The Vitals: the spot: La Taquicardia 6014 Techni Center Dr ste 2-101, Austin, TX 78721 (no website guys) follow on IG: @lataquicardia_atx the eats: Cochinita Pibil, Chicharron Tacos the bucks: $4-$5 a pop the full nelson: generous tacos on proper homemade corn tortillas  First off credit to where credit is due. Shane Orr of Austin Brewery Tours slipped in the hot tip on La Taquicardia. Not surprisingly they are located at a brewery. You'll find this taco truck over at Southern Heights Brewing Company, on the east side Austin. Breweries are no stranger to food trucks in the ATX but this one hits as hard as the food line up at Meanwhile Brewing. This is getting pretty deep in the Austin brewery scene, so for those not in the 512, I'll stick with a taco rundown for now. Regardless you have just gotten two breweries with great food to hit up next time you are in town.

Menu rundown

Craving breakfast tacos at 5pm? You're in luck as breakfast is served throughout service which mirrors the brewery's hours. And speaking of hours that's Wed-Thurs 3pm-8pm, Friday 3pm-10pm, Sat 12pm-8pm and Sun 3pm-8pm. That also means you'll have to eat your breakfast tacos for brunch. Everyone has their taco move but let me add this: save room for a gordita. I didn't, but after tasting the quality of the blue corn tortilla which is made fresh(along with flour) you need to understand the maiz is the star of the show. I also would keep an eye on the specials, these plates are priced for some serious bang for your buck.

Two for the road

I wanted to get a sample and not stuff myself, so I went with two tacos before I trucked off with a 4 pack of Tahitian Dream IPA to go. I went with the Cochinita Pibil, and the Chicharron. Cochinita Pibil, in the bottom half of the taco boat, is a specialty of the Yucatan Peninsula. Turns out two is meal, which is why they are priced at almost $5 a pop. But you're getting your money's worth. If you have ever seen Once Upon a Time In Mexico, you'll know Cochinita Pibil; it's the dish Johnny Depp's character literally kills for. Before Amber Heard gets stuck in your thoughts I'll offer you the definition: Pork marinated in citrus(orange and lime or Valencia oranges) and annatto paste, wrapped in banana leaf and slow roasted. It's the equivalent of a braise but when you have had it the old school way, cooked in the ground, it's like barbecue with humidity, not unlike barbacoa. The gold standard is a whole suckling pig cooked this way, that's what I have had down in Isla De Mujeres which is a ferry ride from Playa Del Carmen in Quintana Roo. But even silvers are damn delicious. I don't know how La Taquicardia does theirs(yet) but I can tell you they crisp up the pork in the flat top before putting it into the tortilla. It was a delicious move.

Waxing on Chicharron

Chicharron is pork skin that has been fried, aka pork cracklings. Chicharron en salsa is a version where the cracklings are mixed with salsa, sometimes getting soaked in water to get them softer. It might sound off but I enjoy it when the cracklings get soaked enough to when they get good and chewy. I asked chef about this and she said that was also her preference, though these were a bit too crisp. Not as much of a taster as a looker, I'd look to other fillings for my second taco. Unless I can request them extra chewy. It wasn't too far off the strike zone but tortillas this good deserve a 98 mph fastball that catches a good amount of plate. I hear great things about the salmon. And of course I'll be back to try the steak, the barbacoa and the gorditas. Take special note of the specials too because I think the best part about Taquicardia is that the tacos are just the gateway drug to a menu run by a woman has really great cooking skills. She says she's been going for only three weeks. Her tortillas taste like she has been in the game for 10 years.      

The Vitals: the spot: The West Table 1204 Broadway Ave ste 103 Lubbock TX 79401 the eats: Seared Duck Breast, Oysters on the half shell, Rack of Lamb, Mahi Mahi, Grilled Quail the bucks: $$$ it's a splurge, picture entrees from $30-$40 but you ain't eating meatloaf the full nelson: Not just a gem in Lubbock TX but a reason to rethink Lubbock TX

You ain't eatin meatloaf at The West Table in Lubbock TX, but if you were it would be pretty darn good. I don't often drop $300 on dinner unless there is an anniversary involved but sometimes you chalk it up to experience and the cost of going on vacation. On our way to New Mexico for a Spring Break ski trip, we stopped off in Lubbock TX. Driving can be cheaper than flying(unless gas is $4 a gallon) so the money saved on travel meant money to spend on food. Over the last few years, comfort food and family friendly places have elevated their cooking game, which has been a blessing and a bit of a curse. Maybe not every pizza joint should have retro video games and craft beer. Ok, maybe they should. But I'm sensing the lost opportunities of taking your kid to eat a proper meal that comes with expectations like conversation and general table manners. Not trying to be some old grouch but back in my day, it was a treat to eat somewhere that had rack of lamb. So I made a reservation at The West Table so my kid could experience that.

Startin' off raw

After living on the West Coast for 20 years, one gets spoiled on oysters. I remember disavowing East Coast oysters entirely. Time away from pristine oyster bars like Hog Island Oyster Co in San Francisco have soften my stance.  And I'm glad because get to add them to my dining experiences like my night at The West Table. These did the job. Can't say I would tell you this is a must order but it didn't hurt to start off raw as the entrees to follow next are heavy hitters.

Quail: it's a Texas thing.

Well, not exclusively but quail does hit the menus of restaurants like Dai Due and The West Table, really any place that values the ingredients of Texas. For me, quail is a love and hate dish. I love the flavor when its done right, like it is at The West Table, but like crawfish it's work to get a mouthful. These lil birds are so lil you're gonna be picking at some bone. Still, it's delicious experience if you are into game birds and grilling them really showcases the meaty flavor of this poultry.

Rack o' Lamb: big ticket entree

Rack of lamb is an expensive endeavor, whether at home or dining out. I tend to pass on it because I can eat my weight in it and that's a small fortune. The West Table makes a fair offer here. $40 for a generous serving and cooked beautifully. That rare middle showcases tenderloin marvelously and the bones and fat cap handle the char well. This version had a Middle Eastern take with chickpeas, couscous and a Tzatziki sauce landing on the plate. All fine because the lamb stood up loud and proud on the plate, as it should.

Bang for your Duck Buck

Even if you don't consider price, I'd make tracks to Lubbock for this duck. Well, that might be a stretch but the duck is a must order at the West Table for sure. And, AND, my kid dug it. TBH I thought the lamb would be a slam dunk for him but it turned out the duck was where it was at. Perfectly cooked like the lamb, this is a dish I could eat again and again. The Middle Eastern sides worked with the lamb, but I embraced the sides a bit more. Maybe I was more in the mood for a succotash spiked with Andouille sausage, or maybe I'm always in the mood for that smoky Cajun sausage. Either way I'm down for the duck at The West Table.

Mahi Mahi say what?

The waiter loved this dish, my wife loves fish and so our meal takes a distinct turn from hearty meats to seafood treats. I think of Hawaii when I think of Mahi Mahi but it's big in Florida, which means its big in the Gulf, which means Texas is fair game. I can see why people take to this dish: it's very rich. The fish wasn't swimming in butter but it was def close. And I didn't have a problem with that but a lighter palate might. The brussel sprouts were fried as well, further pushing the entree's indulgent tendencies. Again, I didn't have a problem with it but a lighter palate might.

The West Table made me down for Lubbock TX

I casually met the chef, Cameron West and he is a super chill guy who can cook, like really really cook. It's not cheap to go for it at The West Table in Lubbock but it's not supposed to be either. It's a treat, that treated my family right on a night we wanted to splurge. And I'd do it again too.  

The Vitals: the spot: Brera Osteria 3355 S. Las Vegas Blvd Las Vegas NV 89109 the eats: Grilled Octopus, Chilled Asparagus course, Pappardelle with wild boar, Cascarelle pasta with lamb, Garganelli pasta the bucks: $$$ but worth it. Plan on $40-$70 a person depending on entrees and wine  the full nelson: My fav restaurant on the strip. Really.

When you turn the big 5-0

You do it up for lunch. If you caught my last post, we blew the budget on a lux hot pot experience the night before. That was a fun experience but now get ready for a far superior meal. Brera Osteria is my fav restaurant on the Vegas Strip.

Buy a bottle of wine.

I mean, assuming you drink alcohol of course. My Podcast, Eat This Drink That did an episode about Italian wines, and as a result I have been getting into wines like this Barbera D'Alba. Not only are these wines relatively affordable but they absolutely elevate Italian food.

First Course: Grilled Octopus

This might some squeamish and yes, I saw "My Octopus Teacher" on Netflix. I don't go out of my way to eat these intelligent creatures but every now and then, I will. When Octopus is prepared right, it delivers a sea driven meaty satisfaction that no other seafood can. Underneath the grilled Octopus you will find a chickpea puree that's beefed up with 'Nduja, spreadable salami. Yeah, this was an extra hearty dish.

Second Course: Cremella, an Asparagus salad

As much as I loved the Octopus, this dish was flat out better. Yes, a damn salad was flat out better. Perfect al dente chilled asparagus tossed with frisee and breadcrumbs in a luscious olive oil +champagne vinaigrette, chilled just right blew me away. Don't even think you can make this at home unless you are tight with the best Farmer's markets in your state. The quality of produce and really all the ingredients at Brera take the food to another level. Too often vegetables are treated like an afterthought. Brera is a perfect example of how fine dining can turn you into a veggie lover. Now a fat dollop of burrata don't hurt either. Regardless, everything on this plate was of top quality and this dish was a reminder of what happens when you do pull the trigger on the $60 bottle of olive oil.

All the pastas.

I can be a bit of a dictator at the dining table. I pretty much told my family we are here for pasta. I wouldn't even look at the entrees because . . . great pasta just ain't something we do at home. I can grill just about anything but I have never been remotely inclined to make my own pasta at home. And frankly I'm happy to let the experts take the wheel.

Pappardelle with Wild Boar Ragu

She ain't a looker but damn if she doesn't pull her weight in flavor. Pappardelle might be the first pasta I ever fell in love with. Maybe it's because of the rule that says the wider the pasta, the heartier the sauce. Pappardelle is almost always paired with a hearty meat sauce and this wild boar ragu was certainly no exception. I ordered this for my kid as it relies on familiarity; meat simmered in tomatoes is certifiably kid friendly.

Vegana: Garganelli with cauliflower

This pasta is a looker but it's actually even tastier than it looks. It should trigger alarms when a diehard carnivore like myself is raving about a vegetarian dish. So consider this pasta touched by the hand of God. The pasta shape is called Garganelli, the sauce is definitely tomato driven but also creamier than the Wild Boar ragu. This is probably the best tasting Insta worthy dish I have ever had.

Casarecce with lamb sugo

Casarecce is a short twisted pasta originating from Sicily. Here it's paired with lamb sugo, sugo being another word for ragu. It translates into "juices" per the interwebs. So my wife, aka the birthday girl, is not a fan of the lamb but our excellent waitress suggested we try it because it possessed none of the gaminess or funk one finds with lamb(I love that funk too fwiw). The mint was a lovely touch. If you're wanting to try something a touch more daring than the Pappardelle, try this.

The star of the show

I could spend a week eating at Brera. I have no doubt that the menu is as deep as they come. But I will say that while this is a splurge, the pastas are a relative bargain as they are not only delicious but also substantial portions. Pizzas looked good too. Do yourself a solid and try this place out for a pasta and a glass of wine. It is so worth it. My fav place on the strip and worth every penny.