I somehow made it back home from Austin without any help from a wheel barrow or a crane. Which is really saying something, because I feel like all I did there was eat and take pictures in photo booths.
Thursday through Sunday of last week, I was lucky enough to get to head to my native state of Texas for the food conference Blogher Food 2013. I arrived Thursday with two of my favorite people that I have ever met through the internet (I know – super creepy) Lauren and Tina.
We ate a WHOLE lot of food, but I have narrowed it down to my top 5 places we ate. It was hard, so hard, but these were the places I would go back to if I could. I only wish we had even more time to explore some of the other great restaurants we heard so much about!
The first place we went to eat in Austin was Torchy’s Tacos. It should come as no surprise that the first thing I wanted to eat was tex-mex! I had the Fried Avocado Taco and the Trailer Park Taco. Both were divine and one of my favorite savory dishes I had in Austin. Of course we also had to get queso…and Mexican Cokes.
Fried Avocado Taco: Hand-battered fresh avocados fried and served with vegetarian refried beans, topped with pico, lettuce & cheese. Served with POBLANO SAUCE on a corn tortilla.
Trailer Park Taco:Â Fried chicken, green chilies, lettuce, pico de gallo and cheese on a flour tortilla with POBLANO SAUCE. “Get it Trashy” – take off the lettuce and add queso.
Much later that night after some conference parties, we swung by the Chi’Lantro food truck for a late night snack. I had seen it on Food Network and could not wait to try it. Tina and I ordered the Kimchi Fries with Bulgogi Beef to split and Lauren had the tacos. I am not lying when I say these are the best fries I have ever eaten…ever. They aren’t really fries, but a full out meal. The flavor was amazing and so full of depth…if I lived in Austin, I know where I would be eating all.the.time.
Kimchi Fries:Â Caramelized Kimchi, a mound of sizzling Korean BBQ (Bulgogi), chopped grilled onions, cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese, cilantro, magic sauce, sriracha and sesame seeds. All set on top of a pile of crispy French fries.
On Friday morning, there was only one place I wanted to go for breakfast. Gourdoughs. I don’t know how they call these sugar bombs donuts, but I can tell you one thing…they were truly the best donuts I have ever had! Each one was better than the next and the size was just shocking!
We (Lauren, Tina, Jenny and Amanda) ordered two donuts each and couldn’t finish any of them!! They open at 10am on Friday and don’t close until 3am…because everyone needs that 2am donut!
My favorite donuts of the ones we ordered were:
MOTHER CLUCKER–Â Fried Chicken Strip with Honey Butter
CHERRY BOMBS –Â Glazed Cherry Topped Holes, Cinnamon, Sugar & Cake Mix Topping
FUNKY MONKEY–Â Grilled Bananas & Cream Cheese Icing with Brown Sugar
FLYING PIG–Â Bacon with Maple Syrup Icing
My favorite savory breakfast (because come on, there is no way you can beat those donuts above!), was at South Congress Cafe. We each ordered on our own entrees and split their famous Carrot Cake French Toast. This was the first time that we really cleaned our plates (well, almost)! Our server was absolutely adorable and did a great job of walking us through their menu. Not that the menu is confusing, we just had a really hard time making up our minds! His suggestions were perfect and we all loved our breakfasts.Goat Cheese & Bacon Omelette: caramelized onion, artichoke hearts, crisp bacon and soft goat cheese omelette. served with a smoked gouda potato pancake and a choice of salsa. Migas: eggs, corn tortillas, tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, three cheese blend, refried black beans, smoked gouda poatato pancake, choice of salsa, and house made tortillas.Â
Carrot Cake French Toast: carrot cake, cinnamon vanilla egg batter, cream cheese – pecan syrup and season fresh fruit.Â
Eggs Benedict South Congress Style: english muffin, beef tenderloin medallions cooked to medium, migas and your choice of regular or chipotle hollandaise sauce.Â
We stopped at multiple bakeries throughout our trip (what can I say — we are food bloggers!) and my favorite was Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop. They did win Cupcake Wars, so I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised. It was Amanda’s idea to try Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop and I am so glad I tagged along!
We were a big group — there were 6 of us: Lauren, Jenny, Amanda, Shaina, Shelly and Kristan — so we just each grabbed one or two things and shared them all. My favorite was the Alpocalypse cupcake and the S’mores Bar. They Alpocalypse cupcake was actually what won them Cupcake Wars!
Alpocalypse Cupcake: Rich Valrhona cake filled with a spicy chipotle truffle filling, topped with rich chocolate buttercream.
S’mores Bar: Graham cracker crust, a thick layer of cream dark chocolate and a delicious pillow of house-made toasted marshmallow.Â
 
When we arrived to our hotel (we stayed at the gorgeous Omni in downtown Austin — more on that next week!) we were greeted with tons of awesome swag. How cute are those little Koozies? Lauren is from Canada and thought they were pronounced “co-zies”. It’s how I pronounced Koozie for the rest of the weekend. ;-)
Throughout the conference and the closing party, we handed out somewhere around 50 bags of swag to our fellow bloggers! And now we get to give out a swag bag to three of you!
Giveaway: Pretzel Crisps Swag Bag!
There are lots of ways for you to enter, just follow the directions below! The giveaway closes on Friday, so enter now! Good luck! :-)
**I was sponsored to go to Blogher Food by Pretzel Crisps®, but all opinions are 100% my own.**
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
Glad that you had an exciting trip there, the food looks really delicious there!
I have to agree with your Canadian friend….it’s co-sie – like a tea cosie but for beer!
Oh wow! It looks like you had an absolute blast :) so much tasty food available!
Nice!! Now I know where to eat next week when I head to Austin to visit my sister and niece. Last time I was there I ate at Taco Deli and I was pretty pleased with their taco selection. The menu at Torchy’s Tacos also looks really interesting and different. I’m more into sweets than anything, so I’ll make it a point to make it to Sugar Mama’s and indulge a bit! I’m pretty sure I’ll also need a crane to get me out of Austin after all the goodies I’ll be consuming next week…
Everyone is talking about Torchy’s Tacos! Gotta try those next time I’m in the homeland. Thanks for the rundown and lovely pics, glad y’all had fun in ATX!
I don’t think we got to meet up, but I thank you for giving me a summary of the good food in my own city!!! I’m excited to try a few spots I’ve never been!
Love them with goat cheese
With creamy cheese!
Pretzel crisps with hummus is so yummy!
Love my pretzel crisps with a smear of Nutella. So glad you had fun in Austin- I have hit most of those food places when I last visited, such good food there!
I love eating Pretzel Crisps with hummus!
I’m with Amanda – totally called a Co-zie because it keeps your drink COZY!! (I’m also a Canadian…)
Any place called Mother Clucker’s is a place I would have to go. lol You’ve mentioned so many tasty dishes that my mouth is watering. Wish I could’ve gone! Austin sounds amazing. I gotta go eat dinner now.
I eat my crisps with laughing cow cheese (haha)
I was just eating Pretzel crisps with Tex Mex smoked gouda cheese spread I got at Costco. Yum!
Your trip looks amazing!!!! I’m so sad I didn’t get to Austin this year!
I love the regular pretzel chips dipped in Italian dressing! So.Freakin’.Good. Really.
I like Pretzel Crisps with Red Pepper Humus. YUM!!
I love to eat the pretzel crisps with tasty dips made by HALO dips of SC they have no msg and are all natural and are TASTY :) My sis & I recently went to an event and they were selling the dips and serving them w/ petzel sticks so I bought a bunch of the dips and used them with the Pretzel Crisps and the dips needless to say didnt last long.
Goodness, those donuts. (head shaking) My goodness.
Actually, I have never tried pretzel crisps! This must be corrected at once!
I like to eat mine plain….boring but true.
Out of the bag, the cheese ones!
What an awesome recap of Austin’s yummy eats! So glad you had a great time! I wish we got a chance to chat more, but hey, there’s always next year… or hopefully sooner, if you visit Austin again! Would love to show you even more deliciousness in my city! :)
All of those places look AMAZING! Definitely need to head there and check them out! I absolutely love pretzel crisps! My favorite way is either with hummus, or with any type of cheese. Delish!
I like my Pretzel Crisps with hummus. YUM!
Straight up! They are soooo delicious!
EVERY thing I ate in Austin was a must-eat. I want to go back. So great to see you again!
I just had lunch, but you’re making me hungry all over again!
Looks like you had a great time! I love Pretzel Crisps and have been known to eat a bag in just a few days. :[ I love the Buffalo Wing ones dipped in Spinach Dip.
I love the everything ones with cream cheese…and sometimes cream cheese and green olives.
First of all, this is a great post! I love traveling, and I love food which means I am always on the lookout for recommendations for future traveling escapades. This post is perfect for that!
My favorite way to eat the crisps is either dipped in a cheese sauce or peanut butter!
Thanks!
My favorite way to eat Pretzel Crisps is straight out of the bag, if they’re the buffalo flavor :) I also love the plain ones with some Nutella!
we loved chilantro when we were in Austin in April!! And I still regret not trying the donuts!
It was great seeing you this past weekend! Thanks for all the goodies–I love Pretzel Crisps!
Straight out of the bag
Looks like my kind of vacation – food, food, and food!
I just moved from NY to Austin two weeks ago. I’m thrilled to see your suggestions for. Yummies in my new hometown. my husband and I will be checking all of them!
You all look like you had so much fun!! I wish I was a food blogger so I could come meet you all and hang out and eat cupcakes and doughnuts and all sorts of yummy stuff! I’ve enjoyed all of the recaps so far.
Thanks for the giveaway! Pretzel Crisps are delish!
Larissa
Pretzel crisps and spicy hummus! Amazing trip report. I’m so jealous:-)
Mmm…I love them with french onion dip!
favorite way to eat pretzel crisps?? uhhhh…..dipped in chocolate. [hangs head in shame]
I love Pretzel Crisps!!
So glad you all had such a grand time, wish we all could have been there, too! Pretzel Crisps with cheese, salami, grapes, apple slices and a cold glass of wine! Great meal for a hot Texas evening!
I like them plain or with hummus!
I like them straight up!
Right out of the bag
Love to eat them with dips, like hummus and onion dip!!
By the handful
I love my Pretzel Crisps with hummus!
What a fun weekend! I can’t wait to hear where it’s gonna be held in 2014! :-)
With honey mustard dip
Would love to try them
Why waste the energy (and something else to wash)..eat them right out of the bag while kicked back reading a book :)
I like the crunchy goodness right out of the bag!
Right out of the bag
Looks like a majorly delicious and fun trip!
I definitely think the next party I have I’m going to get some props for people to use in pictures. I think they always look so cute!
It was so great to finally meet you! So glad you had a fabulous time back in your home state!
With hummus!!!!
Straight up from the bag!
I eat them plain or with cream cheese.
Chips & DIP! DUHHH
I like them plain… although dipped in chocolate might be another option!
I like to eat them with salsa..or with some mayo and a slice of pepperoni on top! YUM!
I love pretzel chips with hummus.
Thanks for the recap, I’m jealous, the food in Austin looks delicious!
I’m old school and like to eat pretzel chips with some tasty aged cheddar…or some goat cheese.
Thanks for posting all these delicious Austin eats! I’m going to Austin for the first time in October and will definitely be checking out several of these spots!
With some cheddar jack squares on top
All I have to say is WOW and YUM!
Straight up!