Posted 5:37 pm Sunday, August 05, 2012
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Tex-Mex gourmand lauds dishes at Austin restaurant
My favorite Mexican food restaurant in Austin is Matt's El Rancho. I had a chance to revisit the place when we made the trek to the capital to take Rachel to orientation this summer at The University of Texas.
In spite of the deaths of Matt Martinez Sr. and Jr. over the last several years, the place still cranks out some of the finest Tex-Mex fare around.
In fact, I had the pleasure of introducing it to my friends, the Greenbergs, for their first taste of Bob Armstrong dip (if you don't know, you gotta go) and Shrimp ala Matt Martinez and, yes, a chile relleno stuffed with beef, with both red and green sauce and the traditional garnish (onion, pecans, sour cream and raisins). Pardon me while I dab the corner of my mouth and reflect a moment.
You may remember my friend, Sam, was dubbed by a West Coast food critic as being a member of the pantheon of great eaters. Matt had no idea who they had in the house. I felt like an evangelist (of the Tex-Mex sort).
On the way in to be seated, we saw the large window with a view to the kitchen area where much of the food is grilled with great flair by those preparing it.
With a sense of pride, as if the place belonged to me, I pointed out to Sam they used to close the place every summer for two weeks to, not only take a well-deserved vacation, but to give the place a thorough cleaning. They stopped doing that a few years back, but don't try to go on a Tuesday because they are closed on that day every week.
You gotta love a place with such great traditions. It's somewhat like Chick-fil-A being closed on Sunday. In either case, the food and overall product experience is so good, both places basically manage a mob scene every day to get all their customers served.
You may remember my friend, Sam, was dubbed by a West Coast food critic as being a member of the pantheon of great eaters. Matt had no idea who they had in the house. I felt like an evangelist (of the Tex-Mex sort).
On the way in to be seated, we saw the large window with a view to the kitchen area where much of the food is grilled with great flair by those preparing it.
With a sense of pride, as if the place belonged to me, I pointed out to Sam they used to close the place every summer for two weeks to, not only take a well-deserved vacation, but to give the place a thorough cleaning. They stopped doing that a few years back, but don't try to go on a Tuesday because they are closed on that day every week.
You gotta love a place with such great traditions. It's somewhat like Chick-fil-A being closed on Sunday. In either case, the food and overall product experience is so good, both places basically manage a mob scene every day to get all their customers served.
Of note: there are not many restaurants I can name where I am willing to wait more than a few minutes to be seated, but Matt's is definitely one worth waiving this long-held policy.
Over the years they have added brisket tacos and I've tried the Mexican meat pizza, but it just feels like home when I order the old stand-bys.
It was disappointing to find the Shoreline Grill closed next door to the Four Seasons hotel. It seems sometimes the more things change, well, the more things change.
The countdown is on for school to start. Jamie starts eighth grade on the 15th, Rachel starts 13th grade on the 21st, and Cal starts 16th grade around the same day. This means in five short years I will be an empty nester. It was all part of my plan to be married young and have children in my youth to find joy in this stage of life. My mom always says the 50s are good years. That bodes well for someone in my household later this month.
After a summer vacation since the last meeting of the B.U.N.S. book club, we will hold our next meeting on Sunday, Sept. 23 to review Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. There will be prizes and refreshments at our usual location at Barnes & Noble at 3 p.m. that afternoon. Start reading soon, it's a long one.
Stay cool, live well and I'll see you next week.
Over the years they have added brisket tacos and I've tried the Mexican meat pizza, but it just feels like home when I order the old stand-bys.
It was disappointing to find the Shoreline Grill closed next door to the Four Seasons hotel. It seems sometimes the more things change, well, the more things change.
The countdown is on for school to start. Jamie starts eighth grade on the 15th, Rachel starts 13th grade on the 21st, and Cal starts 16th grade around the same day. This means in five short years I will be an empty nester. It was all part of my plan to be married young and have children in my youth to find joy in this stage of life. My mom always says the 50s are good years. That bodes well for someone in my household later this month.
After a summer vacation since the last meeting of the B.U.N.S. book club, we will hold our next meeting on Sunday, Sept. 23 to review Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. There will be prizes and refreshments at our usual location at Barnes & Noble at 3 p.m. that afternoon. Start reading soon, it's a long one.
Stay cool, live well and I'll see you next week.
