So, Thirty plus days have passed since I last updated and plenty of things to report.
The Job: Three Legged Willie's is going well. I like it alright and I get the hours are good. The plan and simple truth is that I am happy to be back in a kitchen. I'm paying my dues to establish myself as a worthwhile person to have around the place. The crew is fun and lively and I like to think I fit in fairly well. Still, if everything falls into place, I may end up leaving to take a paid internship at a local farm. I have a few things I need to accomplish before that dream comes into fruition.
The Food: I have to say, even only after a few meals, Austin has some simply amazing and innovative restaurants. I finally had a chance to get some sushi. A little place on the north side called Maru (not the major chain, more of that later) that offered up a very satisfying dinner in a cozy, vacant setting. The kind of place I could see myself chatting up the chef from from a stool at the bar.
I briefly talked about my visit to Fino, an upscale Mediterranean joint, but let me elaborate a bit further. We started the meal some anchovy wrapped, panko covered olives and Za'atar potato chips with lemon chive yogurt for dipping. This paired well with our pitcher of sangria rosa. For our main entrées, we split an order of paella ($45 for a 2 person portion amongst 3 people). Julie also ordered a salad though the paella has taken over any memory of it. We finished with Churros y Chocolate, sweet dough deep fried, covered in cinnamon sugar served with a chili and chocolate sauce. I was not ashamed to use my finger to eat the remaining sauce before a server came over and offered me a spoon. True story.
I got to heart of Texas BBQ when visiting The Salt Lick. A place where you order open- pit meat by the pound, sides by the pints or quarts and bring your own beer. As you walk in, you are struck directly in the eyes by a large, one-of-a-kind, barely legal barbeque pit covered with ribs, briskets, whole chickens and sausages. The food, 1/2 lb of brisket and potato salad, was decent, though next time I'll remember to diversify a little more.
There so many places I've yet to visit. Austin has a very strong mind to keep things on a local level. On more that one occasion fighting corporate giants on behalf Ma and Pa shops. It's incredibly easy to avoid eating at large, national chain restaurants, a plus for any locavore. The food is so good, most shops don't even have to offer seated dining to sell their fair. Food trucks riddle the entire city, offering scrumptious and transportable haute cuisine on compost safe plates. The people ask for it and Austin happily provides.
Social Integration: I've visited a few bars and I have had a few drinks. I am mostly socializing through mutual friends and through online meetup groups. One evening, there was a 50 person meeting of Apples to Apples players. A2A was only the beginning. People started to break out Taboo and Balderdash and soon all hell broke loose and we resorted to dominoes and cards.
Social bike rides happen nearly everyday here. I hope to make my way to one soon.
Haven't to been to any big shows but the bars offer live music of all varieties. Just walking down 6th Street you're bombarded with so much aural stimuli it's ridiculous.
That's my review after one month and one paycheck. Good things are on the horizon. Some of my favorite people will be visiting me soon, hopefully more will do the same in the future.
