I, Me, and Myself | VeniVidiEdi

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! 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.

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….

This has been a rough week. I had a bout of what I initially thought was flu, which I soon realized was just a bad reaction to greasy food. When I started this blog, I wrote in my author description that my being a foodie has brought me lots of adventures, both good and bad. This was definitely a bad adventure from some breakfast place in Clear Lake which I will not name. I was throwing up for two days. On the second day, I had to leave the clinic. For those who have worked with me, THAT is a big deal. On the flip side, this puking galore made me lose three pounds. Yey!

Today is Saturday and instead of resting and sleeping in, I had to wake -up early to bring B to his Regional Band Competition. The days leading up to this event has also not been easy. There was a daily sectional practice which meant I had to bring him to school even if I felt like crap. (Welcome to the US; I am not Kim Kardashian, I don’t have a driver )And then there’s the individual practice. If you have a kid who wants to play percussion in band but you, as a human being with ears, value your sanity, then just say no. The sound of the snare and drums and my endless retching has been anything but musical.

By noon, competition is done and B got a 1. I was told that it’s the highest score and he’s getting a medal. I should be proud but then it means he will qualify for the Divisional Round. Great, more days of practice….I’m turning into my mother. I remember growing up when my Mom used to stop me from practicing piano because it was too loud.

B was too exhausted with his victory to go anywhere so D and I went out for lunch. I wanted some nice soup so I thought of ramen. There’s a lot of good ramen places in Houston but they usually open at 5pm. Those that open for lunch usually don’t have a bar. After Googling and calling every ramen restaurant, we settled on Kata Robata. Their bar is technically close for lunch but I was assured that they will get me whatever drink I would need.

Baird Kurofune Porter---dark beer with hints of chocolate and coffee — Baird Kurofune Porter—dark beer with hints of chocolate and coffee

Appetizer 1 - Salmon and Soft Shell Crab Sushi — Appetizer 1 – Salmon and Soft Shell Crab Sushi

Appetizer 2 - Seared Blue Fin Toro. This is amazing. Takes me back to my Tokyo days — Appetizer 2 – Seared Blue Fin Toro. This is amazing. Takes me back to my Tokyo days

Truffle Cold Soba with Black Truffle and Uni. This is serious truffle flavor, highly recommended.

The ramen really rejuvenated me. There’s nothing like rich broth to rejuvenate your taste buds. All the food was delicious but service was underwhelming. Appetizers and entrees were served within 5 minutes of each other. Too much of a “rookie-mistake” for a restaurant which has been around for years. The waitress was aware of the misstep and was kind enough to send us complimentary dessert before we can raise a fuss. Smart move, sister.

Green Teas Souffle with Red Bean Ice Cream — Green Tea Souffle with Red Bean Ice Cream—made more yummy because it’s free!

I had a couple of errands to run and D was nice enough to drive me around. D is great company. He makes my most mind-numbing errands exciting. This time, I needed to get something done for my sister and I had to get some stuffs from Whole Foods. Unfortunately, Whole Foods has ran out of imagination in the dessert department. We decided to stop at Truluck’s to get some carrot cake.

Truluck’s is our go-to place when we are in the mood for crabs. They also happen to have the most awesome carrot cake. When we got there, we passed a table where stone crabs were being served. So barely three hours after our ramen lunch, we sat down again to eat some crabs…. well, I DID lose three pounds…