Texas Foods That Travel?

December 19, 2008 1:23 PM

My boyfriend and I would like to bring some traditional Austin or Texas foods to Louisiana for his family to try over the holidays. Basically, we're looking for tasty treats that will withstand 8 hours in the car (we're bringing a cooler, so cold stuff is fine). So far we've thought of sausage from Lockhart and Bee Butter from the Bee Cave Honey Company. We need some more/better ideas!
posted by odayoday to food & drink (23 comments total)

Red and green tortilla chips w/ some good local salsa.
posted by nightwood at 1:45 PM on December 19, 2008

SALSA.

Beef jerky.
posted by grouse at 1:48 PM on December 19, 2008

Tamales? A box of Lamme's candies would be good too.
posted by mudpuppie at 1:55 PM on December 19, 2008

I've got extra local venison sausage (shot in Llano by dad-in-law) in the freezer. Send me a mefi mail if you want some :)
posted by ejoey at 1:56 PM on December 19, 2008

Gotta have Stubb's BBQ sauce!
Other thoughts:
Kerbey Queso in a jar (from Kerbey Lane, if you haven't been there, you'd better get some for yourself, too)
Deer jerky
Jalapeno ranch from Chuy's
Shiner beer. I would recommend Shiner Cheer for a special holiday treat. It has pecan and peach in it. You can't get much more Central Texas than that!

If you're in a hurry and need to do some one-stop shopping, you could always hit up the farmer's market downtown tomorrow.
posted by fructose at 1:59 PM on December 19, 2008

Blue Bell ice cream, if they don't get it in their area of Louisiana.

Chili spice pack.

Barbeque sauce from Salt Lick BBQ (near Austin).

Shiner Bock beer, or beer from St. Arnold Brewery.
posted by Houstonian at 2:15 PM on December 19, 2008

St. Arnold's Root Beer is also pretty fantastic if you want something for the under 21 set.

Seconding the Salsa/Queso. Never found any great Tex-Mex in Louisiana.
posted by politikitty at 2:17 PM on December 19, 2008

I forgot -- Texas pecans!
posted by Houstonian at 2:34 PM on December 19, 2008

Instead of Shiner, which is mediocre at best, bring some Fireman's 4. So, so, so much better than shitty old Shiner Bock. Or bring some Tito's Vodka, which isn't horrible.
posted by mckenney at 2:42 PM on December 19, 2008

Comfort Cellars in Comfort (near Fredericksburg) has a jalapeno wine I love.
Pure Luck goat cheese in Dripping Springs (outside Austin) is lovely, local, and can survive with a minimum of effort.
I'd go by one of the farmers markets around town - they're the mother-load for local goodies.
posted by kristymcj at 3:13 PM on December 19, 2008

Oh hells yes to Chuy's jalapeno ranch. And Fireman's 4.
posted by pdb at 3:38 PM on December 19, 2008

Kerbey Lane sells their gingerbread pancake mix in bags. For extra points, throw in some Texas pecans a la Houstonian.
posted by dr. boludo at 4:08 PM on December 19, 2008

Mmmm pecans. On your way out of town, if you take 71 down to I10, you can stop at Berdoll's for just about any variety of pecans. I took the cinnamon-sugar pecans as a host gift to my family when I studied abroad, and they loved them. Plus, Berdoll's has a pecan vending machine that operates 24 hours/day -- for all your 3 AM pecan needs.
posted by katemonster at 4:29 PM on December 19, 2008

Kolaches? I don't know where is best, but chow.com Austin board probably does.
posted by Lyn Never at 4:38 PM on December 19, 2008

The County Line has great BBQ and ships it nationwide so it probably travels well.

Central Market has all sorts of local/Texas stuff. At a minimum you could get a collection of their Texas-themed coffee beans. Or Texas wine. Speaking of which, Grapevine Market has lots of fun foodie stuff (although I don't remember if any of it is from Texas or not).

And seconding Lammes. Yay Lammes! They are prominently mentioned in my letter to Santa this year.
posted by txvtchick at 6:08 PM on December 19, 2008

To follow-up on katemonster's suggestion, after stopping at Berdoll's (be sure to get the dark chocolate covered pecans) keep heading down Hwy 71 to Hruska's Chevron in Ellinger, between La Grange and Columbus. Hruska's has the best kolaches and klobasneks around, along with plenty of Prasek's Hillje Smokehouse Beef Jerky. Hruska's can also fulfilll your UT and Texas A&M-branded kitsch items needs.
posted by Ranucci at 6:15 PM on December 19, 2008

I brought Austin, TX to England once, with fabulous results, using only ingredients I could find in England. Breakfast tacos!

Commandeer breakfast one morning. Bring a bunch of Central Market tortillas, and heat them up in the oven

The fillings:

Scrambled eggs
Bacon
Taters fried in bacon fat
A few salsas: fresh, cooked from Eastside Cafe and chimichurri from CM
Refried beans
Sausage
Shredded cheese


Nothing is more Austin than a well-made breakfast taco, and breakfast taco parties are always well-received.
posted by freshwater_pr0n at 7:08 PM on December 19, 2008

yeah lammes candy - those caramel ones with pecan in them - texas chewies I think

Rudy's sauce?

tortillas from CM or a local maker, tamales

Amy's ice cream?
posted by clanger at 9:55 PM on December 19, 2008

Not traditional in the recipe sense, but they are nice and spicy and amazingly addictive. They might not even last the car ride.

Crazy Crackers
3 sleeves soda crackers
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 packet dry ranch dressing mix
1/4 cup (or to taste) red pepper flakes (buy bulk)

mix everything but crackers. drizzle over crackers. gently stir. Put in big ziplock bag and occasionally flip to evenly coat.

Last time I was in Texas HEB sold blocks of cheddar cheese in the shape of Texas. Put with crackers to and let people slice off little bits of Texas.
posted by silkygreenbelly at 11:43 PM on December 19, 2008

OMGOMGOMG! Double whatever you buy and bring me half!

When I lived in Austin, here's what I would bring to my Louisiana Home at Christmas:

Tons of stuff from Central Market: tortillas, salsa, those incredible garlic marinated olives, crusty breads and European butters. You really can't go wrong with all the Central Market Brand items.

Tamales. Doesn't matter where you get them, just get a ton of them. When I lived in Austin, my family got in the habit of having fresh tamales every Christmas eve. God, I miss that.

The fatty brisket and sausage at Rudy's travels pretty well (if you don't eat it all in the car on the way over.)

Lammes is good, but I can occasionally find it here in Louisiana (ditto on the Shiner).

Here's what I really miss from Austin: fresh fresh fresh ingredients to make Mexican food. Unusual peppers and spices. Fresh tortillas (did I mention it twice? Yes, I did.) Tortilla chips--there's a great place on the east side that makes HUGE bags for cheap. They supply most of the restaurants downtown with their chips, but the name escapes me.

Amy's doesn't travel very well, otherwise, I'd suggest that.

Travel safe, and BRING ME FOOD! :)
posted by ColdChef at 12:30 PM on December 20, 2008

Poor ColdChef, he's going through serious Texas food withdraw!

El Milagro are the chips you want to bring and the ones ColdChef seems to be remembering. The clear bag, with the white and red label are the best ones. Salsa wise, I like Julios at HEB because not only it's fine for dipping, but if you want to make tacos, an easy item to mix in beef or chicken.

Tortillas. Prewrap in foil for freezing upon arrival. Last time I visited ColdChef I packed a dozen bags of flour and corn (MIGAS!) so they could be frozen and taken out when needed.

I've ordered Salt Lick and had them pack it up as it was to be shipped and then driven down to pick it up before hitting the road. Greater chance of it not getting eaten while traveling. But Rudy's is probably easier to get to.

Chorizo is another item to grab before hitting the road. (Yet, strangely cannot find the brand I love, Peyton's in Austin. Have to go to San Angelo for it when I visit my family.)

Thankfully gas has gotten cheaper that you can put the extra money towards your visit to CM or HEB.
posted by freakinloon at 12:59 PM on December 20, 2008 [1 favorite]

Coldchef, where in Louisiana are you? If you're near Slidell I will totally hook you up with some Central Market goodies! mefi mail me if you'd like.
posted by odayoday at 5:49 PM on December 21, 2008

Thank you for the unbelievably kind offer. I'll send you my list. You may need to rent a U-haul.
posted by ColdChef at 8:02 PM on December 21, 2008