Roadhouse: Bastrop

In honor of the year anniversary of the devastating wildfires, I chose to spend my money today in Bastrop, Texas.  I used to spend alot of time in Bastrop back before there was really anything here.  I did my graduate field work here, and needless to say there wasn't much available for restaurants. 

Things have changed, and a great little place is the Roadhouse, located on Highway 21 heading across from Bastrop State Park.  Voted as the best burger in Bastrop County for 8 years running, I had to stop, but I am going to try something other than a burger.

The menu is extensive from sandwiches to salads to burgers served on Shelia Partin's sweet sourdough.  Today, I am going for the Lydia Sandwich: blacken chicken topped with pepper jack cheese, banana peppers, pico de gallo, and fresh avocado slices on a hoagie roll. 

When my sandwich comes out, it's as colorful as spring in the Texas Hill Country.  My mouth starts watering at the sight of the fresh avocados, the banana peppers, and the mound of crunchy french fries.  After the first bite, I knew I had made the right diversion into this amazing sandwich.  It totally rocked!  The fries were great too- cooked just right with the slightest of seasoning- and they were perfect with Ranch dressing. 

This sandwich is large, so plan on a getting a to go box.  However, I am not going to guarantee the safe arrival to home since the ingredient mixture of this sandwich creates a constant craving in your mouth.  I will confess it didn't make it to dinner!  I give the roadhouse a thumbs up.  The crowd is a great mixture of golfers, fisherman, Austin weird to Texas normal, and DPS troopers.

Bastrop:

As previously mentioned, in 2011, Bastrop County suffered from one of the most devastating wildfires in the State of Texas.  Over 1600 homes burned charring over 30,000 acres, Bastrop is known to be one of Texas' oldest settlements originally called Mina.  More than 130 historic structures are located in Bastrop.  The Bastrop Advertiser, the local newspaper, is the oldest weekly newspaper in Texas.  Located just 25 miles South of Austin, Bastrop has become a poplar bedroom community of Austin.

Bastrop has everything from fishing to shopping to fine dining.  Sites to see: Bastrop State Park- the site of my master's thesis: Forest Stand Dynamics of an Upland Forest Ecosystem (copies available for some light reading); Bastrop Opera House; Bastrop County Historical Society Museum; LCRA's McKinney Roughs Nature Park; numerous golf courses; and numerous shops and fine dining in Downtown (one day Tasty Texas Travels will invade).  I particularly like the Blue Donkey Gallery for hand painted pottery.  And, of course, don't forget the Roadhouse on Highway 21!

Roadhouse
2804 Hwy 21
Bastrop, Texas 78602
www.roadhousebastrop.com
512/321-1803

Old Towne General Store: Nacogdoches

Today, I find myself in downtown Nacogdoches looking for a place to eat an early lunch.  My first choice had a mechanical issue, so they were closed for the day.  I stumbled on Old Towne General Store on the Square.  If you have never been to downtown Nacogdoches, you’re truly missing out.

You walk into a revived old building with little trinkets in the front like candles, jarred goods, and t-shirts.  The deli is in the back of the building, and you can smell the baked potatoes as you walk up.  There is a glass cold case with sweet temptations, and a cauldron of chili crying out to you.

Choose from the menu on the wall.  Your choices range from stuffed spuds, soups, salads, and sandwiches.  Today, I try the grilled pimento cheese sandwich on my choice of bread- sour dough.

The panini like sandwich comes out with a pickle spear.  First off, the bread doesn’t taste like sourdough, but more like a honey wheat- it is sweet not sour like sourdough.  The pimiento cheese is strong on the mayo and lacking pimentos, but it has a nice blend of cheeses.  Overall, it is pretty good, but not the best!  The pickle spear is awesome.  It has a nice dill taste with a peppery kick.  It actually tastes like it is home made.

To top off the lunch, I go back for a sweet.  I grab a chocolate chip and peanut butter cookie to go.  I was extremely disappointed in the cookies- they were hard and tasted old.  Save your money, and skip the cookies.

Overall, I liked Old Towne General Store.  It is an eclectic mix of tattoos and sorority girl.  It would be a great place to meet up before heading out to the numerous shops on the square.  Check it out if you get a chance.

Old Towne General Store

205 E Main Street

Nacogdoches, TX  75961

936/560-3210

Hester's Cafe: Corpus Christi

Every once in awhile you find a place, and it just feels like home.  In Corpus, that place is Hester's Cafe.  Park on the backside and next to the Blue Frog Emporium, enter Corpus Christi's coolest, funky little cafe.  I have come for breakfast on another dreary morning, but once inside Hester's, it is pure sunshine.  The atmosphere is bright and cheery.  The staff is super nice and patient.  The place is packed like a local neighborhood joint.

When you don't eat eggs, breakfast is sometimes a challenge.  Today, I order the Blueberry Belgian Waffles with fresh roasted coffee poured into a really large coffee mug just like at home.

These waffles ROCK!  They were so yummy.  Served with fresh fruit, these super light, fluffy, and filled with FRESH blueberries made this little girl very happy.  My only complaint is that a place Hester's should have REAL whipped butter not little packets from Land of Lakes!  But, I will let them slide since I have found a great new place!

If you have a chance, make sure you go to Hester's Cafe.  The food is yummy.  The coffee is large.  And, it will put a smile on your face!  I could have hung out all day here- it's just one of those kind of places!  Don't miss it!

Hester's Cafe
361/885-0558
1710 S Alameda St
Corpus Christi, TX 78404
www.hesterscafe.com

The Lunchbox Cafe: Galveston

Back to the the heat and humidity of Texas, we're off to the Lunchbox Café.  It is a little hard to find due to the construction.  Located on 23^rd Avenue, this little spot is booming on this Monday afternoon.  We ended up having to clear a table for ourselves since the waitress was so overwhelmed taking orders.

We decided to try the Dad’s Pimiento Cheese for an appetizer.  Served with potato chips, this pimento cheese seemed creamier and more sophisticated than most pimento cheeses.  An assortment of shredded cheeses- one had to be a smoked style, fresh dill, and garlic aioli graced this dip.

Next we move onto a variety of sandwiches: for me, the Tomato Caprese on a French baguette and for my friend, the Harvest Turkey.  The Tomato Caprese was OK.  It was slim on the mozzarella and tomatoes but overflowing with super fresh organic field greens.  The  basil pesto tasted good, but the baguette should have been toasted. 

The Harvest Turkey was served on honey bread with a cranberry , garlic, pecan pesto.  Once again, the organic field greens covered much of the sandwich.  Overall, the sandwich was good.

In the end, we both walked out with a cookie.  My chocolate chip cookie was terrible- too dry and hard.  My counterparts lemon drop cookie was just fair too.

The Lunchbox Café is a cute, quaint place to go.  Although it wasn’t the best place that I have eaten at, it was pretty good.  The food is very fresh.  It is more of a Chick Place, and I would probably return if I was back in Galveston.  It's a nice diversion from the more touristy places on the Strand.

The Lunchbox Café

213 23^rd Street

Galveston, TX

409/770-0044

http://www.thelunchboxcafegalveston.com/

Pie in the Sky Pie Company: Conroe & The Heights

Well, to finish this extremely hot Friday off, I decided to go to Pie in the Sky Pie Company in Conroe.  Afterall, it's on my way home, and I had read about their Cake Balls which really intrigued me.  The Conroe location is not too easy to get to, but you can access it from the Loop 336 South of Hwy 105 and West of I-45.

At the Conroe location, Pie in the Sky offers breakfast, salads, sandwiches, wraps, and of course pie.  You can also order casseroles to go from King Ranch Chicken to Lasagna.  Today, I am on a quest for Cake Balls.  They have Italian Cream and Chocolate with Chocolate Icing.  I opt for two of each, and a white cupcake with white icing.

I know this picture does not do these treats justice, but take my word.......  The Italian Cream Cake Ball was incredible.  The cake inside was super moist, and the hard bark like coating was perfect in sweetness.  Next, I had to try the Chocolate Cake Ball.  Pure bliss for chocaholics!  Once again the cake was super moist, and the coating was pefection.   I did wait until after dinner to eat the cupcake- ok, it was my dinner.  The icing wasn't too sweet- just right in fluff and sugar.  The cake was slightly drier than I would have like, but overall, it was quite tasty.

I have a new love and it isn't pie, but Pie in the Sky's Cake Balls.  I am already planning on taking them to a dinner in a few weeks, and I have told all of my friends about them.  I can't tell you if anything else is good, but I can tell you that these cake balls will put a smile on your face.  Stop off the next time you are in Conroe or in the Heights, and pick up a few.... dozen.

Pie in the Sky Pie Company                                                             Pie in the Sky Pie Company
3600 N Loop 336 W                                                                      632 W 19th Street
Conroe, Texas 77304                                                                     Houston, Texas 77008
936/760-3301                                                                                713/864-3301
                                                  
                                                http://www.pieintheskypieco.com/