January 15th Blog
Dinner at Sampaio’s sat night was, for the most part, excellent. The yucca cakes with mozarella cheese and a light marinara sauce were very tasty. I didn’t like the salmon croquettes as much; the taste was a bit strong for me. A little too “salmony.” (Is that a word?) However, Marge liked them a lot. That occasionally occurs with us. I’ll not like a dish and she’ll enjoy it or vice versa. That can be very useful in analyzing flavors.
The special, breaded snapper with peppers and orzo is an amazing shrimp and saffron cream sauce was the absolute show stopper. I would fly to Brazil if I had to to get this. Luckily I just have to go back to Burnet. I’m gong to review them this week on FOX 7 and 590 KLBJ-AM radio,
I get emails from time to time asking about how the Driskill chef David Bull did in his Iron Chef competition with Bobby Flay on the Food Network. Well, he lost. But knowing Bull’s skills as well as I do, I would say he got jobbed. The “judges” (and its a stretch to call them that) were obviously intimidated by the mercurial Flay. Their comments were, for the most part, pedantic and in several cases almost moronic. Still Bull took the “criticism” with uncommonly good humor (I doubt if I could have done the same) and was a worthy representative of the River City. With a jury of people who really know food, I’d bet on Bull against Flay every time: throwdown, hoedown, or even again at Kitchen Stadium.
People often ask me what’s happened to The Balons. (Rob on guitar and harmonies and daughter Jenn on lead vocals). Well, our CD, The Heart Knows Nothing, is now available at BurnLounge.com. The original songs range from rock to country, and one power ballad (my favorite) called I Am in Love wth You. I wrote this in a hotel several years ago after watching a Celine Dionne concert. I hoped that Jennifer could someday sing it at her wedding. Well, last April, she did just that. As the sun set over Beau Theriot’s villa on Lake Travis (one really amazing place to have a wedding) Jenn sang the song (with backing on the keyboards by Ray Von) for new hubby John Taylor. She brought the house down, as usual. And dad got a little misty-eyed.
Since Jenn became a sales wunderkind at Dell, The Balon’s gigs have become a bit limited due to her long hours. But we have played several private parties and are mostly doing those now. Call 707-7500 if you’re having an event and would like us to play.
