Gulf Shrimp Gumbo
Ok, I'm a few days behind my deadline of "getting back on track" with the blog. I've missed writing, no doubt, and things have been super busy in our house but it seems we are getting back to normal once again. So, I hope you all had great holidays and be prepared to see some serious backlog of blogs pop up!
Let's see, where to start?
New in my world:
a) Brent got a new job, hoorah and Happy New Year!
b) Brent got a new job, therefore we got a new (to us) car!
c) I'm not working for the Marc Katz campaign anymore
and
d) We got an awesome extension to our closet space thanks to Brent's new job and IKEA. (Brent had to finally feel my pain of lacking closet space before this beautiful addition was made.)
Needless to say, our holidays were good!
Let's see, where to start?
New in my world:
a) Brent got a new job, hoorah and Happy New Year!
b) Brent got a new job, therefore we got a new (to us) car!
c) I'm not working for the Marc Katz campaign anymore
and
d) We got an awesome extension to our closet space thanks to Brent's new job and IKEA. (Brent had to finally feel my pain of lacking closet space before this beautiful addition was made.)
Needless to say, our holidays were good!
Brent will still be doing real estate, on the side, but is now working in IT sales again. We're pretty excited and are quite pleased, especially in this economy, to get a nice boost to our budget again. So, the blog will change looks a little and I'm still deciding what to do, since it's just mine now. I own LaurasLatestLove.com and am trying to figure out if I want to make that my new url or not and get away from Austin Urbanism. Hmmm, if you have any votes let me know!
In regards to the Katz campaign it was just too much for me right now. Now that Brent's out in a "regular" job again I have to step it up a little more at home and in our Eye Caddie business. I just couldn't give it the time it needs and do Katz's campaign. Plus I'm excited about having more time for my blog again, which I've really missed.
And now to the car. While I still try to keep a moderately low carbon footprint I think we realized that we can survive with only one car. I mean, we have been with just a motorcycle and my scooter since last February, so I'm sure we can figure out how to make this work. I must say, I have never been more appreciative of a four-wheeled vehicle! Particularly with the arctic winds that are going on right now. Talk about good timing!
The closet... oh expect to see pictures soon. It is breathtaking, seriously.
Anyways, enough about me. Let's talk about Mama Roux!
In regards to the Katz campaign it was just too much for me right now. Now that Brent's out in a "regular" job again I have to step it up a little more at home and in our Eye Caddie business. I just couldn't give it the time it needs and do Katz's campaign. Plus I'm excited about having more time for my blog again, which I've really missed.
And now to the car. While I still try to keep a moderately low carbon footprint I think we realized that we can survive with only one car. I mean, we have been with just a motorcycle and my scooter since last February, so I'm sure we can figure out how to make this work. I must say, I have never been more appreciative of a four-wheeled vehicle! Particularly with the arctic winds that are going on right now. Talk about good timing!
The closet... oh expect to see pictures soon. It is breathtaking, seriously.
Anyways, enough about me. Let's talk about Mama Roux!
We went on Tuesday and amazingly they have half priced bottles of wine on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Unfortunately, we weren't up for drinking, but if we were we could have spent the small sum of $12 for a bottle of wine. Not bad!
Mama Roux is owned by Yoli Amr. Her and her husband owned the original Gumbo's and have now gotten back into business up in Round Rock. I've never been to the original Gumbo's but Brent said that Mama Roux has a lot of the same feel. It's a small restaurant with about 16 tables and Yoli is upfront and running the show! It was my first time to meet her and she was a delight. After the introduction to her I was left hoping that the food would leave me with an equivalent good feeling... and it did!
Mama Roux is owned by Yoli Amr. Her and her husband owned the original Gumbo's and have now gotten back into business up in Round Rock. I've never been to the original Gumbo's but Brent said that Mama Roux has a lot of the same feel. It's a small restaurant with about 16 tables and Yoli is upfront and running the show! It was my first time to meet her and she was a delight. After the introduction to her I was left hoping that the food would leave me with an equivalent good feeling... and it did!
Jazzy Salad:chopped romaine lettuce tossed in an almond basil pesto vinaigrette, topped with feta cheese crumbles and toasted almonds.
I started with the Gulf Shrimp Gumbo. It was amazing! Thank goodness for the local Texas shrimp as I do crave seafood. The shrimp was definitely fresh and didn't have that fishy flavor that I always fear. The dark roux had a rich flavor and I wished that it had been an endless bowl. Brent went a little lighter on his fare and started with the Jazzy salad. It was good but it definitely wasn't the warm, comforting gumbo I was devouring in front of me.
Ricki's pasta: shrimp and crawfish in garlic butter and grated romano cheese tossed with fettuccini
We split the Ricki's pasta, because I really wanted some bread pudding for dessert. I was a little nervous about seafood pasta because at other places they always seems so fishy and icky but this was NOT. It was scrumptious and cheesy and flavorful. I couldn't believe how much shrimp and crawfish were in there! The portion was huge and even though we split it, I still had to box some up to take home. Unfortunately, I forgot my left overs at the restaurant, hmpf. Now, I didn't ask if the crawfish was from Texas, my bad, but after the plate was in front of me, what am I going to do?
Chicory Coffe Chocolate Bread Pudding
The bread pudding had me at "chocolate". It was perfect and not too sweet. I'll definitely be back and leave room for dessert again.
I recommend checking them out even though it is in Round Rock. It's up by that big Wal-Mart and Carmax off I-35. I know we'll definitely take a special trip up there again to get some great Cajun food!
I recommend checking them out even though it is in Round Rock. It's up by that big Wal-Mart and Carmax off I-35. I know we'll definitely take a special trip up there again to get some great Cajun food!
Me and Yoli. She was rockin some great boots by the way.