I’m not sure I understand the competition to come up with the next best fried thing, and I’m not here to judge (I’m responsible for my extra poundage – no one else), but every year, when the State Fair of Texas announces its list of fried food finalists, my ears perk up. I am excited to know what’s being tossed into the vat next.

"Corny" dogs, like these shown during an eating contest, make a regular appearance on State Fair of Texas concession menus. (Photo courtesy State Fair of Texas)

They never disappoint, at least not in terms of generating a buzz. So in case you didn’t get the memo, let me share the menu.

This year, you’ll get ID’d if you order items like Deep-Fried Frozen Margarita or Fried Beer. Like the Fried Coke or Fried Butter before them, that just seems to defy some scientific law, but I’ll admit I’m ready for the lines to open up for a frozen margarita. While waiting in line, I’ll ponder the difference between “fried” and “deep-fried.”

The Deep-Fried Frozen Margarita is born of the goodness of two things – margarita ingredients and funnel cake batter. They are mixed together, fried, dusted with a lemon-lime mixture and served in a salt-rimmed glass. While probably not as refreshing as the real thing, it sounds pretty good to me.

The Fried Beer is a beer-filled pretzel pocket. I’m not a fan of beer, so someone else will have to vouch for this later. I hear the beer really does pour out when you take a bite.

Again, don’t forget your ID. You will get carded for these – even though, I’m pretty sure the alcohol disappears somewhere in the frying process.

As a bona fide lemon addict, I’ll need to order the Fried Lemonade, a baked lemon-flavored pastry that is then fried and glazed with a mix of lemonade, powdered sugar and lemon zest. I’ll probably seek out fresh lemonade to wash this down with, and be in citrus heaven.

For chocolate lovers, there is, of course, Fried Chocolate, a white chocolate candy bar and a cherry are stuffed inside a brownie, dipped in chocolate cake batter, deep fried and topped off with powdered sugar, a cherry sauce and chocolate whipped cream. I might have called it Fried Cherry Cordial, but alas, once again they did not call for my opinion. *insert audible gasp here* Just kidding. Well see, though, if that shows up on the menu next year. Remember, you heard it here first! Ha! Oh boy, do I have all kinds of GREAT ideas for next year!

There also is the Deep-Fried S’mores Pop Tart, which is pretty self-explanatory. A s’mores flavored Pop Tart is battered, fried and then topped with chocolate sauce and whipped cream. I’d like to put this to the test with my friend Kate who lights up her fire pit at home as often as she can to feed her s’mores cravings.

For something more savory, traditional and Texan, they’re promising Texas Fried Frito Pie. Not sure how, but they are apparently able to hold together the chili, cheese and Fritos long enough to fry it. It’s a mystery to me, but the item made it as a finalist, so it can be done. Amazing what a little human will and ingenuity can achieve. Speaking of: Look for Texas Fried Caviar –– fried and seasoned black-eyed peas. Whodathunkit? Someone thought of it.

And finally, for you health nuts … oh, wait … nevermind. This salad is fried, too. Fernie’s Fried Club Salad is a spinach wrap stuffed with the goodness of diced ham, chicken, shredded lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, cheese and bacon. Sounds good, but wait, I’m not finished. It’s fried, topped with deep-fried sour dough croutons on a stick and then served on a bed of lettuce. Well, at least you can still say you had the “salad,” if anyone asks.

So there you have it. Don’t try them all in one sitting, or it’ll be “groan” appétit instead of bon appétit. Pace yourself. You’ll have 20-something days to get it all in. The State Fair of Texas runs from Sept. 24-Oct. 17.

The chopstick wrapper may say "good luck," but you won't need it at Sushi-A-Go-Go. From left: Dynamite Roll and Sunshine Roll.

I’ve been curious to try Sushi-A-Go-Go in Austin ever since its mention in Nov. ‘09’s TH Taste on Dining Trailerside. Sushi from a trailer?

As stated in the article, Sushi-A-Go-Go has since moved from Manor Rd. There are now two locations: 4001 Medical Pkwy. (in the Shell parking lot) and 801 Barton Springs Rd., which opened in May.

Sushi-A-Go-Go offers a voluminous menu of sushi rolls plus shu-mai (shrimp dumplings) and mochi ice cream. I’ve dined at the Barton Springs location twice this summer, and despite the parking lot location, it’s cooler and more comfortable than you’d think, sitting on picnic benches under giant umbrellas with an intermittent breeze, savoring the cool sushi combos and feeling your internal temperature drop a few degrees. For those who prefer eating in air-conditioned comfort, you can also call in your Sushi-A-Go-Go to-go.

The sushi rolls, 8 pieces per order, contained small but fresh cuts of seafood. I ordered the Dynamite roll (tuna in a spicy sauce with avocado), and my daughter Lucy had the Sunshine Roll (salmon, mango, and avocado). We also shared some shu-mai.

The zesty ahi tuna rapidly slid and dissolved in my mouth. I also sampled the salmon roll, and the mango-avocado duo gave a slightly sweet and nutty flavor to the silky-smooth, savory salmon. The shu-mai (served warm) was lightly crisped, plump and juicy.

Most of the rolls average around $6, cheaper than supermarket sushi, and made to order.  On a hot summer day, Sushi-A-Go-Go is my go-to for a light, enticing, and budget-friendly meal.

After a day of packing up my daughter’s belongings at Austin College in Sherman for the return trip home to the city of Austin, we decided to have dinner in Denison, and Devolli’s was recommended by one of her friends.

Devolli’s, in downtown Denison (home to the town’s flourishing arts district, see TH March 2008), serves Italian food favorites, including several types of parmigianas. I had sausage parmigiana, served over spaghetti which was subtly spiced and garlicked. I had a craving for basic Italian fare, and this entrée hit the spot.

An added bonus to dinner was entertainment provided by trumpeter Alan Isley, accompanied by a karaoke machine. Playing classic standards ranging from Willie Nelson tunes to the theme from the Pink Panther, it made for a surprising treat after a long day.

Homestead Winery (vineyard in nearby Ivanhoe) shares the building with Devolli’s, and their wines are exclusively served in the restaurant. I had a glass of Homestead’s special red wine blend, Rose of Ivanhoe, which was sweet and fruity. I usually drink drier reds, but I found Rose delightfully refreshing.

The trailer-café craze that has consumed Austin tends to be a mostly daytime affair, with many if not most in my neighborhood rolling up their windows by sunset.  I was delighted to discover that Odd Duck Farm to Trailer at 1219 S. Lamar begins serving at 5 p.m., perfect for “cook’s night out” (the “cook” in this case being me).

An intriguing menu, which changes daily, also piqued my interest. Odd Duck offers up appetizers and entrées that adhere to the rediscovered “nose-to-tail” philosophy, which means using ingredients from local farms, and with meats, using every edible part.  (Read more about restaurants using nose-to-tail principles, including nearby Olivia in March 2010 TH Taste).

At prices ranging from $3-7, Odd Duck offers an affordable foodie foray from an inventive chef, Bryce Gilmore. Gilmore, a California Culinary Academy alumnus who has worked at Moonshine and Wink in Austin, Café 909 in Marble Falls, Boulevard in San Francisco, and Montagna at the Little Nell in Aspen, got his start in the kitchen of his father Jack Gilmore’s Z’Tejas Grill in Austin.

For my dinnertime adventure, I chose rabbit braised in pale ale and mustard with poached duck egg over creamy turnip grits. A hint of Parmesan in this luscious stew gave the dish a slightly tart and pleasantly salty taste. The flavor and texture reminded me of Chinese jook or congee (rice porridge), especially when combined with the turnip grits.  The rabbit was tender, and had a slightly smoky aroma, which further enhanced the combination.

The entree portions tend to be on the small side, so on my next visit, I’ll be sure to order more!

If you’re planning to tour Quirky Houston, I suggest you start your day with breakfast. On a recent visit, my daughter tipped me off to Baby Barnaby’s, next door to its big brother Barnaby’s Café (which serves lunch and dinner) in the Montrose area, the birthplace of Houston-quirky.
This colorful café is cozy, casual, and cheap. The menu features a few whimsically named items like Green Eggs (eggs scrambled with spinach, artichoke hearts, and jack cheese) as well as breakfast basics, like bacon-and-eggs and pancakes. City-diner staples such as the Lox Platter, and Corned Beef Hash and Eggs are offered, along with Tex-Mex favorites like breakfast tacos, migas and huevos rancheros. My daughter had the Lox Platter and I had the basic Breakfast Plate with scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, and grits. Both the standard fare and the lox/bagel/cream cheese were prepared “just-right,” as were the portions—not too filling and perfect for packing in a day to tour Houston’s quirky sights.
Houston brims with quirky breakfast places. Tell us about your favorite Quirky Houston breakfast spot.

I have driven by Spoons many times on my visits to McKinney’s historic square, and, judging from the cutesy name and restored historic building, had the impression that it was ‘another quaint, antiques-filled café that serves soups and sandwiches. Boy, was I pleasantly wrong. For starters, Spoons serves breakfast—all day—and is the place for breakfast, as most restaurants in the square begin serving at lunch. You’ll find several varieties of waffles, pancakes, eggs (from basic to omelets), even oatmeal, and yogurt parfait. Cottage potatoes, deftly seasoned, and coated with cheddar and pepper jack cheese, seem to be Spoons’ specialty side dish, and can also be ordered as an entrée with apple-smoked bacon.
As for beverages, in addition to the usual coffee and orange juice, specialty juice-blends and caffeine-infused drinks are also available, courtesy of the recently opened Spoons Garage, a coffee house adjacent to the restaurant. The drinks have auto-themed names like Brake Job and Fuel Injection, which my daughter ordered (a cool and energetic blend of fresh-squeezed orange juice, chocolate syrup and coffee).
Can someone identify the mystery game-piece shown here?
The interior is a thoroughly modern contrast to the vintage-cute storefront, with counters lining the exposed brick walls to provide extra seating for tables in the center, an Italian-soda bar in the back with diner seating, a bakery case filled with luscious cakes and pies, and a small, open kitchen.
Two interesting things I noticed about my table: the rolled napkins contain a fork and a knife—no spoons! The other thing was an large board game card, which was used as a centerpiece. Can someone tell me in what game this was used?

Inspired by a comment on my last post on dining in McKinney (thanks, Shelly from This Eclectic Life), I paid a visit to Cafe Malaga Mediterranean Tapas Bar for dinner on a weekday evening, after arriving from Austin to help my daughter pack after completing her freshman year at Austin College in Sherman.

Originated in Spain, tapas are “small plates”—mini meals of vegetables, meat, seafood or a combination.  I counted 28 of these on the menu, and among the items our group had were artichoke tapenade (kalamata olive & artichoke spread w/pita bread), smoked salmon crostini, roasted potatoes with roasted garlic aioli, chicken piri piri (hot pepper marinated grilled chicken breasts) and Spanish tortilla (a classic potato and egg dish).   All were excellent, and we especially loved the smoked salmon for the smooth texture and subtle smoked flavor.  We also indulged in dessert—chocolate-covered almond cake was my favorite.  My daughter had what looked like a coffee martini, served chilled with a mint garnish.

The next evening, on our way home to Austin, we returned to McKinney for an early dinner and found La Misha, which also serves Mediterranean-inspired cuisine in an sophisticated-yet-inviting atmosphere.  We started our meal with the smoothest, most flavorful hummus I’ve ever tasted, served with light, delicate slices of pita bread.  I inquired about the flavored iced tea on the menu, and was offered a box of six different tealeaf samplings which to select (and sniff) from—I chose the pomegranate-infused blend, which was exceptional, and even more so with refills!

For entrées, we had crab cakes with saffron sauce, oven-baked chicken in apricot sauce and tilapia in creamy dill sauce.  The crab cake was meaty and flaky, and the chicken was the right balance of slightly dry-to-moist that I prefer.  There were some luscious cakes available for dessert in the display case in back and we split some carrot cake, moist and just sweet enough not to overpower.  Once again, McKinney mesmerizes me with its culinary gems!

When my sister and I visited my daughter at Austin College in Sherman, we took the opportunity to explore nearby McKinney and have lunch at The Pantry Restaurant, in the historic downtown area. The spacious yet cozy cafe serves a variety of sandwiches, salads, soups, and other entrees, and also has a wide selection of creamy pies. I wish I could say I sampled one, and I really should have, but the tortilla soup/salad/cornbread combo was plenty for me as was the stuffed baked potato/soup combo was for my sister. My daughter, also full from her sandwich/salad combo, ordered a slice of chocolate-chip cream pie to take back to the dorm.

We sat by the front window and took in the street action, of which there was plenty despite the cold and windy day. There was a life-size carhop statue holding a sign board in front of the shop across the street that kept toppling over from the gusts, and we watched as passers-by picked up the statue only to see it get blown over again. There are a number of shops and restaurants, and even a spa or two, in McKinney’s meticulously-restored historic district.

On the way back to the college, we stopped for coffee at The Boiler Room (404 W Lamar St, 903-957-3815) in downtown Sherman. The Boiler Room, in a 2-story, vintage red-brick building, used to house a steam laundry long ago. The interior is warm, bright and modern, with many paintings adorning the walls, and stylish yet comfortable seating. I had a soy latte—with whipped cream—and, though it’s only an occasional drink for me, it was among the best lattes I’ve had. Now if I had only had some pie from The Pantry!

The December issue’s Top Tables article on old-school Tex-Mex restaurants—“Candy or Sherbet?”—makes my taste buds crave that extra cheesy enchilada dinner with carne sauce (double rice—no beans, please) every time I read it. Dick Holland’s piece, while spot-on in describing this distinctly Texas experience (sorry, New Mexico and California don’t even come close!), just scratches the surface when it comes to naming some of the top traditional Tex-Mex dining in Austin, let alone the state. For starters, one of my faves not mentioned in the story is El Gallo, at 2910 S. Congress Ave. Time seems to stand still there, from the ’60s-era Spanish dark wood/wrought-iron decor, serape-covered tables, lack of trendy scenesters, and also their prices. My two-enchilada dinner was a mere $ 7.95, which included—yes—choice of candy or sherbet for dessert. (I chose candy—pralines.) And my frozen margarita came in a tall pilsner-style glass, like how I imagine they were served back in 1971 when this frozen libation was first concocted in a Dallas restaurant.  This is one of my favorite places to escape when I’ve had too much of our ever-upward-and-upscale city and need to be somewhere more down-to-earth, where life feels a bit simpler.So, where’s your favorite #2 enchilada dinner in Texas? Best salsa, queso, fajitas, or margarita? Best Tex-Mex for the soul that ignores all foodie fads? We’d love to hear from you.

My reliable neighborhood full-service Mobil gas station/garage is no more. Left in its place, in the parking lot, is a delightful, delectable pizza and pasta trailer called Giovanni Pizza Stand, at the southwest corner of S. Lamar and Barton Skyway in Austin. I’ve only had two of the pizzas so far—the Margarita and the Greek—but they’re heavenly if you’re a fan of thin crust. Wafer-crisp, just the right ratio of toppings to dough (for me it’s 2/3 topping, 1/3 dough), very flavorful, and seemingly light on the oil. Not a speck of grease graced the container when I finished. I’ve since been tempted to reuse the box to package gifts! I’ve heard that the owner/chef at Giovanni used to be a chef at the former Mezzaluna downtown, which explains that not-your-average-pizza-stand subtlety in taste. Comparable in price and a lot tastier than fast-food pizza, Giovanni offers a few tables and chairs for dining alfresco in the evening shade as well as takeout.