El Arroyo Promises Great Soup (Tequila with Lime)

Yesterday, I had the privilege of eating at an Austin staple, El Arroyo. If you aren't from around here, you might just assume it's just another taco place. But it hosts a snarky sign that alone makes it worth the trip. And the sign didn't disappoint last Saturday. 

Before I dive into the tasty salsa and margs, I have to dwell a bit more on this sign [because I love a good story]. The sign is updated daily with witty remarks, comments on current events, puns, etc. - a tradition that started back in 1975 when the restaurant opened. 

According to an article by the Austin Business Journal back in 2014, I discovered the process to plan content for the sign was incredibly similar to the process we use to plan our client's social media content calendars. A small group of the restaurant group's leadership plots out a calendar, leaving spots open / flexibility to comment on cultural moments. Such as this post on Brexit. 

Borrowed from the El Arroyo's Twitter account @ElArroyoATX

According to our bartender, all staff members are encouraged to submit suggestions for the sign, but it's a pretty tough selection process. And they have to be a bit careful about how snarky they can get. 

Overall, the margaritas were great and I loved they had a "skinny" version. The salsa was zesty and thick and the chips thick, warm and crispy. But, unfortunately, I have to admit that the rest of food was mediocre, and could be the result of a new menu from new ownership in 2012. 

While I may not be back for dinner, I'll certainly be back for their happy hour deals every day of the week, including $1 happy hour margaritas on Thursday, $1 Dos XX on Monday. 

Read more about the restaurant. 

And check out more of myviewfrom_ other taco places in Austin here. 

Sunday Kolache Quest | River City Donut

Today, when my fella suggested donuts and kolaches for breakfast, I was intrigued. Despite living in Texas for almost 8 months now, I've never eaten or bought kolaches. I know for all you Texas residents out there reading this, that sounds like blasphemy. While everyone else is saying, kolaches? what? According to the Smithsonian a kolach is a Czech dessert pastry filled with fruit. Well, over time in Central Texas the recipe has evolved into a pastry wrapped around a sausage or other such meat. 

I digress... So, despite my no-wheat diet, and my attempts to be healthier, I volunteer to take on the donut/ kolache quest. After all, it's my goal to immerse myself in Austin. And [borrowed from some discussions at work]... Mornings suck. Sometimes you just have to treat yourself in the morning to get off on the right foot. 

After some quick Googling, I landed on River City Donut, a local donut joint with a 4.8 rating on Google and 4 stars on Yelp and a menu of donuts, breakfast tacos and kolaches. I'm impressed. So I hop in my car and am off. 

Seven minutes later, I pull up to a small, unassuming shop at the end of the strip mall. I ignore the drive-thru sign on the side of the building. I clearly wasn't going to get the full experience going through the drive-thru. 

I walk in and a sweet lady, the owner of the shop, asks for my order. I'm suddenly overwhelmed by the options and tell her I need a minute. 

Seriously, this is only one of the cases! 

After answering all of my newbie questions, I finally made my decision and chose a sausage & cheese kolache, a donut with marble icing and a strawberry smoothie (for me). 

Smoothie was delish. I didn't taste the donut or kolache, but they got rave reviews from my guy. And I couldn't think of a better way to start off my Sunday. 

[In case this post has inspired you to your own personal kolache quest, check out this list from Austin Eater.] 

For other foodie shots and experiences of Austin and other locations, check out myviewfrom_ on Instagram. 

What I'm Looking For

"I hope you find what you're looking for." That's one of the last things one of my friends from Chicago told me before I moved down to Austin. 

Recently that phrase has been ringing in my head. I hope so too. But what am I looking for? And will this move really help me find it? 

Well... I'm not really in the market for a ton of new friends (meaning I have some really great ones that are irreplaceable) not that I'm not going to make friends here. I'm not looking for a place to call my home because I have 2 homes really - Chicago & KC. I'm not really looking for a career path (I have a pretty good one). And I am certainly not looking for a husband - Lord knows if I'll ever be ready for that again. 

So maybe I'm really looking to find myself - or really a purpose/direction for myself. I moved to Austin because I wanted to go somewhere by myself - for myself - and prove that I could do that. And I did. 

So now what? I guess I want to define myself. I realized in Chicago that I didn't want to be defined by my relationship or my job. But I was falling into that trap with so many distractions. I guess Austin gives me the freedom to redefine myself and figure out who I am. No one here really knows me and not really knowing many people, I find that I have a lot more free time to "figure things out." ;) 

Sounds daunting, I know. But I'm giving myself small goals but not a ton of structure. And, in parallel, I'm focusing my efforts on finding my favorite taco place here in Austin.