Showing posts with label at. Show all posts
Showing posts with label at. Show all posts
Monday, June 22, 2015
A Midday Break at San Antonios BIRD Bakery
BIRD Bakerys decor is warm and inviting, and the food is delicious! They pride themselves on using only the best ingredients -- including Plugra butter, Valrhona cocoa, and Madagascar vanilla. That commitment to using only quality ingredients really shows in the taste of the baked goods. Whether you try an espresso, a sandwich, or a cupcake...you can feel confident that its made by expert bakers who use only the best ingredients! How adorable is the BIRD logo egg carton filled with mini cupcakes?!?!?
Just about then, my lunch arrived. I am an avocado lover, so the California Turkey immediately caught my eye. Moist turkey breast, creamy avocado, peppery arugula, juicy tomato, and Havarti cheese worked perfectly together! The sandwich came served on hearty seeded bread that was slathered with raspberry-chipotle mayo. My sandwich was served with a pickle spear and potato chips on the side. This was truly one of the best sandwiches Ive had in ages. The flavors worked so nicely together!
BIRD Bakery is known in San Antonio for its delicious signature cupcakes, so I had to make sure to give them a try before I left. They brought me a trio of cupcakes on a plate that looked like it couldve come straight out of my own grandmothers kitchen...which I mean as a sincere compliment. I sampled the BIRD Blue Vanilla -- reminiscent of birthday cake, Salted Caramel, and Luscious Lemon. Talk about cupcake nirvana...the cupcakes were moist and dense, and they had the perfect amount of perfectly sweet icing on top. Sigh.
If you live in the San Antonio area -- or you find yourself visiting our city -- make sure to check out BIRD Bakery. Theyre open on Monday through Thursday from 7 am - 7 pm, Friday and Saturday 7 am - 8 pm, and theyre closed on Sunday. In addition to being a great grab-and-go dessert destination, they also serve a fantastic breakfast and lunch. Breakfast is served from 7-10 am, and options include: muffins, scones, quiche, and granola parfaits. Lunch includes a wide range of creative sandwiches...and there are even a few vegetarian-friendly options available. Some of the comforting options on the lunch menu include Pimento Cheese, Tuna Melt, and even Peanut Butter and Jelly. BIRD Bakery is great place to enjoy a leisurely midday break. If youre pressed for time, its also a great place to pop in and pick up a cookie or cupcake after work to enjoy during your commute home. I wont tell if you dont...Disclosure: BIRD Bakery hosted me for lunch to facilitate this feature. All opinions express are solely my own.
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Spring Garden Brunch at Tre Trattoria Downtown
All of the starters were delicious, with lots of fresh flavors! While we enjoyed our starters and mimosas, Chef Dady warmly welcomed us. Then, the food started coming out of the kitchen! We sampled a wide variety of Brunch Entrees, as well as their House Cured Bacon and Molasses Pork Sausage. Everything was beautiful and expertly prepared.
We sampled one of their wood fired oven pizzas, as well as savory and sweet entrees. Many of the items we tried were vegetarian-friendly, which is a nice touch. We had a great time chatting with the other guests as we passed the plates around the table. Take a look at the wide variety of dishes that we tried that afternoon.
All of these creative dishes were absolutely fantastic, but our favorites were the Nutella Stuffed French Toast and the Fried Chicken & Polenta Waffles. Im a huge Nutella fan, and both of the items featured the chocolate-hazelnut spread front and center. The creative wood fired pizza was very creative as well, featuring pistachios, goat cheese, and tangy-sweet balsamic cipollini onions. We left promising ourselves that we would return soon to enjoy our favorites, as well as more of those $1 mimosas!
Disclosure: Tre Trattoria provided us with a complimentary brunch to facilitate this feature. All opinions expressed are mine, and all photographs are copyrighted by The Weekend Gourmet. They may not be copied or shared without permission.
Saturday, February 14, 2015
The Weekend Gourmets Guest Post at Family Foodie Spice Rubbed Shrimp Tacos with Tropical Salsa
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| A taste of the tropics in the comfort of your home: Spice-Rubbed Shrimp Tacos with Tropical Salsa. Sweet and spicy!! |
Spicy roasted shrimp, pineapple-mango salsa, feta, and avocado will have your tastebuds doing a happy dance! I hope youll go say hello to Isabel and check out this fabulous recipe while youre at it. Ill be back here tomorrow with a fabulous burger recipe featuring Texas-raised Nolan Ryan Beef. This ones a PERFECT tie-in to my love of the Houston Texans, so you wont want to miss my Bulls On Parade Fajita Burgers!!
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Dinner at Fogo de Chao Featuring the New Brazilian Inspired Cocktail Menu
The salads, meats and cheeses were fresh and delicious...and they paired perfectly with our cocktails. Michael opted for the Superfruit Lemonade, and I had the Passionate Caipirinha. The Superfruit Lemonade is flavored with Veev Acai Spirit, Grand Marnier Rouge, lemon, and fresh strawberries or blueberries. Caipirinha is a classic Brazilian cocktail made with sugar, lime and a sweet rum called Cachaca. Add some passion fruit puree, and youve got a Passionate Caipirinha. As you can see, both of drinks were fruity, refreshing and delicious!
We finished our drinks and were given a round card that was green on one side and red on the other. Our hosts explained that when we were ready for the meat to start arriving, we were to put the green side up. When we needed a break or were done for the night, we simply had to turn the card over to red to signal no mas. It was so much fun to learn about the different cuts of beef, pork, chicken and sausages that the various servers came by to offer us. They expertly sliced the meat to our preferred degree of doneness and provided us with a lot of great information about the cooking techniques history in Brazil. Michael is a meat lover, so this kind of dining is right up his alley!All of the meat was perfectly roasted and so juicy. However, our favorite cuts of meat were the Filet Mignon, Alcatra (sirloin) and the signature Picanha (top sirloin) cut. They were full of flavor and seasoned just enough to let the natural flavor of the meat shine through. We took our time enjoying each cut of meat, and we even opted for second helpings of our favorites. Because its one price, we were able to do that.
The Fogo de Chao menu price includes a variety of delicious side dishes that are served family style. We especially loved the warm, gooey cheese bread and the fried polenta fingers. We sampled a few bites of each of the sides, but we tried to save most of our room to enjoy plenty of the delicious meats!
Of course, we save thismuch room for a shared dessert. Our server recommended their creme brulee. I have to confess that Im pretty picky about my creme brulee, but our server was right. It was perfectly creamy and rich! Michael and I battled for the last bite and agreed it was some of the best creme brulee weve ever eaten. It was the perfect ending to our meal.
We left Fogo de Chao full and happy! We felt that they charge a very fair price, considering both the quality and quantity of food that is served. Friendly, knowledgable staff...delicious food...and an all-you-care-to-eat policy make Fogo de Chao a great place for the carnivores in your life. For those who dont eat meat, they can order just the salad bar for a reduced price. With 30+ items to choose from, theyll find plenty to fill them up as well.
Disclosure: Fogo de Chao provided us with two complimentary dining experiences, along with cocktails and dessert, to facilitate this article. The opinions expressed are my own. All photographs are copyright Michael K. Garcia; they may not be copied or shared without prior permission.
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Celebrating Oktoberfest at San Antonios Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort Spa
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| Photo provided by Hyatt Regency |
The first thing we noticed when we dropped our car with the valet and walked inside the main building is how relaxed the atmosphere is. The Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort is definitely upscale -- but it has a relaxed, rustic vibe. Check in was quick and easy, and we were on our way to our spacious suite. The suite featured a spacious living room/dining room area with ranch-themed decor, a large bathroom, and a bedroom area featuring a King bed and flatscreen television. The art that adorned the walls of our suite shared information about the propertys rich history as a working ranch!
Highlights of the delicious buffet of German food included slow-simmered beef sauerbraten over buttered egg noodles, a boldly flavored warm German potato salad, and a variety of steamed brats and other sausages. The food was expertly prepared and hearty -- perfect Fall food. We also enjoyed a duo of desserts to choose from: German chocolate cake and cobbler. Talk about a perfect dessert combo for a Texas Oktoberfest celebration!
The next morning, we decided to grab some breakfast tacos to go from the General Store. This casual spot is located on the resorts first floor and offers Starbucks coffee, customized breakfast tacos, and sweet treats -- in addition to a wide range of Texas-themed souvenirs. We took our food upstairs and enjoyed a relaxing al fresco breakfast for two on our suites wraparound balcony. The resort management had left a welcome cheese plate in our room the day before, so we enjoyed breakfast tacos and our cheese plate.
Before we knew it, it was time to check out and head home. The checkout process was efficient, and they even offered fruit-infused spa water in the lobby for us to enjoy while we waited for the valet to bring our car around. Less than 15 minutes later, we were home and sitting in front of the TV watching the Texans football game. The Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa is a perfect weekend staycation spot for San Antonio residents, but its also ideal for anyone looking for a weekend getaway in San Antonio thats away from the hustle and bustle of the Riverwalk.
I also wanted to share that for Valentines, the resort is offering a special Valentines Day Package that features King guest room accommodations. The package features champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries and rose petal welcome amenity, and a romantic dinner for two at Antlers Lodge. Additional perks include complimentary valet parking and a 1:00 PM late checkout. Prices for the package start at $379. Visit hillcountry.hyatt.com to make your reservation, or call 210-647-1234. Be sure to mention offer code “HCVAL”.
Disclosure: Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa provided us with a complimentary overnight stay and tickets to attend their Oktoberfest event to facilitate this article. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
Saturday, January 31, 2015
The Weekend Gourmet Dines Out at Salatas Next Generation Salad Bar
The variety of ingredients offered on Salatas salad bar is amazing! Starting with several types of salad greens, your personalized creation is assembled in front of your eyes by a friendly server in a large metal bowl. You can choose from a variety of chopped veggies, beans, nuts, fresh and dried fruits, cheeses and a variety of proteins. The prices cant be beat: a large salad is $8, and a wrap is $7. For $2 extra, you can add one of several flavors of diced chicken breast...and for $3 extra, you can add flavored shrimp or grilled salmon. I had a great time creating my salad. They also offer several varieties of soup daily to pair with your salad or wrap.
If you live in a city where Salata is currently located, I hope youll stop in and check them out soon! Their new salad bar concept is really fun...and the food is fresh and delicious. Were already planning a repeat visit very soon. Salata offers so many ingredients that you can create a variety of salad combinations. In the mood for Mexican? Stick with spicy and savory ingredients and the Chipotle Ranch dressing. Feeling like something sweet? Go with fruit, nuts, shrimp and Fat Free Mango dressing. The possibilities are endless...and healthy!
Disclosure: Salata provided us with a gift card to purchase two entrees to facilitate this feature. I receive no further compensation, and all opinions expressed are my own.
Friday, January 30, 2015
Celebrating Muchos Mangos at Whole Foods Market Featuring Tropical Jerk Shrimp Mango Salad
Whole Foods Market is celebrating their annual Muchos Mangos event the entire month of April, featuring amazing ataulfo (ah-tah-ul-foh) mangoes from Mexico. This variety of mango is sweet and juicy, with a thin pit and no fibrous strings. Theyre basically a little taste of spring, with a gorgeous vibrant-orange interior. This variety of mangoes is in season from March through June, so theyre perfectly suited for use in all sorts of warm-weather dishes! Because they arent fibrous, theyre easy to blend for using in smoothies and marinades. Theyre also great cubed in fruit salads and desserts. Heck, theyre great eaten by themselves out of hand!
If you click the link above, youll find a very informative video that shows how to cut and prep the ataulfo mango. Its really easy once you do it a time a couple of times! Once you cup open the mango, youll find golden-orange fruit inside. Its so soft and luscious that you can eat it right out of the shell with a spoon if want. Thats how I enjoyed a few of the mangos that I purchased. The flavor is deeply sweet and spicy...like a tropical breeze on a remote island beach! I’m teaming up with Whole Foods to celebrate Muchos Mangos and create a healthy Springtime dinner that puts these sweet, juicy mangos front and center. My Tropical Jerk Shrimp-Mango Salad is a light, yet filling, main dish salad that will transport you to your favorite tropical beach at first bite. But, you dont need a passport or an exhausting plane trip!
This salad is full of bright flavors from cubes of mango and avocado, spicy Jerk-seasoned shrimp, candied cashews, bits of dried pineapple, and tangy feta cheese. This salad was ready to eat in less than 30 minutes…and it was bursting with guilt-free flavor. Let me show you how easy this salad is to whip up for dinner this week!
Tropical Jerk Shrimp-Mango Salad
a Weekend Gourmet Original
(1) Toss 4 cups of your favorite salad organic salad greens with your favorite dressing. I used a natural raspberry vinaigrette. Divide the greens evenly between two large plates. Toss 1/2 lb. shrimp in 1 tbs. jerk seasoning and quickly sear in a bit of olive oil in a non-stick skillet.
(2) To assemble the salads, top each salad with the following ingredients: 1/4 cup dried pineapple bits, 1/3 cup chopped candied cashews, 1/3 cup feta cheese, 1/2 a small diced avocado, 1/2 cup dice ataulfo mango, and half of the shrimp.
This colorful salad is a tropical vacation on a plate! The fiery shrimp is tempered by the creamy avocado and sweet mango, the nuts and pineapple provide a bit of texture, and the feta brings a tart saltiness to round out the flavor profile. Add it all up, and you’ve got a winner of a salad on your hands. It’s as pretty to look at as it’s refreshing to eat!
Disclosure: Whole Foods provided me with a gift card to purchase atuolfo mangoes and the other ingredients to create the Springtime meal featured in this article. All opinions expressed are my own.
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