Historic Natchitoches 2020

Posted: March 18, 2020 in Travel
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I have always wanted to visit the Historic town of Natchitoches, Louisiana, the capital of Spanish Texas (1729-1770), and part of the El Camino Real trail. Recently, I checked it off my bucket list. It is best known as the city of the filming of the 1989 hit movie Steel Magnolias. However, I must admit there is so much more, and I didn’t have enough time to spend there. The city is clean. The hospitality is exceptional. The food….is…..a….BIG….Yum! I just love it there! Here are a few photos I took around the city to share. Enjoy!

The Year In Food 2019

Posted: January 1, 2020 in Food
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Cooking is not only a great thing to provide family or yourself something delicious to eat, but for me it provides relaxation after a day of work. For the past two years I have posted photos of some of the dishes that I have cooked that stood out to me for being a first time dish to something I just love to eat. This year I spent a lot of time playing with a Crock-Pot. There is nothing like prepping your food, dropping it in a pot, then coming home to a house filled with wonderful aromas. I also focused on my European roots when cooking dishes and dabbled with other international dishes which is common for me. The New Year’s often brings the tradition of Crock-Pot Black-Eyed Peas with Cornbread. The second photo is a Crock-Pot Chicken Apricot Tangine from Morocco. The third photo is a Japanese Okinawan dish called Goya Champura home to the most Centaurians in world. The fourth dish is Crock-Pot Beef Rouladen from Germany. The fifth dish is one of my favorite British dishes Fish and Chips with a side of peas. In Britain they often puree their peas. The sixth photo is Baked Lemon Pepper Garlic Whitefish with Tomato and Spinach on a bed of Couscous which is very Mediterranean. The seventh photo is a Crock-Pot Korean BBQ Short Ribs. The eighth photo is Italian Crock-Pot Minestrone Soup. The ninth photo is a traditional Irish Corned Beef meal. The tenth photo is Mexican Beef and Shrimp Tacos with Black Beans, Corn, and Cojita Cheese. The eleventh photo is Greek Salad with Boiled Shrimp. The Twelfth photo is Crock-Pot French Cassoulet Soup. The thirteenth photo is a German Reuben Sandwich with a side of Chips. The fourteenth photo is Beef and Chicken Kabobs with Kale and Couscous. The fifteenth photo is Chicken Fried Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Corn, Green Beans, and Pan Dripping Milk Gravy. The sixteenth photo is Four Cheese Ham and Peas Penne pasta from Italy. All of the recipes can be found readily online. I hope these photos inspire you to get in the kitchen. Bon Appetite!

Crusader – A Haiku

Posted: December 7, 2019 in Poetry
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Crusader – A Haiku

Defending the Lord

At the cost of life and death

Always a blessing

2019 Albert Moyer, Jr. Poetry

 

Al Nakhil Restaurant

Posted: September 29, 2019 in Food
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Al Nakhil is an Iraqi restaurant in Houston, Texas that offers original dishes from Iraq. The food is really flavorful and prepared with time and love. Some may say, “Iraqi’s? Didn’t we go to war with them?” Well, I like to think we we were at war with a government, because the Iraqi people are very nice and they strive to build greatness just as many people do around the world. They have a wonderful culture and aim to be free just like Americans. Anytime I have been in their presence they have made me feel welcome and they are very willing to share culinary secrets. Iraqi food is a labor of love for sure. If you are in a hurry, you probably will be disappointed in Al Nakhil, because in Iraqi culture enjoying a meal is not about being in a hurry. Thank God not all cultures believe in stuffing their face real fast to get back to work right? As of now, I do not believe Al Nakhil has a website, but I will leave your with some photos and a menu. You can see more about them on YELP. These are images from the Family Kabob Platter with extra sides of Hummus and Baba Ganoush, and after dinner hot tea.

Polonia Polish Restaurant

Posted: August 12, 2019 in Food
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Polonia in my eyes is the official Polish restaurant of Houston, Texas. The food offers up all the delicious dishes and tastes of Poland. Growing up my father had a taste for many of these dishes and they were served at home. It was so common that as I grew older, I wondered if my father was part Polish. Someone once asked me if the Polish were vegetarians? I kind of laughed at that notion. The Polish are meat specialists as evidenced by the Polish store next door to the restaurant where you can get many Polish meats or snacks to take home. For more information..visit Polonia’s website http://www.poloniarestaurant.com/

Ritual

Posted: August 5, 2019 in Food
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Ritual is a meat lover’s dream restaurant! The freshest dry aged meat hanging on racks for you to select your perfect steak. The finest meats and ingredients all cooked to perfection in what was once a Citgo gas station that was redesigned into an extravagant restaurant in the Houston Heights. Outside on a statue is a pig with wings…..If pigs could fly. Their pulled pork sandwich is flying because it tastes heavenly. The Ritual burger is so messy delicious! 1/2 lb of beef with caramelized onions, blue cheese, and a pile of brisket oozing BBQ sauce. Yum! The chicken fried steak is true to the bone Texan flavorful. The onion rings fat and perfect. The Death By Chocolate cake…..Ummm, oh baby! To learn more visit their website http://www.ritualhouston.com/

Update: Closed. Out of business. COVID-19 killed it. Very sad!

Jus’ Mac – A Mac N Cheese Lover’s Dream

Posted: July 31, 2019 in Food
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With the thousands of awesome restaurants in Houston, Texas it is always not easy to get to them all at once. Jus’ Mac has been on my bucket list a long time. Upon entry I was pleasantly surprised by it’s small size (capacity 55). It gave the place a real homely feel. The service was excellent. Waiting for my dish my family and I shared some Spinach Artichoke dip. It was the best I have personally ever had. I have eaten it a lot too. When my dish came…Chicken and Waffle Mac N Cheese, it made my heart dance and the my olfactory senses happy. This places is no diet haven. This is full on heavy food that keeps a person fueled for a good time. It was everything I hoped for and then some. I’ll definitely make it my Mac N Cheese stop. For more information visit their website http://www.jusmaceatery.com/

Velvet Taco- Lovely!

Posted: July 28, 2019 in Food
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I just love Tacos! They are so versatile for those of us who are true foodies and know, love, and understand quality food. The Velvet Taco lives up to their hype 110%.  They offer some of the best tacos I have eaten anywhere and they win the creativity award. A shrimp and grit taco? WTF? Really? That is a home run for us southern folks. Chicken and Waffle tortilla taco? Off the chain! And a cheeseburger taco? Oh, baby! For more information check out their website here https://velvettaco.com/

San Antonio Botanical Garden

Posted: June 22, 2019 in Flowers, Photography
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The San Antonio Botanical Garden is a place that was well-thought out for those who like walking and viewing a variety of garden like environments in a peaceful setting. There are exhibits that cover urban farming, Japanese gardens, hill country gardens, rose gardens, tropical gardens, cactus and succulent gardens, fern gardens, ponds, Texas native trails, and bird watching blinds. There is not as much canopy in Zilker Botanical Garden in Austin which I wrote about last year, but there are ample spots to re-hydrate and the tropical green house has air conditioning. Even though it was 100 degrees I had a blast taking hundreds of photos. Here are a few and I hope you make a trip to the San Antonio Botanical Garden to enjoy it’s peace and beauty. San Antonio Botanical Garden https://www.sabot.org/

 

Old Baldy at Garner State Park 2019

Posted: June 13, 2019 in Travel
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Old Baldy is 1,849 feet up a steep half-mile climb of rugged back country in Garner State Park in Concan, Texas. I would recommended someone be in somewhat decent physical condition because of the angles, slopes, rock climbing, tree roots, and the Texas heat. Watch your ankles, wear good solid shoes, and follow the yellow footprints. Most of the trail is shaded with Mesquite and I believe Cypress trees. However, at times, there is no shade. The reward at the end is awesome! The valley overlooking Garner State Park and the Frio River.  I took several photos along my hike. I hope you enjoy the photos and visit Garner someday too.

 

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