His and Hers Top 5 Foods So Far....

We have an unspoken rule about eating out.  Since we are watching our budget we don't eat out often and when we do its a very calculated and researched decision.  We want to capitalize on the best of the best and go to places that are recommended to us by locals. We also need to plan ahead because Ashley is vegetarian, gluten free and has ton of allergies so it's always a challenge to find a place with decent choices which fit her dietary restrictions. Me on the other hand, will eat everything and anything. I come from a family of good eaters.  Growing up in my house my Mom always preached. “Don't knock it till you try it" and "You don’t know you don’t like it until you've tasted it".   I live by those rules and will try anything you offer me.

One of the best parts about RVing is getting to try out the local cuisine.  We try to avoid big chain restaurants and tourist traps and seek out places where locals eat.  Each state has their own specialties and dishes that they are known for.  When we are in a new place, I always like to ask the server to pick the best meal for me.  Servers know which is food tastes the best and is popular. 

While there were so many memorable meals and dishes, here is a list of top 5 things Kevin ate and Top 5 things Ashley ate (so far)

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Kevin’s Top 5 Things I Ate  (In Order of When I Ate Them)

Morgan Street Food Hall - The Broth
411 West Morgan Street
Raleigh, NC
http://www.morganfoodhall.com/#!/up

This once old postal depot in the Warehouse District is now a 22, 000 square foot hub for food vendors.  The industrial rustic decor and the outside patio provides a great atmosphere and guaranteed a good time. There are plenty of food vendors to choose from. I obviously had to try many different foods during my visit. The one that really stood out was The Broth and the Authentic Pork Ramen. This popular vendor was dishing out bowls of deliciousness. I was very skeptical at first because I have high standards for Ramen but this place is among the best I have had. The broth was extremely flavorful and noodles cooked to perfection.  Wish I could have a bowl right now.

Silos Baking Co. & Magnolia Market
601 Webster Ave
Waco, Texas
https://magnolia.com/bakery/

Once you arrive at Magnolia Market you extremely overwhelmed by all the shopping, things you can do and options to eat. A must is a visit to Silos Baking Co. Don’t be intimidated by the long line out the door. The line moves pretty quick. Once inside the building you are handed a ordering card which describes everything they sell.  You hand the card to the register,  where you pay and wait for your order. I certainly felt a kid at a candy shop and got carried away and ordered so many of everything. Ashley was making fun of me the whole time, but I got the last laugh when she quickly ran of sweet treats and I had plenty. I highly recommend the Coconut Cupcake and the Strawberry Cupcake.

Lulu’s Bakery and Cafe
918 N. Main Ave
San Antonio, TX 78212

The reason you come here is for the Famous 3lb Cinnamon Roll. It seemed that every table had ordered one and I recommend the same.  Despite the size, it was delicious. Lulu’s Bakery and Cafe also made my list  because of of their Award Winning Chicken Fried Steak. This thing was massive. My plate could barely contain it. Since we were there for breakfast, I ordered it as Texas’ Own “ Breakfast of Champions” which included the oversized chicken fried steak with 2 eggs, hashbrowns and toast. If you are feeling really motivated, try the Texas Ranger Challenge. It’s 21 oz Chicken Fried Steak with double side and 2 yeast rolls for $32. If you eat it in 12 minutes or less, it’s free along with a “I Beat The Ranger” t-shirt.

Rosarios
910 S Alamo St.
San Antonio, TX 782205
http://www.rosariossa.com/homepage.php

This restaurant is a short walk from the Tower of Americas in Downtown San Antonio. This Mexican Restaurant lives up to all their accolades. Their fresh guacamole, salsa, and endless chips can surely fill you up before your meals even arrive but take my advice and save some room for dinner. Our waiter explained to us that the way you judge a Mexican Restaurant is by their Chile Relleno and that their version was simply the best. How can you not order it? This poblano pepper stuffed with spiced beef, potato & raisin topped with their ranchero sauce and white cheese was extremely hearty and flavorful. I wasn’t disappointed and would highly recommend.  

Guero’s Taco Bar
1412 S. Congresss Ave
Austin, TX 78704
https://gueros.com/

This once central feed and seed store is now home of Guero Taco Bar. It  located in SoCo (South Congress, Austin, Texas) is known their wide selection of margaritas, mexican beer and mexican food with a hint of Tex-Mex. Even though they are a taco bar I went with the waitress's recommendation of the Burrito Especial. This large flour tortilla wrapped around beans, cheese, steak, served on a bed of rice and topped with chile con queso, red and green sauce and sour cream. It was a fiesta in my mouth. Ash was extremely surprised when I devoured the entire dish in minutes. I was ready for seconds.

Ashley's Top 5 Things I Ate (In Order of When I Ate Them)

Magnolias 
185 East Bay Street 
Charleston, SC 29401
https://magnoliascharleston.com/

Magnolias was our favorite meal in Charleston.  Our waiter suggested we start with the boiled peanut hummus which sounds pretty weird but was delicious.  I eat any kind of hummus, its a fave snack of mine.  Boiled peanuts are so popular down here that I guess it makes sense to substitute them for chickpeas.  It comes with an okra, corn, and hot pepper relish and chips and it really works.   I also twisted Kevin's arm into ordering a grilled cornbread side which I tasted and then tasted again.  It was one of those really depressing moments when being gluten free makes me want to cry.  It was so cakey and warm and perfect and I could have eaten 10 pieces.  Sigh, at least i got to try it. 

Green Truck Neighborhood Pub 
2430 Habersham Street
Savannah, GA 31401
https://greentruckpub.com/

I pretty much have a salad everyday and I am pretty serious about adding all the goods.  I like plenty of variety, plenty of greens, veggies, some crunch, some sweet and an acidic dressing.  So you could say my salad standards are high.  I got the Farm Truck salad at Green Truck and was not disappointed.  It had mixed greens, spiced nuts, apples, dried cranberries and balsamic caramelized onions.  So so good and so fresh tasting.  

Alligator Soul Restaurant 
114 Barnard Street
Savannah, GA 31401​
https://alligatorsoul.com/our-menus/dinner/
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I have to say I was a little reserved about going to this restaurant for dinner considering their somewhat exotic options on the menu.  But they also do a great job offering vegan/vegetarian/gluten free options.  The choice depends on whats in season as they use market fresh ingredients but when we were there I had Sweet Potato Pasta with mushrooms in a pesto sauce which was delicious.  I don't know how they made the noodles, but I really could not tell they were gluten free (and they weren't zoodles).  It was a really interesting and unique dish in comparison to what I normally end up eating at restaurants that are not so veg/glutie friendly a/k/a a side salad and french fries.

Cheddar Box Food Truck at Magnolia Market at the Silos and Silos Baking Co. 
601 Webster Ave
Waco, Texas
http://www.cheddarboxwaco.com/menu
https://magnolia.com/bakery/

Magnolia Market is just such a cool place and there are a bunch of food trucks in the courtyard to choose from as well as the bakery Kevin mentioned above.  Our lunch here was probably the best meal I have had on our trip so far.  I got a vegan gouda and basil grilled cheese on sourdough bread from Cheddar Box (I'm really a kid at heart and could live off grilled cheese, sweet potatoe fries and ice cream).  It was fantastic.  I never would have thought to add basil to a grilled cheese but it works so well and adds a little something extra.  

For dessert Silos Baking Co. has a couple of gluten free cookie options: the peanut butter oatmeal and vanilla bean shortbread.   Gluten free cookies/pastries have a tendency to mostly be terrible and too dense so I was not expecting much.  But these were incredible and while I did make fun of Kevin for ordering 3 of everything, I was definitely regretting my decision to only order one of each.

The Cove
606 W. Cypress Avenue 
San Antonio, TX 78212
https://thecove.us/

This is a really strange little place in San Antonio, its a restaurant, laundromat and car wash.  But once your are inside its a very cool vibe.  There is a regular food menu, a bar, ice cream, outdoor courtyard with playgrounds and it seems that some nights there must be live music out there.  Its a very farm to table/organic menu.  I had the tempe tacos on corn tortillas with cilantro slaw and creamy cashew sauce.  They were delicious...I could have eaten them for multiple meals.  For dessert I had the vegan chocolate coconut soft serve, which tasted like a mounds bar- so so good.  

By Kevin and Ashley Quiambao

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