Jaymes

Si. Que lastima, Pobrecita.

Yeah, and it'd be hard to disguise that smell. That's a whole 'nother hilarious post to write -- someone trying to smuggle in tamales. I'm sure there are wonderful tamales to be had in San Antonio and, for that matter, all along your route, but I don't know where they are. I do know that if you take 281 north out of San Antonio heading toward Marble Falls, you will come to Highway 71 which takes you east into Austin and, therefore, past Rosie's Tamale House, which will be on the right-hand side of the highway as you approach the intersection with 620. They're pretty darn good. And that drive along 281 is much more pleasant and scenic than I35, which I hate. There is always some sort of construction, and if there's a wreck, which there often is, you can sit for hours. On 281, you'll pass through Blanco and Johnson City, two charming small Texas towns, which will be all dressed up for the holidays. A short jaunt to the west off of 281 is Fredericksburg, and the Hilltop Cafe and the Rather Sweet Bakery. And then you turn east on 71, which rolls and curls along the hills next to the lake, and eventually comes to Rosie's -- on the right will be the small tamale stand where she got her start, and on the left will be the large Mexican restaurant that her success at the small stand made possible. Yep. 281 to 71 to Rosie's. That's what I'd do. Hell, let me know when you're coming and if I'm in Austin, I'll meet you there. Is it the 17th??

I'd love that recipe.... If you have time and are comfortable. (That last was just a nostalgic bit for the oldtimers. )

My daughter had the t-shirt with that on it. It was pretty funny, just like you say.

This time of year, I particularly like it whipped with maple sugar and vanilla. It's perfect to top the kinds of pies that are popular now -- pumpkin, pecan, etc., as well as things like banana nut breads, cranberry breads, and that kind of thing. And it ain't bad eatin' either. I also like the Mexican cream, called "crema," that you can buy in small bottles in the dairy case.

Thanks.

Look. Here's the deal. My daughter (25) and her boyfriend (30) are visiting New York. A friend (that is not me) has given them a gift certificate for $300 for Tavern on the Green. My daughter has not been raised to be rude or ungrateful. She's not going to tell her friend that, frankly, Tavern on the Green isn't good enough. She's going. She asked me to ask my "friends on eGullet" what to order. Now, if I were coming to New York, and asking my "friends on eGullet" which restaurants I should sample and which I should avoid, posts telling me that this restaurant or that stinks would be welcomed. But that is not the case. If anyone has anything helpful to share, I'd appreciate it. If not, well then, fine. I'll just tell her that I didn't find out anything and that she and her boyfriend are on their own.

Fine. I'll tell them to resist the urge to invite you to join them.

High praise indeed. I'll share that thought with her. On second thought, perhaps I won't. She and her boyfriend were given this gift certificate by someone for Christmas. The gift-giver told her he had selected Tavern on the Green because it is "so beautiful and romantic." They can't exchange it. They're going. So, what should they order?

Hummm... Er... Do you have any more helpful advice???

My daughter has received a very generous gift certificate for dinner at Tavern on the Green. So what should she order?

Or, "EAT THESE FOODS AND LOSE WEIGHT!"

Speaking of chili, Huevos (if I may be so bold as to call you by your first name), I pulled up your chili recipe from the eGullet archives. It says, "1 Hunts tomato sauce or El Paso Green Chili Tomatoes." That prompts a few questions. First -- canned tomato sauce is considerably different than a chunky tomato and green chili mixture. Did you really mean that as an "OR" thing? Or as an "AND" thing. Second -- "1 Hunts tomato sauce." 1 WHAT "Hunts tomato sauce"? 1 can? 1 big can or little can? 1 cup? 1 gallon? Help me, Huevos. Help me.

Jaymes, This board is filled with poor, deprived Northerners who know not the goodness of peas and rice. I guess that explains that dreadful weather they have up there every single dang year.

Goodness... Where on earth are y'all from? Of course you have to eat black-eyed peas on New Years, or you'll have bad luck. The hamhocks are totally incidental. They're just used to season up the "lucky" peas. That's how all of us in the south were raised. Even when I was a kid and hated black-eyed peas, us young'uns had to eat at least one pea for luck. To this day, I can't get through New Year's without feeling like I have to eat at least one. But you don't have to cook them. Down here in Texas, we have something called "Texas Caviar," which is a relish made with black-eyed peas. They're pickled, along with jalapenos, onions, etc., and served on crackers. They work just as well.

Interesting question. I, too, have never thought of BBQ as "fast food," but it does meet my definition, now that I think about it. I can walk into my fave local BBQ joint and ask for a "sliced beef sandwich," and walk out five minutes later eating one of the best meals on the planet. So from that standpoint, ya gotta say it's "fast."

Thanks again for the compliments..... There really is something special and different about the place, isn't there? So hard to wrap your intellect around just exactly what it is. I get all choked up when I think about it. Sniff.

Since this thread is bagel-centric, and since the "sharp lady named Jennifer" that Luggage mentions below has joined us, thought I'd lift the following post in its entirety from the "Austin Get-Together" thread. Thanks for the tip on Bagel Works -- Fitz (a/k/a the lovely Mrs. Luggage) and I went there for breakfast this morning, since we live reasonably close by (well, less than 10 miles/20 minutes away) and were curious. We were both impressed by the northeastern-ness of this restaurant, which wouldn't be a remarkable bagelry in NY or NJ, but for Cedar Park, well...I had scrambled eggs on an onion bagel with sausage, and Fitz had a 'bialy benedict' (egg over easy, ham and hollandaise) and we both had coffee and the bill came to under $9, and we left happy. We also ended up having an extended chat with the owner (who came out to see who the people were who'd actually come there as a destination; I'd phoned ahead for directions). She's a sharp lady named Jennifer who left the big bad corporate world and started up the bagel place four months ago in the Railyard shopping center (with actual vintage rail cars on view, resting on the tracks that border the place). Jennifer is from north Jersey, and we discovered that Fitz had once lived a few blocks from where she did in the same town (though they weren't there at the same time). According to Jennifer, Cedar Park broke ground this very day on what will be a "Disneyesque" town center with a new city hall, Milburn homes and other trimmings. Order out of chaos is in the offing; will Cedar Park become known as "CP," the new, hip destination in the Hill Country? Anyway, the Bagel Works already has a core of regulars and weekend breakfasts/brunches can get crowded. We'll definitely be back -- I have an eye on the Greek bagel pocket (eggs, spinach and feta cheese), among other things.

Memesuze. I know where you live, so you can take my advice here seriously. Grow your own Meyer's Lemon Tree. That's what I do. Out on my little deck. In fact, I think you saw it. I always get lots of lemons every year. The only tricky part is to be sure to cover it if there's a hard freeze. You can find them at most of our local area plant nurseries. I bought mine about eight years ago at Red Barn. Since I've had such smashing success with mine, that has become my favorite gift for plant-loving friends. At least four such friends now have their own trees that present them with lemons each year.

Had a wonderful lunch today at Bagel Works up in Cedar Park, and want to again sing the praises of this place. My friend and I went and we had the dried tomato bagels with dried tomato cream cheese and lox and "the works." Also, an absolutely delicious soup -- a smooth, sublime and creamy chicken jalapeno. All of you that are hungering for good bagels here in Texas should at least give this place a shot.

Let me repeat this: KOI PALACE I have quite a few Chinese friends, and this is their unequivocal favorite. Nothing else in the Bay Area seems to come close. One young woman's mother even comes from China to eat there. PS - In Chinatown, R&G Lounge is another favorite.

PS -- Wonderful post, and I would love a Texas Tamalada.

I remember the days of Green & White Grocery in Austin. You had to order well in advance if you wanted any tamales for the holidays. The first year we were in Austin, 1990, we were clueless about this procedure. Everyone just told us that Green & White was the place to get them. I stupidly thought that we could just drive up in the car and stand in line for a minute or two and walk out with our treasure. Hahahahaha. We walked out with nothing. All through our drive home, I was concocting my "big lie" that I would use on the telephone as soon as we arrived home. I can't remember now what it was, but I think it somehow involved a death in the family. And when I sent my sons back in the car to collect our booty, the cook with whom I had spoken passed the tamales surreptitiously out the back door so that the "boss" wouldn't see him. Rest assured that the following years I telephoned my order in well in advance! Now I go to Rosie's Tamale House, and they're good, but they sure ain't the same, verdad.

I have an idea that I'm tres glad I'm not you! And I also have an idea that if I were you, I'd say something like, "I know I can't possibly match Mama in the kitchen, so let's all go out."