It’s just a cheesesteak.

No one from Philadelphia would ever be caught dead ordering a Philly cheesesteak. When they order them outside of Philadelphia, they’re still called cheesesteaks. To order one south of the Mason-Dixon Line borders on treason. Ask any Philly native and they’ll tell you they’re just not the same. Commonly, it’s the bread that’s all wrong. Amoroso’s is a word spoken with practically untouchable reverence. We take our cheesesteaks seriously. This is San Antonio, not Philadelphia…but what about this tiny spot across from Winston Churchill High School called Philly’s Phamous?

I’ve probably driven by Philly’s Phamous (technically named Philly’s Phamous Italian Ice – we’ll get to that later), a hundred times. Located in a small stand alone shop on Blanco Road across from Churchill (map), barely visible between the Valero and KFC/Taco Bell, Philly’s Phamous is almost invisible. They’ve been there for about a year and yet, here I was completely unaware. Not anymore.

Beef, cheese, onion, and roll.

I’m a firm believer in the power of these four simple ingredients (some people elect to skip the onion, but it’s really not an option). Alone they’re not terribly exciting, but when combined with a flat grill and a some high heat they become one of the greatest meals on earth. The cheesesteak is legendary. I crave them at odd hours of the day and dream of them at night. They are as much as part of Philadelphia culture and history as the Liberty Bell, The Constituion, and Rocky Balboa.

The Pros and Cons

I have to say the roll was just about there. It lacked some of the chewiness of a good cheesesteak roll, but it was probably the best I’ve had outside of Philly. The roll was absolutely stuffed full of meat, which is part of the charm of the Philly waistline. This isn’t diet food. The cheese was gooey and the onions were fried (think sauteed not deep-fried) to perfection. The two guys who worked in the tiny shack like structure were super friendly and answered a couple of questions I had for them (in order to write this post). The parking is non-existent, so expect to head through the drive-thru unless you park next door at Valero (and there is not indoor seating, just a few chairs out front).

The Philly’s Phamous lunch special is a large cheesesteak, large fries, and a soda (can) for about $8.00. I’d questions the use of the word large on both items, but I come from a world where a large cheesesteak feeds a family of four. The portion of fries certainly doesn’t qualify as a large here in San Antonio, but they are fresh cut fries and they have an amazing peppery seasoning on them that I love (you can ask for them unseasoned). My only real problem with the cheesesteak itself is that it is flavorful. It tastes like they use a similar seasoning on their sandwiches as they do on the fries, which makes for a peppery (think black pepper) bite to the cheesesteak. Although it’s delicious, it’s not really true to the original. One of the magic things about cheesesteaks (and I’ve worked at plenty of places that made them in my youth) is that it’s all about the combo of the flavors. Seasoning them isn’t really necessary (nor are condiments or vegetables other than the aforementioned fried onions). Maybe I’m just being a purist about it, but the seasoning (although tasty) isn’t necessary and distracts from the beauty of Philly’s finest creation.

Philly’s Phamous Italian Ice
12054 Blanco Road
San Antonio TX 78216
@phillysphamous

On the subject of “water ice” (or Italian ice as it is often know): I’ve decided to write a separate post about this cool summer treat as I think it needs my full attention.

Shave and A Haircut, Two Bits.

Roosters Men’s Grooming Center is the gentlemanly thing to do. I didn’t need a haircut as badly as I do normally when I head to get it chopped, but I had bought a Groupon awhile back and it was about to expire, so I thought a good trim would serve me well. A free haircut and a chance to try somewhere new? And so it was off to the Stone Oak location of Roosters (map).

I was greeted inside by a friendly staff and introduced to Linda, who would be giving me the scissors today. She was very friendly and made me feel right at home. I’m a huge fan of the cheap haircuts and bargain snipperies, but with Groupon in hand, I was excited and hoping for a good haircut. Immediately, I noticed a difference. Linda spent time on my hair. She paid close attention as she used the clippers on the side and back of my head. Most of the quick cuts I’m used to, they just buzz around it quickly and work to get me out the door. Not Linda. She was very attentive and gave me the perfect mix of conversation and quiet that I like.

I wish I had saved my moustache from Movember so I could have experienced a shave while I was there, but the cut and the warm towel over the face while she washed my hair was more than relaxing. Roosters is one of those places that uses shampoos and conditioners that smell refreshing – the smells actually open up your nasal passages like a good steam bath when you have a cold. You finish feeling a bit more alive than you did when you walked in the door. A bit of massage along the neck only served to send me into a quiet lull of happiness. I’m not sure what the regular price of a haircut is, but I will definitely be checking Linda and Roosters out again. Sometimes you truly do get what you pay for.

Roosters Men’s Grooming Center
19141 Stone Oak Parkway, #110
San Antonio TX 78258
(210) 545-7302
Stylist: Linda Pompa

photo courtesy of sandyapple

Delicious Thai in San Antonio

It has been awhile since I have had any Thai food, but as I was heading to an appointment today and feeling a bit hungry, I spotted Lemongrass Thai Restaurant on my way north on US 281 (I believe it’s the old Martha’s location – next door to the Egg & I). My original plan was to stop in at Freddy’s for a quick hotdog, but I saw the sign and decided to give them a try. Lemongrass Thai is located in the shopping center just north of Thousand Oaks on the access road (San Pedro) to US 281 (map). Please note: If you Google “lemongrass thai san antonio” it is currently showing the incorrect marker on the map. I have submitted a correction. If you Google “16666 San Pedro Ave, San Antonio, TX 78232-2242″ it will give you the correct location.

What an excellent find! In my review of Lemongrass Thai on Yelp, I spoke a bit about the fresh taste of Thai food and Lemongrass Thai most certainly delivers. The hot and sour soup (part of the $6.99 lunch special) tasted like someone had just whipped it up out a the ingredients growing in their garden. Perfectly balanced between the heat of the chilies and the slightly sour tang that is common in Thai dishes, I would go back just for a big bowl of this on a cold day.

I also went for chicken satay – beautifully grilled and aromatic and accompanied with the traditional peanut sauce and sweet cucumber and onion salad. For my main course (I told you I was hungry), I went with Pad See-Ew, wide flat noodles with egg and broccoli in a soy sauce based gravy that is a favorite of mine whenever I get bored of Pad Thai or Panang curry. The noodles were perfectly cooked and the broccoli remained crisp (nothing worse than limp broccoli) and the flavor of the dish was better than many I have eaten. Overall thought? Well worth the trip and one I will be making again.

Hidden Gem in Stone Oak

All puns aside, I recently stopped by Moses Jewelers off of Stone Oak Parkway in San Antonio (map) and was looking to get a few items appraised. I don’t do a lot of jewelry shopping (after being robbed I’ve sworn off ever buying expensive jewelry ever again), so on the rare occasions that I do go into a jewelers, I often take a look around and see what’s new, what everything is costing these days, and what kind of designs the store has. Moses Jewelers had some very beautiful diamond necklaces and earrings, the sort of things that I like (not for me to wear) and lacked, how do I put it nicely, some of the “tackier” jewelry I’ve seen in other shops.

In getting my stuff appraised, I actually met Moses himself and had a chat with him about the particular piece I was getting appraised, jeweler pricing (and mark up), and overall conditions of the market. Moses was a really nice guy; friendly and didn’t give me that feeling that I was a) unwelcome in his store or b) about to get ripped off. The particular piece I had was rather expensive when I bought it in Los Angeles and in talking about it’s value, Moses showed me some similar pieces at different price points to give me an idea of the value in today’s market. He was really good at showing me why the price was where it was at, instead of just telling me numbers off the top of his head and leaving it at that.

I wasn’t in the market to buy anything and Moses knew that up front, yet still treated me like I was in there to buy a million dollar ring and for me, that sort of treatment makes or breaks a business. If tomorrow I woke up and needed some jewelry, you can bet that my first stop would be his store based on the way he treated me and the informative nature of our talk. Check them out and tell me what you think, I’d love to hear some opinions from some people who have purchased from the store.

Moses Jewelers
19141 Stone Oak Parkway, Suite 103
San Antonio TX 78258
(210) 490-2404
www.mosesjewelers.net
email hidden; JavaScript is required

photo courtesy of Swamibu

Not your average cup of joe.

I am in no way a coffee snob. If you tell me it’s coffee, I’ll drink it. Cheap or expensive, espresso or drip, bitter or sweet, fresh-brewed or been sitting way too long. That’s not to say I don’t know good coffee when I taste it. I had been hearing about Local Coffee for awhile, but wasn’t even sure exactly where it was (map) up until yesterday when a friend and I had a meeting there.

Almost anything I attempt to write about Local Coffee will be inadequate. I can tell it’s amazing, I can tell you it’s awesome, I can tell you it will blow you away, but frankly all those descriptions pale in comparison to what I tasted. This is probably why I’m a real estate agent and not a food writer. I can however explain it to you like this: I’ve been to forty-two countries and drank many cups of coffee in every one of them. Everything from Starbucks to mom and pop coffee houses to home-brewed. I’ve stayed in hotels where the cappuccinos were so delicious that my coffee bill almost outweighed my room charges. I’ve had espresso in the tiniest little shop I’ve ever seen in Italy. I’ve sat and watched the people pass by outside a cafe in Paris with my own little pot of French press by my side. I’ve even sat poolside with a Greek hotel owner discussing why he hates American coffee. All of my coffee experiences in my travels have been excellent, so what about Local Coffee?

I ordered a latte (my usual) and they poured me a bowl (ok, it was a big cup, not really a bowl). I added one sugar and sat down (and ruined the photo above because I stirred away the beautiful leaf pattern artistically drawn in the milky goodness on top). My first sip blew away everything I knew about what an awesome cup of coffee tastes like. I’m sure there are those that think I’m exaggerating, but let me tell you, I’d rather head down the street for this cup of coffee than spend a week in Italy sipping espressos. It was that good.

My only regret? That I bothered to add that sugar. This coffee truly stands on its own. I’m already thinking about my next trip and what I’ll order. On top of the best latte I’ve ever had and a great conversation with a friend that was full of good stories and business ideas, Local Coffee also provided a comfortable atmosphere and friendly staff. It felt more like a coffee house that you could spend the day in – talking with friends, growing your business, or just forgetting your worries and enjoying a bit of me-time.

Local Coffee
700 E Sonterra Blvd, Ste 1113
San Antonio, TX 78258
(210) 530-8740

Hours
Monday-Thursday: 6:30am-7:00pm
Friday: 6:30am-9:30pm
Saturday: 7:00am-9:30pm
Sunday: 8:00am-2:30pm

Yelp San Antonio

“What in the world is Yelp?,” you might be saying. Then again, with it’s explosion of popularity over time, my guess is you’ve heard of it at least once. Yelp, simply put, is a review site. You create a profile and dig in. I’ve been yelping since September 2009 and have been using the site more and more to get to know places I want to visit and check out.

When Yelp first started, I wasn’t convinced. Too me, it seemed like just another review site and with it came the problem of prior attempts at review-based sites: the only reviews I ever seemed to read were negative. I used to hate googling any business on the internet because I inevitably found nothing but angry, misspelled, and sometimes obscene reviews. The internet, thanks to the ability of users to remain anonymous, was a lawless place full of bitter negativity and often, reviews were written by another business owners in order to smear the name of their competitors.

Then along came social media and a new breed of internet user. Users who wanted to actually find and share information about their favorite things. Enter Yelp. You can review any business – if you can’t find it on Yelp, you can add it. Your favorite restaurants, hair salons, dry cleaners, museums, tourist attractions, pet groomer, car washes…you name it, you can review it. Even (hint, hint) real estate agents.

So come on San Antonio, what are you waiting for? It’s time to Yelp! While you’re there, don’t forget to follow me on Yelp and see what I’ve reviewed already.

screenshot courtesy of my San Antonio Yelp profile

Paris comes to San Antonio.

You may have heard me mention Brasserie Pavil before, but this time, we’re not talking Twitter, we’re talking amazing food.

It was my eight year anniversary with my wife recently, so we decided to swing by Brasserie Pavil (map) for a late lunch/early dinner. My wife and I are pretty simple when we celebrate the milestones and don’t often go “all out” on them, but we decided we’d treat ourselves to a nice dinner (it didn’t hurt that we had a gift card either). Nice is an understatement.

Surf and turf.

My wife decide to have mussels, which we both love. Described on the menu as “Prince Edward Island Mussels with White Wine, Chopped Tomatoes and Fine Herbs with French Fries,” these did not disappoint. The taste was just as I would expect from a French Brasserie (I’ve had this same dish in Paris more than once) and the mussels were juicy and plump, not the little, limp mussels I’ve disappointingly been served so many times at a million restaurants (I never learn my lesson I guess). She was in seafood heaven eating them and of course, I had more than my fair share.

I didn’t know what to have there were so many things on Brasserie Pavil’s menu that I wanted to try. I get like that in restaurants…I can’t choose between a few things and usually wait for the waiter to come to the table and then I blurt something out. This time, my mouth moved and out came “Peppered NY Strip Steak with Cognac Black Peppercorn Sauce, served with French Fries.” I owe my quick thinking mouth a debt of gratitude. I love steak. I can eat it just about anyway you can serve it. I like just about any cut too. Even the cheap stuff. Whoever grills the steaks at Brasserie Pavil is a genius. I have never had a NY strip steak that cut like a ribeye. This one was tender, juicy and cooked to perfection. I’d dare say it was better than a Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse steak (and I do not throw that statement around lightly). My only complaint would be that they didn’t serve the Cognac Black Peppercorn sauce in a gallon jug. My heart probably wasn’t loving the rich, buttery sauce, but heart be damned it was too good not to enjoy. We both had frites (fries) with our dinner (how very French!), so I didn’t have to share mine. She would have had to fight me for them. Frites, French fries, shoestring potatoes – call them want you want, I’ll stick with “delicious.”

Whether it’s lunch (their sandwiches are incredible) or dinner, it’s easy to see why so many local San Antonio residents rave about Brasserie Pavil. Be sure to follow @Brasserie Pavil on Twitter to keep up to date on their daily specials and other great offers.

Disclosure: CMP.ly/0

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Hungry For Something Delicious?

I’ve been driving by the Spicy Ginger Asian Cafe (map)for months now and always reminding myself that I should try it. The location used to be (very briefly) a Dunn Bros. Coffee shop (which had excellent coffee), but shut suddenly. Tonight, while driving home, my wife and I were discussing dinner and decided we wanted none of the things we had at home. We called out a few things, but nothing was catching our fancy and suddenly, I remembered this little Asian cafe that I see almost daily, but have yet to visit.

Let me tell you, if you like Asian influenced menus, this is the place. It’s nothing super fancy inside, but it is clean and smells delicious as you walk through the door. The menu isn’t very large, but it did contain enough common elements from Thai, Chinese, and Vietnamese restaurants to satisfy most people. Not knowing what to choose, my wife and I eventually opted for two standards, both of which can determine which a restaurant is visited again or not. She chose a Fried Rice with Beef and I went for a Pad Thai. Having been a serious lover of Thai food for so long, I (actually we) can be very picky about Pad Thai (I usually opt for curries and they did have a Pa-Nang, one of my favorites, but I craved noodles). We threw in an order of Crispy House Rolls.

Wow. Wow. Let me reiterate…wow. Spicy Ginger Asian Cafe, to put it simply, is the first Asian restaurant in San Antonio that I am truly excited about. The hot mustard for the Crispy House Rolls was actually hot – the kind of burning hot you feel in the back of your nose (like Wasabi will do to you) and as I learned from a sign in the cafe, all of their sauces are homemade (score a few extra points for not handing me duck sauce and hot mustard in a ketchup sized package). The Crispy House Rolls were just that – crispy. Wrapped in spring roll wrappers (as opposed to egg rolls wrappers – which is a whole bone of contention with me at many restaurants) and full of vegetables, pork, and turkey they were everything I hoped for (and you get five good sized rolls for $4.95).

Where Spicy Ginger truly wins though is its Fried Rice and Pad Thai. Fried Rice in San Antonio (in my experience) has tended to be a bland experience with what amounts to frozen peas and carrots (like the mixed kind they served me in the cafeteria in middle school) and a few slivers of dried, tough beef, chicken or pork. Before tonight, the best Fried Rice I had found came from House Of Pizza of all places. Spicy Ginger’s Fried Rice has the one element that I seek in all Chinese cuisine – a certain burnt taste. Now I know the word “burnt” does not sound appetizing, but if you have ever tasted food out of a properly seasoned and heated wok, you know exactly what I’m talking about. It’s similar to the taste of a steak cooked over a charcoal grill versus a steak that’s been pan-fried. The beef wasn’t in large flat slices like it is typically, but in smaller chunks and it was absolutely the most melt-in-your-mouth beef I’ve ever had. I’d like to just order a plate of the beef to try out.

The Pad Thai was amazing as well – full of chicken and some delightfully surprising tasty tofu, which I find is usually a bit on the dry and flavorless side, but not here. Served with plenty of egg, just the right amount of peanuts, and two wedges of lime (a little splash changes this dish from delicious to out of this world). My wife and I were thrilled that we finally tested out the Spicy Ginger Asian Cafe and strongly recommend it to anyone traveling up Bandera Road in the 78250 zip code (just north of Guilbeau in the shopping center on your right at the next light) for a delicious lunch or dinner.

photo courtesy of vieux bandit

Disclosure: CMP.ly 0

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I’m back… did you miss me?

As you may know from my earlier post on the subject, I recently attended the Blog World and New Media Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. What a trip! Four days and nights surrounded by some of the best and brightest bloggers and social media lovers from many different industries – not just real estate. I met people who influence me, who have taught me, and some I never even heard of before. I learned a ton of new things and had a great time. Now that I’m back, I’m here to bring you my take on San Antonio, real estate, and whatever else might inspire me.

Hope you all had a nice break without me. I have great new ideas I’ll be bringing to the site and hope you’ll let me know what you think. Without you, the reader and residents of San Antonio, this blog wouldn’t be much fun, so join in and share your thoughts along the way.

photo courtesy of justneal

Beer, food, and conversation.

The Tap Exchange in San Antonio, Texas (map) might just be nirvana for beer lovers. And food lovers. And people who like to sit back, relax, and enjoy a good conversation with friends or one of the most knowledgeable beer men since Bob and Doug McKenzie.

The owner of The Tap Exchange, Jimmy, knows his beer and loves a good conversation. If you’re a hockey fan in San Antonio, it’s the place to be during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. A truly passionate man when it comes to beer, food, and customer service; Jimmy knows his customers and frequently chats with them on Twitter (which is how I first met him). This week I featured The Tap Exchange on my blog over at ActiveRain, so I thought I would share that post here as well. If you haven’t visited The Tap Exchange, I highly suggest you do. Tell them @rerockstar sent you.

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