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As the first coolish wind of fall playfully raked its craggy fingers through our follicles, we tromped toward Guadalupe, our stomachs growling. But, alas, we were met with upturned chairs and the swish-swish of a broom herding the last of a days worth of wayward crust crumbs into a dustbin. We checked the door: Booms closes at nine. It was 9:10. As we wandered, heartbroken, north on Guadalupe and wondered aloud whether or not Starbucks served salads along with its corporate coffee, Papa Hog remembered seeing, among the rubber chickens and fire-breathing nuns of Toy Joy, a wonderful looking salad in Toy Joys new addition, Dhaba Joy. We promptly turned south and headed toward 29th Street, a new mission for sustenance upon us. However, peering through the window of Dhaba Joy among colorful chairs and tables (surely they dont leave these lovely things out all night?) we could see cookies and cakes and pastries and coffee drinks but no salads. Forlorn, we wandered, stunned, into the parking lot next door, the scent of lint and clingfree sheets hanging in the air. Suddenly, Mama Hog remembered that La Madeleine served salads. "Maybe theyre open!" she exclaimed. After a determined trek across the neighborhoodthis was our last hopewe arrived at La Madeleines doors: open till 10 on weekdays! The salad pickins were getting to the bottom of the trough, but fortunately we arrived just before a herd of college students and there was enough for us hogs. Mama Hog bravely chose the spinach salad with mushrooms, bacon, red bell peppers, strawberries, and pecans with a balsamic vinagarette. ("Is that salad poop free?" Papa Hog asked. "Yes," replied the beret-topped salad server.) Papa Hog ordered the salad sampler, which gives a hog three choices of salad and soup. Papa chose Caesars salad, fruit salad (healthy!), and a cup of French onion soup that tangod on the tongue. The food was good, and Mama Hog exclaimed that it hit the spot. For whatever reason, we Hogs never remember La Madeleine as a potential trough stop. Papa Hog believes its because of the horror he experienced when he realized how much saturated fat was in their tomato basil soup, his favorite (La Madeleine started selling jarred amounts of the stuff and were required to provide "nutritional" information on the side. Its like reading a Stephen King novel: one serving has 14.2 grams of saturated fat, 70 percent of your daily recommended amount, and there is surely more than 8 ounces in those Texas-sized servings!) Mama Hog thinks we dont remember la Mad because were a little biased against chains, altough La Mad is Texas born via Dallas. Perhaps it's because our first experience in a La Mad was in an uptight part of Dallas, which wasnt agreeable to us laidback, mud-rolling slobs from Austin. Nonetheless, this little bit of wannabe France west of the neighborhood can be a hog-saver when the bellies are a-calling. Entertainment bonus: upon leaving, a homeless dude offered to jump from a perilously high retaining wall across the street for a dollar!
The menu at Salvation Pizza is simple enough: pizza, large or small, and salad. For the pizzas, Salvation has the standard toppings pepperoni, sausage, black olive, and Canadian bacon - and a few unexpected ones: spinach, snow peas, baby clams, bacon, lemon, capers, asparagus, shrimp, and broccoli (broccoli?), among others. They call their wares Pizza Napoletana, which is a fancy way of saying "thin crust only." They have a list of "top ten" standard pizzas, all of which are inventive at some level. How about a #2 of asparagus, bacon, and jalapeno? Or a #9 of baby clams, lemon, and olive oil? That is not to say you cant get your standard toppings, but why not try something kooky? (We hogs would like them to add a pizza called "The Slop Bucket.") Papa Hog has enjoyed Salvations version of sausage, mushroom, and black olives (one of Papas comfort foods) spiced up from time to time with mild jalapenos. Mama Hog prefers white pizzas and has been pleased with Salvations margarita pie. We both agree that Salvations pies are pretty darn good. In fact, with our previous favorite pizza places either closing down or messing with their dough recipe, Salvation has become our pizza trough of choice. Papa Hog and a friend, Bern-Hog, went to experience Salvation in person (Mama and Papa Hog had only gotten take out living only a block away). Fortunately, Salvation inherited Starlites outdoor patio, which is a plus for the pizza-trough experience. The staff were friendly and even put two of our beers on ice until we finished the other two we brought (Salvation is working on getting a beer and wine license). The pizza was mighty fine: a small pie amply filling two hungry hogs for not a lot of green. All in all, two hooves up. Liz and Michael, the owners, have created a fine addition to the hood. So if you are looking for a great slice of non-frat pizza, Salvation is just a few blocks away Salvation Pizza is located at 624 W. 34th Street
(535-6676, no delivery). Small pizzas range from $10 to 12.50 and large pizzas range from
$14 to 17.50, depending on the toppings.
But with change comes opportunity, and the closing of the Granite brought Fino, the second restaurant of the fine folks that brought Austin Asti in Hyde Park. Similar to the Granite, Fino is a nice place. In fact, its the nicest restaurant in the hood. Its a place to take a date if you want to impress them, to celebrate something special, or take family (as long as they dont drink bottles and bottles of champagne). Fino has completely redecorated the place, not that it was a <ahem> pigsty before, but it is sleeker nowmore modern. Gloriously, the patio is still open for outside dining. And the chow? Yummy! If youd like, you can eat tapas-style by ordering a number of what Fino calls "small plates." The first several times Mama and Papa Hog were at Fino, we couldnt get past the small plates. The steamed mussels in spicy tomato and fennel broth are wonderful as are the oven-roasted shrimp with feta cheese, tomato, and oregano. Fino also has "big plates" which are likewise filled with snort-worthy chow. And hogs like big plates. Papa Hogs favorite big plate thus far is the pan seared scallops in three ways: (1) green olive and lemon tapenade, (2) bacon panzanella, and (3) avocado and summer corn salsa. Papa Hog doesnt know what half of this stuff is, but his big plate is always cleaned in short order. Mama Hog has squealed in delight over the semolina crusted trout plaki! Fino serves other fish dishes as well vegetarian dishes and lamb, pork, and chicken dishes. Fino also has specials (a grilled trout was unbelievably good one evening). Fino also serves paella for two, although it has been a little bit of a hit or miss with us. And what hog can resist dessert? How about pistachio baklava with homemade pistachio ice cream and apricot sauce? Blackberry clafouti with sour cream ice cream? Looks like Mama Hogs gonna have to spray off Papa Hog more often (and put some lipstick on herself) and head to Finos at least once a week... Small plates range from about $5 to $10, big plates range from $16 to $22, and desserts are $8. Fino is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Friday, dinner on Saturday, and closed on Sunday. Full bar! (Fino Restaurant Patio and Bar, 2905 San Gabriel St, 474-2905, M-Sat,
Papa Hog, having always enjoyed a good chicken pot pie, tried the chicken and mushroom pie and enjoyed it thoroughly (the folks sitting next to us gave us odd looks because of all the grunting. Hey: A hogs gotta grunt!) Mama Hog choose the Asian chicken pie and likewise enjoyed it. Boomerangs provides several "pie toppers:" sauces you can put on your pie if you need additional flavor. The pies are about five dollars a piece, and selection gets limited later in the evening as pies sell out. However, this is probably more a function of a new restaurant finding its stride as Boomerangs has only been open since early February. The food is served quickly, and the restaurant is a casual place to hang out. A wide-screen television shows the sport event of the day. After a second trip, Papa Hog chuckled to himself again, having a better understanding of the name: "Well, it looks like Im the boomerang now, because I plan on coming back here again and again!" (Boomerangs Gourmet Veggie & Meat Pies, 3110 Guadalupe,
Suite 150, 380-0032, M-Sat, 11am-late,
coming soon: please submit potential links to the neighborhood listserv:
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last updated: 06.20.2006 by robert.e.mace |