Fort Worth Date Night: Road Trip!

by Michael Bloomberg
September 9, 2010

Growing up, if your family was anything like mine, you know that traveling with four children can be tough. For weddings, celebrations and vacations, we didn't often fly. Rather, my parents would load us four kids in the car and down the highway we went. It didn't matter if it was to Austin, Missouri or somewhere in the middle, automobile was their transportation of choice.

This is a great time to throw in that I was the third of three boys. Then, just to mess up my perfect role of being the baby, the parents had a girl. Move forward to the family trips. For whatever the duration we were in the car, it meant being tortured by my two older brothers. Either physically, mentally or both. Seriously, who wouldn't enjoy ten hours of continuous Wet Willies? (Google it)

Fortunately, there is a different kind of road trip coming up that is much more exciting. It starts in one of my favorite cities (Austin), involves one of my favorite foods (BBQ) and includes one of my favorite beverages (cold beer). For this event only, Date Night is being changed to Date Weekend.

The lovely ladies over at Texas Toast Culinary Tours are at it again. You might know them from their local "Feeding Frenzy" progressive dinners. As famous chef, Emeril Lagasse, would say, they are "kickin' up a notch" with their next installment in the "BBQ & Brew Tour." All you have to do is get to Austin. They've taken care of the rest. According to their website, the trip is as follows:

Friday, Sept. 17, noon
* We'll depart Austin from the Holiday Inn Austin Town Lake, right off I-35, south of downtown. It's free parking and if you're spending the night in Austin, it's extremely convenient! We'll be in a luxury motorcoach, so get ready to kick back and be chauffeured.
* First stop: Southside Market in Elgin. This smokehouse makes some of the best sausage in Central Texas.
* Next: Pointing the bus toward Shiner, Texas. We'll tour Spoetzl Brewery where deliciousShiner Bock comes from. You'll get to taste test their whole family of beers. We're a little partial to Shiner Black right now.
* Final: We're off to Gonzales for sublime lamb ribs, fresh tortillas, avocado and a dash of hot sauce from Gonzales Market. Once back in Austin, you can enjoy the city’s legendary live music.

Saturday, Sept. 18, 9 a.m.
* You better wake up hungry because we're headed to Lexington for brisket at Snow's, ratedTexas Monthly's No. 1 Barbecue. Snow's is only open on Saturday and only as long as they have meat!
* Next: Louie Mueller in Taylor has some of the best peppered brisket. This joint has been featured in one of our favorite movies "The Rookie" and also was where Stevie Ray Vaughanwas photographed for "Family Style."
* We're off to Lockhart for Smitty's BBQ. You get to wind through building and see the open fire pits. We're partial to the Blue Bell ice cream cones they serve. We'll stop by Kreuz Market, as well.
* We'll finish up the afternoon with some homemade pie from Pies Galore in Bastrop. Our return to Austin gets you back in time to rest up for an evening out. We can recommend a number of distractions for those in search of music and dancing.

Trip cost: $225 per person, which includes transportation, food and beer on Friday and Saturday; gratuities; and tour guides.
Friday only - $100
Saturday only - $175

For complete details and registration info on this road trip and all of the Texas Toast Culinary Tours, please visit: http://www.texastoastculinarytours.com

Fort Worth Date Night: A"Smokin" Date Night

by Michael Bloomberg
May 20, 2010

Their motto is "You've tried the rest, now try the best!" O.K., don't mind if I do. With bold words like that, they better be able to back it up. I'm pretty sure every restaurant doesn't open up thinking they are just fair or mediocre. Although, and it's not a restaurant, but, I always get a kick out of an alteration place on the west side of Fort Worth called, "OK Tailor." Seriously? A business with low self-esteem?

So, I was happy to find a barbeque joint who was proud of their product and eager to stand behind their motto. I have heard about Hickory Stick BBQ for years. My parents and their friends have been several times recently and couldn't sing their praises enough. As a lifelong Fort Worthian and lover of the smoked brisket, it was time to head to Forest Hill to see what all the fuss was about.

Apparently, the fuss has been going on a while. Hickory Stick has been in existence for over 34 years. A feat that is not often seen when it comes to a business, much less, a restaurant. Now I'm understanding their confidence. Hickory Stick is actually in Everman(900 E. Enon Ave., Everman, TX 76140). Not a far drive from the southwest part of Fort Worth. I love that when I pulled up to the parking lot, it looked and smelled like "this place has some serious BBQ."

You'll find your typical BBQ selections on the menu. Some in our party went with the chopped beef and kept saying it was the best they had eaten. I opted for the sliced beef and will say that it was very, very good. I also didn't leave hungry. The portions are huge.

We inquired about dessert. Everything sounded great. But, something at the order counter caught my eye. This was homemade peanut brittle. While they don't make it there, it is made locally and can honestly say as a peanut brittle officianado, could be the best peanut brittle ever.

It's getting to be that time of year. The weather is heating up, the outdoor activities are increasing and your grill starts to get used a bit more. Don't feel like cooking? Need to fulfill your BBQ fix? Hickory Stick would make the perfect place for you two to hit up when looking for that casual, hole-in-the-wall, "can I go like this?" kind-of-place.

http://www.hickory-stick.com/