Rudy's Country Store and BBQ - Webster, TX

There's a lot of BBQ in Texas. Everything from mom and pop joints to more widely available chains. Rudy's is one of those chains. I know what you might be thinking; a chain, how good can it be? Well, as it turns out, surprisingly good for a place that also sells gas. Rudy's started life as a gas station and grocery store located in the Texas Hill Country town of Leon Springs. They added barbecue in 1989 and the rest as they say is history. Rudy's has expanded from its small town origins and now locations can be found all over the southwestern United States.

Rudy's is set up as what I've come to know as a typical "meat market" style barbecue spot. You stand in a snaky line and wait for your turn at the ordering counter. You then order the meats you want by the half pound or on a sandwich. (The menus are posted on the walls)

We ended up ordering some pork loin, turkey and links of sausage. There was also prime rib available the day we were there so we grabbed some of that.

The only side we got was Rudy's Green Chili Stew. The stew is a blend of chilies, potatoes, carrots and pork. I think it's pork anyway; full of flavor in any case. They offer several different sides and desserts too.

Green Chili Stew

We've been to Rudy's a few times and I have no doubt that we'll be going back. Ice cold beer and good barbecue, it doesn't get much better than that. If you're in Texas or the southwest don't hesitate to give Rudy's a try. It's the real deal.

Happy dining!

Note: A new BBQ place has opened nearby that is being compared to Franklin Barbeque in Austin. As some of you may have read here Franklin has the best BBQ we've ever had. We'll be heading to the new spot to see for ourselves. Stay tuned for the results.

Let's Eat!

If there is a best part of being on the road it just might be the chance to try some great food. Over the years the Dining Companion and I have had the good fortune to dine all over the country. Today I'm going to run down some of the best places we've tried. Places worth seeking out if you're in the area and some places worth a journey all their own.

I've written about this before but my hands down favorite breakfast place is the Red Eyed Mule in Marietta, GA. A small breakfast and lunch spot run by a great group of people. The food is fresh and imaginative and doesn't disappoint.

Sometimes finding the goods means getting out of the city. One of the best places to find something good to eat is along the Buford Highway that runs from Atlanta to Buford, GA.The Crawfish Shack had some of the best Cajun style seafood we've eaten anywhere. A trip out to the Buford Highway is a must do when in the Atlanta area.

Our vote for the best barbeque is still Franklin Barbeque in Austin, TX. We can't compare this to anything else because it's in a class by itself. All we can say, is that if you love BBQ and want to experience the best, head to Franklin in Austin.

Having eaten at many Brazilian Steakhouses it was a revelation to eat at a restaurant that served other traditional Brazilian food. On the recommendation of our server at Fogo de Chao we tried Sao Paulo's in Austin. The food we had was flavorful and interesting. It brought another ethnic food to our awareness and something else to seek out in our travels.

One of my favorite things to eat has got to be a cheeseburger. Cheeseburgers are pretty ubiquitous and we've eaten them everywhere. The ones that stand out are not necessarily the fanciest or most gourmet. One of my favorite places to get a cheeseburger is the Northgate Soda Shop in Greenville, SC. A nostalgia filled diner that serves up some regional favorites. Specifically the Carolina Slaw Dogs and the Pimento Cheeseburger. Worth seeking out. A local favorite and a fun stop.

An honorable mention here for The Vortex in Atlanta. It served up one of the most memorable burgers for sheer size and ridiculousness. Grilled cheese sandwiches for buns, multiple patties, bacon and cheese. A crazy over the top plate of goodness.

In the last but not least category we have Corea Kalbi in Newport Beach, CA. This was our first encounter with Korean BBQ. All types of meats are grilled at your table and served with a large variety of condiments. We'd never had anything quite like it and haven't really since. If you're lucky enough to have a Korean BBQ restaurant in your area you should give it a try. One of the most fun and interesting dining experiences we've had.

These are just of a few of the places that have stood out for us over the years. Places that I would return to again given the opportunity.We're looking forward to more interesting and exciting dining in the future. When we find the gems, whether hidden or smack in the middle of the tourist districts, you'll read about them here.

Happy dining! 

It was a dark and stormy night...

 Today I take a little departure from my usual content

Could there be a more cliched opening line? I don't know about you but I read those words in the title and think, ah, a mystery. I love mysteries, definitely one of my favorite genres. The past few years I have done all of my reading (save newspapers and magazines because I find I still enjoy some printed media) on an e-reader. I started with a re-furbed first generation Kindle and never looked back. Being on the road as much as we are, e-readers have been a life saver for me. I no longer have to tote a bunch of books around or store them somewhere. I know I've mentioned this all before. If someone had asked me, I would have sworn I was done with printed books. That is until I read about S. For those of you who don't know, S is a novel by J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorst. Not just a novel, a kind of reading experience.
(Possible mild spoilers ahead due to some pages and inserts being shown)

I was intrigued enough by what I read about S to order a copy. S is a novel within a novel. The novel wrapped around S is a marginalia filled library book titled Ship of Theseus by V.M. Straka. The actual novel is in those margins and consists of a series of notes, written volley-style, by the two main characters.

Besides the margin notes the book is literally stuffed with clues in the form of letters, maps, postcards and photos.

 

This is a fun read. If mysteries are your thing you're going to enjoy this book on at least one of its many levels. Depending on how into it you want to get you can read just the novel in the margin notes or you can read the novel that contains them and then go back and read the margin notes or you can read it all at once. (There's even a decoder wheel!) However you do it I think you'll find something to enjoy. Even if it's just the uniqueness of the physical book itself. This one is worth some space on the bookshelf.

Happy reading!

Just around the Corner

Not a lot going on in these parts this week. Not that I'm complaining. The hectic pace of the past few months makes me appreciate the quiet for now. We spent some time at our local park. (One of them at least and a favorite) It's a great place to get outside and a fun place for the dog.

It's a lovely setting and we try to get there as often as we can. There's a small dog off leash area and plenty of paths for strolling and benches for sitting in the sun. I feel very fortunate to have this so nearby.

Speaking of nearby, we found a little neighborhood pub recently. I may be in the minority, but one of the things I like in my neighborhood is a local pub. A place I can walk to, enjoy a beer, soak up some of the local ambiance. Well this is that place. A nice find.

What'll ya have?

A quick beer, a trip to the park with the dog and a quiet weekend at home.

Gives me some time to plot out some future travel, a chance to catch up on some reading and to just enjoy the moment. And really, who could ask for more.

Note: One of the places that I've long wanted to visit is New Mexico. For some reason I've just never made it there. It's on my radar for 2014 and hopefully we get the chance. Otherwise I'm not sure what this year holds for travel. Visits to family and maybe a few weekend trips here and there. Time will tell. And you know, wherever I go, you'll read about it here. 
Happy travels!

San Jacinto Monument & Museum - La Porte, Texas

The Dining Companion mentioned that he would like to visit the San Jacinto Monument. (There is an observation deck there that offers a wonderful view of the area.) Sounded good to me. Not knowing anything about the monument or why it stood where it did, I did a little research.

The battleground that surrounds the monument was the sight of a very important battle for what was to become a large part of the US. This was where, on April 21st 1836, General Sam Houston's troops dealt a deadly blow for the Republic of Texas.

...the United States would gain not only Texas but also New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, California, Utah and parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado and Wyoming.
As a result of the Battle of San Jacinto, almost a third of what is now the United States of America changed ownership. It is one of the most decisive and consequential battles in the history of the United States and indeed the Western world.

San Jacinto Battleground

San Jacinto Battleground

 

After walking around the lobby of the museum and checking out some of the exhibits, we took the elevator to the observation deck. 

I love dioramas.

 

 

 

The ride to the observation floor just about 500 feet above goes very quickly.

We tried to pick as clear a day as possible to take the best advantage of the views. As you can see from the pictures below there was haze at the horizon. The view of the city of Houston was obscured but we were still able to see for miles in all directions. 

 

The ship in this picture is the Battleship Texas another nearby attraction

 

Reflecting Pool

 

The city of Houston is barely visible through the haze on the horizon

The San Jacinto Monument and Museum not only makes history exciting, with the help of video presentations and maps, it helps it to come alive. It's interesting to see the current landscape compared side by side with the terrain of the past. If you find yourself in the Houston area with some time to kill this is a side trip will worth your time.

Happy travels!

Note to Flat Penny collectors: There are two Press-A-Penny (Flat Penny) machines on the observation deck at the San Jacinto Monument.