Each day there will be a new Christmas song, a photo, and maybe another surprise here and there.  If you follow the links, by the 25th you should have the best Christmas album around. We hope you enjoy!

Day One: December 1, 2011
Miss Sarajevo by The Passengers. The Passengers was a “Super Group” composed Daniel Lanois, Brian Eno, U2, and guests like Luciano Pavarotti.

Bonus: watch Millions. Probably one of the best Christmas movies you might not have seen or heard of before now.

mmmmmm Pie! Have a fabulous weekend.

First you have to be hungry to eat a burger here and second, you better like mustard. It was a great burger, it tasted homemade. Not the best burger I have had but still very tasty. One draw back was that it was a little dry. The mustard helped but it was a bit more mustard they I usually like.

Rick was with me and our friend Nathan. Nathan and I got burgers and Rick went rogue and got chicken sliders, on the left. Next time I come I am getting them. They looked amazing. On the right is the the aftermath of my first attack on the burger. I think by this time I had eaten about a normal sized burger. I didn’t finish but ended up eating a bit more.

The inside of the store is dark but has a lot of character. I really loved the salt and pepper collection on the wall. If you are in Houston and are craving an old school burger joint Lankford’s is right up your alley. Just remember to bring cash.

First is a short trip to Seattle.

It was my first trip to Top Pot Doughnuts! Yum.

Then right before Christmas we made a trek to Cincinnati, Ohio to see Karin and Linford, of the band Over the Rhine, perform their annual Christmas concerts. And I think we just wanted to go somewhere cold at Christmas.

Breakfast at Sugar n’ Spice. This place was a classic diner comfort breakfast place. I would frequent if I lived in Cincinnati. Very yummy hash browns.

The Farmer’s Market there is always a blast. Those Gold Rush apples were amazing and so were the macaroons.

Homemade Belgium waffles, made fresh by Jean-François Flechet, the guy who made the macaroons at the Farmer’s Market, and Over the Rhine in an cold, old, gutted Cathedral, you can’t make a better Sunday. Also check out Over the Rhine’s new Album, The Long Surrender, you won’t be sorry I promise!

I am not a big fan of cheese, it usually doesn’t agree with me, so I don’t eat it much. But, I could not pass up grilled cheese sandwiches made to order and homemade hot cocoa at the stand by the outside ice skating rink in Downtown. The temperatures were in the low twenties and that was one of the best meals I’ve ever had. If you ever go to Cincinnati check out their permanant restaurant, Tom and Chee. Rick got the special, Cheddar, BBQ chips and bacon, on the left. I told them to make me something yummy, so I got cheddar, jack and lots of fresh bacon with a little bit of tomato soup on the inside of the bread, on the right. Yayness!

Last but not least ambrosia from Rick’s aunt on Christmas eve in Huntsville, Alabama. I love this because it reminds me of every church pot luck I went to growing up. There is something really special about things like this.

Good eating! I hope you are all warm and just maybe enjoying a grilled cheese in the snow.

I love how all the BBQ guys wear the hard hats. It’s a tough job.

I love this sign. The smoke has colored it over the years and it just makes me smile.

Todd Spoth knows the secret of a good Texas BBQ experience, Big Red. I wish I had a tally of how many Big Reds people drank on this trip.

Sausage Sandwich at Luling. I so want one now.

The crowd at my favorite place, Luling City Market.

Waiting at Smitty’s. Mmmmm…pork chops.

Dave Einsel’s Meat order.

Dave’s tower of meat, yes he finished it.

And so Dave thought he’d do a little exercise.

To cap off the day of meat we stopped at Black’s for dessert. There are two great things here, peach cobbler and the BBQ turkey. Probably the best turkey I have ever had. yum yum yum.

Also, I’ll share in closing a great quote I saw today. “Stressed? Spell it backwards for the cure. Desserts,” author unknown.

Yes those are Pork Rinds on top of that Sope.

A view of two of the Sope choices Deshebrada, shredded beef, on the left and Chicharron, cheese and pork rinds on the right.

I want some Mexican food now. mmmmm.

Sausage of the Gods!

#1. Luling City Market. This has always been my favorite BBQ ever and it continued to live up to my expectations. The Sausage here is top notch. It is mixed so nicely and fresh. The brisket here was also the best this trip. Moist with a great crust and good smoke color. Also a great sauce here. I want take a gallon of it home. This is a must stop for anyone remotely near Austin, San Antonio, or Houston.

I just love this shot. I think it sums up Black’s.

#2. Black’s in Lockhart. I was still full from Luling and I have not ever been a fan of Black’s and it too lived up to my previous opinion. The meat here is just ok. They do have a large selection of sides including the deviled eggs and pie. I got the pecan Pie and it was great and a nice break from meat. I loved the people here; they were so friendly and the interior was so cool and nostalgic.

What happens at lunch with a bunch of photographers?  Food photography of course!

Our one sausage on the left.

#3. Kreuz’s in Lockhart. Still full, two other photographers and I decided to be big spenders and split one link of Jalapeno Cheese Sausage. We still didn’t finish it. It was great and spicy but I still liked Luling’s sausage better.

Dave Einsel makes a meat tower. And yes he had a cooler and didn’t eat all this BBQ. Also notice the size of the pork chops.

#4. Smitty’s in Lockhart. This place had to be the second best in my opinion and if you’re longing for pig, the Pork Chops were amazing. I would drive there just for the pork chop.

And last but not least the motley crew from ASMP Austin and Houston. And thanks Todd for the bunny ears. I owe you one. And yes we all smelled of yummy smokey BBQ all the way home.

I recently made my visit visit to Minneapolis and if you’ve talked to me since my return I’m sure I’ve told you about Al’s Breakfast. I can’t sop talking about it. It’s one of those places that you can’t help but talk about. It was probably one of the best dining experiences I had, all in a 14 seat diner. It is the quintessential greasy spoon. If you ever make a trip to Minneapolis you need to go there, actually you have to go there.

I stumbled upon this place when my mom and I were looking for a late breakfast one morning during a visit to see my brother. I did a Google search and Al’s Breakfast was one of the top hits and everyone was raving about this greasy spoon. So we went. I had my camera with a 24mm in my purse and was just planning on a quick breakfast before a day of exploring. Al’s was quick in some respect. We got our food quickly and the service was fast, but the wait, well that took at least 45min. The place seats 14 people and the rest of the customers line up behind the stools with only breathing room between the two. There were a couple times we were asked to pick up our stuff and move down the bar. It was great. There was even a great cook whose been there for decades and had great conversations with everyone.

I ended up finding out that this place actually got a James Beard Award. A well deserved award I have to say.

The yellow papers are vouchers or tabs that customers keep. You can buy them for other people and when they come in they just pay with the paper. Fun!

And here is the crowning glory of this place, the food. Probably the best blueberry pancake I’ve ever had – thin, crispy on the outside and blueberry goodness on the inside.

My only disappointments were that I couldn’t eat more and that I didn’t bring better gear to shoot inside. I guess this means I need to make another trip. We almost went the next morning but since it was Saturday I thought the line would be too much. Enjoy and wish me luck in the neighborhood pie contest this weekend.