Smitty's Cafe and Bakery: Brenham

Smitty’s Café has become our new go to place in Brenham.  Located in an out of the way location near the Brenham High School, Smitty’s Café serves hamburgers and comfort food with daily specials.  Large cedar benches and tables wait for you to sit awhile.  Service is young and vibrant.  Smitty’s offers baked goods that change daily, and sometimes, they are completely absent.

On this Saturday, we stopped in for a hamburger.  My husband says this is the best burger in town.  It is good, but for my likings, the thick beef patty tends to be on the dry side.  I order the Firecracker burger with queso, jalapenos, and pico de gallo.  Served on a sweet home style bun, the heat, the meat, and the sweet combines beautifully into a mouthful of happiness.

BUT, the real winner at Smitty’s is the home made potato chips.  They are perfectly fried and perfectly dried- not greasy at all.  They are given a dash of what tastes like Tony’s seasoning salt.  Unfortunately, in recent visits, they have coated the chips with too much salt.  You might want to encourage just a dash.

Other notable dishes that I have tried yet forgot to photo have been the chicken tenders.  The tenders are huge with the lightest batter ever- it barely stays on and it fries up deep brown.  Very good.  I didn’t care for the cream gravy- not a lot of taste to it. 

The side dish of okra and tomatoes ROCKS.  It tastes just like my mom’s- lots of black pepper and bacon.  The side dish of green beans is great too.  More like haricot veins sautéed with onions and bacon in bacon grease- though I like to think it’s olive oil.

Overall, we really like Smitty’s Café.  The food is always good though we would suggest that they purchase a heat lamp.  We have had some cold plates come out, but they have always been happy to rectify the situation.  Plus, I would encourage the staff to quiet down about the karaoke from the night before.  It makes me laugh to hear yall laughing and giggling and belting out songs, but not everyone finds it as entertaining.

So, the next time you are in the Brenham area, use your GPS to find Smitty’s Café.  It is a little hidden gem that will make you smile.

Smitty’s Café & Bakery

1600 North Park Street

Benham, Texas 77833

979/277-1133

www.eatatsmittys.wix.com

Walton's Fancy and Staple: Austin

Have you ever been to one of those places where you walk in and feel at home?  Walton’s is one of those places.  It is the sister restaurant to Bess Bistro.  Walton’s has a Parisian air about- whether it is the quaint bistro tables, the fresh flowers from the in house florist, or the fresh baked breads and croissants- not to mention the cupcakes, cookies, and other tasty morsels.

I have been to Walton’s a few times.  This morning, I tried a moist blueberry muffin with a streusel top.  It was quite good and filled with some of the freshest and biggest blueberries that I have ever seen.  My counter part tried the white cheddar ham croissant, and said, “It was out of this world.”

In addition, I got a strawberry Danish, a chocolate chunk cookie, and a carrot cupcake.  Everything has not disappointed.  On previous visits, I have tried the Tiramisu Cupcake that was quite moist and surprising with an Italian Cream center.  The cinnamon bun is to die for.  It is pure bliss with just enough sugar- definitely worth a try. 

Walton’s is open for breakfast and lunch.  Their lunch menu consists of salads, soups, and sandwiches.  Thursday and Friday nights they are open until 8.  Walton’s has created a loyal follower.  Definitely stop on by, I promise you will want to linger.

Walton’s Fancy and Staple

609 East 6^th Street

Austin, Texas 78701

512/542-3380

http://www.waltonsfancyandstaple.com/

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

Cisco's Restaurant & Bakery: Austin

Rumor has it that you could come to Cisco's before a UT game and get a Bloody Mary before 10 am.  How could you not like a place like that?  How could you not like seeing Texas's Power sitting among the locals?  How can you not like a big circular table with one red phone in the middle of it- Who you gonna call?  And, who cares if celebrities even stop in?????

A trip to Austin without a trip to Cisco's is sacri-relig for this girl.  On this early morning, I found out something pretty critical.  Cisco's doesn't open until 7 am, so hit that snooze button a few more times.
We have always sat in the back room, so walk on through the bakery portion, turn right, and turn right again.

This morning, I am alone in the room filled with memorabilia of early Austin, UT, and how life used to be.  I order my usual: a coffee and two breakfast tacos with potato, bacon, and cheese.  I always forget that they don't give you a lot of salsa, so ask for extra.

Local politicos pile in, and the topic on their mind is Rick Perry and his race for the Presidency.  It's a great place to be nosey, but then again, it wasn't like they were whispering!  I enjoyed my two breakfast tacos: boiled red potatoes, the crispiest bacon just the way i like it, the cheese, and the slightly sour salsa- maybe a hint of vinegar.  Definitely, a great way to start the day!

Everyone should get to experience Cisco's in their lifetime.  It's definitely an experience.  Plus, it makes you realize that Austin isn't just weird because places like Cisco's makes it pretty dang cool.

Cisco's Restaurant & Bakery
1511 East Sixth Street
Austin, Texas 78702
512/478-2420

Bake Cupcakes: Longview

I  finally found Bake Cupcakes, and I am so glad that I did.  Located in an older strip shopping center at Evergreen and Gilmer Road, the cute pink and black sign invites you in.  I actually arrived just before 11, so some of the cupcakes were not even ready!  Oh, but the ones that were.....

I tried an assortment: Fluff-N-Nutty, Snickerdoodle, Grandma's Birthday Cake, and Black and White. 

Where should I start?  From bottom up, the Snickerdoodle was like eating pure sugar.  The cinnamon swirled cake was covered with the most sugary icing ever.  It was actually hard to eat due to the sweetness.  Spend your money else where- see below.

The black and white was your typical moist black cupcake with a cream cheese icing with crumbled chocolate chips chunks on top.  It was good, but not great.

Grandma's Birthday Cake was really good.  It was a yellow cake with vanilla icing and sprinkles.  It was quite tasty!

The OMG star went to the Fluff-n-Nutty!  The chocolate cake was so moist, and then there was a surprise- marshmallow cream in the middle- wow!  To top it off, peanut butter icing and a marshmallow.  All I can say is that I have a new love: peanut butter icing!  It was to die for.

Bake Cupcakes has a new fan.  All of their cakes were moist and visually pleasing.  And, for the most part, they were pretty dang good!!!!  Their cupcake menu changes, so you can try something new each day.  See their website for the menu.  The next time you are in Longview, check Bake Cupcakes out.  You will not be disappointed.

Bake Cupcakes
1111 Evergreen
Longview, Texas
903/295-1212
http://www.bake-cupcakes.com/

Halepaska's Bakery: Victoria, Texas

Serving Victoria since 1953, Halepaska’s claims that they “offer the FINEST QUALITY baked goods from the freshest ingredients.”  Halepaska’s Bakery is a usual stop on my trips to Victoria since I love their chocolate thumbprint cookies.

When you walk into Halepaska’s Bakery, the Loop location, it is a little overwhelming.  The coolers on the right have so much to chose from, and the ladies behind them are eager to get you your heart’s desires.

Today, I chose an array of sweets: a chocolate thumbprint cookie, a coconut macaroon, a white petit four, an apricot kolache, and a chocolate pecan chewy.  There’s nothing like a healthy breakfast to go with the pot of coffee that I just drank!

Where do we start?  My thumb obviously squashed the chocolate thumbprint as I was trying to pull it out of the sack.  This shortbread cookie was not what I remembered- I thought it was a sugar cookie.  Anyways, the shortbread cookie seemed to be pecan shortbread that was crisp, buttery, and good.  I didn’t not care for the chocolate icing for the thumbprint.  It tasted like it was typical canned icing piped onto the cookie.  Not a good start for the array.

Next: the apricot kolache: YUMMY.  It was light, buttery, not too sweet, and just really good.  

The coconut macaroon was INCREDIBLE.  It was so light and fluffy- probably from lots of egg whites (but, I will not think about that due to my aversion to eggs).  I have never had anything like it, and I will say it is the best coconut macaroon that I have EVER had. 

I am totally pushing my sugar limit and definitely over the calorie count, but I take one for the team and move onto the petit four.  I REALLY wish bakeries would make bite size petit fours.  I will say this white cake petit four was extremely good.  The cake was light and had a great butter taste while the icing was just right.  It was one of the better petit fours that I have had.

And, now the winner is- drum roll please.  The chocolate pecan chewy was the bomb.  WOW, this cookie was better than the coconut macaroon.  It was like a chocolate divinity.  Light, fluffy and melted in your mouth.  This cookie is my NEW favorite at Halepaska’s!

As you have already figured out, I am a big fan of Halepaska’s Bakery.  Out with the old favorite, and in with two new ones.  I think you are missing out if you don’t check out Halepaska’s Bakery when you are in the Victoria area.

Halepaska’s Bakery

5805 John Stockbauer Dr                                                    302 East Rio Grande St

Victoria, TX 77904                                                               Victoria, TX 77901

361/575-4715                                                                       361/573-4811

     www.halepaskasbakery.com

Haby's Alsatian Bakery: Castroville, Texas

Serving Medina County since 1974 and located in Historic Castroville,  I have really mixed views on Haby's Alsatian Bakery.  I had stopped here long ago, and I really didn't care for it.  I decided to try it again.  As a bakery, today's selection is limited to cookies mostly.  There is a large selection of cookies.  On this day, I decided to try a chocolate chip, coconut macaroon, and a peanut butter cookie.  All of the cookies were good, but not great.  Everything was moist with a good taste, but there really isn't much I can say because nothing was really notable. 

Personally, I think if you don't stop, you are not really missing much.  If you do stop, you will find just so-so cookies.  They do have donuts and fresh breads, so maybe these are their gems and worth the stop.  As usual, Maddie the Mad Dog liked everything she tried, but then again, she was just happy that the peanut butter wasn't sticking to the roof of her mouth.

Haby's Alsatian Bakery
207 US Highway 90 East
Castroville, TX 78009
(830) 931-2118
http://www.habysbakery.com/

Moose Market: Longview, Texas

It was a dreary Monday morning when I drove past Moose Market.  I made a quick U-Turn, and decided to give it a try.  I found it peculiar that there was a trash dumpster in the middle of their driveway.  Was this a sign?  Plus, it looked like the place wasn’t open, and my elderly eyes couldn’t read the hours of operation.  I entered to find a dimly lit place that I didn’t know if it wanted to be open for breakfast or not.  I finally yelled for help.

A very nice woman entered and began accommodating my wishes.  Breakfast is VERY limited.  Today, it was a choice of Quiche or Biscuits and Gravy.  I chose the blueberry muffin and a cup of coffee.  Just to get my order to the $5 minimum for a credit card, I got a piece of Moose Cake to go. 

They didn’t even have coffee made, so she made a fresh pot for me.  The blueberry muffins were placed into the microwave in a Styrofoam container to warm them.  It became very obvious that lunch was the meal to come here for- specializing in comfort food from chicken and dumplings to tortilla soup.

The blueberry muffins were just average.  They tasted like they were made from the Duncan Hines muffin mix.  And, to know that they were nuked in the Styrofoam container topped it off.  I couldn't even bear to picture the blueberry muffins.

The Moose cake is a chocolate cake with layers of pecans, toasted coconut, and marshmallow cream- I think that’s what it was.  It was similar to an Upside Down German Chocolate Cake.  The cake was moist, but it was not sweet- more along the lines of a bittersweet style.  I wasn’t overly impressed with the creation.

I think the real gem to Moose Market is their lunch.  They should just skip breakfast because it was a total non-event.  Their lunch menu featured wraps, soups, salads,  and other daily comfort food specials.  If you go to Moose Market, just make it for lunch because breakfast will disappoint you.

Moose Market

1403 Clearwood -@ Gilmer Road (Hwy 300)
Longview, TX 75604

(903) 753-8300

Rao's Bakery: Beaumont, Texas

Rao's Bakery is like an institution in Beaumont.  Started in 1941, Rao's Bakery has been offering Beaumontians the sweetest of sweets ranging from cookies, gelato, pastries, and everything in between.  They even have King Cakes just in time for Mardi Gras.

On this rainy, dreary morning, I decided I needed a large cup of coffee and a blueberry muffin.

I don't think I can do justice to this blueberry muffin.  It was just pure bliss.  It was moist through and through, completely loaded with blueberries, and just sweet enough.  When I was finished, I wished I had another one.

I picked up a few cupcakes too, so I grab one white and one black:

                                                                                                

 

Although really cute and you got a surprise in the middle of it, I was really disappointed with the cupcakes.  The cakes were just typical fare- not real moist and not real tasty.  The icing was just normal whipped icing that gets to you after a few bites.  You can definitely skip these treats.

Rao's is a must if you are coming through Beaumont.  With 4 convenient locations in the Beaumont-Port Arthur area and one in Spring, Texas, whip in and pick up a muffin or any of their other desserts.  Trust me, it is truly hard to decide, but now you know the one thing you can skip. 

Rao's Bakery

2596 Calder Avenue

Beaumont, Texas 77702

409/832-4342

http://www.raosbakery.com/

The Butcher Shop: Longview

Oh my, I am like a child in a candy store, but I happen to be in the Butcher Shop.  It is early morning, and I am perusing the cakes, muffins, cookies, and everything sweet in between.   This morning, I got a blueberry muffin to go with my coffee.

It was wonderful- light and fluffy, filled with blueberries, and a hint of butter- maybe brushed on top before baking to give it its golden color.  It obviously had just come out of the oven because it was still warm.

In addition, I treated myself to two other yummy delights: a white petit four and an Italian cream cupcake.  It is my 39th birthday after all. 

The white cake petit four was just pure bliss reminding me of my college days in Fort Worth.  Delicious light white cake surrounded by a not too sugary white icing.  This petit four was dressed for Valentine's Day, and even the pink "Love" icing was a nice blend of sugar without that overwhelming sweet taste.

The Italian cream cupcake seemed to be a butter cake with pecans mixed into the batter.  The cake was on the drier side but still very edible.  The frosting was a nice blend of cream cheese and sour cream but a little too dense for my liking.  The cupcake was topped off with chopped pecans and roasted coconut.  Of all of the sweets, this was my least favorite.

I have become a HUGE fan of the Butcher Shop Bakery.  I am told that they have one mean burger here, or if you want a steak, they will cut it right in front of you.  I will definitely have to come back the next time I am in Longview.  

So, if your plans bring you to Longview, check out the Butcher Shop.  It is definitely worth the stop whether it is breakfast, lunch or dinner.

The Butcher Shop

102 LeHigh (Off of Spur 63/McCann Rd)

Longview, Texas 75601

903/758-6066

http://www.butchershopbakery.com/home.nxg