Johnson City: Benini Sculpture Ranch and Silver K Cafe

Our school has organized countless trips to the Hill Country, and they all seem the same: wine tasting, LBJ ranch, and German food in Fredericksburg.  That's all great, but I figured that there has got be other things around the Hill Country for it to be such a highly acclaimed destination!

After some searching on the internet, I found out that the metal bull, which I've passed by a gazillion times in the past on the way to Fredericksburg, is actually a sculpture ranch that's open to the public Friday - Sunday.

The Benini Sculpture Ranch is 140 acres of open space with sculptures by various contemporary artists.

This was a great break from the routine Texas Hill Country day trip!

Benini Sculpture Ranch

Artist, Jonas Perkins, working on "The Great Benini"

After a long day of climbing and walking, we settled on Texas-style comfort food at the Silver K Cafe in Johnson City.  The Honey Pecan Fried Chicken Breast was awesome!  It's super crunchy, and the sweetness of the honey isn't overwhelming.

Prickly Pear Iced Tea

Honey Pecan Fried Chicken Breast with Green Beans and Scalloped Potatoes

Chicken Fried Steak with Cabbage and Green Beans

Enchanted Rock and a Texas Saloon in the Middle of Nowhere

Sadly, I have never really used my Spring Break to do fun things.  I can't remember actually having fun on any of my Spring Breaks in grad school, no thanks to the profs, who tend to pile on assignments the week before. 

Since I'm hoping that this is my last Spring Break ever (no more school...until I'm ready for academic torture again...), I decided to finally treat myself to some fun with friends. 

I admit that I'm a Type A kind of person, who needs to plan out everything before taking action.  I even plan for spontaneous things that may present itself in my itineraries.  I had a packed itinerary and thus told my friends to meet at 7 AM sharp on the same day as Daylight Saving Time when we all lost one hour of sleep.  That's how I roll, folks!

Good thing we departed Austin early because by the time we arrived at Enchanted Rock, there were already a lot of visitors, and by the time we left the park, lines of cars spilled out onto the ranch road trying to enter. 

Enchanted Rock

After 3 hours of climbing the rock, we headed out to Willow City for some burgers at the eccentric Knot in the Loop Saloon.  It's a saloon that serves fantastic burgers and doubles as a "Wild West-o-rama Museum."  I love the kookiness.

Knot in the Loop Saloon

Dollar Bills on the Ceiling

Restrooms...it's a mini-museum inside...

Darn Good Cheeseburger!

2009 Fredericksburg Day Trip: Lunch at the Auslander

Auslander

I had a feeling that German food in Fredericksburg is meant for tourists, but at the same time, it just doesn't feel right to go to Fredericksburg for tacos.  We settled on dining at the Auslander because the name aptly describes us Austinites.

The food isn't grand, but I think the point of the German restaurants in Fredericksburg is to fill up your bellies, give you a break from your normal work day, and give you a generic taste of another cuisine.  They don't take themselves too seriously and neither should the diner.  With that mentality, Auslander provided a comfortable setting and a satisfying meal at the end of an awesome Texas Hill Country day trip.

Kassler Rippchen - smoked pork chop with green beans and spaetzle

Wienerschnitzel with Apple Sauce, Green Beans, and Potato Salad

Wienerschnitzel

Beer Battered Mushrooms with Ranch Dressing

Fredericksburg Day Trip 2009

In the summer of 2009, I took a leisurely trip out to Fredericksburg for a good dose of the Hill Country and the Texas sun before I departed for China.  I was in such a hurry packing for Shenyang that I forgot to post about that beautiful day.  Here are some of the highlights.

Odd Trees around Dripping Springs

Miller Creek Lavender Farm

Picking Lavender

Becker Vineyards

Becker Vineyards Wine Tour

Free Tacos at Becker Vineyards

The National Museum of the Pacific War

Cutie Pie Wagon

Cutie Pie Wagon

After a day of classes, I decided to buy a snack.  I craved something...I didn't know what, just something from a trailer I haven't visited before.  After menu-shopping at the various trailers parked on South Congress, I settled on the award-winning Buttermilk Pie at Cutie Pie Wagon.  It was pretty expensive for this miniature pie, but it was quite delicious.  Not mind-blowing, but enough to satisfy my cravings and allowed me to re-fuel before a night of readings and papers.

Buttermilk Pie

Haddingtons Media Opening

Haddingtons

Haddingtons Interior

Haddingtons is a new gastropub on 6th Street with a beautiful, rustic wooded interior. The menu leaned on heavy, rich food with a creative twist...and the "creative twist" usually entails foie gras! I really enjoyed the atmosphere, but the food is a bit too rich for me. The quality of ingredients is top-notch, but I personally prefer a more varied palette rather than rich and heavy throughout the course of a meal. I definitely liked each dish on its own though, particularly the fragrant cheese and the earthy truffle of the smoky TLT, which tingled the senses. The foie butter with duxelles made the grilled steak strip taste absolutely luscious!

Farmhouse Cheese with Honey and Toast and Pickled Veggies

Moscow Mule (vodka and housemade ginger beer), Chenin Blanc (South Africa),

and Fireman's #4 Blonde Ale (Texas)

Duck Liver Mousse with Golden Raisins

TLT - Smoked Tomato, Brun-Ostoo Cheese, Lettuce, and Truffle Aioli

Rabbit Rillette with Whiskey Cherries

Foie Link - housemade foie sausage with pear moutarde relish

Grilled Steak Strip with Duxelle and Foie Butter