Foodie Rave

Throughout the Italian countryside you can see posters advertising local sagras. A sagra is a celebration of the bounties of the earth-meaning food, of course. Austin has its very own sagra at 17th and San Antonio, named for the small town festivals that are so popular with the food-obsessed Italians.


I don't know why it has taken me so long to discover this place, but thanks to the briliant recommendation of my friend, it has become an instant favorite. Housed in a vintage cottage with outdoor patio tables lining the front walkway, this trattoria with its deep red awning looks very inviting. If you have never been to Sagra, you are in for a treat.

Freshly cut flowers on crisp white tablecloths and apricot walls bathed in soft lighting give off a warm and romantic ambience. The feeling is relaxed as you
pore over the menu with a glass of wine, and sample the warm house bread. Everything on the menu sounds appealing from the argula proscuitto pizza made in their wood burning oven, to the braised short ribs served over a creamy polenta. I opted for the chicken stuffed with apricots, pistachios and a goat cheese ricotta with a decadent cauliflower risotto on the side. I have to say it was the best chicken dish I have ever eaten, anywhere, including Italy. 

Believe me, this photo does not do justice to the stuffed chicken

                      

 Sagra is open for lunch, and happy hour is from 4 to 7 with half price pizza. Dinner reservations are recommended.

An Uncommon Eye

Laguna Gloria recently featured some installations by artist Steve Wiman, owner of the quirky SoCo shop, Uncommon Objects. Steve, a former antique dealer has shaped his lifelong love for simple and utilitarian objects into art that goes beyond the traditional concept of art as canvas and paint. With an eye for texture and a passion for humble bits that others might eschew, Steve's assemblages transform the ordinary into something extraordinary.

His South Congress store is home to dealers whose inventory runs the gamut from whimsical to nostalgic. There is something here for collectors of every sort.

You can see Steve's current San Antonio exhibit, "There's More Where That Came From", at Sala Diaz, 517 Stieren.

It's All in the Details

My neighborhood is a wonderful mix of old cottages sprinkled with newer architectural styles. I think the word eclectic best describes it. People here seem to relish individual expression in their homes and yards. Pristine bungalows circled by picket fences sit next to yards filled with seemingly unedited collections of every sort. I suppose "beauty IS in the eye of the beholder". In any case, I took a few snaps of some of the architectural details I spotted while walking through the hood.

I Took the Bait

It was a nice Saturday to do some exploring, and my friend was game to drive with me out to Canyon Lake to check out a place called Franks Bait and Tacos. I have to admit that I was curious about the place.  After all, you never hear the words bait and tacos used in the same sentence, let alone as the name of a restaurant.

As it turned out, the owner wasn't Frank, but Eddie. The place was abandoned when Eddie saw it, but he liked the location right on FM 306 and decided to turn it into a family run Tex Mex restaurant. 

Eddie warmly welcomed us, pointing out some of the memorabilia that fills the restaurant. Every square inch of space is covered with kitsch given to him by his adoring customers.

As we looked over the menu, Eddie warned us not to be in a hurry because this was not fast food.  His wife does all of the cooking fresh to order. While waiting for lunch to arrive, Eddie gave me a peek inside the bait shop and sure enough the tanks were filled with all kinds of live,wiggling bait. Not exactly an appetite booster, but it wasn't going to stop me from trying the enchiladas.

   The portions were generous but I managed to make

   a serious dent in those cheesy enchiladas-mucho gusto, Eddie.