Wednesday, January 21, 2015

They grow'em BIG in Texas...Pork Chops that is!

They grow'em BIG in Texas...Pork Chops that is!

     Today I was told we are going to Perry & Sons market and grille for the "Lunch" special. It turns out that it's a MASSIVE smoked pork chop that is out of this world. The price? $9.99 with mashed potatoes or fries. Here's the front of the restaurant.
Perry & Sons Store Front
     The inside of the restaurant is very nice with cloth tablecloths and a layer of paper over the top much like Macaroni Grill. We arrived just after they opened at 11 AM and placed our order. Soon after, the place began filling up. Before we were finished, every table in the place was filled up.
     The waiter delivered our food and I'm telling you, it was massive. I would say it was between 2 and 3 inches high and contained two bones. The steak knife was big as well and had their name etched on the surface.
Etched Steak Knife
     Here are a couple more pictures of our pork chops. It came with melted steak butter on top and a lime laying on top of the melted butter. You also got a piece of Texas toast along with crispy fries.
Our table setting
Another view of the Pork Chop

Gone!!!
     After we were done eating, we took a walk through the butcher shop. It is not huge but the display cases were filled with great looking meat of various cuts. They also had a cooler where you could purchase the lunch cut pork chop in a microwavable wrapper. The directions were on the wrapper.

Lunch portion pork chop

Available Meats
     I highly recommend Perry's but come hungry or be prepared to take home half of your pork chop. They also have daily lunch specials. Here are links to the restaurant's web site and their menu.

     Now afterwards, I have to admit I was just a little FULL so about 3 hours later (after the food settled) I took a quick walk. On the walk I ran across an interesting tree called a Crape Myrtle. Most of the bark comes off kind of like a birch tree. You can read about them here. I took a picture of one to show you.
Crape Myrtle Tree
     For supper my sister prepared something called Borderline Pie. I call it Taco Pie! It was very good and I had to "try" a couple of pieces. Here is a picture of the pie being made. Ground beef is inserted inside fresh pie crust. There is sour cream involved and layers of cheese on top.
Borderline Pie
     Well my week in Texas has been rapidly drawing to a close. So little time...so many restaurants. I still want to hit a Waffle House (YES I said a Waffle House!), another Bar-B-Q place (Killen's Barbeque) and a gulf seafood restaurant. Follow the link to Killen's Barbeque that I put in here. They have a HUGE Beef Ribs that I am told are more than awesome...they're GREAT!  I don't know if we'll be able to hit all the rest of our choices but we will sure try. Unfortunately, our marathon tour of the local eating establishments is really taking a toll on my waist line! It is beginning to hurt when I'm sitting so I know when I go home, I'll be eating 1/2 portions for a while to trim down again. 
     Tomorrow will be the bad weather day here. They are predicting heavy rain all day with up to 5 inches in some areas so I won't be out walking tomorrow.
     Until my next update...


Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Texas Infusion

Texas Infusion

     In October, my sister and brother-in-law moved from PA to Texas. They love it and have been begging me to come down and visit. I do database work and I can literally work from anywhere so I asked my manager if there was any way I could work from Texas for a week. Much to my surprise, he said yes! I made my reservations and flew down last weekend.
Look at this! It's January18th!
     They picked me up at the Houston airport and took me to their home. Wow! It's beautiful. They have been telling me how nice their neighborhood is with all the walking trails and sure enough, it's true. 
Houston, Texas sunset and the Houston Astros Stadium

      One of the first stops was the supermarket and my sister said "Come Here!" One look and I knew I was in Texas!

     Trucks...BIG Trucks; They are all around you on the roads. I'm talking jacked up trucks with lift kits, cow catchers and Texas Longhorns on the hood. Here's an example.

     Palm Trees are everywhere! That includes the Lowes parking lot...

Palm Trees in the Lowes parking lot
     In order to become a Texan (even a temporary Texan), one must assimilate into the culture. That means stopping at the nearest Cavenders western wear shop and checking out all the western apparel. I found a nice belt and custom buckle to remember Texas by...


My Texas Custom Belt; Cool, eh?

Visit https://www.cavenders.com/ to see their western wear


Boots you can buy at Cavenders



     Food; It's what makes the world go round and let me tell you, there is a lot of Texas food to eat in the area. I love to eat so we have been eating Texas Tex Mex, Texas Bar-B-Q, fresh Texas citrus fruit, customer homemade lunches and Chicken Fried Steak at none other than Kelley's, the Best in Country Cookin'. Why I even tried and ate all of my Blackeye Peas. One thing I do is eat everything on the plate. Unfortunately, my belly is growing down here so I will be on an immediate diet as soon as I get home. Here are some before and after food pictures...


Kelley's Blackeye Peas
Fresh Oranges, Lemon and Grapefruit

Juiciest and Sweetest Orange Ever
Homemade Super Sandwich and Water with fresh lemon


Mexican Fiesta Meal at Rancho Mexican Restaurant

Mexican Fiesta Meal at Rancho Mexican Restaurant

Mexican Fiesta Meal at Rancho Mexican Restaurant

All Gone!

Enchiladas at Rancho Mexican Restaurant
Joe's Bar-B-Q


All Gone!
Chuy's

One of Chuy's dining rooms


Silverware was in this bag; a nice touch

My Enchilada Dinner at Chuy's
All Gone!

     How is work going you might ask? Very Well! I am getting so much done during my workday here, it is unreal. I'm really enjoying the weather too. So far, every day it has been right around 70 and sunny. Worse weather is coming for the rest of the week but I really lucked out the first several days. 
     I think I need to buy a lot and then build a tiny cabin to live in for 6 months a year if and when I retire. Oh well, until my next post, Viva La Texas!