Hey friends! Just a quick check-in before the weekend to share some favorites from the week and my plans for the weekend! What’s on your schedule? Any new restaurants on the horizon?
Recent Eats
Last weekend <3M and I checked out Taco Flats on Burnet and were mildly disappointed. Their ambiance was great, very laidback and welcoming. I do admit, Taco Flats’ chips and guac ROCKED but I was a bit sad eating my tacos. I had the fish taco that simply needed a sauce — maybe a tangy slaw or some cilantro cream? Just anything to add a bit of kick and cooling flavor to the taco. Have you been yet, what’re your thoughts? Maybe we should give it another go because <3M loves when Taco Flats caters lunch at his office.
I made the coziest chicken & rice soup this week with some leftover wild rice I had in the ‘fridge, recipe below in case you want to recreate it. Seriously delicious and reminded me of a meal my Mom would make — she cooks a tad milder than me (less spicy) while I’m usually heavy into Tex-Mex and Asian flavors — this soup was 100% American.
<3M and I gave up drinking this month (we just had a heavy party, holiday, travel-spree from Fall to Winter and needed a break). As a result, I’ve been all about kombucha and my current favorite is Health-Ade. All the kombucha love has inspired me to try my hand at making my own kombucha and I’m patiently waiting for my first scoby to arrive. I hope to get the first batch underway this weekend!
Austin Food News
This week I checked out the new MAD Greens on 2nd Street. I’ve been watching the construction at this location for over a year now and was excited about its opening. I like that MAD Greens has more options — soups, wraps, grain bowls when compared to the other downtown salad spot, Leaf, but my first salad at MAD Greens was just eh-okay. Maybe I hyped it up in my own mind, anxiously awaiting its opening. I’m definitely gonna give it another try because the wrap <3M had was stellar!
Flowerchild opened before the holidays but I’m still giddy with excitement that we have another amazing lunch option on 2nd Street! It’s so nice to have healthy, vegan lunch options downtown. Plus, KOMBUCHA ON TAP via Kosmic Kombucha.
I poked around the new Fareground site last week and it’s really coming along. The opening date is set for January 18th! I’m beyond excited to have Kome just a few blocks from my office and Antonelli’s cheesy offerings! This weekend I plan to get a sneak peek at the shops before the grand opening! Follow me on Instagram and keep an eye on my Instagram Stories for behind the scene details!
I’m still loving the new Merit Coffee located at the Seaholm Center and dream daily about the Bakery Lorraine pastries they’re serving there! I highly recommend asking the barista to warm up any goodie to make it even tastier. Find my full review here!
Austin’s third Modern Market location opens on Congress next week, January 15th! And they’re offering free breakfast and dinner meals via Eventbrite. Sign-up before they’re gone!
Home & Life
<3M and I are still trying to get our house back together after the new tile installation. There’s was dust everywhere. I’m hoping this weekend is the one where we wrap up this mess. I thought I’d write a post about the process in the coming weeks with before and after pics, hopefully, you’ll find it interesting!
Ever since the floor install, I’ve had the home decorating bug! I’ve been working my way through Young House Love‘s book, 
I bought rugs for the living room and our kitchen dining nook, purchased a new pendant light that’s getting installed over our kitchen sink and am trying to wrangle about 1000 other home decorating ideas. It’s exciting.
While I was confined to our upstairs space during the floor installation, I went on an early Spring-cleaning spree and began organizing everything. I cleaned out my closest, organized our bathrooms, and now that’s trickled over to the kitchen, too! It feels so darn rewarding and this weekend I hope to get my spices organized with these 
That’s a wrap, friends! Enjoy your weekend, and hit me up on Instagram with any great food recommendations. I’ll be out at Austin Eastciders on Saturday to grab a hummus plate with a friend and plan to do some cooking at home with <3M on Sunday.
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3 medium cloves garlic, minced
- 2 medium carrots, cut into half moons
- 2 ribs celery, finely diced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 10-ounce can cream of mushroom soup
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon granules
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups wild rice, cooked
- 3 cups chicken breast, cooked and cubed
- In a large pot, warm the olive oil
- Add the garlic and onion, sprinkle with salt and pepper
- Cook 3-4 minutes until the onions soften
- Add the carrots, celery, and bay leaves and cook another 3-4 minutes
- Pour in the soup, broth, and Italian seasoning
- Add the chicken bouillon and stir until dissolved
- Add the chicken and rice then bring everything to a boil
- Taste and adjust seasoning as needed
- Reduce to a simmer for 15 minutes then serve