Homemade Crock Pot Pho
Continuing my goal to try more crock pot recipes, I made pho! It was missing a key ingredient that made the taste slightly off, but otherwise, it was delicious!

Homemade Upside-Down Peach Cake
I also made this scrumptious upside-down peach cake for a dinner party and we gobbled it down! I will definitely be making this one again. The recipe is from Austin360 and I substituted with gluten-free flour.

San Antonio eats
If you’ve been following along my Instagram and blog, you saw that I started this month eating my way through San Antonio. Watch out, Austin! San Antonio’s culinary scene is heating up and there are tons of tasty eats. Check out this post for the full details about craft beer, fine dinners, and amazing breakfast.

Lunch at Boiler Nine
I was excited to try Chef David Bull’s newest restaurant Boiler Nine. Lunch was nearly flawless.

• Appetizers: the beer bread and steak fries were perfect. The beer jam that comes with the beer bread is made with my fave beer, The Lone Pint Yellow Rose IPA. The crispy steak fries were seasoned very well and it was hard not popping all of those in my mouth.
• Entrée: I got the Confit Fried Chicken Thigh sandwich for my entrée and it was a little messy but scrumptious! My lunch mates both enjoyed their burgers and said it was a top choice in Austin.
• Dessert: For dessert we split the chocolate cake, churritos and banana cake. The griddled banana cake with malted milk, white chocolate, and grape ice cream was a clear winner. It may sound and look funny but the flavors blended perfectly. Highly recommend this dish.

Appetizers at Boiler Nine: Beer Bread and Steak Fries

Boiler Nine: Confit Fried Chicken Thigh Sandwich

Boiler Nine: Chocolate Cake

Boiler Nine: Banana Cake

Dinner at Saffron
This Indian/Asian fusion restaurant in Northwest Austin was a hit! We each got a different dish and had a bite of each. I enjoyed my Saffron Goat Curry and my other favorites were the Murg Shahi Korma (boneless chicken in creamy cashew and pistachio sauce) and Saffron Chicken Lazeez (minced chicken and fresh spinach in creamy sauce). I’ll definitely be coming back here to satisfy my Indian food cravings!

Pizza, Cookies and Sparkling Wine Cocktails at ATXBloggerMixer
At the ATXBloggerMixer, our sponsor Salvation Pizza provided us a huge selection of delicious eats! I really enjoyed the pizza. Our other sponsor Shortbread Baking Co made these cookies that are pretty and mouth-watering! And finally, Mighty Swell Cocktails brought the drinks and since I had only tried the Grapefruit previously, I now have a new favorite – the lemon!

Good, Healthy Eats at True Food Kitchen
Yes, I went to True Food Kitchen twice in one week. Back in December, I visited the location in Dallas for brunch and really loved it, so I was excited when they opened an Austin location recently! I LOVED the ancient grain bowl with chicken. On the second visit, I enjoyed the kale guacamole, asparagus and mushroom pizza and the kale salad.

Homemade Steak and Veggies
I shared one of my boyfriend’s go-to home-cooked meals on the blog this month. Steak and veggies. It is always a highly satisfying and hearty meal packed with flavors! Check out the post to see how to make it for yourself.

Whole30 Eats
After starting Whole30, my boyfriend and I have been eating in and taking homemade lunches to work. While some days include a lackluster salad, most days have involved making new dishes like Turkey Mushroom Salad Bowls, Pot Roast Bowls and a whole lot of Chia Seed Pudding with fresh fruit. Check out the Austin360Cooks post about my chia seed pudding!

What delicious things have you been eating lately?

Keep up with me elsewhere! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin’, or Snapchat (@wanderlustanita). You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Flavors of the Month: July 2016 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

In 2011, Via 313 opened in Austin, introducing us to the Detroit-style pizza, and we will never be the same. It’s deep dish Chicago without the mess and abundance of sauce. It’s thin New York with a heavier sustenance. (Don’t get me wrong – there’s a time and place for both of these styles too!) The caramelized cheese on the crust makes the bottom and sides extra crispy yet keeps the middle of the dough soft and spongy. That cheese is the secret to the tantalizing taste.

Of course, tantalizing tastes are made from special equipment, and in this case it’s their special square pans that make the crispy crust. So, another difference with this Detroit-style pizza is the square shape. Depending on the size of pizza you choose, you’ll have four or eight pieces.

I also love the ingredient combinations. Here are my favorites on their menu.

• Omnivore: Mushroom, Onion, Green Pepper, Pepperoni, Sausage
• The Cadillac: Gorgonzola, Fig Preserves, Prosciutto di Parma, Parmesan, Balsamic Glaze

A while back, Via 313 partnered up with Michi Ramen (one of my favorite ramen places in Austin) for a Ramen Pizza. It was so tasty! Keep a look-out for special pies like this.

Quick tip: you can get two flavors on one pizza. For the small, you’ll have two slices for each flavor – perfect for splitting and trying different kinds.

While I like going to their trailers when meeting up with friends before drinks, the brick-and-mortar locations are great for the full bar, more seating, air conditioning, and easier parking. They also have more food options. While the pizza is enough to fill you up, getting an appetizer is a good idea while you wait for the pizza (about 20 minutes). I would recommend the meatballs in marinara or a Caesar salad. Their brick-and-mortars also have thin-style pizzas on the menu.

Via 313 Locations

Brick-and-Mortar: North Campus: 3016 Guadalupe, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78705

Brick-and-Mortar: Oak Hill: 6705 Hwy 290 No.503, Austin, TX 78735

Brick-and-Mortar: East Side: 1802 East 6th, Austin, TX 78702

Trailer: West 6th at Star Bar: 600 West 6th, Austin, TX 78701

Trailer: Rainey St at Craft Pride: 61 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701

Website: http://via313.com/

Looking for more good eats in Austin? Check out my Austin restaurant features or the full list of my favorite restaurants in Austin.

Keep up with my food adventures! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Favorite Austin Eats: Detroit-Style Pizza at Via 313 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Dinner at Thai Kun (Domain Rock Rose location)
I started May off with a bang! It was a spicy one. I liked the brick-and-mortar look of Thai Kun and the service was top-notch. So far, Thai Kun has been one of the more impressive eateries at the new Rock Rose neighborhood. This oyster mushroom dish was my favorite.

Fried Green Beans and Burger at Contigo
I can’t remember where I went wrong. Did I have the fried green beans before and was not impressed or have I not and no one ever told me about them?! Well, I’m telling you now. Go to Contigo and get the fried green beans. It’s a hearty appetizer meant for sharing though I would have been perfectly happy with them as my entire meal. My actual dinner was the burger and fries, which is always fantastic!

Juice To-Go at Juice Society
This is my first time having Juice Society, even though they’ve been around before their new, shiny brick-and-mortar opened up. This place is doing BIG things, so go try their juices. They also have fresh smoothies and snacks. I enjoyed the Activated Lemonade (it has activated charcoal in it that’s good for detoxifying), Root Down (beets) and OmGreens (kale).

Assorted Macarons at La Patisserie
Macarons are one dessert that doesn’t make me feel guilty after eating. They’re so light and flavorful without an abundance of sugar. You can walk in and get macarons and a variety of pastries at La Patisserie in South Austin.

Bites at Official Drink of Austin
Austin Food & Wine Alliance events are some of my favorite culinary events in Austin. There’s an abundance of food and drink to try, the events are well-organized, and there are all-around good vibes! Congrats to Geraldine’s for winning the ‘Official Drink of Austin’ title with the ‘Far From the Tree,’ which has Treaty Oak Rum, fresh pressed apple juice, pecan orgeat, Paula’s Texas Orange and lemon juice. I enjoyed many of the bites, including Apis Restaurant’s beef tartare with egg yolk.

Dinner at Kin & Comfort
I wrote about Kin & Comfort this month and I also gave it a visit! The Shrimp and Grits is my go-to dish.

Strawberry Limeade Paleta at Stephen F Frostin
After the Camille Styles #gethealthygettogether work-out event, we were treated to goodies, including refreshing paletas from Stephen F Frostin. This very cute ice cream truck is by South Congress Hotel and you can find it there serving every Sunday.

Full Tea at Bundrick’s Traveling Tea Parlor
My friends Kathy and MJ and I knocked ‘enjoy a full tea’ off our to-do lists. What’s better than catching up, drinking great tea and snacking on these delicate bites at this cute tea trailer? The bites included three different kinds of tea sandwiches, tarts, macarons, and scones. The English version of scones is not hard like American scones! They are more like American biscuits, and layered with clotted cream and jam, they were my favorite snack. (And ‘biscuits’ in England means cookies!) The full tea is by reservation and $25 per person but you can also order a la carte without a reservation.

Hash Bowl and Orange Juice at Paperboy
I’ve been eyeing this trailer for a while because I have an affinity for sweet potato hash. Well, add in pork belly and a poached egg and you’ve got a tasty mix of breakfast. I also recommend the fresh-squeezed orange juice.

New Frozen Pizzas from Austin’s Pizza
I had the chance to try Austin’s Pizza’s new frozen pizzas, now in grocery stores in Central Texas. You can read all about it here AND win some coupons to try them for yourself.

Chai at Mañana Coffee
I set up shop at South Congress Hotel’s coffee shop Mañana one morning to get some work done. The blue tile is heart eyes and the iced chai I had was tasty. They had a healthy flow of people, so it’s not the best place to work on a weekend but a nice place for a quick meet-up.

Chicken Tinga Nachos at Cover 3 (Round Rock)
This is one BIG plate of nachos. You could easily share this between two people for dinner. The chips are loaded with black beans, chicken, cheese and avocado. Yum!

Sticky Rice with Mango at Sap’s Thai
I did eat dinner before dessert but I must comment about dessert because it was the main reason I ate here. Ha! Dishes at Thai restaurants are always very large so I never have room for dessert but I made sure to save room. (And thus, I also had leftovers for about 2 or 3 more meals.)

Acai Bowl at Daily Juice
I discovered acai/smoothie bowls this month, and they are so delicious! I tried the Berry Crunch Blast Acai Bowl at Daily Juice. It’s got blended acai, peaches, strawberries, banana, and apple juice on the bottom and toppings of blueberries, peaches, strawberries, chia seeds, banana, and granola. I loved the cold blend with the crunch of the toppings and fresh fruit.

Cupcakes and Brownies from Casa de Glaze Bakeshop
After a recommendation from my friend Jessica of The Dishtance, I hunted down the very cute cupcake bicycle of Casa de Glaze. While they mostly do catering, owner Jenny takes her bicycle cart out in her free time, so follow their social accounts to find out where. I tried the Dulce de Leche cupcake, Carrot Cake Cupcake and brownie – all perfect!

What/where have you been dining lately? Any recommendations for me?

Keep up with me elsewhere! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin’, or Snapchat (@wanderlustanita). You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Flavors of the Month: May 2016 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

• Pepperoni
• Brazos: Canadian bacon, pepperoni, onions, green peppers, jalapenos and feta cheese
• MoPac: Canadian bacon, pepperoni, sausage, onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, olives
• Downtown Special: pepperoni, sausage, black olives and mushrooms

The post DIY Pizza Greeting Cards + Pizza Giveaway appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Homemade Watermelon Juice, Avocado and Cucumber Tomato Salad with Plantains
Early in the month, boyfriend and I longed for Costa Rica. So, we he created a superb, snacky lunch that reminded us of vacation. I juiced a watermelon and he put it in a container and shook it up with some chopped basil. He cut up avocado and salted it. He made this magical cucumber, tomato, and a bit of onion combination that was simply dressed with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Then we went to town and barely came up for air because everything tasted so fresh and so pura vida.

Dinner at Launderette
Hooray for new restaurants! Launderette had been open for a few weeks when I got my hungry hands on it for a friend’s dinner. We started with Potato Chips with Pimento Cheese Dip and Nonna’s Red Sauce (meatballs). They did well as they were described – snacky bits! For sides, the Sticky Brussels Sprouts (with apple-bacon marmalade) were a good choice and re-affirms that Brussels Sprouts cooked in any way can do no wrong. We also had the tasty Cauliflower Gratin. For the main course, I enjoyed the Garganelli (fennel sausage, kale pasta). It was packed with savory, slightly spicy flavor.

Brussels Sprouts, Cauliflower Gratin, and Garganelli at Launderette

For dessert, we had to get the Birthday Cake Ice Cream Sandwich (delish!) and my favorite dish of the night, the Apple Pie served with salted butterscotch caramel and sage ice cream. Crispy, savory, sweet, cold, hot, smooth – it complementing elements that created a perfect end to the evening.

Launderette Apple Pie

Launderette Birthday Cake Ice Cream Sandwich

Gourdough’s

Mother Clucker at Gourdough’s

“So, there’s this food trailer that serves these crazy donuts.” This is how I tried to sell my Little on going to Gourdough’s after we were indecisively trying to figure out what to do one night. She liked it so much she asked them how old she had to be to work there. This was my first time trying the Mother Clucker and yes, this can count as dinner because there’s protein in there somewhere. Maybe, probably drenched in honey butter. This is a judgement-free zone. Thank you.

Many, many bites at Live Fire
I love food events like Live Fire because it’s fun seeing chefs in their cooking element and it’s fun trying a bunch of restaurants in one night. Sure, you might leave with holding your belly but you’re not guaranteed tomorrow.

Smoked Beef Cheek Lasagna with Straticiatella and Marinated Artichokes from L’Oca D’Oro

Smoked Beef Cheek Lasagna with Straticiatella and Marinated Artichokes from L’Oca D’Oro

This is one of those dishes where when you taste it, you can’t stop thinking about it and you go home to obsessively stalk their online presence to figure out when they are opening their brick-and-mortar. No, of course I’m not talking about myself. (I’m talking about myself.) So, until the restaurant does open, we shall look out for any pop-up dinners they host and continuously checking their social profiles. Oh, that’s right, you want to know about this dish. Does amazing cover it? Ok, how about tender meat, perfectly cooked handmade pasta, and a delightful creamy sauce?

Lemon Curd with Black Pepper Shortbread, Champagne Strawberries and Creme Fraiche from LaV

Lemon Curd with Black Pepper Shortbread, Champagne Strawberries and Creme Fraiche from LaV

Ok, ok, I’ll admit it. I went back for seconds! This bite was delightful and I usually shy away from lemon desserts. There was a coherent mix of sweet flavors balanced by the savory, crunchy shortbread. I enjoyed the champagne strawberries the most. LaV also had the prettiest table, delicately covered in a variety of strategically placed blooms. Kudos!

Tepache Especial from Argus Cidery

Tepache Especial from Argus Cidery

I have been stalking Argus Cidery for a year and a half. A year and a half I have told myself to visit the cidery and try their ciders. Well, half of that has been accomplished with my taste of the Tepache Especial, a wonderful sparkling pineapple wine. This taste made me even more excited to make the trek when their tasting room is open again. Guess what, they are available in stores around Texas, Arkansas and South Carolina! You’re welcome.

Hazelnut Drumsticks with Werther’s curd and Fizzy Chocolate Cocoa Pebble Crunch from Fluff Bake Bar

Hazelnut Drumsticks with Werther’s curd and Fizzy Chocolate Cocoa Pebble Crunch from Fluff Bake Bar

Fluff Bake Bar, you clever little minx! Petite yet packed with sweet magic, these drumsticks were a guiltless indulgence that tasted like crunchy chocolate nut clouds. Take your childhood drumstick treat, shrink it, and make it thousands of times more flavorful with different yet complementary flavors and you will want ten more of these. How soon do you think we can have them expand from Houston to Austin?

Peking Duck at First Chinese BBQ

Peking Duck at First Chinese BBQ

I may have mentioned this somewhere, but I have grown up eating at First Chinese BBQ and it never gets old. Never! I may be biased. I’ve always enjoyed the barbecue selection – barbecue pork, roasted pork, roasted duck. I also recommend Crispy Tofu Stuffed with Shrimp (I get it with barbecue pork also), Chinese Broccoli with Fish Filets, and Wonton Noodle Soup (the BEST wontons around). This month we had a special Peking Duck, a popular self-make bun dish with the best cuts of roasted duck, scallions and sweet bean sauce.

Combination (Lamb and Chicken) Over Rice at Halal Bros 

Combination (Lamb and Chicken) Over Rice at Halal Bros

Halal Bros started as a downtown food trailer called Halal Guys when I was in college. After a long night, we would grab some food at the busy trailer. They’re in a brick-and-mortar by the UT Austin campus now and have even expanded their original space but their food remains fantastic. My go-to is lamb and chicken over rice (spiced Basmati rice), which comes with a side salad and is topped with their special white sauce and hot sauce. The generous-portion dish is packed with flavor and the grilled meat is very tender.

Zeus Pizza at Spartan Pizza
How could I get through the month without eating pizza? (The answer is I don’t.) Spartan Pizza started as quite an impressive and pretty food trailer and now, has a structure with real walls! Congrats! I had not tried it until this visit but I am now a fan. The Zeus is topped with roasted garlic oil, spinach, tomato, crispy bacon and fresh mozzarella. (Fun fact: fresh mozzarella is a way to my heart. I will eat that deliciousness straight, no dressing.)

Zeus Pizza at Spartan Pizza

Salted Caramel and Nonino Walnut at Gelateria Gemelli
A new gelato shop in Austin! We are lucky, lucky people. First, this shop is gorgeous. It had me at hexagon tile, marble counters and tabletops, gold lettering, and dark teal walls. Excuse me, those are my googly eyes refusing to leave the shop with me. And then there’s this smooth gelato that explodes with flavor in the best possible way. I went with my go-to salted caramel that definitely did not disappoint, and I was recommended the nonino walnut that paired perfectly with it’s light and subtle flavor.

Salted Caramel and Nonino Walnut at Gelateria Gemelli

Lunch at Italic
I visited for lunch a month after Italic‘s opening and they are rocking it. The Italian restaurant’s bread comes from sister restaurant Easy Tiger so they can’t go wrong there. The appetizer Prosciutto di San Daniele included fresh bread and the best proscuitto that I’ve ever tasted. No exaggeration. Remember earlier when I mentioned that fun fact about mozzarella? May I have three more of this mozzarella dish, please? Topped with arugula and pine nuts (I believe. Their current version is not on their online menu.), I think this dish is also a must-order. We ordered the Brussels Sprouts and Crispy Polenta to share and I would definitely order these two again. For the main dish, I enjoyed the Fregola & Shellfish. This included cockles and mussels in a slightly spicy tomato broth with small pasta. Light and fresh! Finally, the Walnut Olive Oil Cake was an interesting dish with very strong flavors but including each ingredient in a bite, this dish was a dance on the tastebuds. It was a bit heavier, but it wasn’t too sweet.

Prosciutto di San Daniele and a mozzarella dish at Italic

Brussels Sprouts and Crispy Polenta at Italic

Fregola & Shellfish at Italic

Bites at Umlauf Garden Party
My friend MJ and I enjoyed the Umlauf Garden Party last month. It was a lovely night of delicious bites from restaurants around town.

Pork Belly from Due Forni
I haven’t been to Due Forni but I look forward to it. Their honey balsamic pork belly was tender and juicy.

Pork Belly from Due Forni

Mixed Vegetable Sandwich from Satay

Mixed Vegetable Sandwich from Satay

Satay is a Thai and South Asian restaurant and they served these tasty sandwiches with mixed vegetables marinated in their special Thai sauce.

Cupcake from The Cupcake Bar
Of course I had to mention the delicious cupcake from The Cupcake Bar I enjoyed. They have many delicious flavors and toppings but I recommend carrot cake and tres leeches for cake, cream cheese or salted caramel icing, and topping it with anything sparkly!

Khao Man Gai at Thai Kun
A flavor post ago, I mentioned how ON FIRE my mouth was after enduring a Thai Kun meal. This time around, I went the complete opposite and got a dish with zero spice added. The Khao Man Gai was simple and wonderful to me. I added the included spicy side sauce occasionally because it did need something but I would order this dish again.

Khao Man Gai at Thai Kun

Oh, I’m sorry. Did you want a photo of that before I gobbled it up?

Sparkling Sangria, Genuine Blackened Redfish, and Butterscotch Budino at Salty Sow 
I am very happy to report that I have consistently enjoyed a fantastic meal at Salty Sow. Each one of these dishes were on point, flavorful and refreshing.

Barbecue Beef Ribs at Stiles Switch
I thought I knew what good barbecue was but why didn’t anyone tell me about the beef ribs? After this meal at Stiles Switch, I’m convinced that beef ribs are THE way to go. (Too bad, brisket.) Tenderly falling off the bone. Ohhh yeah.

Hamachi Heaven, Salmon Nigiri and Texas Roll (seared beef) at Sushi Nini
It’s not critically acclaimed and it’s in Round Rock (at I-35 and 45), but I’ve enjoyed several meals at Sushi Nini so don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. It’s a sports bar so it’s as casual as sushi can get. Fresh fish, very friendly staff, creative dishes, and hey, I can watch ESPN!

Beer, Moules Frites (Mussels and Fries), Bread Pudding and Tres Leches Cake at Hopfields
Good time at Hopfields. A wide beer selection, a tasty dish of mussels in a tomato-based broth and fries with aioli and a curiously delicious, thick, white sauce. Next time I would suggest my fries served on a separate plate so they don’t get soggy as they did. But I left satisfied!

What delicious foods have you consumed and not been able to stop thinking about lately?

The post Flavors of the Month: April 2015 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Wild Mushroom Pizza, Strawberry Pop Tart and Donut Holes at St. Philip
This pizza with mushrooms, ricotta, baby kale, Idiazabal cheese, and umami sauce was so flavorful. I also loved their bakery selection and enjoyed their strawberry pop tart and donut holes. The restaurant space is also lovely!

English Breakfast Muffins
Breakfast on the weekends has been really appetizing and fun this year so far. I really enjoy breakfast foods and leisurely making and eating breakfast starts the day off right! These English Breakfast Muffins have egg, bacon, and spinach with a side of cherry tomatoes.

Delicious Things at February Brunch Club
For February’s Valentines-themed Brunch Club, we enjoyed baked vanilla donuts, nutella banana bread, egg tarts, hotcakes with fruit, whoopie pies, and grapefruit mimosas.

Almond Pastry at Tous le Jours
This is one of my favorite pastries at Tous le Jours. It is similar to a croissant, with flaky layers and topped with almonds and filled with a little bit of light almond cream.

Taco Night
My little and I made tacos one night. I showed all the details in this post.

Pomegranate Yogurt with Crushed Oreos, Fruity Pebbles and Strawberries at Pinkberry
This light and refreshing treat was a great way to follow up a visit to the Perot Museum.

Hash Boulevardier at Boulevardier (Dallas)
Boulevardier is lauded as one of Dallas’ best brunch places so my friends and I went to see for ourselves. While everyone agreed I should have gotten over-easy eggs, this hash with potatoes, spinach and mushrooms was filling and satisfying.

Strawberries & Cream Cupcake at Polkadots Cupcake Factory
To celebrate National Cupcake Day, I enjoyed this light and fluffy cupcake. Strawberry cake is one of my favorites!

Sapporo Pizza at Via 313
The special Sapporo Pizza is a collaboration between Via 313 and Michi Ramen. It’s topped with chashu slices, bean sprouts, corn/butter, woodear mushrooms, and green onions – basically a bowl of ramen on a pizza! Very delicious, crispy and flavorful. I’m also a fan of Via 313’s Carnivore and the Cadillac.

Fruity Pebble Macarons by Delish at Official Drink of Austin
The Official Drink of Austin event served up some fantastic cocktails – some that could knock you (or maybe just me) down with one sip and some that were dangerously disguised and could knock you down by the end of the drink. Thankfully it was all shared drinks and quick sips for me, though I enjoyed many of the drinks. My favorites were the winning drink – Garage’s Indian Paintbrush (recipe here!) – and a pineapple cocktail by VOX Table, which I believe was called All Roads Lead to Texas. For bites, this Fruity Pebble Macaron was light and tasty! I also really enjoyed Lick’s Bruleed Orange and Bourbon ice cream and Freedmen’s barbecue brisket.

Mediterranean Pizza from Little Deli
Matthew Odam, food writer at the Austin American-Statesman, recently published a list of the best pizza in Austin. I started working on checking off all the places on this list since I’ve only been to five. Little Deli’s Mediterranean pizza was light and flavorful, and the homemade pesto and olives were my favorite things on this pizza. It’s a New Jersey style pizza so expect a thin crust.

Dishes I took mental photos of as I ate them:

Dinner at Hibiscus
We had family dinner here during Chinese New Year weekend. For the table we enjoyed: crispy lamb ribs, scotch egg, Bobwhite quail, and sides of sweet potato hash and Brussels sprouts. I also tasted the dinosaur kale salad and wagyu oxtail with gnocchi. I really enjoyed our appetizers and maybe it was because I overdid it in that area that my oxtail dish was a little too hearty and heavy.

Buttermilk Pancakes at Kerby Lane
Sometimes late night pancakes is the most satisfying food in the world, as in this case. I shared with my boyfriend and he agreed. Now ever since that night, I crave these pancakes.

What amazing things have you eaten lately?

The post Flavors of the Month: February 2015 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Brunch at Josephine House
Have you ever had brunch at Josephine House? It’s delightful. A laidback patio, cute interior and lots of tasty pastries.

Peanut Butter Cup(cake) at Sugar Mama’s BakeShop Eastside
It’s been a while since I’ve been to Sugar Mama’s but my friend Rochelle and I popped over to their new eastside shop on a rainy Saturday. This cupcake is SO good. A very moist chocolate cake topped with a creamy peanut butter buttercream – it was perfect.

Leftover Friendsgiving Pies
When we split pie leftovers from Friendsgiving, I ended up with a whole pie. Pie-five for leftover pie!

Spiced Pumpkin Cupcake with Maple Bourbon Bacon Icing from The Carillon at Wine and Swine
One of my favorite things at Wine and Swine, this cupcake was savory and sweet and a hit with me.

Mini Creme Brulee, Mini Bourbon Eggnog and Bourbon Vanilla Glazed Donuts at Glazed Donut Works (Dallas)
I dig late night donuts. Especially when you get the bright idea of buying extra to save for the next morning. Because of course they will still taste good and it is very acceptable to immediately take a bite out of each one to try them.

Persimmons from my family’s tree
Persimmons are a popular fruit in Asia and my family has had a tree in the backyard for as long as I can remember. It’s delicious when it’s eaten like an apple – peeled and sliced.

Short Rib Hash, Mimosa and Carrot Cake French Toast at South Congress Café
Winner winner birthday brunch! Yes, birthdays are a G-R-E-A-T excuse for multiple meals to celebrate. I hadn’t been back here in a few years but when I think South Congress Café, there is only one thought in my mind: carrot cake French toast. So yes, short rib hash and a mimosa to start and then finished it off with a slice of the amazingness.

Other things I ate but don’t have photographic evidence of:

Many, many good things on a cold night at Contigo
Two of manfriend’s best friends came into town one weekend so we took them somewhere out of the ordinary for them. Some of the dishes may have been a little strange but we loved it. I especially loved the burger.

Pepperoni Pizza at House Pizzeria
I finally made it. I know. What kind of pizza lover am I if I haven’t been to one of Austin’s favorites? Well, it is checked off now and I can’t wait to go back. If you like thin crust, come here.

Soto
This visit to Soto taught me many things. My manfriend was not as enthused as I about the FIRE salmon, I am DEFINITELY NOT a fan of fatty tuna, and madai continues to be one of my favorite fishes.

Cru
If you ever go to a restaurant at The Domain and they give you a very long wait time and you just can’t, hop over to Cru. I like taste-testing and the wine flight was enough wine to do that. The food was good too.

Olamaie
Winner winner birthday dinner! We tried to go here spontaneously the weekend before but failed so the manfriend made surprise reservations. I was a fan of the roasted cauliflower.

What great things did you eat/drink this month?

The post Flavors of the Month: November 2014 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

I love pizza and a make-your-own-pizza party is easy to put together. All you need is dough, sauce, toppings, fizzy drinks, and really cool people.

First, prepare your dough. I used the Smitten Kitchen recipe for leisurely pizza dough and made it the night before. Lesson learned: let it sit on your counter the morning of for a few hours to let it get back to room temperature. This will impact your end product.

Prepare your ingredients. It helps to have an idea of what kind of toppings will go together. Our toppings included: pepperoni, prosciutto, mushrooms, arugula, peaches, mozzarella, basil, tomatoes. We also had olive oil, pepper, and salt. For bigger parties, I would have added different kinds of cheeses, more veggies, and a white sauce.

Make some fizzy drink. Ashley found a delicious drink recipe on Pinterest. It’s ginger ale, frozen blueberries, limes and lemons.

Make your pizzas. Fire up your oven and then get to work. Roll out your dough, pour on the sauce and put on the toppings. When you are satisfied, pop them into the oven. I would recommend 450 degrees for 15 minutes for a personal size pizza but keep checking your pizza so it doesn’t overcook.

Eat a salad while you wait. It’s ok. It’s good for you and it complements pizza well.

And then take your pizza out and enjoy. Voila! It’s a party.

This make-your-own kind of party can be centered around a number of different foods. Here are some ideas:

• Cookies or cupcake decorating party: have the cookies or cupcakes ready with a variety of icings and candies for toppings
• Popcorn mixing party: have mix-ins like M&Ms, chocolate and caramel drizzle, nuts
• Nacho or taco party: have a variety of meats, quesos, veggies
• Mimosa bar: have different fresh fruit juices and plenty of champagne

What kind of make-your-own party have you hosted or thought about hosting? 

The post Make-Your-Own Pizza Party appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Brisket, beef ribs, pork ribs, potato salad and beans at La Barbecue
My friend Aaron (one of my best eating companions!) and I have wanted to try La Barbecue for a while, so we luckily got a pre-order in one Saturday morning. What they say is true – this is some of the best barbecue in Austin. Yes, you’ll need to get to this trailer at least an hour before to get the best selection of meat and to get it ASAP.

Beef and Pulled Pork Tacos at Tacos and Tequila
My friend Sarah and I enjoyed the $2 self-serve taco bar and drink specials for happy hour. The tacos aren’t fancy but they’re good for the price.

Dinner at Sushi NiNi
For good, cheap sushi in a sports bar setting in a strip mall right off I-35, Sushi NiNi is your place. Strange, I know! It’s a unique setting but their happy hour is great and their sushi is even better. I enjoy sashimi (raw fish without the rice) and their rolls are good also.

Funnel Cake Ale at the Texas State Fair
In addition to the Fletcher’s Corny Dog and flavorful fried gulf shrimp boil, I tried the Funnel Cake Ale. It tasted like regular ale with a bit of vanilla and the cup’s rim was dusted with powdered sugar. Not better than a real funnel cake!

Tapas Dinner at Casa Rubia (Dallas)
With a glowing review from a friend, I dined at Casa Rubia for dinner and it was an excellent choice. Some of the tapas we enjoyed from this Spanish restaurant included: Bunelos de Pollo (chicken croquettes), Codorniz (quail), Gambas al Ajillo (gulf shrimp), Vieiras (sea scallops), and Costillos de Cordero (lamb ribs).

TX Shiitake Quiche at CBD Provisions (Dallas)
I enjoy visiting Dallas because more than likely, I’ll enjoy brunch somewhere new with friends. This last time, we ventured to the downtown Joule hotel for this swanky and beautiful restaurant. It was a quiet Sunday morning, our food was a hit and the service was fantastic. There wasn’t a bite of kale and mushroom quiche left on my plate and the assorted pastries were a great way to start brunch.

The Milano, Pepperoni & Basil, and The Green Belt Pizzas at Pinthouse Pizza
If you’re looking for delicious pizza and beer, try Pinthouse Pizza. We shared three personal size (10 in) pizzas. My favorite was the Green Belt with ricotta, mushrooms and spinach.

Dinner at Andiamo Italiano
We don’t see a plethora of Italian restaurants in Austin, so I’m glad I can add Andiamo Italiano to my list. I enjoyed the Capesante dello Chef (seared sea scallops) and Paglia e fieno alla Boscaiola (Homemade fettuccine with sausage, mushrooms and onions in light cream sauce). I couldn’t stop eating the fettuccine noodles. They were tender and perfectly al dente. The sauce was delicious!

Grilled Oysters at the Whole Foods at The Domain
The problem with oysters: they disappear too quickly! The grilled oysters topped with parmesan coupled with a beer from their wide selection were a great mid-day snack.

Wundershowzen at JuiceLand
JuiceLand is my go-to for fresh smoothies and juices. While a little pricy, the convenience and the fresh ingredients make it worth it. I usually like my smoothies with almond milk and almond or peanut butter. My favorite has been the Originator but this Wundershowzen (almond milk, spinach, hemp protein, banana, and peanut butter) has been added to my list!

Dinner at Uchiko
It’s been a couple of years since I dined at Uchiko and it was so much better than I remembered. Our fantastic dinner included: hama chili (yellowtail), brussels sprouts, gyutan (grilled beef tongue), madi (Japanese bream), unagi (eel), sake toro (salmon belly), and finished off with the tobacco cream dessert.

Burger and Fries combo at Player’s
Player’s brings back great college memories. Since it is closing Nov. 23, Linda and I decided to pop in one last time for lunch. With the outside-the-ordinary burgers becoming the norm, it’s nice to get back to the basics of a simple burger.

Martin Códax Albariño and Seafood-focused meal at Josephine House
Martin Códax invited food bloggers to try their wine while indulging in a perfectly paired seafood dinner. Josephine House served Martin Códax’s Albariño and the wine’s crispness and acidity complemented the dishes very well.

Dinner at Odd Duck
Ending my month on a high note, I celebrated my friend Dan’s birthday with a group of friends at Odd Duck. Our dinner included: pretzel, steamed dumpling, lamb kebab, ceviche, fried chicken croquette, soft cooked duck egg, goat confit, coconut rice pudding and apple cake doughnut. The lamb kebab and apple cake doughnut were my favorites!

What delicious things did you eat in October?

The post Flavors of the Month: October 2014 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

So, here we go with August’s flavors.

Duck Hash and Chocolate Tart at Blackbird and Henry (brunch menu)
Loved this dish. My only criticism is that I wanted MOAR.

Sticky Rice with Mango at Titaya’s
The only way to follow up a bowl of Thai noodles is with this dessert and it did not disappoint.

Beef Filet from The Carillon at Pay It Forward with Daniel Curtis
One of my favorite bites at the event. The meat was so tender.

Shepard’s Pie from Jack Allen’s Kitchen at Pay It Forward with Daniel Curtis
Meat, veggies, and flame-torch Brûléed mashed potatoes. I’ll admit it, shepard’s pie is one of my favorite dishes and I loved this one.

Peach and Lavender Linzers from St. Philip at Pay It Forward with Daniel Curtis
This was my favorite dessert at the event. These were subtlety flavored and delicately elegant. I can’t wait for St. Philip to open!

Thai-Kun Fried Chicken, Beef Panang Curry with a fried egg, and Waterfall Pork at East Side King, Thai-Kun at Wonderland
This just might be the spiciest meal I’ve ever had. I don’t usually eat spicy food and if I do, it is definitely not the highest level of Thai spicy. So, this wasn’t my favorite ESK experience but the dishes are flavorful and fresh.

Pugliese Pizza (mozzarella, Sicilian fennel sausage, pan roasted mushrooms and shaved sweet red onions that I picked off) at Mandola’s
Thin crust, lots of toppings. Delish!

What I didn’t get a good photo of:

• Delicious brisket and pork rib plate at Stiles Switch BBQ
• Butterfish at Tomodachi Sushi (one of my favorite sushi places)
• Blackened Catfish Taco and Grilled Mahi Mahi Taco AND Grilled Oysters at Quality Seafood: $3 fish tacos and $1 can beers on Tuesdays. Yes, put it on your calendar. My favorite was the Grilled Mahi Mahi and the Avocado or Mango salas are delicious. Grilled Oysters are delicious too but they will disappear from quickly.

What awesome things have you eaten recently? Any recommendations?

The post Flavors of the Month: August 2014 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.