The Salt Lick

There are times in a man's life that are monumental. The first time he kisses a girl, first time he gets in a fight, his first drink with his dad...etc. well I had a monumental moment last weekend. Jess and I were in San Antonio, and we were visiting Kelly and Eddie, Jess' aunt and uncle. So we get down there on Saturday morning after waking up before the sun and drive for a bit. Needless to say we stopped at Starbucks to get caffeinated.
So we get to SATX and we hang out with Kelly and Eddie and their kids and needless to say we hang out with Joey and Ashley (Eddie's son that just got engaged). And we eat some Vietnam food called "pho" which is rice noodles with some beef in a broth. That's when we get around to driving back up to Austin. Why? Don't I always tell you people why? So we get to Austin to meet some other relatives of Jess. Her Uncle Sean and Aunt Carol and their kids. We hang out at there for a bit and then we decided to go to this place called "The Salt Lick". I heard that Sean and Carol had their reception here and this makes me to believe this is a upper class steak joint. I was wrong....Kinda

We drive maybe ten minutes down a road near Sean's house (which is not really in Austin, it's more like on a farm) and we get to the Salt Lick. And this BBQ place has a vineyard. I don't know what kinda BBQ places you go to, but this was a first for me. This place is in the middle of nowhere and the amount of cars out number Paris Military.....ok bad example. but needless to say there are a ton of people here. And we sit down. Sean comes and tells us it's going to be an hour wait. No big deal. They make lemonade on site. Like serious squeeze lemons into a cup, sugar, water...booyah achieved lemonade! Now the place is doesn't serve booze, but it was BYOB, so that didn't stop many members of our group from having a fun time. An hour of picture taking, dancing to the live music, and making faces as Jade (Sean and Carol's daughter). We go into this cabin like building and we see this grill covered with ribs, chunks of brisket, and sausage links hanging above the flames. That's when it hit me, this place does not mess around with food. We sit down and after ordering a 4 meat dish for myself my food comes out. Nearly falling off the plate is by far the most tender and moist brisket that has ever entered my presents. It's sweet soft taste on my palate offset by the sharp mustard BBQ sauce. Then the links. Nothing can explain sweet, spicing, and enticing like these sausage links can, after that I start shoveling potato salad in my mouth as fast as my hands can get it there. I am in culinary-utopia. After about 4 spoon fulls of potatoes I realize there is a  pork rib on my plate. After one bite, followed by me inhaling the rest of the tender meat covered in sauce there was no longer a rib on my plate. It took us a whole 30 minutes to eat our dinner. Mainly because there was so much food. I will never forget the amazing food that I ate that night. A lot of places I have taken people, or vice-versa  the second time around the food was not that great. But Jess didn't stop talking about this place once we left SATX on our way to Austin, and I see why.


 

Carol and Jade

Jade camera happy

Sean and Luke Soaking up the live tunes

Kelly and Taylor

Luke was trying to meet some ladies, we had to restrain him. :)

Austin, I thought you would like this one the best.

I wasn't lying

They are serious about food

I was overwhelmed.

Jess and I pre-BBQ Sauce

Eddie this is the only picture of you we had from this event.

"The Little's" Pizza

So going back in time from my "Pythetic Pyrex Moment" trying to get you all back up to date on current cafe events. Two weeks ago we had the privilege of having our first real non-family guest at our apartment. And it was non other "The Littles". Who is this you say...Do you really think I would leave you in the dark for more than a few sentences. Well I should but I love you too dang much! So "The Littles" is non other than Madison Camp. She is our close friend and our even closer friends daughter of  Scott and Gina Camp. We had a blast mainly involving in a serious game of Scattergories in which I lost, swimming, Shrek, and Pizza making. Not to brag but I think I am pretty good at that. Anyway here are a few pictures to show you two things. First I am not lying and we actually did the things I write about and second that "The Littles" really is Little. Seriously she is like 2 foot 12. :)

-Ryan

Bye Bye Pyrex

So I think this will be a quick blog. Mainly because it is just a picture. I am still being lazy with editing videos. Anyway the reason we are here. Destruction, carnage, and glass all over our kitchen. In the words of Tucker Max, "I used to think Red Bull was the most destructive invention of man kind...". Well I am here to tell you Tucker Max is wrong, electric stove coils are. I used to think Pyrex pans were indestructible; they're not. I was boiling water today to make some pasta for my left over Alfredo sauce and I was browning some vegan sausage to make a nice pair. As I put the water to boil I adjusted the Pyrex pan side ways to make room to set the pot on the stove. I mistakenly turned on the back burner (where the Pyrex was sitting) instead of the front. I know Pyrex can go through a lot. But electric stove coils is not one of them, Learn from my hour long clean up duty...DONT PUT PYREX ON THE STOVE!!!!!

Did I mention the brownies you can see in the remains of the glass that were in the pan caught on fire.

Hope you had a good laugh and my misfortune.

-Ryan

China

So last night I posted something about what has been on my mind, and I don't know if any of you could tell, but, I kinda forced it out. My "Farmer Guy" post I was pumped, and I couldn't really wait to get home and blog about it. Well, I have some thing to say again. There is a place in this world, and let me tell you it is amazing. It is a place that is full of love, curiosity, laughter, and friends. Of course I don't really need to tell you. It is in the Title of the post! China is something that Jess and I have seriously been looking forward now to almost a whole year. In fact a year ago we were there! I am going to post some pictures up and you will see for yourself. But China is not just a place on a map, a destination, or the largest population of people on the planet. It is a living and breathing organism that has a field ready to be harvested. There are people in China that would do anything to know what I know. Now I am sounding conceded. If I were to take the love I have in my heart, and put it in their's. I wouldn't have to explain anything. Some people get this statement, while others don't. If your having a hard time email me. But none the less there is a vast group of college students that love to learn English, cook, eat, laugh, and most of all sing Hotel California (Calvin this is for you).


A few shout out...(because that went well last time)

Balita
Calvin
Kate
Ryan
Joel
Greg
Helen
Celeste
Wade
Dawn
Shawn
Thomas
Kattee


These people are full of joy and love. And that is why Jess and I will be going back. And in case you have been living on the moon the last 30 years here are a few pictures from our trip a year ago.

希望您能推测此。 直到下次…赖安。 或者，如果我们在中国我会签字作为没什么，但是，苹果计算机公司。


Haha good luck with that one...

Current Influences

So lately Jess and I have been saturated in some interesting influences. Movies, Music, and literature. I have to say I do have an addictive personality. It's who I am, it's in my blood, I get stuck on repeat, or what ever you want to call it, when I get a new singer, movie, or book in my hands Jess usually gets stuck with it for at least the next week. A couple of summers ago it was this song by Incubus "Are You In?", This summer it was been non stop John Mayer. I have to say he is an exceptional guitar player. I now have a new appreciation for blues guitar and acoustic rock. Although I must give some credit to Death Cab for Cutie. Their song, "You're a Tourist" is inspiring. But I don't want to bore you with me going on and on about some dude that gets paid too much to treat Jessica Simpson like crap. Why? Because I will let you see for yourself, John Mayer Playing "Gravity" Live.

Now that John is off my chest...lets move on into movies. I wish I could spout off about how I have practically lived and the cinema this last summer, but, I can't. In fact I can't really recall the last time I have been. But this last weekend I watched one of my favorite movies. I am obsessed with it. It has Johnny Depp in it, and it's not pirates, or any other real "new" movie really. The movie is called "Blow". I will pause here and allow everyone to raise their eyebrows and second guess what I am really watching. Ok. Blow is a movie based on a true story about a guy named George Jung. Here is his link...Info on the Film. It doesn't matter if I watched it Monday I can watch it Tuesday. It is the perfect film for anyone that likes drug movies, action movies, drama movies, mafia movies, and more.

Lastly and probably most time consuming for me is literature. I am lost in the book that everyone raved about and I caught on the band wagon post fame. Decision Points by George W. Bush is incredible. And very eye opening. I recommend it to anyone even you Alabama Grizzly Adams (my old roommate that hates politics). In fact I looked up the presidents current mailing address, and I intend on writing him a letter as soon as I am done with the book. Pick up the book and tell me what you think. Decision Points



-Ryan

Craziness!

So things have been crazy around the cafe. Food, Friends, and LOTS of coffee! Here are few pictures that will require further explanation later on.

Our Red White and Blue pancakes that our master chief Jess had made on the 4th of July

Nick's Birthday Brownies!

 

Nick's birthday dinner. Steak, wine reduction noodles and more!