Category Archives: Fredericksburg

The Nest Restaurant

We came here for Mother’s Day weekend celebration. All this time, I thought that this restaurant has closed. I soon found out that they only open Thursday to Sunday. From reviews, we learned that reservation is a must so D called in our spot a week before and by Thursday, our table was confirmed. We were dining at The Nest!

It's a quaint little cottage converted to a restaurant.
It’s a quaint little cottage converted to a restaurant, and is just off Main Street.
We started off with Moules --- mussels.
We started off with Moules — mussels. Very comparable to the ones I make.
All entrees comes with complementary salad. I don;t know what's in this thing but it's one of the most divine salads I've had. It was crisp, clean and the dressing, which is suspect was olive oil and lemon and some herbs, was divine.
All entrees comes with complementary salad. I don’t know what’s in this thing but it’s one of the most divine salads I’ve had. It was crisp, clean, and the dressing, which I suspect was olive oil and lemon and some herbs, was divine.
Benas had Shrimp with Citrus Glaze
Beans had Shrimp with Citrus Glaze. It’s in a bed of mashed potatoes, with some veggies on the side
D had a 10 oz Angus Steak --- excellently cooked
D had a 10 oz Angus Steak — excellently cooked. The dark sticks on the side are marinated beets.
I had a rack of lamb which I thought was huge. I counted 9, yes, 9 ribs. I had to take some home
I had a rack of lamb which I thought was huge. I counted 9, yes, 9 ribs. I normally get about 4-5. As good as it was, I had to take the rest home.

At this point, we were thoroughly impressed by the service, food was served in astonishingly timely manner. We were blown away by the quality of the food, so far. We were actually full but we were intrigued with what they had fro dessert, so we asked for the dessert menu.

Profiteroles - tasted pretty much like the ones I make except that the ice-cream filling was home-made.
Profiteroles – tasted pretty much like the ones I make except that the ice-cream filling was home-made.
This is the highlight of the entire meal --- lavender ice cream with wine sauce , hence the wine glass.
This is the highlight of the entire meal — lavender ice cream with wine sauce , hence the wine glass.

Our server, Nicole, was nice enough to tell us that the wine sauce was a sweet redcution of pinot noir. No wonder I loved it. Beans had some and immediately reported that he was drunk. After one teaspoon!!! His liver constitution is definitely not same as mine, a huge genetic mishap….

Happy faces!
Happy faces!

I’m so glad we discovered this place. Chalk up another favorite here in F-burg!

 

 

 

Food and Shopping: Best of Both Worlds

Spent the better part of the day doing what I love most (food and shopping) at the Fredericksburg Trade Days. There’s no other way to describe this place except as a flea-market on steroids. It boasts of 350 vendors selling everything from antiques, collectibles, furniture, and of course, there’s the food. They’re on every third week of the month and I swear, each time we go, there seem to be more food stalls than before. Having all sorts of food makes a lot of sense because being the biggest  trade show in Texas, there’s literally miles of stores to cover—one needs the nourishment (deep fried Twinkies will give you enough calories to walk all the way to the moon). Oh and since there’s a biergarten (beer garden), there’s live music and dancing too. Now tell me what flea market has all that?

Dave looking at antiques of every kind. Their motto is "If you can't find it at Trade Days…you don't need it"
Dave looking at antiques of every kind. Their motto is “If you can’t find it at Trade Days…you don’t need it”
Pick a good day to come.There are seven air-conditioned barns; each housing more than twenty vendors. Between barns are thousand of stand-alone stalls, all out in the sun.
Pick a good day to come.There are seven air-conditioned barns; each housing more than twenty vendors. Between barns are thousands of stand-alone stalls, all out in the sun.

This is what we came here for. The wine barrel wood-work and furnitures.

we ordered this in darker wood…because we can never have enough wine racks...
we ordered this in darker wood…because we can never have enough wine racks…

Now for the food…  The main stays here are the taco stands, burger stands, and German hotdog stands. I am only featuring the quirky ones because, you know, I like weird…

Only in Texas will you find  a John Deere churning out ice cream!
Only in Texas will you find a John Deere churning out ice cream! Seriously good though. Lavander ice cream to die for.
1000 degree wood burning oven imported from Italy hoisted on top of a custom built trailer built on Colorado, dragged into the very heart of Texas to make pizza fro hungry shopper like me!
1000 degree wood burning oven imported from Italy hoisted on top of a custom built trailer built on Colorado, dragged into the very heart of Texas to make pizza for hungry shoppers like me!
I'm glad someone had the zeal to do all that and had the humility to just charge $4 a slice. Absolutely delicious!
I’m glad someone had the zeal to do all that and had the humility to just charge $4 a slice. Absolutely delicious margherita!
Next stop is a guy whou sounds like my friend Bob because he also came from Brooklyn! Italian grab n go with at twist,
Next stop is a guy who sounds like my friend, Bob, because he also came from Brooklyn! Italian grab n go food with at twist.
Fried ravioli
Fried ravioli
Italian empanada. Had to bring these all home. I figured Beans would love it…and he did!
Italian empanada. Had to bring all these home. I figured Beans would love it…and he did!
Fried everything. If you think deep-fried cheesecake is insane, then you obviously have not had deep fried butter yet. It is so good. Just don't tell your cardiologist...
D can’t even look at this. Fried everything. If you think deep-fried cheesecake is insane, then you obviously have not had deep fried butter yet. It is so good. Just don’t tell your cardiologist…
Had some good ol' fashioned lemonade to wash everything down. I love how they carried the lemonade theme all the way to the shape of their stall.
Had some good ol’ fashioned lemonade to wash everything down. I love how they carried the lemonade theme all the way to the shape of their stall.

And now for our  loot…we ordered most of the furniture so we we’re walking around almost empty handed. Well…almost…

Had to get this mermaid night light for Ginger Naples. We miss you girl! Hope you're feeling better soon.
Had to get this mermaid night light for Ginger Naples. We miss you girl! Hope you’re feeling better soon.
Another night light for the puppies' room
Another night light for the puppies’ room
And just when I thought that the last thing I need in my life is a scented candle, I found a coffee-scented one...
And just when I thought that the last thing I need in my life is a scented candle, I found a coffee-scented one…
And for the grand purchase of the day….an animal rug!!! I have been hunting for a rug for the living room. When I saw this pattern, I needed to have it. I love it! This animal did not die in vain...
And for the grand purchase of the day….an animal rug!!! I have been hunting for a rug for the living room. When I saw this pattern, I needed to have it. I love it! Look how well it goes with the rest of our furniture. This animal did not die in vain…
It already started raining as we brought the rug, so we scurried back to the car. Stopped by at the Herb Garden for Moscow mule and lemon basil mojito!
It already started raining as we bought the rug, so we scurried back to the car. Stopped by at the Herb Garden for Moscow mule and lemon basil mojito!

It’s days like these that are imperfect (it rained) yet turned out to be perfect for us. The rug was more than what we were going to spend for so it was time to call it a day anyway. Nothing beats Mother Nature in telling you it’s time to put the Amex away….