I love that my titles for blog posts are getting longer and longer.
So the one question I got on the road often was, “What food do you miss the most since you have been on the road so long?”
The answer has always been the same.
For those of you who live in areas of the US where this is the norm, you can understand my obsession. Long gone were the days of sitting down at a table and receiving complimentary chips and salsa while you enjoyed your happy hour margarita. Dreams of queso (the melted kind with chile in it) floated in and out of my consciousness over the year. I was having cravings. Intense ones.
So when I got home and gained 10lbs back immediately, I wasn’t really surprised.
Was I sad? Ask my brain – yes. I worked so hard. Ask my stomach – HELL NO.
I hit my favorite restaurants as quickly as I could:
Chuy’s
Known for their creamy jalapeno dipping sauce and by far my favorite salsa in town. I ordered the chile rellenos (stuffed chiles with chicken and cheese, battered and deep fried) with deluxe tomatillo sauce (tomatillo with sour cream) while Shaun went with the Elvis Special (chicken breast covered in Lay’s potato chips, deep fried) with Boom-Boom sauce (a queso-y sauce).
And I did drink my frozen margarita before realizing I forgot to take a picture of it (no hating on the lack of salt!) – so darn, I just had to order another one. These just are not the same anywhere else and cannot be found in Mexico outside super touristy areas. These are the epitome of TexMex.
Trudy’s
See the pattern in the names? (heh)
My favorite (and a dish I repeated a million times on the road) – Deep Fried Avocado. This beaut is a stuffed avocado with chicken and cheese, battered and deep fried with a lemon sour cream sauce on top. Heart attack? I think so!
And nothing in the world can compete with their Mexican Martinis (MexMarts for short!). I’ve tried to duplicate them and while I’ve come close, there is always something missing. Think of stronger margaritas. They cut you off after 2 shakers for legal reasons.
Their green salsa also make me swoon. It once got to the point where when I would sit down they would just bring me a bowl instead of the small dipping platters. I think I went there too much.
If I could take these along with me I’m not sure I would ever come home.
What is the one thing you crave when you are abroad?
Oh man I love TexMex. I’ve had some decent Mexican in Korea (well, I tell myself that anyway) but it’s just not the same, without queso dip, and free chips and salsa. SOMETIMES you get free salsa with your food (a teeny serving), and I’ve had some pretty good cheese-covered chips (NOT free) but that’s it. The food itself is decent although standard fare (quesadillas, burritos etc) but…. I am getting Mexican at my favorite restaurant literally the day I get home. I will stop on the way back from the airport and get take out if I have to, but I WILL have my chips and queso!
We are seriously missing out on the TexMex down under. I am feeling ripped off because it all looks so fantastic. EXCEPT FOR the deep fried Avocado – NO WAY!
It’s look like nice dishes.Which i want to enjoy as a delicious food. Thanks for beautiful photos.
I don’t know what I’d do for a whole year without TexMex! You should add “texmex sacrificing badass” to your resume pronto!
You’re killing me. Really good chips and salsa is just about the only food I desperately miss over here in Germany. I’ve started making my own, and it’s turning out pretty good now, but it’s just not the same. Plus the tortilla chips I have access to aren’t anything great. So jealous of you!
I LOVE Trudy’s! I spent a year in Austin and have great memories from that place. Right now I’m in Puerto Rico, but I’m moving to Austin again this fall. I’m getting my TexMex fix! I can’t wait
Ummmm Mexican is the best food ever! It’s worth every pound!!!
Deep fried avocado?! Oh my gosh, sounds crazy and definitely worth trying 🙂
It’s true, it’s true! Living abroad, there’s this empty feeling that washes over me and then I realize — TexMex. I need it, want it, RIGHT NOW! Thankfully, I’m back where I can eat chimichongas to my heart’s content. Still, your pictures are DIVINE!
Funny how we always miss something from back home. We’ve been to Chuy’s and I can personally verify how flippin’ awesome Mexican Martini’s are – and how dangerous! 🙂
Yummmmmmmmmmmmmm! And yes – all those extra m’s are necessary.
I just went to Trudy’s the other day and tried the stuffed avocado for the first time. Good thing I don’t have a car or I might go eat there a lot more often. I could also understand how eating 3 or 4 of those things could make a person gain 100 pounds. Yum!
I shouldn’t have read this. Being from California, I definitely miss my TexMex here in Chile! It’s always the first thing I eat when I get home.
I can see why you missed it – YUMMM. I went to Austin for a week last year and have been craving more Torchy’s ever since!
Aww! You should at least give it a try. It is YUMMY!
Any time – I like to eat. 😛
YES. Seriously. It was the main thing I was missing from home. My favorite thing to do in the world is drink margaritas and eat chips and salsa.
It never is the same. I tried to make salsa in South America a few times but the lack of jalapenos or anything spicy chile made it difficult.
Awesome Nia! Maybe we can go grab happy hour at Trudy’s or something? 😀
Damn skippy. Seriously. My life would be not nearly as great without amazing things like these.
Batter dipped and fried! It makes the cheese all gooey and amazing.
LOVE chimichangas… oh yes… maybe I’ll include them in a post in the future. I seriously go a little nutty without chips and salsa.
Dangerous yes… I always think I can handle 2 until I try and stand up.
Hell yeah!
And this is why I’ve gained so much weight coming home. I can’t stay away. There southwestern eggroll thingies are divine as well.
I think you may be the only Cali person that I know that likes TexMex?? Most are baja style purists.
YES TORCHY’S! What did you order? My favorite is the democrat – BARBACOA!
Chuy’s!!! Love. As you know, I couldn’t agree with this post any more than I do. I’ve been on a major diet, but tonight I couldn’t stand it anymore. Chips and salsa (Sadie’s HOT) and Sunday night TV!
As someone living in Mexico, and loving the cuisine, I have to cringe at the thought of Tex-Mex 🙂 I’m definitely a purist when it comes to Mexican food.
Stop, you’re killing me! God, I miss the food in Austin. We craved Mexican food (and TexMex) like whoa when we were abroad, and we still haven’t had that itch properly scratched.
That’s the one I got! It was amazing. I’m going back to Austin for a bit in August so luckily I’ll have another chance to get my fix 🙂
I was just chatting with Wanderlust Project about the Mexican food in Korea. While it may not be fantastic – at least you have something. Make sure to get your queso fix for sure!
NOMNOMNOM! We just were having a True Blood marathon with chips and salsa. I looked down in horror when we realized we ate half a jar in one sitting.
I don’t put them in the same category at all. They should be separate food groups! I would never consider Chuy’s to be anything near tacos al pastor or mole. I love them both so much. It is a damn shame we can’t get any “real” Mexican food up here.
And that is one reason why I don’t mind coming home. I stuff my face and it is oh so yummy. I’m sure you guys will be back through some time!
YUM Mexican food is THE BEST!
Damn skippy!
Ayyy dios mio!!! Seriously I miss TEX-MEX food so bad. I know it’s horrible… & know it can kill us & know it’s gonna make me so fat when I get back home, but I love it. What I would give to find some decent TEX-MEX or hell even just MEXICAN on the road… but it’s like impossible. You will be on the road again soon so enjoy the deadly calories while you can.
What a great bunch of photos, mouthwatering is the result. Now we are in trouble, there is no TexMex in France!
Yeah… that was one of the things I missed the most on our travels. I need my tacos and queso. My life is so empty without them!