In this week's podcast, I join my other family - the Ordeneaux Clan - for some excellent eats in the Dallas area of Texas (Wylie, Murphy, Richardson and Plano). This episode is special to me because it's the first time you get to hear from Renee's family (wonderful people who I love as much as my own family).
My guests include sisters Chantel Bardin and Michelle Jones, mother Beverly Almaraz and brother in law Matt Jones (who can be heard on the podcast LOSTCasts).
For those of you Californians who think Texas has nothing to offer (I used to be one of you), I have one thing to say...get your head out of your asses! Texas is a great place to visit and has great restaurants to try. Big servings and outstanding flavors are awaiting you in the Lone Star State.
The best place we went to was a TEX-MEX restaurant called Casa Milagro - 1403 E. Campbell Rd., Suite #110, Richardson, TX 75081, (972) 234-6999. This consistent Four Smack restaurant has excellent tex-mex cuisine (best I've ever had). While in the Dallas are, you have to check it out. Great chili rellenos! Everyone agreed that this is the best place for tex-mex.
Matt and Michelle listed off some of their other favorite tex-mex restaurants, including:
Mia's, Luna de Noche, El Ranchito, Manny's, Herreras and Monica's (transvestite host).
We also went to The Flying Fish, a seafood restaurant that is best when ordering the fried stuff (fried shrimp and catfish...yum). Renee really, really liked the hushpuppies. Love the giant beers as well. While not great, you definitely get your money's worth here. I gave it two and a half smacks on the podcast, but I'll up it to three smacks...it delivers what it advertises.
We also went out to my favorite breakfast spot while visiting our family - Ballard Street Cafe in Wylie. Great biscuits and gravy, grits and egg dishes all at a quite cheap price (you can't beat a big breakfast for under $10). Renee gave it two smacks, but as Matt points out, you can't trust a pseudo vegetarian at a greasy spoon like Ballard Street. "Hey, I'm Renee...this place doesn't have good coffee...whine, whine." The rest of us gives breakfast at Ballard Street Cafe Four Smacks!
Finally, Matt took me on a road-trip to a BBQ joint called Clark's Outpost. You get some great eats here (Matt says that it is consistently in the top ten BBQ joints in Texas). I loved it...smokin' tender brisket and melt in your mouth smoked turkey was my favorite. It also had great sides (perfectly cooked collard greens, giant onion rings and fried cheese squares). We finished off with a big hunk of Coconut Meringue Cream Pie (pictured above)! Delicious!!!! You can also order online! Four Smacks.
I had a great time doing the podcast with my Texas family. Can't wait 'till the next time.
-JB
