An Introduction to the Austin Food Truck Scene

It took me awhile to jump on the food truck bandwagon. In my head, food trucks were these dirty places that only had one or two choices. Why waste my money on something like that? After a trip or two to Austin, Texas I began to really understand why everyone is falling for the food truck craze.

If you think about it, food trucks have always been a thing. From the first regulation of food carts in America in 1691, to the Oscar Mayer Wiener car in 1936, food trucks have been an essential part of city eating for centuries. However, the modern fascination with gourmet food trucks began with the growth of social media. Now, people can easily track there favorite trucks and let all their friends know about it. 

Austin is considered one of the best Food Truck scenes. With over 2,000 trucks roaming the city on a daily basis, Austin is a food truck lover's heaven. My favorite? Paperboy. If you happen to find yourself in Austin, head down to 11th street for the perfect breakfast sandwich.

This is what breakfast dreams are made of. #PaperboyAustin

A photo posted by S a r a D a v i s (@sararosedavis) on Jul 9, 2016 at 8:42am PDT

Jacoby's Restaurant & Mercantile | Austin, Texas

Brunch.

Need I say more?

If brunching was an Olympic sport, I'd be a gold medalist. Well, maybe not gold but definitely silver. Brunch happens to be my favorite past time, and why shouldn't it be? Food + friends? Yes to all of the above. 

Since I have spent a fair bit of time in Austin over the last couple of weeks I felt it was only right to find the perfect Austin Brunch spot. Thanks to Elle and her amazing new local knowledge, we found ourselves at Jacoby's Restaurant & Mercantile on a beautiful (but slightly cloudy) morning. 

First things first. Parking is complimentary. Which is amazing in a city like Austin. We were able to pull up easily and one of the attendants quickly came and took care of things from there. We were seated outside (most of the seating is outside) where we were greeted with an amazing view of the Colorado River. 

The menu is small, but every dish is handcrafted to perfection. I opted for the special, Lump Crab Benedict. Elle went for two sides, fried chicken and grits. My taste buds were in Southern comfort food heaven. Although neither of us went for a dish with beef, I was impressed to learn that all of their beef is bred, born, raised, and processed by the Jacoby family themselves.

After our plates were cleared and stomachs full, we strolled around the property. The back garden was lined with antique chairs over looking the river. Perfect for any happy hour meet up in my opinion. Edison lights decorated the entire restaurant, and tiny flower pots were settled on top of every flat surface. We even met the pet bunnies, Cinnamon and Sugar. 

Austin is no stranger to trendy and delicious places to eat. However, I found Jacboy's to be my favorite during my past few trips. The presentation did not overshadow the food, nor vice versa. They complimented each other in a way that is hard to find in todays society of trendy eateries.

xoxo

5 Coffee Shops to Visit in Bristol, England

If you're anything like me, photos of coffee on Instagram make me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside. I actually never liked coffee until I moved to England. Boy was I in for a treat! The flavors, the detail, the emphasis on perfection! Coffee is an art in the UK. Now that I am back in America, I feel like I've become a bit of a coffee snob. Instead of coffee shops around every corner, I'm forced to take a 15 minute journey for a cup of jo that isn't from Starbucks. While I am still searching for that perfect cup here in the US, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite places in my favorite city, Bristol.

Having lived in Bristol for just under two years, I came to know the local coffee shops in the area. There's nothing I loved more than going to my favorite coffee shops with a book or my laptop and just spending hours working. Here are a list of my personal favorites (get this: they all serve really amazing breakfasts too)!

BOSTON TEA PARTY

75 Park Street
97 Whiteladies Road
1 Princess Victoria Street

Jeez it's cold out there! Warming up now with a #flatwhite #bostonteaparty #btp

A photo posted by Boston Tea Party (@btpcafes) on Nov 23, 2015 at 1:24am PST

SPICER + COLE
1 Queen Square Ave.
9 Princess Victoria Street

Hello coffee! Nice to see you again! ☕️😍 #coffeeholic #coffeoftheday #spicerandcole #lovebristol

A photo posted by Sanda (@sbsandie) on Sep 23, 2015 at 8:25am PDT

SMALL STREET ESPRESSO 
23 Small Street

May your #coffee be strong and your #Monday be short ☕️ #smallstespresso #bristol #flatwhite #latteart #rosetta #minimal #mondaymotivation #manmakecoffee

A photo posted by Small Street Espresso (@smallstespresso) on Feb 29, 2016 at 12:22am PST

DECO LOUNGE 
50 Cotham Hill

Perfect start to a Sunday morning. #Coffee #CoffeeArt #Latte #Bristol

A photo posted by S a r a D a v i s (@sararosedavis) on Feb 2, 2014 at 1:55am PST

HART'S BAKERY
Arch 35, Lower Approach Road

We're getting in the festive spirit....

A photo posted by Laura Hart (@hartsbakery) on Dec 11, 2015 at 12:42am PST

xoxo

Sublime Sushi | Chicago

Chicago is a city famous for pizza, hot dogs, and popcorn. Having tried pretty much all of those within our first 24 hours, my friends and I were craving something a little different. Enter the hip and trendy neighborhood of Lincoln Park. We strolled around looking through the windows of the many restaurants (most of which did not open until 2pm). Finally, spotting a place that was in fact open, we went inside.

Sublime Sushi didn't look like much at first. Being the only people in the restaurant around noon on a Saturday left us all a little skeptical. However, after speaking to the excited waitress, we learned they had only opened a few days previously and were still trying to establish themselves in the area. The menu was vast, offering every kind of sushi under the sun. We each went for a different option. Our food was delicious, reasonably priced, and the atmosphere was to die for. 

xoxo

St. Roch Market | New Orleans

There are some places I stumble across by accident. There are other places, however, that you must set out on a mission to find. St. Roch Market was a little bit of both.

I first discovered St. Roch Market by accident through Instagram. After drooling over pictures of oysters and gumbo for weeks, I decided I needed to try this place for myself. I set off for what can only be described as a trek through New Orleans. Through the French Quarter, past Frenchmen Street, up Marigny, and across a highway or two sat the beautiful building that held St. Roch Market. 

Originally built as an open air market in 1875, St Roch Market went through several renovations in the 20th century. In 2005 it was left in ruins after Hurricane Katrina, until finally restored in 2015 as an open restaurant market. Today there are 12 different vendors to chose from, all run by local entrepreneurs. From oysters to gumbo to Korean to a full service bar, St Roch Market has everything to fill your cravings. I spent our afternoon sipping on coffee and slowly trying as much food as my stomach would allow. 

St. Roch Market can be reached by foot, but be prepared for a 30 minute stroll through the some backroads and neighborhoods. Don't forget to come hungry. There are so many options to chose from you'll want to try a little bit of everything!

FOOD ABOVE 

Oysters | Elysian Seafood Oyster Bar

Shrimp & Grits, Red Beans & Rice, and Gumbo Sampler | King Creole 

HOURS

Open Daily

7AM - 11AM Limited Breakfast Service

11AM - 9PM Lunch and Dinner

Open until 11PM Saturday & Sunday

xoxo

Sunday Brunch | Black Walnut Cafe

Living in Houston means I am surrounded by some of the country's most famous cuisine. In 1998, USA Today called Houston the "dining capital in the United States" as Houstonians eat out more than any other city. Houston is proud of that title, and continues to impress visitors and critics alike. More recently, Houston was named America's favorite Food City in 2015 by Travel + Leisure. Around every corner you are surrounded by culinary delights. 

There's no tradition I love more than Sunday Brunch. While there are numerous places in Houston that boast a good Sunday Brunch, a favorite of mine is Black Walnut Cafe. Located across various Texas cities, my local Black Walnut is always bustling with people. The cafe atmosphere is the ideal spot for a relaxing Sunday Brunch, whether you are on your own or with a group of friends.

If your feeling coffee, the vanilla latte is an obsession of mine. However, I personally think a Bloody Mary is the perfect way to start off brunch. I'm a creature of habit, and although I have enjoyed everything I've tried off the menu, the Pico Benedict is my personal favorite. This Tex-Mex twist on Eggs Benedict is unique and delicious!

Do you have any favorite brunch spots??

xoxo