Hayashi Sushi Grill: Un-Happy Hour

I wanted to love Hayashi Sushi Grill. It's in Cedar Park (and we know that area needs more good, locally owned restaurants), next to a movie theatre and has this incredible sushi happy hour. Or so I was told.

Before we headed up to Hayashi, I checked out some reviews on urbanspoon and Yelp. Reviewers were all over the chart, so it was pretty clear there was a 50/50 shot at a good experience. But with an open mind and the hope it would be an "on" night, we walked in the door.

Monday is all night Happy Hour at Hayashi. Half priced house rolls, a couple $$ off speciality rolls and a few drink specials. We were diners #7 and #8 that evening...the main dining room was empty. Foreshadowing?

Our server was prompt and honest. Immediately told us to forgo the Beringer Chardonnay Happy Hour wine for a decent Sauv Blanc. Good call. We quickly ordered Edamame, Spicy Tuna Roll, Smoked Salmon/Cream Cheese/Avocado Roll and (at our server's suggestion) Fried Sweet Potato Roll. I saw complaints about slow food service, but not on this night. Everything was delivered within five minutes. (Which makes me think it was pre-made...but who knows.)

I tend to put sushi into three categories: Fast Food (HEB, Whole Foods, CM), Mid Grade (Imperia, Kenichi) and Premium (Uchi, Piranha). Spicy Tuna? Less than Fast Food. Smoked Salmon? Less than Fast Food. Fried Sweet Potato? Mid Grade for creative combination, but the sweet potato was raw--not fried. Edamame? Premium. Why the low grades? In a head to head competition with Whole Foods (or even HEB) sushi take out--both grocers win. And in that case, I'd rather be at home with a good bottle of wine and my take out sushi.

As we ended the evening, McJazz said "If Rice Thai & Sushi was a "2" this was a "3" because the server was so nice. But I'm not coming back." And he's not that picky. So we keep searching for a Northwest sushi spot that can beat Whole Foods takeout. Otherwise, next time I'm craving sushi, we're heading downtown to my new favorite--Piranha Killer Sushi.

If you've got suggestions, let me know!

Big Game Weekend: Ginny's Little Longhorn

Big UT game weekend. Sunday. What do the locals do in Austin? They go to Ginny's Little Longhorn Saloon. World famous Honky Tonk Dive Bar Bingo Palace. In a little white house with orange trim on Burnet Road. Bring your own lawn chair and hang out in the back parking lot, or squeeze inside with the band, but get yourself there on Sunday afternoon. I guarantee you will never forget it.

Really, there isn't much food here. But there are FREE chili dogs. Like Grandma used to make-boiled Oscar Meyer weiners, canned Hormel chili, some shredded mystery cheese and a hot dog bun straight from the bag. Again, it's FREE. And All-You-Can-Eat.

Plan to BYOB (booze only) and buy set ups. Or drink a cold beer from their cooler. Cheap. Cheap. Cheap. But do not plan to drink wine. You'll upset Ginny-and really, with an Oscar Meyer Chili Cheese Dog-do you really want a nice Pinot?

Ginny's also hosts the world famous (and it is famous-check it out on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xghebqshq1o) Chicken S!@# Bingo. Yes, there is a pool table with a wooden board of numbers, a chicken and some wagerin' goin' on. The first "drop" is at 4--but get there early. If you win your $2 ticket is worth about $150.

It seems a lot of "first timers" win CS Bingo--I'm just sayin'. And even if you don't win-the bands are great, the beer is cold and the chili dogs are-well, nostalgic.(Thanks to Walter Riggs for the Chili Dog Feast photo.)

My Daily Fix @ Berry & Cool

I've found a new addiction. Coffee will always be there...but during the past month I've found a new fix for the summer heat, a stressful day or when I need a little sugar pick me up. It's called WildBerry FroYo. WildBerry is my crackberry.

Berry & Cool Frozen Yogurt is 1) in Cedar Park (thank you!) and 2) one of those California PinkBerry clones that have finally made it to Texas. Like Yogurt Planet and others, you grab your own bowl, self serve the FroYo, add your toppings and pay by the ounce.That's right--by the ounce. Oops. So watch out. If you're a little too heavy handed on the yogurt or toppings, this small, tasty delight ends up costing more than a pint of Ben & Jerry's. Berry Cool prices out at .37 an ounce--and I usually end up with a bowl between 8 and 10 ounces. They also happen to be the only FroYo I've found with a dairy free option (and that is WildBerry). If there are others, I'd love to know!

But in the meantime, I'm addicted to Berry & Cool. The owner is great, the happy high school cashiers are sweet and patient and they just gave me a frequent FroYo card. I think I'll be back this afternoon.

Rice Thai and Sushi Bar-Just Don't Do It

Quick Dining Alert! Save your $$$--and just don't do it. Don't go to Rice Thai & Sushi Bar-2222/620 near Riverplace.

Horrible. Friday night-8 ish. I guess some parents thought this was the Chuckie Cheese of Sushi Bars. Screaming (really, screaming) children "old enough to know better" running around the restaurant. Service? Non-existent. We (well--McJazz) got up and retrieved our own plates, soy sauce bowls, napkins and chopsticks. And the sushi? Meh. Lukewarm spicy tuna, soggy spider roll. Go to HEB at Four Points and grab a couple of To-Go Sushi Snacks. It's fresher and won't cost you $50 for the pleasure.

Tres Amigos @ TRIO

I hesitate to post this review because I really want to keep TRIO my very own little secret. But based on the crowd, I think it's too late: TRIO is the best Happy Hour in town. Bar none. The best food, wine and overall value. So say the "Tres Amigos" who hit up the bar Wednesday night. But before I get into the fabulous details, you've got to know what the three of us ordered:

Tuna Tartare,Avocado,Soy Lime Vinaigrette
Blistered Padron Peppers with Sea Salt
Truffle Fries, Rosemary, Meyer Lemon Aioli
Baked Gulf Oysters, Shrimp, Bacon, Shoestring Potato
Smoked Shrimp Croquettes
Three glasses of Red Wine
One Glass of White Wine
One Perrier

For $61--before tip. Incredible. And incredibly decadent and yummy. So the Tuna Tartare was a little bit of a standard, but lovely, fresh and served on a bed of ice. The Blistered Padron Peppers were addictive. And deceptive. 'Cause you never knew whether you were biting into a "mild" Padron-or a "hot" Padron. (Hint: if the pepper has any yellow coloring-it's super hot). The Truffle Fries have a reputation in Austin already-hot, perfectly crunchy on the outside and soft inside, not greasy and served in a silver cone. They are so good you just HAVE to eat them. It's almost a crime to leave one in the cone. The Baked Gulf Oysters were hot, fresh and a mouthful with the shoestring potatoes on top--but my amigos had no problem finishing off the plate. And the Smoked Shrimp Croquettes? Yikes, they were good. Upscale fried shrimp balls that I'm sure cost me 500 calories. Worth every one too.

I paired my food with a nice Albarino-and one of the amigos went for a California Cab. Our waiter was typical Four Seasons--very attentive and gracious.

Get there early and stay late: TRIO's happy hour lasts until 8 p.m. Just in time to head back upstairs to the Lobby Lounge for a nightcap and a little live piano. Which we did. Thanks Alan!

Diver Down Breakfast: TJ's Donuts & Kolaches

Some days you just need a donut. Today was one of those days. Add a little meat-n-cheese to the equation and you have TJ's Donuts & Kolaches.

Breakfast for two- Diver Down style: $5.20.

Two kolaches, two donuts and an orange juice. Kolaches were fresh, bread was light and fluffy, sausage was tasty. If I ate cheese, I'd have the sausage/cheese/jalapeno variety, but the plain sausage hit the spot. Then for a tasty little dessert at breakfast, we split two chocolate donuts: devil's food cake and a cruller with dark chocolate frosting. They were both good--and washed down with orange juice a super sugar treat.

But TJ's (and other donut shops) please, please go get some soy milk! No soy, no coffee for this girl. And coffee might have sold me another donut--especially on a day like today!

Cheap Date Night: Butler Pitch-n-Putt, Torchy's Tacos & Flix on a Trailer@ Treat @ La Dee Dah

Recently, my friend, fellow Wandalette and River 102.3 morning co-host Roxanne was sharing a cost of dating survey where Austin did not make the "cheap" list(http://www.theriver1023.com/pages/roxanne.html). Like any other city, I think it depends. If every date is at the hottest new restaurant, be prepared for a tab for two pushing $150. But there is bargain fun to be had in Austin, it just takes a little creativity!

Case in point: Saturday night. McJazz and I headed to Butler Park Pitch-n-Putt ($7 each for 9 holes) and then to Torchy's Tacos and Flix on a Trailer @ La-Dee-Dah.

First, both Butler Park and Torchy's are now BYOB. So we grabbed a couple of golf clubs, loaded up the polka dot cooler with Dos Equis and headed out for the evening. Cost of beer :$0-leftovers from a party. After a fairly good game of pitch-n-putt, it was on to Torchy's.

When we arrived it was just getting dark and there were two front row seats to La-Dee-Dah's Flix on Trailer. (More on that later. ) We grabbed the chairs, set up our cooler and headed over to Torchy's.

What can I say about Torchy's. They make my all time favorite taco: the Green Chile Pork Taco. Slow roasted pork with cilantro, onion and queso fresco stuffed into a soft corn tortilla-topped with green chile salsa and lime. I order tacos al pastor everywhere...and for me, nothing beats Torchy's. I had TWO. McJazz ordered the Beef Fajita Taco--two of them as well--and promptly scarfed them down. Cost of Tacos for Two: $13.50.

Then it was movie time! Back to the Future: II with Michael J. Fox and Elisabeth Shue. Unlike the rest of the crowd at the trailer park, I actually saw this flick the first time around. But, it was back to the 80's as we drank our Dos Equis, laughed and watched the La-Dee-Dah guy hand out frozen hot chocolate and sugarmama's whoopie pies (fresh, yummy moist devil's food cake with a whipped cream center) . As the movie ended, I caved into the desire for a whoopie pie, McJazz got a Pupcake for the dogs and we headed on home. Pure Austin date night.

Date damage:

Golf: $14

Tacos: $13.50

Whoopie Pies (2, one half-off for smush): $4.50

Pupcake: $2.00 (A big hit with the pups)

Total: $34.00

Two for < Twenty: El Chile on Congress

Well, typically it would be more like Two for Forty...but El Chile on 9th and Congress does NOT have their liquor license-yet. But they will next week, so get there fast! Limited to two complimentary Frozen Margaritas, Sangria Swirl Frozen Margaritas, Sangria or Beer. They have one of my favorite Sangria recipes--not too sweet and just the right mix of red wine, juice and I'm guessing brandy.

We hit this location before the John Mills show at the Elephant Room last week. What I love about El Chile is the salsa-deep, smoky, reddish brown and with just a lingering coffee taste. Still love the salsa, don't love the chips. They were a little stale--not what I remember from the Manor Road location. But, redemption was on the way with my guacomole and homemade tostada chips. Way better. A small house salad with grilled chicken rounded out my meal. Light and just right for another crazy hot summer evening in Austin. McJazz basically inhaled the pork tacos-so I think that's a good sign.

The dining room was pretty empty-which I'm sure is not the case at lunch and post work. It's a little off the central entertainment district, so I hope this location doesn't get forgotten. Get there this weekend for the comp drinks deal...and try the Sangria!

Bubbles & Boots: A Top Chef Moment

Bubbles & Boots lived up to its name last night as guests decked out in cowboy boots ran through the rain (and under a fantastic double rainbow) into the Long Center for the Hill Country Wine and Food Festival preview. I felt like I was at a mini Top Chef cocktail party! Here are some highlights (and a couple of lowlights) from the evening:

Highlights:

• Double rainbow cascading over Austin as I walked into the Long Center. Amazing!


• Fantastic Bubbles: Schramsberg, Taittinger, Domain Carneros, Gloria Ferrer and Gruet.


• Max's Wine Dive: Fried Chicken. It's so good it's bad.


• The Carillon-AT&T Conference Center: Josh Watkins' Pork Belly was amazing. Can I get the recipe? I'm sure it's easier to book a party at the Carillon. Sublime Tuna Tartare.


• Driskill Grill: Lovely peach cheesecake dessert with white chocolate. White Gazpacho. A treat from one of the best restaurants in town.


• Fino: Pear Dulce de Leche cakebite on a stick. Loved it. Love Fino. Need to go there more often.

Lowlights:

• The rain. Even though we needed it. Why did I think there was a covered walkway from the Long Center parking garage to the building?


• My Camera. My iphone pics did not do the food justice. So I'm not even going to post them--but I did get some very nice pics of the chefs. So cute!


• The Food. Although it was all fantastic, there could've (and probably should've) been another restaurant or two in the mix. Too many bubbles and too little food makes for some tipsy texans!

I'm always on the lookout for good deals-and this was a great one. $40 with a portion tax deductible. Mark your calendar for next year's preview. You won't want to miss it.

Bubbles & Boots-Don't Miss It!

Don't miss tonight's Bubbles & Boots- a preview event for the 2010 Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival. From 6-8 p.m. at the Long Center's Kodosky Lounge, sip on Bubbles (with some Red & White thrown in for good measure) and nosh on nibbles from Max's Wine Dive and other wine-centric restaurants.

Fans of Iron Chef America won't want to miss a meet and greet with Josh Watkins (former executive chef at Austin's Driskill Grill). He's the new head honcho at UT's AT&T Conference Center. Wonder what's on the menu there?

The festival is the premiere Food & Wine fest in Central Texas, so come on out and see what's in store for their 25th anniversary!

Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at http://www.texaswineandfood.org/. For more info call 512.249.6300.