Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Hill Country

BBQ is a topic similar to politics and religion, if you decide to discuss your beliefs you better have a sound reasoning to back them up. Hill Country in Washington, DC is a new Texas BBQ place. The portions are HUGE and they are tasty. If you like brisket the moist brisket is very good. The ribs are good but a little expensive. Be prepared to eat when you go to this place. I enjoyed dinner with a wonderful friend of mine who was more than willing to share all the yummies. Everything is a la carte but overall the price is decent, especially for the DC metro area. Collard greens and the mac&cheese are my recommendations for the sides not to miss!




Hill Country Barbecue Market on Urbanspoon

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Eat, Shop, & be Merry

Pros Ranch Market was one of the first places that I was taken to when I moved to El Paso. I need to fill my fridge, my freezer, my cupboards, and my tummy. When I walked in the place reminded me of the Vietnamese Market I shopped at in Los Angeles. It has the same set-up with grocery, butcher, fresh produce, and places to eat on the outer ring of the market.

I was most excited by an aisle full of fresh chiles (Anchos, Hatch, Jalapenos, Pasillas). I bought at least 6 pounds of each. I got them fire roasted just outside the market, which is so much easier than doing that myself!!


La Cocina is full of all sorts of tasty goodies that anyone who likes Mexican or Central American food will be pleased with. There area aguas frescas, tacos al pastor, tortas, buche and even ceviche. The food is authentic and affordable. My friend who took me to Pro's Ranch loves the salsa and fresh tortillas. I tasted tested all of them. If you can't make your own salsa or tortillas or don't know how, come here and get some.



I was hungry and saw the tacos al pastor and tacos carnitas. I can't help it...I love deliciously prepared pig. My friend has only have pork twice in her life and she hated it. I was shocked...appalled even. Then I asked her if her mom prepared pork chops or something growing up and that was what she was exposed to. Sure enough I was right. I told her in the most loving way possible that a Jewish woman was probably not the person you wanted to introduce you to pork. If I was anywhere else I probably would have suggested bacon as the new introduction to pork, as no one hates bacon :-) But today I went with carnitas. Needless to say she loved it and ordered her own tacos carnitas. For the more adventurous American foodie or for those who have have grown up eating all sort of pork; you can get your heart's desire of pig parts.











La Cocina at Pro's Ranch Market on Urbanspoon

Friday, June 3, 2011

Stacks

I love pancakes & waffles.  A tradition on my father's side of the family is to cook fried bacon into fresh buttermilk pancakes or waffles.  I am a fan of bacon but not in my pancakes.  When sitting in a hotel trying to figure out what my tummy was craving & nothing looking good, I finally saw them.  Pancakes but not just any pancakes.  They were baked apple pancakes.

Stacks of cakes w/ fresh granny smith apples inside covered w/ Sugarman Vermont Maple syrup.  They were amazing & hit the spot.  I took this picture to send to my grandfather as he was enjoying his own bacon stuffed pancakes 1500 miles away :-)