When I walked into Z Tejas on a referral to apply as a hostess way back in 2003, I had never tried their food. I was hired and therefore enjoyed the free training meals provided as standard practice. Although I don't remember the first thing I tried, all I know is that I keep going back.
Here we are in present time, September 27th, 2010 and I have just devoured another plate of the ever-so-delicious Z Tejas Catfish Tacos. Not only are they irresistible to the point that even when I intend to get something different, (because all of it REALLY is SO GOOD) my mouth starts to water thinking about their one of a kind Asian Dipping Sauce. You'd think I know how to make it since I worked there for 2 1/2 years, but nope. I guess some things are meant to stay a mystery.
What else must I consume while taking in the delight of one of the three Z patios? A frozen Mango Margarita (or three), of course. No salt, please. Just the perfect blend of creamy fruit puree and tangy tequila... there's nothing else like it.
Other stanbys include the Ahi Tuna Appetizer, Queso, Shrimp Tostada Bites, Fried Snapper, Miso Salmon, the Mushroom or Seafood Enchiladas, Chicken Avocado Sandwhich, Diablo Pasta... and you can't forget about the salads! The servers used to tease me that I was having my usual "Ranch Soup" when I took the liberty of making my own salads back in the day... I probably did over do it. But it was so good! Apart from the House Z Salad with their homemade Ranch, the Pecan Crusted Chicken, Jerk Chicken and Trout Salads are to-die-for. It's honestly hard to decide each and every time.
When I was finally able to dine at Z Tejas without feeling like I still worked there, it occurred to me that it was the food that kept bringing me back. Not the joy of seeing old buddies or that I live within walking distance of the place, but that I and everyone I know genuinely love the food. That's why I was a bit worried that the menu would change when Jack Gilmore, Executive Chef (and the genius that wrote Z's menu) left to open his own place, Jack Allen's, which is just as awesome, but on the opposite side of town. Who was I kidding? If I was able to recognize that it's the food that draws the crowd in, surely the big wigs know how important it is.
The most astonishing thing about some of my favorite dishes at Z is that they include two ingredients that I cannot stand. Some people don't believe me, but I don't like bacon. I never have and never will. In fact I hate it. I hate the smell, the texture, the taste-everything about it. So what kind of dressing does the Pecan Crusted Chicken Salad have? A warm bacon vinaigrette. And I love it! Mainly because it happens to not taste much like bacon to me and instead lures me into submission with the warm goat cheese and perfectly cooked chicken.
The second thing I despise is cilantro. I never really knew why I didn't like it until someone pointed out that it tastes like soap. How did I not put my finger on this before?! It has such an aroma, like a terrible perfume that has expired and sat in the sun. The idea that people like the way that tastes just blows my mind. But, I hear it's a genetic thing: You either have the palate for it or you don't. I still don't understand why my sister feels the same way about bananas. Bananas! Anyway, the Pan Fried Snapper is drenched in a cilantro pesto cream sauce. Alas, it does not taste like cilantro to me. I think it is because they got 2 out of 3 right: pesto and cream vs. the lone cilantro. Either way, it's the one thing with cilantro in it that I can eat without making faces you'd think were reserved for hangovers.
And with such a wallet-pleasing happy hour (1/2 priced apps and $1 off margaritas from 4-7 in the whole place), I can enjoy my fish taco and mango pair for a cool $11.55. Who can resist?? Not to mention the free-with-food-purchase cornbread. Psst! The secret to how moist they get it is Plain Dannon Yogurt.
So... as a tribute to my once employer and now favorite food provider, I will make one statement: If I were to have to eat at one restaurant for the rest of my life, Z Tejas would be it. Take that, Taco Bell.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Just Another Coupon Saturday
A few Saturdays ago, Mr. Boyfriend and I decided to actually make some use out of our Saturday time together and run errands we had been talking about for weeks. On the itinerary? Three different places for which I had some sort of a coupon. And I don't mean a measly 35-cents-off-a-jar-of-peanut-butter kind of coupon... I had some real savings heading my way!
Our first stop was Gage Furniture, where we would look for an office chair. We chose to visit the location with which I was not familiar, but it worked out in our favor because they happened to be having a moving sale- everything was marked down at least 50%! After coming to the quick realization that we didn't like either of their desk chairs, we took a look around anyway. My $100 Groupon only cost me $25, so I was determined to get something... maybe just a lamp??
We were feeling very defeated on our way out, and then we saw it: The coffee table of my dreams. It was sleek and beautiful, just the right size! And at only $199, we would only pay $100 out of pocket! Mr. Boyfriend saw it another way: He asked h
imself "Is this overpriced table worth $100?" My answer: "Yes." Not only was it on sale, but we were saving another $75 thanks to Groupon. He wanted to take the let's-make-a-deal approach when the hovering sales guy came over, but once I heard that the price on the coffee table included two matching side tables, I couldn't contain myself: "Sold!" I exclaimed... Mr. Boyfriend just shook his head and laughed while I was as giddy as a school girl. Just look at it!!
Original Price of Furniture: $359
Clearance Sale Price: $199
Groupon ($25) Credit: $100
Actual Cost of Tables: $125
Total Furniture Savings: $234
****************************************************************************************************************
Our next destination was for an early dinner. Mama Fu's has proved to be a quick and easy, not to mention delicious alternative to P.F Chang's on a Saturday night when you don't feel like waiting an hour for a table. I had just purchased their $10 for $20 Groupon the day before and felt very efficient for using it so quickly. We sat down at 5:30pm and proceeded with our drink orders: He had a Kirin Ichiban while I enjoyed a Pinot Grigio. Still on my coffee table high, I was excited about everything. Until a young girl's voice pierced our conversation bubble with talk about an itchy belt at the mall. It was like she was sitting right next to me with a megaphone. It was either really bad acoustics or this girl was actually that loud. Maybe it was both.
I was annoyed for about 30 seconds, then realized how entertaining it was now that I was engaging myself in her stories. She had obviously just started middle school by her bragging about how she knew the first half of the spanish alphabet- she even recited it with the typical adolescent nervousness, "Wait, I messed up. Let me start over." She also went on about the Louisiana Purchase and other bits about history... all with such enthusiasm I couldn't help but admire her a little. I don't ever remember being excited about school, especially right after summer (aka freedom) had ended.
As she and her family left the restaurant and had to walk past the booth in which Mr. Boyfriend and I were sitting (3 over from hers, might I add) I got a good look at her. If I hadn't been preoccupied with the concept of the distraction in the first place I would have taken the opportunity to tell her parents to be proud, although I'm sure they already are. I turned back to Mr. Boyfriend and told him that I would be thrilled to have our child be so excited about school and I can only hope they will be. We then toasted to education.
Groupon Savings: $10
Happy Hour Savings:$13.50
Total Savings on Dinner: $23.50
*****************************************************************************************************************
We don't get out to movies very often, and I like to think it's because there are better things to do with our time together than sit in a dark room and not speak to eachother. Mr. Boyfriend thinks it's because we have very different interests in film and we can't ever agree on what to watch. This is probably the actual reason.
He had been wanting to see a few different movies for a while, so it was his turn to pick. The only restriction of my $5 Adealio tickets was that they were only valid for films that had been out 12 days or longer. No problem. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World had been out for 22.
I consider myself to be a pretty cool girl in terms of doing boy-type stuff. I play disc golf, I love baseball games... I have even begun enjoying beer lately. But this movie was just stupid. Aside from the fact that the main story line was that of romantic comedies, it combined everything boy. And I don't mean man, I mean boy. The whole video game structure of the movie got on my nerves while Michael Cera was just the same awkwardly soft-spoken guy he always plays. It wasn't the worst, it just went on too long. Mr. Boyfriend really enjoyed it, though, so at least I've earned my credit to make him go see Eat, Pray, Love. Hah.
Original Movie Ticket Price: $9.50 (x2)
Adealio Ticket Price: $5.00 (x2) (But because I bought them with my pre-purchased half priced Adealio bucks, they really only cost me $2.50 each)
Total Movie Savings: $14.00
***************************************************************************************************************
Total Savings for the day: $271.50. Yup, just another coupon Saturday.
Like saving, too? Join Groupon though my referral link and we'll both earn Groupon Bucks when you buy your first deal! It's really that simple.
http://www.groupon.com/r/uu669379
Adealio is another Groupon-like site that also offers up to 90% off one day deals. Now go get some!
http://www.adealio.com/
And you can't forget about Living Social. Second in command to Groupon, they've got their act together. You won't be sorry you joined, I promise.
https://livingsocial.com/redeem_invite/2633937-julia_?ref=lnk
Our first stop was Gage Furniture, where we would look for an office chair. We chose to visit the location with which I was not familiar, but it worked out in our favor because they happened to be having a moving sale- everything was marked down at least 50%! After coming to the quick realization that we didn't like either of their desk chairs, we took a look around anyway. My $100 Groupon only cost me $25, so I was determined to get something... maybe just a lamp??
We were feeling very defeated on our way out, and then we saw it: The coffee table of my dreams. It was sleek and beautiful, just the right size! And at only $199, we would only pay $100 out of pocket! Mr. Boyfriend saw it another way: He asked h
imself "Is this overpriced table worth $100?" My answer: "Yes." Not only was it on sale, but we were saving another $75 thanks to Groupon. He wanted to take the let's-make-a-deal approach when the hovering sales guy came over, but once I heard that the price on the coffee table included two matching side tables, I couldn't contain myself: "Sold!" I exclaimed... Mr. Boyfriend just shook his head and laughed while I was as giddy as a school girl. Just look at it!!Original Price of Furniture: $359
Clearance Sale Price: $199
Groupon ($25) Credit: $100
Actual Cost of Tables: $125
Total Furniture Savings: $234
****************************************************************************************************************
Our next destination was for an early dinner. Mama Fu's has proved to be a quick and easy, not to mention delicious alternative to P.F Chang's on a Saturday night when you don't feel like waiting an hour for a table. I had just purchased their $10 for $20 Groupon the day before and felt very efficient for using it so quickly. We sat down at 5:30pm and proceeded with our drink orders: He had a Kirin Ichiban while I enjoyed a Pinot Grigio. Still on my coffee table high, I was excited about everything. Until a young girl's voice pierced our conversation bubble with talk about an itchy belt at the mall. It was like she was sitting right next to me with a megaphone. It was either really bad acoustics or this girl was actually that loud. Maybe it was both.
I was annoyed for about 30 seconds, then realized how entertaining it was now that I was engaging myself in her stories. She had obviously just started middle school by her bragging about how she knew the first half of the spanish alphabet- she even recited it with the typical adolescent nervousness, "Wait, I messed up. Let me start over." She also went on about the Louisiana Purchase and other bits about history... all with such enthusiasm I couldn't help but admire her a little. I don't ever remember being excited about school, especially right after summer (aka freedom) had ended.As she and her family left the restaurant and had to walk past the booth in which Mr. Boyfriend and I were sitting (3 over from hers, might I add) I got a good look at her. If I hadn't been preoccupied with the concept of the distraction in the first place I would have taken the opportunity to tell her parents to be proud, although I'm sure they already are. I turned back to Mr. Boyfriend and told him that I would be thrilled to have our child be so excited about school and I can only hope they will be. We then toasted to education.
Groupon Savings: $10
Happy Hour Savings:$13.50
Total Savings on Dinner: $23.50
*****************************************************************************************************************
We don't get out to movies very often, and I like to think it's because there are better things to do with our time together than sit in a dark room and not speak to eachother. Mr. Boyfriend thinks it's because we have very different interests in film and we can't ever agree on what to watch. This is probably the actual reason.
He had been wanting to see a few different movies for a while, so it was his turn to pick. The only restriction of my $5 Adealio tickets was that they were only valid for films that had been out 12 days or longer. No problem. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World had been out for 22.
I consider myself to be a pretty cool girl in terms of doing boy-type stuff. I play disc golf, I love baseball games... I have even begun enjoying beer lately. But this movie was just stupid. Aside from the fact that the main story line was that of romantic comedies, it combined everything boy. And I don't mean man, I mean boy. The whole video game structure of the movie got on my nerves while Michael Cera was just the same awkwardly soft-spoken guy he always plays. It wasn't the worst, it just went on too long. Mr. Boyfriend really enjoyed it, though, so at least I've earned my credit to make him go see Eat, Pray, Love. Hah.
Original Movie Ticket Price: $9.50 (x2)
Adealio Ticket Price: $5.00 (x2) (But because I bought them with my pre-purchased half priced Adealio bucks, they really only cost me $2.50 each)
Total Movie Savings: $14.00
***************************************************************************************************************
Total Savings for the day: $271.50. Yup, just another coupon Saturday.
Like saving, too? Join Groupon though my referral link and we'll both earn Groupon Bucks when you buy your first deal! It's really that simple.
http://www.groupon.com/r/uu669379
Adealio is another Groupon-like site that also offers up to 90% off one day deals. Now go get some!
http://www.adealio.com/
And you can't forget about Living Social. Second in command to Groupon, they've got their act together. You won't be sorry you joined, I promise.
https://livingsocial.com/redeem_invite/2633937-julia_?ref=lnk
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)