Monday, November 21, 2011

Austin Itinerary

Thanksgiving Week in Austin

21st Monday
Check-In @ Zilker Diggs (3pm)
         1119 Bluebonnet Lane, Austin, TX 

The Oasis (dinner)
6550 Comanche Trail, Austin, TX  78732
                        From Downtown Austin:
Take 6th St to Mopac (loop 1). Head North on Mopac. Exit 2222. Take a left onto 2222 and stay in the right lane. Take 2222 to 620. Take a left onto 620. The first light you come to is Comanche Trail, take a right. Follow that up and we are on the left.

22nd Tuesday
Halcyon (breakfast)
         218 West 4th Street, Austin, TX  78701

Walk around The Drag/UT

Frank (lunch)
4th & Colorado, Austin, TX 78701


Lyndon B. Johnson museum (during EB’s nap)
         2313 Red River Street, Austin, TX  78701

Coyote Ugly (5-6pm)
         501A East 6th Street, Austin, TX 78701
         corner of Neches Street

Lambert’s (dinner)
         401 West 2nd Street, Austin, TX  78701

23rd Wednesday
Austin Segway City Tour (9:30am)
         20 North IH 35, Austin, TX  78701 (512) 495-9250
             (Holiday Inn Austin Town Lake)

Food Trucks (lunch)
         Various locations downtown

Hike up Mount Bonnell
         3800 Mount Bonnell Drive, Austin, TX 78731

Parkside (dinner)
         301 East 6th Street, Austin, TX  78701
         corner of 6th & San Jacinto

24th Thursday
Zilker Park/Barton Springs/Hike and Bike Trail
         2100 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX        

Whole Foods Thanksgiving (pick up dinner between 11:30-12:00pm)
         525 North Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX  78703

B. D. Riley’s (watch A&M and t u game)
         204 East 6th Street, Austin, TX  78701

25th Friday
Depart by 11am

Shady Grove (lunch)
1624 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX  78704
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Monday, September 5, 2011

Places to Eat in Houston

I found a website that lists the best restaurants in Houston and I want to try them out.  Here is the list.  Erik and I plan to try at least one of these restaurants per month.  I have already tried Americas and Max's Wine Dive and I can attest to the fact that they are AWESOME.

http://www.visithoustontexas.com/media/accolades/Culinary 


Américas (check)
  • Chef Michael Cordua named James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Restaurateur (2011).
  • Named Restaurant of the Year by Esquire (1993).
  • Named one of Texas Monthly's Top 10 Restaurants in Texas (2009)
  • Included on Gourmet magazine's list of 20 Burgers to Eat Before It's Too Late (2009).
Backstreet Cafe (check)
  • Sean Beck named Rising Star Sommelier by StarChefs.com (2011).
  • Chef Hugo Ortega was two-time guest chef at prestigious James Beard House
  • Received Wine Spectator Award of Excellence (2001-2010).
  • On Travel + Leisure's list of America's Best Fried Chicken (2010).
  • Named a Hot 10 Summer Blockbuster by bon appetit—considered the restaurant openings for Summer 2008 with marquee chefs and lots of buzz (2008).
  • Named by Texas Monthly as one of 10 "Where to Eat Now" restaurants in Texas (2011).
  • Chef David Grossman named a Houston Rising Star by StarChefs.com (2011).
  • Sticky Toffee Pudding named one of the five best desserts in America by GQ (2011).
  • Named one of the 10 best burger spots in America by Bon Appetit (2010).
  • Named by The Daily Beast as one of Winter's Hot New Restaurants (2010).
  • Spicy Chicken Salad sandwich featured in Metropolitan Home's feature on The Great American Sandwich (2009).
  • Named one of Zagat.com's best bets for breakfast in the U.S. (2010)
  • One of Four Finalists for Good Morning America's America's Best Breakfast (2010)
  • Included on Esquire magazine's list of the 59 Best Breakfast Places in America (2009).
  • Featured on Eater.com's list of Where to Eat Right Now (2011). 
  • Featured on Eater.com's list of Where to Eat Right Now (2011).
  • Featured on The Food Network's "Kid in a Candy Store" (2010).
  • Chef Michael Cordua named James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Restaurateur (2011).
  • Churrasco steak was included in Esquire's feature on the 20 Best Steaks in America (2008).
  • Chef Michael Cordua was inducted into Food & Wine's Hall of Fame (2008).
Ciao Bello
  • Featured in Esquire as one of 11 Restaurants You Don't Want to Miss (2010).
Da Marco (check)
  • Rated No. 29 in Gourmet's list of America's Top 50 restaurants (2006).
  • Listed on Gourmet's list of "Places We're Talking About" (2008).
  • Named one of the top pizzerias in the country by Every Day with Rachael Ray (2010).
Feast (check)
  • James Silk and Richard Knight named James Beard Award semifinalists for Best Chef: Southwest (2010).
  • Featured in USA Today as one of "10 great places to savor winter's flavors" (2009).
  • James Beard Award semifinalist for Best New Restaurant (2009).
  • Featured as one of the "Big Three" best meals in the USA by GQ magazine (2009).
  • Included on Travel + Leisure's list of the 50 Best New U.S. Restaurants (2009).
  • Included on Bon Appetit's list of the Top 10 Best New U.S. Restaurants (2009).
  • Hailed by The New York Times as "one of the country's outstanding newcomers" (2009).
  • Listed in USA Today as one of 10 great places to welcome prosperity for the Chinese New Year (2009).
  • Featured on Eater.com's list of Where to Eat Right Now (2011).
  • James Beard Award Semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurateur (2010).
  • James Beard Award Semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurateur (2009).
  • Listed in USA Today as one of "10 Great Places to Chow Down on Barbecue" (2006).
  • Campechana Extra was featured in Garden & Gun's list of 100 Things You Simply Must Eat Before You Die (2008).
  • Named one of Esquire magazine's Best New Restaurants in America (1990).
Haven (check)
  • Named by Texas Monthly as one of 10 "Where to Eat Now" restaurants in Texas (2011).
  • Chef Randy Evans named a Rising Star Community Chef by StarChefs.com (2011).
  • Named one of Southern Living's best new restaurants in their 2010 Best of the South Travel Awards.
  • Named one of the 20 best new restaurants in the U.S. by Esquire (2010).
Hugo's (check)
  • Sean Beck named Rising Star Sommelier by StarChefs.com (2011).
  • Named one of the top 5 Mexican restaurants in Texas by Texas Monthly (2010).
  • Recipient of Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence (2003-2010).
  • Anjou pear mojito featured in Food & Wine Cocktails (2007).
  • Recipient of the Wine & Spirits Hospitality & Cooking Award by Sante magazine (2002, 2006, 2007).
  • Named Best Drinks by Playboy (2005).
  • Featured on Gourmet's list of Where to Eat Now in 30 American Cities (2004).
  • Named one of the 8 Great Mexican Restaurants in America by Delta's SKY magazine (2004).
  • Named a Top Table by bon appetit (2003).
  • Featured by Gourmet as a Restaurant We Love (2003).
  • Chef Charles Clark competed against Mario Batali on Food Network's Iron Chef (2007).
  • Included on Food & Wine's The Go List for Best Wine Experience, featuring the 376 hottest restaurants around the world (2006).
  • Included on Travel + Leisure's list of the Best New American Restaurants (2004).
  • Charles Clark featured as an "engaging young chef" in Wine Spectator (2004).
  • Winner of the James Beard Foundation's America's Classics Award, as a "small, regional restaurant that has carved out a special place on the American culinary landscape" (2008). 
  • Chef Manabu "Hori" Horiuchi named a Houston Rising Star by StarChefs.com (2011).
  • Chef Seth Siegel-Gardner named a Houston Rising Star by StarChefs.com (2011). 
  • Featured on The Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (2010).
  • Named one of North America's 10 best Jewish delis by Maxim (2009).
  • Creme Brulee Bread Pudding made Food & Wine's list of the Best Restaurant Dishes of 2008.
  • Recipient of the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence (2005-2008).
  • Named Best New Restaurant of 2005 by Zagat.
  • Named one of Esquire magazine's Best New Restaurants in America (1991).
  • Featured on The Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (2010).
  • Included on Gourmet magazine's list of 20 Burgers to Eat Before It's Too Late (2009).
  • Listed among the top 10 restaurants in the U.S by the Zagat Survey (2007).
  • Named by Wine Spectator as one of the "brightest and most exciting new restaurants in America" (1998).
  • Named one of Esquire magazine's Best New Restaurants in America (1997).
Max's Wine Dive (check)
  • Named one of the "Hot 10" wine bars in the country by bon appetit (2008).
  • Named one of Texas Monthly's Top 10 Places to Eat Now (2008).
  • Named one of the best bars in America with very good food by Esquire (2010).
  • Included in Esquire's 2002 list of the Best New Restaurants in America.
  • Enchiladas de Tejas (cheese enchiladas with chili con carne) named one of the greatest "guy" foods in America by Men's Health magazine (2010).
Niko Niko's (check)
  • Featured on The Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (2010).
  • Recipient of AAA Four Diamond Award (2005-2009).
  • Rated as one of Robb Report's Best of the Best restaurants (2005).
  • Recipient of the 2010 Grand Award from Wine Spectator magazine, the highest award granted from the magazine.  It’s one of 78 restaurants in the world with this distinction, and the only holder of the award in Texas. 
  • Named one of the top 10 steakhouses in the U.S. by MSN.com (2008).
  • Featured on Eater.com's list of Where to Eat Right Now (2011).
  • Listed in Zagat's book of 200 Best Italian Restaurants in America (2008).
  • Received Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence for wine list (1998-2010).
  • Chef John Watt was two-time guest chef at prestigious James Beard House.
  • Called "Houston's best kept secret" by Money magazine (1993).
  • Named one of the top hotel restaurants in the country by Zagat and USA Today (2010).
  • Awarded four stars by the 2011 Forbes Travel Guide.
  • Recipient of the AAA Four Diamond Award (2002-2009).
  • Rated a four-star restaurant by the Mobil Travel Guide (2009).
  • Named one of America's top 10 new restaurants by MSN.com (2006).
  • Chef Robert Del Grande named a James Beard Award semifinaist for Outstanding Chef (2011).
  • Chef Robert Del Grande named a James Beard Award Semifinalist for Outstanding Chef (2010).
  • Rated by MSN.com and Gayot.com as one of the 10 best new U.S. restaurants (2010).
  • Featured on The Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (2010).
  • Named one of the 101 Best Restaurants in America by TheDailyMeal.com (2011).
  • Chef Bryan Caswell named Rising Star Restaurateur by StarChefs.com (2011).
  • Chef Bryan Caswell named James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: Southwest (2011).
  • Chef Bryan Caswell competed on The Food Network's The Next Iron Chef (2010).
  • Chef Bryan Caswell named James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: Southwest (2010).
  • Rated by MSN.com and Gayot.com as one of the 10 best seafood restaurants in the U.S. (2010)
  • James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: Southwest (2009).
  • Chef Bryan Caswell named one of six Texas Tastemakers in Saveur magazine (2009).
  • Included on Travel + Leisure's list of the 50 Best New U.S. Restaurants (2009).
  • Chef Bryan Caswell named one of Food & Wine's best new chefs of 2009.
  • Named the No. 1 seafood restaurant in American by bon appetit (2008).
  • Sriracha Remoulade was featured in Garden & Gun's list of 100 Things You Simply Must Eat Before You Die (2008).
  • Included in Continental Magazine's list of Five to Try (2007).
  • Recipient of the AAA Four Diamond Award (2002-2009).
  • Ranked in a Zagat Survey as one of the top 100 hotel restaurants in America, based on food quality, decor and service (2006).
Samba Grille
  • Featured on Eater.com's list of Where to Eat Right Now (2011).
  • Listed among Travel + Leisure's Best New American Restaurants (2004).
  • Named by Texas Monthly as one of 10 "Where to Eat Now" restaurants in Texas (2011).
  • Named one of the 10 best new Italian restaurants in the U.S. by Food & Wine (2010).
  • Chef Justin Basye named James Beard Award Semifinalist for Rising Star Chef of the Year (2010).
  • Chef Monica Pope was a contestant on the second season of Bravo's Top Chef Masters (2010).
  • Chef Monica Pope named one of six Texas Tastemakers by Saveur magazine (2009).
  • James Beard Award nominee, Best Chef/Southwest (2007).
  • Chef Monica Pope named by O, the Oprah Magazine the most creative chef in Houston (2006).
  • Listed among Travel + Leisure's Best New American Restaurants (2004).
  • Chef Monica Pope is the only Texas woman chef to be named a Food & Wine Best New Chef (1996).
  • Pecan pie is named one of five best mail order pies in America by Country Living magazine (2010).
  • Pumpecapple Piecake featured on Food Network's Outrageous Food.
  • Owner/chef Bobby Jucker competed in Food Network's Cake Challenge airing Fall 2011.
Tiny Boxwoods
  • Vanarin Kuch named a Rising Star Pastry Chef by StarChefs.com (2011). 
  • Included on Esquire's list of the top 10 destination restaurants in the U.S. (2011).
  • Recipient of the AAA Four Diamond Award (2002-2009).
  • Named one of the best U.S. Italian restaurants by ForbesTraveler.com (2008).
  • Named one of Esquire magazine's Best New Restaurants in America (2005).
  • Rated by MSN.com and Gayot.com as one of the 10 best steakhouses in the U.S. (2010)
  • Received an Award of Ultimate Distinction from Wine Spectator magazine for "impeccable service, outstanding food, alluring decor and imaginative and energetic wine programs" (2006).
  • Recognized by Food & Wine as one of ten new restaurants with a stellar wine list—the first time for a Houston restaurant to be included.
  • Included on Travel + Leisure's list of the 50 Best New U.S. Restaurants (2009).
  • Named one of Esquire magazine's Best New Restaurants in America (2008).
  • Featured on The Food Network's Meat & Potatoes (2011).
  • Chef Jamie Zelko named a Rising Star Sustainability Chef by StarChefs.com (2011).
  • Featured on Eater.com's list of Where to Eat Right Now (2011).
  • Named one of Texas Monthly's Top Best New Restaurants in Texas (2010).Restaurant Rankings
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Monday, July 25, 2011

Smelly Cologne Guy at the Gym

I just want to call out the old guy who had to get on the treadmill directly next to mine when there were a couple dozen other treadmills he could've gotten on, who had on so much cologne, I nearly gagged and choked.  I hope he was embarrassed when I said, "Jesus Christ!" under my breath (loud enough for him to hear it, of course), then pushed the red stop button on my treadmill, grabbed my keys, towel, iPhone, and glasses in a huff and moved 5 treadmills down from him.  If you're worried you're going to stink, then maybe you should buy a treadmill and stink at home.

Anyway, the rest of my running was uneventful.  Rocky Raccoon got me through the last quarter mile.  


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Sunday, July 10, 2011

The Napa Valley Vacation Itinerary

Wednesday, August 3rd

  • 6am (Central): Houston Hobby Airport departure
  • 10:35am (Pacific, from here on out all times will be Pacific): San Francisco arrival
  • Approximately 12:30pm: Lunch at The Presidio Social Club in San Francisco right by the Golden Gate Bridge
  • 2:00pm: Check in at The Napa Valley Marriott in a King Concierge Suite.
  • 5:00pm: Dinner reservations at Mustard's Grill in Yountville, CA.
  • Evening open for drinking in Napa and relaxing at the hotel.
Thursday, August 4th

Friday, August 5th

Saturday, August 6th

Sunday, August 7th

  • 10:00am: Farewell Wedding Brunch at the Mount View Hotel
  • 11:30am: Check out of hotel and drive to San Francisco
  • 3:35pm (Pacific): Flight Departure to Houston
  • 11:45pm (Central): Arrival at Houston Hobby
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Friday, July 8, 2011

Lea's Bucket List: 50 Things to Do Before I Die



1. Live like a local for a month. The experience of visiting native peoples will give you way more insight into another way of life than two years hopping from one backpacker ghetto to the next.
2. Surf. (check)
3. SCUBA in the Great Barrier Reef. The largest coral reef in the world is a must for dive enthusiasts. It is the world’s most unique aquatic environment.
4. Volunteer abroad for a month.
5. Follow in the footsteps of your favorite travel book. What better guide than a book that inspired you to travel in the first place? (check via Maui Revealed)
6. Follow your food from field to table. Most people in the world still eat what they have picked with their own hands. Why not get back to these basics?
7. Attend the Olympics. Whatever you say about the commercialism of the Olympic Games, they are one of the biggest events on the planet.
8. Go to Oktoberfest. The meeting of over 6 million beer afficionados and drinking song singers is one of the biggest parties in Europe.
9. Partake in a Japanese Tea Ceremony. This timeless tradition is at the heart of Japanese culture.
10. Take an African safari.
11. Visit the gravesite of Jim Morrison in Paris, France.
12. Skydive. (check)
13. Run a half-marathon.
14. Do a triathlon.
15. Try water skiing again and stay up this time!!!
16. Join a rowing club.
17. Learn to say, “I love you” in 50 different languages.
18. Choose a country and learn not only the language that is spoken there, but also study its customs, its cuisine, its art, and its history.
19. Go to an Andrea Bocelli opera concert.
20. Go to a Broadway Show in New York.
21. Learn to Belly Dance.
22. Jump from a cliff into deep water. (check, sort of)
23. Go white water rafting.
24. Go snorkeling in a shipwreck.
25. Go ziplining. (check)
26. Go parasailing. (check)
27. Fly in a cub (open-cockpit airplane).
28. Land in a lake with a seaplane.
29. Glide in a glider.
30. Go bungee jumping (haven’t made up my mind whether I really want to do this or not but I put in on my list just in case).
31. Ride a mechanical bull (like Sissy).
32. Hike UP and down a mountain in Colorado.
33. Hike to base camp on Mount Everest.
34. Go Zorbing. (Giant hamster ball).
35. Ride the world’s largest Ferris Wheel.
36. Bathe in the Ganges River in India.
37. Ride the largest roller coaster in the world.
38. Go whale watching.
39. Visit the San Diego Zoo.
40. See gorillas in the wild.
41. See the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) in real life.
42. Visit the top ten National Parks.
43. Take a wine-tasting class.
44. Attend the Cannes Film Festival.
45. Meet a President of the United States.
46. Go on an ancestry vacation.
47. Pay for all of my son’s college and university expenses so that he has zero debt when he graduates.
48. Build a dream home.
49. Witness the birth of a baby (probably will never happen, though). Maybe in another country?
50. On my death bed, which hopefully won’t be for at least another 50 years, tell a random person my life story (sparing no details).  This is the scariest bucket item of all.
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