Gourdough’s / Austin, TX

We flew Continental to Texas and during the Transatlantic part, when we were at our most bored, Mrs D and I watched one of the random TV shows they had on the seatback video system things. Flying Continental to Texas is great by the way: all the stewardesses look like the Mum or Aunts from the first two Home Alone movies.

Anyway, we’ve seen all the movies so we’ve moved on to this show about foodtrucks. Some Travel Channel thingy. Very on topic. In Austin there was a piece about Gourdough’s, and we watched it open-mouthed. They make the biggest, most incredible looking doughnuts you’ve ever seen. There was this one with bacon on it.

Once in Austin, and having realised the usual Gourdough’s spot was too far away from downtown to get there, we resigned ourselves to not visiting. But because SXSW was happening, those savvy Manhattanites Squarespace had hired their own foodtruck, with a different local foodtruck providing free food each day, just round the corner from the Convention Center.

And, lo, we did see that Gourdough’s were there, and that they were serving up the famous bacon maple doughnuts we’d seen on the plane. And they were free and they were called ‘The Flying Pig’. God bless the internet.

On picking up the box, the first surprise is how light it is. The Gourdough’s doughnut looks like something that could destroy you from the inside out, but the batter is deceptively light and fluffy, and delicately fried. The maple butter and crispy bacon give a perfect salty crunch to each bite.

If your doughnut experience doesn’t extend beyond Gregg’s and those slightly cold, stale Krispy Kremes that all get made in Essex, then Gourdough’s will be otherworldly in its goodness.

Absolutely a must-visit if you love doughnuts. We’ll be going back for the proper truck experience next time.

• Simon.

[REVIEW] Eggs Benedict / Austin Java / Austin, TX

Austin is blessed with a plethora of fine breakfast emporiums, and as American coffee goes, Austin Java is pretty good. There are a few different locations around the city (including a kiosk at the airport) but our favourite is the Parkway spot; it has a lovely deck out the front where you can enjoy a sunny Eggs Benedict.

Great muffins and a serviceable hollandaise make this worth the stroll out of downtown proper, and if you’re in Austin during SXSW, we can guarantee this is far enough away from the throng of more central breakfast spots.

Their breakfast quesadilla looked pretty special too, and stick to filter coffee. Espresso round these parts isn’t anything to write home about.

Cheeseburger Macaroni Cheese from the MacBar, New York.

The joy of Monte Cristo

from Mama’s, San Francisco.

“This thing was a fucking revelation. Roam aren’t scared to shift from burger tradition and introduce a few unorthodox ingredient combinations, and frankly they nail it every time.”

—

[2011 HONOURS LIST] Simon’s Best Burger Pick / Roam Artisan Burgers / San Francisco, California

Read the full review. Mind that drool.

The greatest egg sandwich from Jo’s Coffee, Austin TX.

[REVIEW] Bacon Cheeseburger / Hinano / Santa Monica / You can’t have fries with that

There is genuine proper sawdust on the floor of the Hinano. 

• It does not sell fries.
• They won’t make you an Arnold Palmer.
• It is probably about 100 yards from the beach. 
• It’s a strange place to go during a sunny day in southern California.
• It has one of Santa Monica’s best burgers.

 You can see it’s heavy on the onion. You can also see the bacon is crisp and fresh. The lettuce is falling out.

The grill is in the corner, next to the bar. Make some time to come here if you’re anywhere near Venice. It’s got style and these guys know what they’re doing. 

Is it the best in the area? Can’t say I’m qualified to comment, but it’s hella good and a great place to sit back. 

You’ll be picking the sawdust out from your flip-flops all the way home.

• Simon.

[ON TOUR] California Roll Burger / 26 Beach / Santa Monica / Oh you crazy Californians…

Holy shit! Look at that!

The California Roll burger from 26 Beach is fusion insanity. The photo is misleading too since the thing is roughly the size of a baby.

Yes, that’s pickled ginger. No, I can’t remember what the hell that pot of sauce was.

All of that said, I really can’t fault this as one of my favourite Crazy Burgers ever. The sharpness mixed with the beef better than you could ever expect. Worthy of its accolades and worth a brunch trip.

• Simon.