The Good Life

Kudos go out to Burgers, Fries and Cherry Pies for their recent inclusion in Texas Monthly’s, The 50 Greatest Hamburgers in Texas, as noted in their August 2009 issue.

Coming in at #24 was ‘The French Connection’, an eight ounce, cooked to order slab of meat with a bearnaise sauce to accompany it on your choice of three house buns: white, wheat or jalepeno.

We’ve had one, and it definitely meets with our approval!

For a healthy appetite, try the ‘Big Bird’ which features a cooked to order slab of meat topped with a split, Nathan’s all beef hotdog, a fried egg, bacon and fresh grilled jalepenos. Now we’re talking!

Whatever burger you choose, don’t forget to save a little room for a homemade fried cherry pie topped with a scoop of Blue Bell vanilla.  Yum!

On Monday, July 27th, The Garlic Press will be hosting its once-a-season summertime dinner and intimate concert.

The menu is a pri fixe menu, which means “fixed price” if you aren’t brushed up on your French.  We got a sneak preview of the menu and just reading the menu made us salivate, so trust us when we tell you “It’ll be good!”  Fixed price, though, does not mean fixed options, so yes you will have choices, but from a specially prepared menu just for this event.  Wines by the bottle will be discounted 15% from regular menu pricing.  Hint, Hint!

The concert features the instrumental guitar artistry of Duology.  You might guess that Duology is a duo and you would be right!  Traveling from Nashville, Joseph Brunelle and Barry Coggins will perform an all-acoustic show that promises to deliver an intimate, personal experience for every person in the room.

Seating and dinner begin at 7 PM and the concert begins at 8 PM.  The concert is a listening room only environment, so you won’t find cell phones, talking and all the usual clatter of a barroom.  You might call it an “art” appreciation event–savoring the fine art of culinary cuisine and embracing the soul of song-crafted art.

This is a one-time only event and seating capacity is limited to 50, so don’t sit on this one too long!  Advance reservations are required and pre-payment is made at time of reservation.  Reservations are $70/person and tables will be sold in groups of four or eight.  To make reservations, call The Garlic Press at 570-4020.

Just in time for summer!

This delictible dessert features a 5″, deep fried, homemade cherry pie sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar and topped with a generous scoop of Blue Bell vanilla ice cream.

They’ll even warm it up a bit for you, just like grandma did!

Burgers, Fries and Cherry PIes is located at 5210 W. Wadley, in the same parking lot as Academy.

It may be a little hard to find if it is your first trip to Reyna’s, but it is well worth it!

The brisket enchiladas are heavenly! Shredded beef brisket that will melt in your mouth in these made from scratch enchiladas.

The ‘red’ sauce will provide plenty of heat for most gringos. The ‘green’ sauce will give you a little more heat, but if you want to show off your taste buds (or lack thereof) ask for the habanero sauce.

Reyna’s is located on S Midkiff Road, 3/4 of a mile south of IH-20.

Made with pecan chunks (not those small, little pieces) and folded with a secret blend of palette pleasing filling, this pecan pie is the best we’ve ever eaten. It’s even covered with a cobbler-like crust that makes it ‘spinning off into orbit’ good!

And if that doesn’t get the message across, you know it has to be good when your dinner guest is willing to give up their favorite dessert to get some of yours!

Garlic Press is located in Oak Ridge Square at 2200 W Wadley in Midland, right next door to Hemingways.

They didn’t include the word ‘famous’ by mistake!

Make sure to save room for this ‘prepared when you order’ delight that will make your taste buds dance a little jig. Just do it!

Barn Door is located at 2140 Andrews Highway in Odessa.

Havarti cheese wrapped in a phyllo pastry, baked, drizzled with raspberry sauce and served with bread chips!

This ain’t Cheese Whiz and crackers, folks! This is yummy!

Zucchi’s is located at 1541 JBS Parkway in Odessa. Call 550-7443 for reservations or try your hand early for first available seating.

Think of it as the offspring of shrimp cocktail and a very spicy, chunky salsa or a very thick and spicy gazpacho with shrimp.  However you choose to describe it, you will ultimately use the words ‘damn’ and ‘good’ to do so.

If you don’t see it on the menu, that’s okay.  Ask for it anyway!