daily slice-of-life photo blog of a Gen-X dad
Tonight I grilled some burgers, which felt like the perfect meal for Memorial Day. Earlier in the day, I went for a run around the neighborhood and caught the scent of meat grilling in several backyards. It was such a nice, summery atmosphere. Probably not as enjoyable if you’re vegan, I imagine.
We have three boys in their early twenties living at home, so cooking meals that actually fill them up has been a bit of a new challenge. Tonight’s yakiniku really hit the spot, though. Everyone was full and happy! It was absolutely delicious, and we packed in a ton of veggies too — bean sprouts, spinach, onion, eggplant, and jalapeños. We even added some kimchi for a boost of gut health!
Today I finally got to try a burger that’s been on my list for years. I stopped by Casino El Camino on Sixth Street in downtown Austin and ordered the Amarillo Burger. This place regularly shows up on lists of the best burgers in Austin, and now I understand why.
The Amarillo Burger did not disappoint. It comes topped with roasted Serrano peppers that add just the right level of heat, and the patty itself is massive and cooked to perfection. I honestly didn’t think I’d be able to finish it, but it was so good I couldn’t stop until the last bite.
I also want to give a shoutout to the staff behind the bar and the cooks in the kitchen. Everyone was friendly, laid-back, helpful. Casino El Camino has a cool punk/horror vibe (and jukebox), making the entire experience even better.
If you’re ever in downtown Austin and craving a seriously good burger, I highly recommend checking Casino El Camino out.
Tonight we had curry udon for dinner. As you can see in the photo, it was loaded with pork, onion, and egg, so much so that the noodles are barely visible!
The combination of the rich curry broth with the pork, onions, egg, and udon noodles was excellent. It was a really satisfying and tasty meal. I drank up all the broth too, so the bowl was clean!
Tonight was a special evening. Mariko made a big batch of karaage, the crispy and flavorful Japanese fried chicken that everyone in our family loves. What made it even more meaningful was that all four of us were home at the same time. My wife, our two sons, and I don’t often get the chance to sit down together like this, so I really cherished the moment. And I took extra time to savor the chicken too. 😀
