No Soup for You!

I'd like to start off by recognizing that it has been a while since my last blog, approximately 20 days, and for that I can apologize. It is quite worthless to have a blog if you aren't using it but as my mom said, "Life happens." I have a long list of topics that I plan to share so I hope it will keep me busy for a while--so please keep reading.

Second, I'd like to recognize my "friend" in my previous post that pointed me in the direction of the delicious El Tiempo Fajitaria. Apparently as a friend he wants a real name rec. So this is a shout out to Will Sealy. Thank you for your great recommendation. Your San Antonio upbringing has given you a keen nose for taco greatness.

Okay so now for the goods. Doozo Dumplings & Noodles located in the Houston Center downtown is no secret to many of those who work downtown in Houston. Patrick discovered it during his first few months at his job almost three years ago and has been an avid dumpling lover ever since. The first time I ever met him downtown for lunch that is where we went and its the only place we ever go every time I visit him downtown.

The dumplings at this place are delicious but the food is only half the fun of your dumpling experience. As you near the front of the line you are greeted with the following sign:

It is also an unspoken understanding of all those who have been to Doozo that you MUST have your money ready and KNOW YOUR ORDER before you get there, no doddling. They recently started taking credit cards here but the rule is still the same, money must be ready in your hand. Actually, its not so unspoken as you may get in trouble by the owner, Julie Lu, who is there ready to take every dollar and order.  You literally feel like you are walking on the set of the Soup Nazi episode -- no laughing though, you can't lose focus. She is extremely efficient and has memorized every possible combination of prices on the menu. Anyone who visits Doozo will know this immediately because the millisecond that you finish ordering, she recites your total to you. You can imagine the utter irritation across her face when you try to nervously mumble the words..."Uhh we're together" or "Can I add a drink?"  You pay, try to get some sort of thank you out of your mouth and scurry out the door. A strange feel of relief brushing over you releasing a tiny nervousness that you were a little unsure you even had.

The dumpling charade is entirely worth it though. I usually get the pork dumplings with extra spicy sauce. They also offer a chicken and vegetable option but I've been too nervous to change my order. For around 7 dollars you can get 10 dumplings and a drink so if you are in the Houston Center I would recommend that you check it out.

Enjoy!

Katie

Tacos Amor!

Patrick and I happen to love El Tiempo. In my opinion, its the best Tex-Mex Mexican food in town. I would venture to say on Earth-but that's just me. We even had our rehearsal dinner there! The downside to El Tiempo? It's pretty pricey. I'm not sure we have ever gotten out of there for less than $40 for just the two of us and that is without margaritas. So for obvious reasons, we really can't go there as much as we would like. Nevertheless, we love it all the same.

A good friend of mine told me about the meat market owned by El Tiempo, El Tiempo Fajitaria. He told me that the word on the street is that it has DELICIOUS tacos on the cheap. This information I can confirm as fact. It was amazing, and surprisingly pretty cheap. What it WAS NOT was a replacement for El Tiempo. It may be owned by El Tiempo, and it does have the same delectable homemade toritillas, but the only thing I found it had in common with El Tiempo is that it is Mexican.

The El Tiempo Fajitaria is part small market, part Mexican butcher, and part taco stand. This little gem had everything you would want out of an "authentic" eatery. First of all, a few things on the menu that I had never heard of. For instance, you can get a buche or tripas taco. The guy behind the counter showed me the buche which appeared to be pig's ear. Tripas is usually the lining of farm animals' stomach. I'm adventurous, but no thank you. They also had some classics that I knew of like barbacoa, menudo, and carnitas. Second, we were the only gringos speaking English in the place, which is usually a flashing neon sign for me that it is going to be good.

I ordered one barbacoa and one carnitas on flour tortillas and Patrick ordered two carnitas tacos. For those of you who don't know what barbacoa is , aka barbecoa de cabeza, its slow roasted cow's head and carnitas is the pork version of this Mexican delight. The food was so good. Nothing about it was fancy or even surprising but plain and simple it was good. The barbacoa was so tender it melted in your mouth like butter. Likewise, the carnitas was very tender and had the best flavor. It was incredibly savory and perfect with their house made green salsa. The tacos were HUGE. I only completely finished one. Patrick ate both of his, he couldn't resist! 

All in all it was a great place that I strongly reccommend. We loved it anyway!

Until next time, Adios!

Katie