Pulled out of the AirBnB's gravel driveway with less than 15 minutes to spare before check-out time, and headed some blocks over to local coffee shop had visited previously for an hour to kill before Franklin's BBQ opens.
Got this blog updated with yesterday's activities over coffee, just in time to pack up and head over to BBQ for 11am open.
And.. turns out 11am was way, way too late to get to Franklin's for their opening time. The line was already all wrapped around the front, down the side and out the back. Gentleman managing the line and taking tally of ppl & order interest told us that wait would be about 2 hours to get to actually order, and the only thing he could guarantee would still be available were brisket and sausages.
It was 39 degrees outside. And misty/rainy. So wet and cold.
It was pretty easy to decide to leave Franklin's experience for another trip.
So, decided to head back to Bird Bird Biscuit place for an easy filling sandwich and to otherwise hit the road for the 2.5 hour drive to Houston. This time had their chicken sausage biscuit. Managed to score the very last chicken sausage they had for the day too.
Then it was on the road for the drive down to Houston. Friend #1 drove the entire way which was nice to have a break from driving. And to take a nap.
Got to Houston AirBnB within 15 minutes of official check-in time. A pretty sweet bungalow a few miles from downtown and near good eating and coffee.
Got stuff offloaded and started a load of laundry as looked to figure out what we were going to do in Houston.
Drove around a bit and ended up at The Conservatory in downtown. A smaller below ground level collection of eateries and one wine bar, and one beer bar with HH beers for $4. Not unlike the Public Market in Santa Barbara. But bigger, less crowded, better food options.
Had two pints each and plans were to leave and head over to Saint Arnold Brewing Company, Houston's oldest brewery.
However, got absolutely soaked walking two blocks back to car. After going two blocks in the wrong direction after leaving Conservatory. The rain started pouring down relentlessly.
We were so soaked ended up heading back to the AirBnB to get out of wet clothes and throw in as another load in washer.
Decided since we were ready for dinner to attempt some nearby Tex Mex cuisine redemption, at the restaurant El Real.
And Tex Mex redemption achieved. I had beef enchiladas with chili con carne sauce, friend had San Antonio puffy tacos. We were given complimentary chips and salsa for the table.
Food was really good -- my favorite was the beef enchiladas. Although the chicken enchilada in tomatillo sauce was good too. On the menu they celebrate the fact that they use lard in their foods. Which I expect helped for the rice and beans being tasty too. Only negative was the salsa that came with the chips. So much blended onion -- didn't even eat that much and ended up with heartburn. Salsa reminded me of my attempts of making salsa using recipes found online and finding them way, way too onion-y and nothing like you'd get in a restaurant on account of entire onion put into blender.
Would definitely go back to this place. Probably get chili con carne for the chips (or a queso) and explore more of the menu. The restaurant was established in a converted movie theater, and they had a B&W film playing silently on the screen on the far wall. Also friend later found on their IG account that Giada De Laurentiis had been there within the last year and snapchatted herself with tagline of best Tex Mex. So there is celeb chef endorsement too, ha.
After El Real made a stop at the Kroger store a block away for Texas beer for the house. Was my first time in a Kroger -- was disappointed to find that my Ralph's Rewards phone number did not work here in Houston.
Then back to house to do rest of laundry and plan out the full Houston day. And to be out of the pouring rain that continued to blast the Houston area. And for which there were flash flood warnings in effect through the next day.
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