For the Love of a Taco, a Breakfast Taco – Austin, TX

I recently along with my daughter Mallory spent four days in Texas, to be exact Austin, Texas. Mallory’s college roommate lives there and had invited Mallory down for a visit over the week of the 4th of July. After purchasing airfare Mallory discovered that her friend, Sabine wouldn’t be able to get out of work while she was there. Attempting to make changes for the ticket resulted in the loss of the ticket after change fees were added by the airline, so instead I decided to tag along, rent a hotel room get a rental car and spend some time in Austin. Now mind you the first thing I have to tell you about is the heat, it’s hot in Texas in July, very hot! So thankful for AC in cars! Day one we spent traveling from Cleveland, arriving, getting settled in at the hotel and going out for the best BBQ brisket I’ve ever ate, at Rudy’s BBQ and Country Store, I’ve included their history from their website:
Just north of San Antonio, at the edge of the Texas Hill Country, sits the small community of Leon Springs. Founded in the 1800s by Max Aue, Leon Spring’s cityscape changed when Max’s son, Rudolph, opened a one-stop gas station, garage, and grocery store. Bar-B-Q was added to the operation in 1989, and Rudy’s “Country Store” and Bar-B-Q has been serving up tasty food ever since. The same original recipes that built Rudy’s Leon Springs’ reputation are now available throughout the Southwest.
As we bellied up to the counter we acted like locals who had eaten there every day of our lives, while in reality I had never ate there and Mallory had, once when she visited Austin during spring break. I opted for ½ lb. of moist brisket, potato salad and banana pudding, Mallory decided on ½ lb. of pulled pork and chocolate pudding, everything is served on freezer paper with thick slices of bread in what looks like a 2-litre pop carrier, with their “Sause” along with pickles and jalapeño’s from the pickle bar, quite the experience! On the 4th of July Mallory spent the day with Sabine and her friends, and for probably the first time in my life, I spent Independence Day without family – so I decided to visit the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library and Museum on the University of Texas campus. I met up with a work colleague that works in a laboratory I use for testing in San Antonio and we enjoyed exploring the center and learning about our nation’s 36th president. Afterwards I was treated to an authentic Mexican lunch at the suggestion of my colleague, where we dined on real enchiladas.
On Wednesday we decided to drive to San Antonio and see the sights of The Alamo and Riverwalk. This was one of the hottest days during our visit, 104° at 10am when we arrived to San Antonio – not even taking into consideration the heat index. We visited the Alamo grounds but unfortunately so did every school group and scout troop in Texas that day, so we opted to not take the full tour and spent most of the day walking the lush landscaped, shop, bar and art filled River Walk. If you’ve never been I highly recommend going and seeing this beautiful place, in winter, spring or fall of course. As the morning went on the crowds became larger and we decided to leave and head back to Austin around 2pm where we could be lazy at the pool. On our way back into Austin we ate at Whataburger – definitely a Texas institution! I had ate at one years before when I visited one of my best friends, Jona in Corsicana, Texas. Of course I snapped pictures of everything I ate and sent them to Jona – just to torment her as she now lives in Chattanooga, TN, without Whataburger. That evening, it was time for a much anticipated dinner at Jack Allen’s where Sabine’s dad is a general manager (at the new Anderson location). Our meal here was one of the highlights of the visit. Jack Allen’s is a farm to table establishment focusing on fresh local ingredients all served in a contemporary setting with an extremely attentive wait staff and food to slap your best friend for (Debbie. You’re slapped…again!). We dined on delicious guacamole, house specialty pimento cheese, and country fried steak served with a mild green chili gravy.
On Thursday we made another drive, however this time north on I-35 to Waco, with Magnolia Market our destination. Who doesn’t enjoy an episode of Fixer Upper on HGTV? I know my daughter Sydney does and of course she had to have an authentic t-shirt from there. I’ve visited Cedar Point many times and have been used to long lines, but the lines at Chip and Joanna’s gold mine give even Cedar Point a run for the money. We did the entire Magnolia Market experience – right down to cupcakes from the Silo’s Bakery. That evening we enjoyed a fantastic meal at a hip place called Kerby Lane in Austin, where breakfast is served all day and the food and service was impeccable, following that dinner we visited Mayfield Park Cottage and Gardens where peacocks are in abundance and strut their stuff for visitors – then finally to the top of Mount Bonnell also known as Covert Park where there are breathtaking views of Lake Austin and the city’s ever growing and impressive skyline. This park has been a destination for Austin residents since the 1850’s. Back to the hotel and I had an early flight on Friday back to Cleveland (Mallory flew home the following Monday).
Upon arriving at the airport and checking in with some time to spare I grabbed a couple of breakfast tacos that I had now grown to love and waited for my flight… oh wait, I almost forgot about the breakfast tacos!! That’s what I started to write about but got side tracked. Breakfast tacos are a must for residents and visitors to Austin or for that matter most any part of Texas, they are everywhere… from Rudy’s BBQ to gas stations, supermarkets to café’s, coffee shops to diners; and yet the best ones are the food trucks, especially La Traila located on the city’s northwest side across the street from Anderson High School. I enjoyed the sausage, cheese, egg and potato while Mallory gobbled down two of the “The Anderson’s” egg, bacon, cheese, potato and avocado. We tried them at Rudy’s and loved them too and even the ones at the airport stand were delicious. Everyone in Austin eats them, I heard about them all during our trip, the security guards at the LBJ Library were even getting into a heated debate over where the best ones were in Austin. So something so simple is so delicious, easy to make at home, I’ve had to make them for Mallory every morning since we returned to Ohio as we dash out the door for work (she’s my summer intern). Texas is big on everything and its swagger can be summed in two words for us: breakfast taco.
Special thanks to Curry, Melissa, Sabine and Grace for showing us around Austin and for the wonderful hospitality! I’m including my Breakfast Taco version…enjoy!