Our Vacation Eats

Well, travelling with a small baby really makes things interesting. However, we had an excellent time. Baby Patty said, “Da Da!” for the first time just outside of San Antonio. That will be our main memory that is better than any sightseeing that we did. We did have some really awesome food, though.

The Alamo

A visit to San Antonio is not complete until you’ve experienced El Mercado and Mi Tierra. The market square is just that: full of vendors of everything from cute little Mexican marionettes and embroidered dresses to scrumptious street food of bunelos and tacos. Mi Tierra is the must-visit restaurant on the Market Square.

This fantastic Tex-Mex treat is complete with mariachi music and great atmosphere. Independent mariachi bands stroll the dining area and for $6 per song, they will delight you with your choice of songs.

After we devoured our chips and salsa, we dove into our food as it arrived. We were tired, hungry tourists. Between that and feeding the baby his sweet potatoes and cereal, I forgot to take a picture of my plate before I dived in. LOL You’ll have to settle for a partially eaten plate pic.

My husband and I both got the Mole Chicken Enchiladas. They did not dissapoint! The mole sauce was rich with the flavors of chocolate and roasted chilies. The beans were smoky and sprinkled with a crumbly Mexican cheese that is similar to feta. The rice was just right! And if that wasn’t enough… try to save room for desert! The fried ice cream is total indulgence! We did a 3-way split.

The next morning was a bit drizzly. After touring the Alamo, we were searching for a bite to eat and a place to rest our weary bones. As we passed Pat O’Brien’s, we heard the caller say that there was no wait, inside dining, and the chicken strips were excellent. This last statement got my 7 year old’s attention, so we went on in. We settled in next to the bar. Deciding on splitting the big muffaletta was an easy decision. It was excellent!

 

This traditional New Orlean’s sandwich is an event of its own. From the toasty, huge roll to the assortment of meats and cheese to the mouth-watering olive tempanade, we were not dissappointed. Oh, and Sam said the chicken strips were great, too! He saw the drink menu and wanted to order one of the colorful drinks in the tall glasses. LOL I said he’d have to wait until he was 21.

Rested and refueled, we sat out for the Buckhorn Salloon and Hall of Horns. This is another must-see sight in the city, but be prepared for the ticket prices. I was a bit surprised at how much admission was to most places. Guess it has been too long since I’ve been out and about. We toured the Hall of Horns and the Texas Ranger Museum, and then we found our way to the saloon to cool our heels.

The next morning was spent 180 feet underground in the Natural Bridge Caverns. We all agreed that this was the most spectacular stop on our trip. The caves were very impressive with their huge formations.

 

All that walking and climbing made for one tired and hungry bunch. We headed just up I-35 to New Braunfels to a wonderful spot tucked away behind modern hotels and shopping centers. A few years ago, this jewel was easily seen from the highway, but now you have to look for it a bit. Oma’s Haus is a wonderful, family style German restaurant in New Braunfels.

It is a local favorite,and when you walk in, you feel that you’ve been transported back in time. The floors are wooden, the tables and chairs remind me of eating at Granny’s table, and the staff are welcoming. Oma’s Hause offers the standard, popular German items like sausages, saurkraut, schnitzel, and German potato salad, but they also have a few original recipes that are definitely worth trying. The reason I stop at Oma’s Hause every time I am in the area is to have a plate of Oma’s Pride. Handsdown, it is the best thing I’ve ever tasted. And it did not dissapoint this time. If you like spinach even just a little bit, you’ve got to try this original dish. First, it’s a big square of puff pastry that’s flaky and golden. Then there is a heavenly mixture of spinach, a creamy and cheesy sauce, and I think it’s finely ground veal with a gentle mixture of spices poured on top and sprinkled with cheddar cheese. It is a hearty portion that is enough to share. We ordered dinner for two and got to choose two entrees, two sides, and an appetizer from the “Best of the Best” menu. The weiner schnitzel was tender, crispy and delicious. The grilled sausage sampler was totally flavorful with sliced sausages (3 kinds) grilled with onions and bacon. The german potato salad was sweet, warm, and tangy, and the mashed potatoes were something special too. Too full for desert, we opted to buy homemade fudge and 4 mini-strudels for later. My husband had never eaten German food, so I was tickled to share Oma’s Hause with him as his first experience because I knew that it would not dissappoint us.

I will be back to my own kitchen soon, so look for more recipes and stories from home. Until then, keep lovin’ and keep cookin’!