We're taking a process control hardware troubleshooting class, so at least the classes are fairly hands-on and not endless lectures. I'm very impressed with Emerson's setup here. Everything is top notch, including the eats for the class. In the hall / break area outside class there is a free-for-all vertical cooler stocked with water, sodas, juice and so on. They also have Starbucks coffee in the tureens, and the put out pastries, fresh fruit, and biscuits and gravy about 8:30. Lunch is included in the classes (as it should be for the price) so I was expecting typical fare. I was happily surprised to get a light buffet with a small fresh salad bar, artichoke hearts baked with onions, roasted acorn squash and a nice spaghetti carbonara. Man, that's first class eats. They also kept rotating out snacks of small pastry, trail mix, Chex mix and others throughout the afternoon.
After classes we headed back south but took a detour around the 360 Loop. This was kind of unplanned. When visiting new places I often get a wild hair and take off in unknown directions with little hope of recovery. We didn't even have our nifty hotel-provided map, but, hey, it's a loop right? We have to get back around eventually...
Let me say eventually can be a long time in Austin at rush hour. Okay, it wasn't that bad and we did get to see some of the countryside. After seeing lots of hills, rocky cuts by the roadside and LARGE homes, we made it to the south side of town and to South Congress Avenue. I saw many road bikers out torturing themselves on what would be a grinder ride in heavy traffic. I also saw several guys on knobby tires that didn't look to be commuting. South Congress eventually crosses the lake back into downtown, but just before the bridge is a great, funky little area of shops, bars and restaurants. We ate at a highly recommended place called Guero's Taco Bar.
The outside seating in a dirt courtyard covered by ancient Spanish oaks wrapped in white lights was absolutely out of sight. With a local band on the small stage, I could certainly imagine whiling away many a summer night in the soft glow of the antique lights. Unfortunately, imagining it was all I had since they weren't running service outside and the stage was empty.
The inside of the restaurant was a hodgepodge collection of various south-of-the-border decorative memoribillia that has become the go-to style for casula dining. Somehow, they managed to do it right and the whole place had a great ecclectic, slightly worn feel that made it a welcoming place to hang out.
I ordered a Don margarita that was notable for the smoothness of the the smoothness of the tequila but otherwise un-noteworthy. For appatizers we opted for the guacamole and queso dips, both of which were good. My entree for the evening was a taco plate - 2 large soft shell tacos on homemade tortillas with your choice of about 8 different fillings with rice and beans on the side. I decided to try the renowned Al Pastor (slow roasted, marinated pork with grilled onions, pineapple bita and fresh cilantro) and the Al Carbone (chicken marinated in orange juice and peppers.) The tacos were very good, if a bit dry. A condiment bar with fresh limes, salsas, and so on was available and probably would have moistened them up nicely, but I wanted to try the flavor in it's purest form. The Al Pastor was particularly nice. The beans were fair, but the rice was simply delicious. I can't say enough good about it. To be honest I was thinking pretty highly of the meal until the check arrived. I guess a big-city-surcharge is too be expected in the trendy areas, but I felt a little overcharged even with the quality of the meal. But hey, it was good eats.
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