We recently celebrated the annual anniversary of Kenny’s 29th birthday. Few things say “man-grub” like hot dogs, so I thought lunch at Frank Hot Dogs and Cold Beer in downtown Austin might be a fun excursion.

Well, the food was an adventure…

After all, in what alternate universe would you expect Hill Country gourmet to shack up with Windy City street fare on a single menu? However, Frank makes it work.

Snooty artisan sausages made in-house and 100% Vienna beef hot dogs shipped in from Chicago are paired with creative and traditional toppings to deliver big tastes.

A nice selection of Texas grown-up brews, and my personal favorite – the sweet sudsy local Maine Root Beer- are all on draft to wash down every bite.

And I’m not even gonna talk about the whoopie pie…

Who am I kidding? Of course I’m going to mention the whoopie pie – rounds of chocolate cake sandwiching the richest cream in the world – whoooooopie!

If the food warmed my stomach at Frank Hot Dogs and Cold Beer, the people won my heart.

The owner made time stand still during the busy lunch rush. It’s as though he blacked out the rest of the room and shone the spotlight of his attention on Kenny and me. He easily chatted with us while we waited for a table.

Why? Because he heard we were first-time guests.

A few weeks later we planned to introduce our friends to Frank.

“It’s closed for Sunday dinner!” we realized as we stood disappointed at the door peering in to the dark restaurant.  The two remaining employees saw us, opened the door and invited us in.

“Cathy! Look at all this gorgeous salvaged wood!” Our friend Bill, a fine craftsman, exclaimed about the interior of Frank.

And that was just enough to get the employees talking. They poured a round of Maine Root Beer on the house, hung out with us for about 25 minutes and showed us all the behind-the-scenes care that went into Frank’s interior design and menu. Then they sent us off with a list of their other favorite restaurants in town to try instead.

Wow! We came hungry and left as friends.

So while the humble hot dog may be out-of-this-world at Frank Hot Dogs and Cold Beer, the people are sure to make you feel right at home.

Important Info:

Location: Corner of 4th and Colorado, Austin, TX

Website: http://www.hotdogscoldbeer.com/ The photo above is just a teaser of the many enticing pics on the Frank Hot Dogs and Cold Beer website.

Note: Closed for Sunday dinner. Vegetarian options available.

More prickly than pear, I was disappointed with my foray into prickly pears last summer. I continue to see them on menus across Texas, so I have wondered if my experience was more user-error than an inherent problem with the prickly pears.

I decided to give them a second chance. Kenny, Titus and I recently ate lunch at a Wahoo’s a quirky taco chain downtown. One to  respect imperatives, I noticed the draft by the check out commanding that I, “DRINK PINK DRINK”.

What is Pink Drink? A prickly pear soda locally bottled by none other than the Maine Root Beer Company. My yummy experience with the Maine Root Beer at last summer’s farmers’ market was enough to convince me to give Pink Drink a try.

“What do you think of Pink Drink?” I asked the guy at check out.

“Here, taste a sample,” he said. “I’m a big fan. It’s sweet without the sugar crash.”

The prickly pears deliver in Pink Drink. Slightly sweet, slightly tart, with a good kick of fizz – this drink is yummo!

So do what you’re told and DRINK PINK DRINK.

My oh my, it is yummy.

Tender smoked meat, a peppery rub and a spicy hot BBQ sauce tart with vinegar – how can you go wrong with that combination?

INSTRUCTIONS FOR EATING AT COOPER’S

1. Wait in the line snaking outside the door.

2. Chat with the strangers next to you in line. Chances are their story is more interesting than your own.

3. Pick your own meat right off the smoker.

4. Load up with beans, white bread, onions and jalapenos from the bars of complementary sides.

5. Sit at the picnic tables inside with your new friends from the line. Add a few more strangers to the table for more lively conversation.

6. Enjoy!

P.S. Heed the warning: don’t forget to bus your spot when you’re finished.

One adventure leads to another.

Early this fall Kenny and I zig-zagged our way through the streets surrounding University of Texas in hunt of a Renaissance Market.  A clean modern restaurant with a large patio caught my eye.

“Austin’s Best Green Salsa,” the sign outside boasted. I promptly forgot the name and exact location of the restaurant, but the green salsa I knew I must try.

Lisa, my new friend, and I swap kids occasionally. Her son plays with Titus while she works. As an unashamed plug, I’ll say this – if you live in Austin and need photos for any reason (wedding portraits, Christmas cards, eHarmony headshots) she’s your girl. Titus plays with her son while Kenny and I go on dates.

“So where are you guys going today?” Lisa asked when she arrived, son and stuffed puppy in tow.

“To get the best green salsa in town!” I enthusiastically replied.

“Where?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” I said.

Kenny rolled his eyes in the background.

“Here, I’ll show you on a map.” I said as I pulled up Google maps. “There!” I said as I showed her the satellite areal photos of 24th street.

Kenny peered over my shoulder. “How can you tell from the roof?” he asked.

“I just know. That’s it.” I confidently boasted. “In fact, I’m so sure, I’ll bet you a Sonic slush on it.”

“Hmm…if I’m going to wager, I want something really enticing,” he said.

“Okay, but since I’m a stay at home mom, you’re paying for it.” I reminded him. “So, what do you want?”

“A Sonic slush,” he replied.

“Well…have fun!”Lisa, two little boys and the stuffed puppy called after us as we walked out the front door.

A quick drive and we found ourselves on 24th street.

“There it is! Cuatro’s!” I exclaimed.

This is my new favorite lunch restaurant. It is clean, bright and modern. Several of the walls are glass garage doors that open to the warm patio.

The green salsa is incredible! The menu boasts a long list of beers on tap and a variety of tempting appetizers, burgers and tacos. I had the portabello mushroom tacos and Kenny had the pulled pork quesadillas.

The best part? The menu reflects it’s location near a university. The prices are light on the wallet.

Oh…and that location? I was a block off. It’s gonna cost me (well…actually Kenny) a Sonic slush.

We heard about the Grizzly House from a local. It’s a funky fondue restaurant from the 60’s. We were promised the opportunity to cook elk and caribou on a hot rock.

Kenny was really excited about the chance to be a cave man and cook exotic raw meat on a hot rock, so we knew we would visit The Grizzly House. This place was so much fun!

We didn’t want to pay the top dollar for our experience, so we went at lunch – same experience, smaller portions and cheaper prices. Perfect!

The Grizzly House is a very funky place. I don’t think the decor has changed since the place opened in the late 60’s. I don’t really exactly remember the inside as we opted to sit out on the porch but my impressions include random shades of orange and gold, weird carved wood, decorative mushrooms, and knitted things…maybe a noodle macreme plant hanger?

Kenny really wanted to try some kind of game, but didn’t see it on the lunch menu. We both ordered the steak fondue. Our waiter, Ivan, suggested we upgrade 1 or 2 ounces of our meat to try bison and caribou. Excellent solution!

Soon we were cooking small pieces of meat on a 650 degrees rock right on our table.

We were giddy that the wind was blowing the smoke of the fondue in the opposite direction. We thought we could leave greasy-meat-smell-unscathed. Then a table of Russians next to us also ordered a hot rock and raw meat. Our clothing may forever remind us of them. Ha!

Our entree was accompanied by a tart German-inspired green salad and bean salad.

We finished with fruit to dip in a rich pot of chocolate fondue.

If you’re heading to Banff anytime soon, DO visit The Grizzly House. Ask for Ivan. He was our waiter. We watched him handle the entire patio full of visitors, including the very large party of Russians, with the same grace, ease and friendliness that one would expect at a 5-star restaurant.

Have fun!

One word. Yum!

Get it at Hoovers in Austin.

Don’t walk. Run!

What would you eat if you were headed to a hike with your family? My family ate donuts at The Donut Mill in Woodland Park, Colorado.

Hot fresh fried sugar.

Does life get any better than this?

Actually I think it does. The Donut Mill also boasts an ice cream parlor, perfect for the post-hike afternoon snack. The ice cream parlor is an exclusive Blue Bell Ice Cream retailer. Of course, as a resident of Texas, I’m a Blue Bell Ice Cream fan. If you can’t get this ice cream where you live, order some. It’s worth it.

After Titus’ morning nap we headed out to South Congress for lunch at the South Congress Cafe. The cafe would be easy to miss, but here is my recommendation: don’t miss it! It is fru fru food for a great price and is delicious! If you are a traveler to Austin, definitely don’t miss it. The locals are on full display here, and the people watching is fabulous.

Since it was my birthday celebration I ordered the carrot cake french toast. Cake for breakfast! Yippee! The dish is slices of unfrosted carrot cake made into french toast and dusted with powdered sugar. It is served with a cream cheese pecan syrup and a cup of fruit. Delectable.

It was early afternoon and Kenny did not want breakfast food. He ordered the jalapeno venison meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Oh my! Delicious! (And I’m not usually a huge fan of game.)

Titus shared our food and flirted with the staff. He’s quite the ladies’ man.

This place was definitely worth the 45 minute wait. Next time you’re in SoCo, check it out.

(Oh, and by the way, Danielle, come and see me. They have a chocolate toffee desert with your name on it!)

Trudy’s is fun. It’s very casual and the food is great – Tex Mex and southern.

Kenny enjoys the stuffed chili relleno – a chili stuffed with shredded meat, cheese and spices and smothered in a sauce.

I like the array of vegetable sides I can order for Titus, since he’s still adjusting ever-so-slowly to “big people” food.

The vegetarian combo plate is my favorite. I like to request the enchilada to be filled with spinach and mushrooms stuffed in the whole wheat tortilla covered in chipotle sauce.

Stay tuned ’cause tomorrow I’m going to teach you to make my version of these little pretties.

The menu is adventurous featuring all types of game, as well as more standard steak and seafood fare.

Kenny’s brother treated us to a fun night out here. He introduced us to two of his longtime friends who live here in Austin. And we all were laughing and talking so loudly, enjoying our time together, we met a couple at a table next to ours. They may as well have joined our group, as much as we all interacted.

On a small sidenote, I love my fundraising friends. Gene’s friend Mike is a new one. I had to laugh because he kept emailing himself things he was learning about our new friends at the adjoining table as they seemed like prospective donors. Ha! How many of you in fundraising or sales have done that before?

Now! Onto the food!

For appetizers we all shared a few things including the rattlesnake cakes.

Yes.

You read correctly.

Rattlesnake. Cakes.

Hmm.

Yeah, we’re a bit different here in Texas. We eat snake at our posh restaurants.

Funny. Seems like it wouldn’t take much for that ingredient to show up at a few dive restaurants here too.

The chipotle lobster bisque was fantastic.

And I thoroughly enjoyed my beef tenderloin entree.

Kenny went for the assortment of game – bison, elk, rabbit, quail, sausage. He tried it all in the Hudson’s mixed grill. He offered me bites, but rattlesnake was enough adventure for me in one night.

Besides I wanted to save room for dessert. I have a few words for you – Grand Marnier Soaked Cheesecake Topped in Chocolate Ganache. Mmmmm.

We’ll definitely be going here again…if only for dessert.

Thank you Gene for such a lovely evening and for the window into your world. We love you and your friends.