My husband and I have been obsessed with the culinary stylings of Chef Paul Qui since he was making amazing and innovative dishes at Uchiko. Watching him go through Top Chef and were confident from the beginning that he would be the winner. After easily wrapping up that competition he proceeded to open this amazing little gem and we have been delighted on our numerous visits to Qui (and that is apparently pronounced /kē/). The restaurant originally started as a standard, “choose your own adventure” menu but it has since morephed into a what's fresh today, best of the best. Now when you go (and do make reservations, they fill up fast!) you have just two options; a choice of a Standard (aka Carnivorous) or Vegetarian tasting menu of roughly seven courses at a set- and I feel VERY reasonable for what you get- price. They also offer a “beverage pairing” which I highly recommend, they get it right. Every beverage perfectly complements the course and adds yet another layer of complexity.  Since we just went this past Friday and did the Carnivorous menu (with beverage pairing… of course!) I snuck some photos of my amazing grub and wanted to post a play by play of the greatness.

I actually had one of the "best bites" of my life here a few months back and want to make sure I specifically call it out as well. They had amazing Amberjack sliced sashimi style that they brought to the table with smoking, red hot chunk of binchotan (a white oak I believe) that they rested directly on the wood for the briefest of moments before pulling it off and setting it carefully in a squid ink/sumiso (type of sweet miso vinegar sauce). AMAZING. We ordered a second round of it. They had something similar last week, and it was really-really good... but WOW, the Amberjack... that sauce... mmm...

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When we lived in Cedar Park we went to the Noble Pig (now renamed to Noble Sandwiches) on RR620 for lunch pretty regularly but haven't been since we moved to South Austin a year ago. We just realized there is a Noble Sandwiches on Burnet close to the triangle so headed up there to check it out. It is just as great as the original and the interior is a beautiful, sleek industrial/cottage feel. I wish I had gotten a picture of the decor, it was really nice.

On to the food, we got a few half sandwiches so we could try a few things We had a Duck Pastrami Ruben sandwich (on bacon bread... excuse me while I wipe the drool off the keyboard), Knuckle Sandwich and the Noble Pig on challah. 

The smoked duck pastrami is extremely tender with a wonderful smokey flavor, and -according to my husband- it is "super tastie-fied." But really, I think the house made pickles and bread really make their sandwiches, it is all fresh made, light, fluffy and flavorful. The level of pride they put into making something generally thought of as being "simple" is really the secret. Everything they serve is fresh and handmade by them, and it is all delicious. 

Check out their menu here!

I have been waiting patiently (or not so patiently!) for the South Austin Ramen Tatsu-Ya since one of the nice waitresses at the North location let it slip a year ago that they were opening one up MUCH closer to me.

I am an Asian soup junkie, and Ramen tops my list of must haves, and I would say Ramen Tatsu-Ya is the most amazing Ramen I've had. I love the stuff. It is like liquid crack. With an egg in it.

So, now that I've already said how crazy I am about this place I was SOO excited when I found out they are doing a soft opening before they are "Open-Open" next week. Probably no need to say, but we were THERE as soon as I knew it was an option. 

The South Austin location was honestly a little classier and I don't think it'll be as noisy as the North location, I love that they took the feel of their North restaurant and took it up a notch design wise. Every one there was so nice and helpful and the food was 100% as amazing as what I've come to expect from Tatsu-Ya. 

I always get the #2 (Tonkotsu Sho-Yu -Tonkotsu broth with special blend of soy sauce, chashu, ajitama egg, menma bamboo, crushed peppercorns, scallions and nori.) with an extra Ajitama (egg) and a spicy bomb

But my husband gets the #1 (Tonkotsu Original - Creamy pork bone soup with chashu, ajitama egg, wood ear mushroom and scallions) with extra chashu pork and the corn bomb.

We have been driving by Porter Gastro Pub heading to one restaurant or another several times and always say "we need to check that out!" Well this was the day! It is a very cool vibe and folks had dogs on the patio (I am a sucker for anything dog friendly). The inside was a cool industrial zibe that I loved.

Looking over the menu there were so many great sounding things! We ended up going with the list below and the Pork Belly Slider, Oxtail Croquette and Country Pate were all so flipping great! The Pork Belly Slider is a "small plate" and was only one so we had to share, I really wish we had gotten more because I could have stuffed myself on just that. 

The Oxtail Croquette  was crazy good... I can't explain it... just do it! We talked to the chef and if I remember right he said they braise it crazy long in wine. SOOO tasty

I am a big fan of pate, and their country pate was a really nice pate and I would definitely get it again, but the big WOW for me was the homemade pumpernickel bread. Carb Crack.

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This weekend I had my second visit to Swoop House for their Fowl Play meal. It was AMAZING. It was duck heaven. 

If you haven't been to Swoop House, let me start by saying... It isn't a standard, walk in and sit down restaurant. They have scheduled events, where they have a specific chef plan a meal, then they sell seats for that specific event in advance. So you never get the same thing. It is a really great concept and makes it a lot of fun.

Onto Fowl Play... While everything was ridiculously good, I have to make a shout out for the Seared Duck Breast dish, it was so incredible and the cauliflower was beyond divine. My other big call out was the Smoked Duck & Julienned Roots appetizer, I have never had anything like it. The duck had this nice smokey, almost bacon like flavor to it and the crunchy interior with the kick of the vinaigrette was to die for.

In addition to the food, the house is adorable, and it is such a beautiful setting to spend a relaxing evening!