rings and speaking of big, they are probably without a doubt some of the biggest you can find anywhere. Sometimes good things don't always come big, but Livin Tejas would take a trip to Sonny Bryan's just for their onion rings, they are that good! It may come as another surprise but they aren't that greasy for being as huge as they are and they're breaded and fried to perfection. When you bite into them, you can truly taste the juiciness of the onion, so delicious. Let's see what else is for lunch....

This rib plate is literally overflowing with goodness

We might of just died and gone to BBQ heaven, lookie at those ribs. Makes you want to say yummy. It's safe to say that these here ribs are stick to your ribs quality. It's hard to put into words how delicious these ribs were but I'd recommend, if it's your first time going to Sonny Bryan's, to try out the sandwiches.

You might ask, how were the beans and coleslaw? They get high marks in the Livin Tejas book of BBQ. The coleslaw complimented the brisket perfectly and beans were delicious because they were spicy and not run of the mill pinto beans.

Livin Tejas can't end a story of famous BBQ from Texas without telling you, well a story of not only the food but of the friendliness of a employee of this locale. It's like he knew we were coming and wanted us to feel at home because he opened the door for us and greeted us upon arrival. Might not sound like much but he was genuine. Unfortunately, we didn't catch his name but he is the type of guy that exemplifies Texas friendlessness and hospitality. Whoever, you were that struck up a conversation with us, you can eat BBQ with us anytime. For more information on how you can find yourself eating BBQ at this famous Dallas and nationally if not worldly known landmark, please visit Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse

San Jacinto: Texas Begins

2010-09-28T18:34:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new blog! If you're looking for a place all about Texas or Tejas in its Spanish name then you've come to the right place, if not then you can still find a home here and maybe learn something about Texas that you didn't know. Feel free to join my blog as I explore everything Texas. In between that, you'll see a lot of western culture that you might find intriguing.

One of my goals with this blog is to show my readers something that maybe they haven't seen before. I'm trying to make this an engaging travel blog as much as it is a food blog, and with thought provoking posts all mixed in. I want my readers to walk away with a sense that they've seen something about Texas that they can go visit on their next trip and experience for themselves.

After some debate, in order to get some travel content to any interested readers, I thought San Jacinto Monument in La Porte, Texas would be a great place to start on a blog all about Texas as Texas actually did start here. I have feeling that if you didn't grow up in Houston like I did, then you may not know about this magnificent structure which is just 45 short minutes from downtown Houston. To be honest, if I didn't go here as a kid then I probably would not even know about the San Jacinto Monument myself. Thankfully that is not the case and I can share it with all those that don't know about what you're missing! If you're even remotely interested in history then your going to want to visit the San Jacinto Monument because it has more than enough history to go around. Without further debate I present to you the beautiful spot where Texas was born.

Many of you may be surprised to know that the San Jacinto Monument built in 1936 is about 15 feet taller than the Washington Monument which would make it 570 feet. That's the tallest column monument on the planet according to the Guinness Book of World Records! What makes this monument especially worth a visit, is that it has an elevator in it in which you can go to the top....

The reflecting pool as seen in the first picture of this post but looking down from the viewing room at the top of the monument.

Another view from the many windows at the top....looking down at a ship transiting the Houston Ship Channel

At the very bottom of the base looking up, this perspective can make you feel very small

Yes, you must look at the history when you're there and soak it all in which you can do because there is a more than fulfilling museum inside the base of the monument that is chalk full of history and artifacts and it's all very very interesting.

It's appropriate that Texas has a statue this big of Sam Houston in between two of it's biggest cities Dallas and Houston

You can find this breathtaking giant statue not at San Jacinto in La Porte but north of Houston. Sam Houston fought the battle that won Texas at San Jacinto hence why this statue was built in his honor. Moreover, it's why the San Jacinto Monument was erected. The Sam Houston Statue is a must see before you get to Houton and San Jacinto. It sets the stage.

Travel Tips: When you go to the San Jacinto Monument, do yourself a favor and go on a weekday preferably bright and early in the morning when it opens. The reason for this is because you'll have way less crowds to fight than you would on a weekend. In case, you can't tell from the early morning light in the pictures on this post, I went even before they opened at 9am (check the San Jacinto website FAQ because you never know when opening times can change). The other advice I can share is that there is a ton more to see than just the monument itself because after all this is sacred grounds where the battle of San Jacinto was fought.