Rob and Camille Di Maio

Taco Taco

As a child, my favorite pizza came from Little Caesar's. Perhaps it was the cute Roman character, or the fact that I was mesmerized with the fact that you could only pick up your pizza order, and not eat it on the premises.

Or, maybe I loved it because they named it twice. Little Julius Caesar grunted out: "Pizza, Pizza".

This is the thought behind Taco Taco in San Antonio. It's so good, they named it twice.

I am embarrassed to admit that the first time that I heard of Taco Taco, Rob and I were watching the Food Network. They were doing a special on the best foods around the country. Bon Appetit magazine and Food TV rated Taco Taco as the best, uh... tacos in the country. I was so excited, just as I always am when my hometown gets some recognition.

And, ok, it's not like it's a big shock. The best tacos are in San Antonio. It's not as if they revealed that the best shrimp gumbo can be found in Boise or that the best winery is in Orlando.

So, intrepid explorers that we are, we headed to Taco Taco the very next day.

Located at McCullough and Hildebrand, near Monte Vista, we almost missed the modest, white building. Parking was scarce. The door to the restaurant was plastered with magazine articles and various kudos from all over, hailing the almighty Taco Taco. We got excited.

Like the parking lot, space was limited, and seats were full. It looked as if fifty people in this room would be a very tight squeeze. People from all backgrounds were there. Gardeners in jeans and men in high-power suits sat at tables next to each other, speaking the same language - TACO.

We got a seat rather quickly and started perusing the menu.

Not surprisingly, considering that we are ordering tacos, the menu was very inexpensive. But, $1.39 for a meal? That was unexpected. So, we supposed that we had to order several to fill up.

We were so wrong. We ordered several tacos and quickly realized that we would have to loosen our belts. This is no Taco Bell Super Value Menu-sized taco. This is for real.

Everything that we tried was excellent - the famous El Nortena, the chorizo, the bacon and egg. Not one disappointed. We could see why this had garnered so much notoriety.

It was not until my second visit, though, that I really fell in love. I ordered a potato, egg, and salsa taco, and my mom ordred the carne guisada. Oh, the carne guisada. (Angels singing) I quickly coveted my mom's taco, and like any good mom, she offered to split it with me, insisting that she couldn't finish it herself. (Yeah, right.) After that tender meat, perfect gravy, and melt-in-your mouth tortilla, I am now ruined, and cannot ever order carne guisada anywhere else. Nor, will I be likely to be able to order anything BUT carne guisada when I visit Taco Taco again.

Which, of couse, I will, and soon. I am now a missionary for Taco Taco, and will be bringing spreading the word to my friends often. They just have to take me with them.

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Taco Taco
www.tacotacosa.com
145 E. Hildebrand
San Antonio, TX 78212
210-822-9533
Hours: 7am to 2pm every day

The circle of life is not more apparent than when you take your own child to somewhere that you went as a child.

This happened to me yesterday. I thought it would make me feel old, but instead, it gave me that warm/fuzzy feeling.

We went down to Milam Park for an event, and parked outside El Mercado. One of my daughters spotted a bright pink building caddy-corner to us. I explained that it was the Smithsonian Museum called Museo Alamdea. She didn't really care what it contained - she was just fascinated that there was such a thing as a bright pink building.

We went over, and found that admission was free, although they do ask for a small donation.

The museum is the ONLY one sponsored by the Smithsonian outside of Washington, DC, and I was proud that it was located in our own San Antonio.

Our stomachs were empty, so we made just a quick tour of the museum, and will have to come back with more time.

Just outside of Museo Alameda lies El Mercado.

When I was growing up, we came to San Antonio every year to visit family, and I ALWAYS asked to visit El Mercado, or "The Mexican Market". I loved the colors and the music. My husband and I realized that it had been FIVE years since we had been here - and the kids were all to young to remember it. It struck me that my two oldest ones were just the age that I was when I fell in love with the magic of the market.

The Mexican Market is the largest of its kind outside of Mexico. On one side, you will find a long, green building full of stalls with pottery, purses, clothing, and other items that compete with any rainbow for display of color.

To the other side, there are several restaurants, including La Margarita, and the famous Mi Tierra. In between is an outdoor walkway only for pedestrians. There are more vendors selling hats, blankets, and artwork here. Peruvian wind music plays in the background, and several fountains add a steady, calming untertone. It reminds me a bit of the French Quarter in New Orleans, but with a San Antonio flair.

There is a lot to take in, especially for a child.

We chose to eat at La Margarita. We arrived around 4, and were able to be seated right away. Although it had been a long time since we'd visited, my husband and I remembered that we loved their tomatillo chicken enchiladas.

As with any Mexican restaurant, we were first served chips and salsa. However, not all are created equal. Rob and I agreed that this salsa was FANTASTIC. We quickly ate through it all, and discovered that once you stop, the heat of the salsa settles in, and you no longer have taste buds. We quickly ran through our water and had to ask for more. But, we also asked for more salsa. (I think there is no better way to stay hydrated than to consume a bit of spicy salsa in San Antonio - you will be drinking hoards of water after that.)

We found the enchiladas to be every bit as good as we'd remembered, although our ability to taste them was somewhat hindered after the salsa. That's ok - the portions were HUGE, and we brought some home for lunch today.

We also love La Margarita for the mariachis. It adds to the ambiance. If they play at your table, tip them a few dollars. If they play across the room, you will still enjoy the music, but will also be able to hear your conversation.

When we left, having some homemade pecan pralines in our to-go bag, we discovered a huge line to get in. This is typical. We ran into a friend who had an out-of-town guest. Obviously, she was well-aware that this is one of the best places you can take company if you want to give them an authentic San Antonio meal.

Temporarily, our daughters felt like they were on vacation. Nostalgically, (my dictionary says that's not a word), I remembered the wonder I felt at El Mercado, and was happy to be sharing that.

Definitely, we will be back. And we won't wait another five years.

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La Margarita
120 Produce Row, 227-7140
www.lamargarita.com

Smithsonian Museo Alameda
101 South Santa Rosa, 299-4300
www.thealameda.org

Market Square (El Mercado)
www.marketsquaresa.com

Mi Tierra Restaurant and Bakery - open 24 hours a day!
www.mitierracafe.com

When we bought our home, I should have been impressed with the layout, the location, the condition, the details. After all, I am a Realtor - I know what to look for in a home and an investment.

But, no. When I found out that it had built-in surround sound speakers, I was ready to sign.

One of my favorite things about going to the movies - especially an IMAX - is the loud thumping that takes place in your heart during an action scene. To recreate this at home was something that I was looking forward to. The sub-woofer that I installed hasn't disappointed me.

However, the BEST place to experience that all-encompassing thunder in your body, the kind that makes your insides shake, is the Lackland Air Show.

Held once a year, usually around Veteran's Day, this festival is held in order to promote military pride and recruit new members. Or, to just delight my ears, but I don't think they're doing it just for my benefit.

It's free and open to the public.

All around, you will see all kinds of helicoptors, jets, and cargo planes, from all eras of our military history in the air. You can go inside many of these. I am most blown away by the cargo planes - the cavernous inside is impressive. I strap myself to a seat on the side and take it all in.

There is lots of food and memorabilia to go around, but the real attraction is above you. This year, demonstrations were held by a an F-16 Falcon, a P-40 Warhawk, an F-22 Raptor, and other planes that I would not know the names of unless I looked them up.

Some of these fly solo, and some in formation.

There is also a program called "Tora, Tora, Tora", which is a recreation of the bombing at Pearl Harbor. My 9-year-old daughter, who is literally paralyzed with fear at July 4 fireworks, was mesmerized with this show, bombings and all. Vintage planes zoome, turn, roll, bomb, fight.

The final show, and the main reason for coming are the Blue Angels. Showing off the air power of the Navy, these are the jets that create the sonic music of my soul. They challenge everything we think of in an aircraft, flying upside-down and performing death-defying stunts. It is most magnificent when they fly together in formation, coming as close as 18 inches away from each other. At those kinds of speeds.

This is an event for all ages. We were there with my 2-year-old niece, up to my 90-year old retired Air Force grandfather. It was touching to see him there with all four of his great-grandchildren, passing along his love of flying to the little ones.

This is a new family tradition for us. Will it be yours?

http://www.lackland.af.mil/airshow/

(Note: Arrive early and bring folding chairs! You are in for an all-day show, and you will appreciate having something to sit on. There is plenty of parking, but it is quite a hike to the grounds. Shuttles are available for free.)

Sometimes, it feels good to think that you're in on a little secret.

Like watching a little-known film, and feeling that it spoke just to you.

Or discovering a new artist before anyone else has.

For years, I have shopped at the remarkable Central Market on Broadway, totally unaware that there was a third floor.

Now I know, and I'm going to let you in on the secret.

Ok, it's not really a secret. But, I don't think it's widely known outside of the Alamo Heights set.

Near the registers, there is a plain stairway, leading to offices for Central Market Associates. It is obvious that the public doesn't generally go up there - it is more confined and more dingy than the spacious downstairs. An employee had to direct me to another stairway past that second level to reach my destination.

When I arrived on the third floor, I knew that I was somewhere special. The hallway was lined with bouquets and gift baskets, recently assembled, and waiting for their debut on the shopping floor. They were full of color and life and treats. But, that wasn't where I was ultimately heading.

I walked past the display to an area that had little lunch tables in a big, bright space. Nearby was a sign-in desk - just what I was looking for.

I had arrived for my first Central Market Cooking Class.

I didn't know what to expect. In fact, I've never taken any kind of cooking class. I just learned to cook at the side of my mother, and under the tutelage of my patient husband, who endured some not-so delicious meals as I experimented with this and that.

I think he was looking forward to me taking the class.

I signed up for this particular one, because they were focusing on Turkish cooking. A big fan of ancient history and Middle Eastern culture, Rob and I honeymooned nearly 12 years ago in Turkey, and have always wanted to return. Four kids later, that's a pricey aspiration, so I was happy to spend $55 and recreate the trip in 2 1/2 hours on Broadway, two stories above the best grocery store in town.

The cooking class room was like a dream. To my left was a giant wall of windows that overlooked the store's produce and wine sections. If that doesn't get you in the mood for cooking and creativity, I don't know what would.

In the middle were two long rows of tables - enough to seat about 20 people. Small enough to make it intimate. To my right is where the magic happened. A fully-stocked kitchen complete with a six burner gas stovetop, preparation tables, a wall full of accessories, and best of all - bowls full of prep work, already completed.

Above us was a large, angled mirror, so that from any seat, you could have a bird's eye view of what the chef was doing. To the either side of the kitchen, there were television sets that were focused, respectively, on the stovetop and the countertop.

I had what might have been considered the worst seat in the house, and yet my visibility was still excellent.

I felt like I was on the set of a Food Network show.

The class started on time, which was a good thing, because there was lots on our agenda - Turkish Rose Ravioli, Turkish delight, hummus, walnut-stuffed figs, and strong coffee.

You can't say that Central Market doesn't go for authenticity. The instructor was a charming woman named Ozlem, who was raised in Ankara and Istanbul. Her warmth and enthusiasm for sharing her culture immediately brought me back to the wonderful times we had visiting her country - the crossroads of East and West, situated on both Europe and Asia.

Ozlem passionately rolled out fillo dough, lovingly rolled lamb, parsley, and onion into cigar shapes, expertly frothed coffee, and enthusiastically prepared our dessert.

I think my favorite discovery is that I like figs. She taught us to make a syrup of water, sugar, and cloves, and soak walnut-stuffed dried figs in them. Then, she served them with a dollop of marscapone cheese, and garnished it with ground pistacios.

Ozlem also wove Turkish geography and history into her presentation, giving well-rounded instruction on the culture, beyond just the food.

I could go on and on about this particular class, but considering that she is moving to London in April, this one won't be available any longer.

So, let me tell you what you can expect from any Central Market cooking class.

You will have a qualified, authentic instructor. You will receive handouts with the recipes and a glossary of terms. You will be served by assistants as if you were at a restaurant, and given tea, water, and samples of everything that is cooked. You will forget about everything outside of that little room for hours, and be immersed in the art of cooking.

If you go often enough, you may find camaraderie with the other students, but this not really a social venue.

Upon paying for the class, you receive a punch card. After ten visits, you will receive $40 off of your next class. Alternatively, if you volunteer twice to be a server and assistant, you will receive a $40 credit off of a future class.

I left the class with a full stomach and a happy heart. I found that there was a shower in the restroom, and I thought that maybe, just maybe, I could talk them into letting me move in. It would certainly be a lovely home for a foodie.

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Central Market
4821 Broadway
San Antonio, TX 78209
210-368-8600
www.centralmarket.com

(Note: If you are on the Central Market mailing list, you will receive great coupons in the mail and information about upcoming classes. Not all of the classes are mailed out - for a complete list, visit the website.)

Some years ago, Rob and I were in New York City, and in the mood for an authentic deli experience.

We were walking near Radio City Music Hall at the time. We came upon two delis next to each other. One had a very long line, and one had no line at all.

Ravishingly hungry, I headed toward the one that would have a table right away.

Rob wisely steered me away, though.

"Look at all the locals at this one. It must be good if everyone is lining up to go here."

I saw his point, and we joined the throngs of New Yorkers waiting to eat at the Blue Flower Deli.

Rob's point was further proven when we got a table more quickly than we expected, and we were treated to a mile-high, mouthwatering pastrami sandwich, a fruit bar with blueberries the size of baseballs (slight exaggeration!), and a front-row seat of daily New York life.

This was early in our marriage, and since then, I have been a subscriber to Rob's belief that for good food, go where it's busy.

No where in my travels have I seen this proven to the same degree as our Big Apple experience, than in our own San Antonio.

Magnolia Pancake Haus - darling with its black and white awning reminicient of a European restaurant - is seeming out of place in a so-so strip mall next to a Laser Tag. But the telltale sign that there is something special there are all of the people waiting on the front porch to get in.

On the weekend, getting a seat may easily take you an hour. Weekdays in the late morning are a more ideal time to come. However, even on the weekend, you will wait as your appetite grows, and you won't mind, knowing that you are making room for just one more pancake....

When you finally get in, the inside is as charming as the outside. The waitstaff hustles and the patrons are buzzing with light conversation.

At last, you are seated, and settle in to reading the menu the way you might into a much-loved novel.

Do I order a big stack of their famous buttermilk pancakes? Or, do I choose a gourmet omlette, knowing that I can order a side of pancakes instead of toast? Do I wait an extra fifteen minutes for them to make the German Munchener Apfel Pfannekuchen, an apple pancake delight that is like having dessert for breakfast?

Personally, my eyes usually wander to the omlette page - eggs AND pancakes, the best of both worlds. I fall into my old bad habit - going with my favorite stand-by, rather than try something else. At Magnolia Haus, my favorite is the Bodega Bay Omlette - it has applewood smoked bacon, arugula, goat cheese, and drizzled with creme Fraiche. One bite makes me think that I am back in San Francisco, and that stepping outside would lead me to a view of the foggy Golden Gate Bridge.

But, back to reality. Even the freshly squeezed orange juice added to my bill will remind me that I am in San Antonio, where the prices are more friendly to families than in the Bay Area, the reason that we moved here in the first place.

I am not alone in my praise for this Alamo City favorite. Texas Highways Magazine rated it "the best breakfast in Texas", and added, "Retire the trophy, these guys are the champs." They've also won nearly every "Best Breakfast" award possible locally.

My opinion of the breakfast here can be summed up by saying this: when I go somewhere, I am often inspired to write about it. I soak in the ambiance, collect details in my mind, and bring it home to my readers. I've been visiting the Magnolia Haus frequently, and have been intending to write about it. However, when I go there, I am so wrapped up in the deliciousness of the meal, that I am blinded to the details going on around me. This is why I haven't updated my blog in months, and thank you to the many people that have been asking for more!

All I can answer is that I have known that Magnolia Haus deserved to be the next place written about, but it's taken me this long to force myself to focus my attention away from my plate.

I hope that endorsement, along with the masses of people waiting on the porch on weekend mornings, will entice you to try it, and make it your own new favorite.

Magnolia Pancake Haus
606 Embassy Oak, San Antonio
210-496-0828
www.magnoliapancakehaus.com (Log on just to enjoy reading the online menu!)