Watershed - German, Continental

Wurst sampler - Bratwurst, Knackwurst, Weisswurst - I way over-ordered, intending to take some home.  I wound up taking a lot more home than I expected because of the size of the portions.  From the leftovers I estimated this was close to 12 oz of sausages. Weisswurst is supposed to be steamed but this was grilled, I think, like the other two.  I guessed the mustard was Dusseldorf but the menu says Dijon.  Weisswurst is typically served with a sweet Bavarian mustard.  The kraut was awesome, a term I may have never used before for kraut.  I gave up on kraut several years ago after sampling a beer-mustard kraut at a local place - couldn't eat it.  This version is fine (in small portions, please). 

 Kaesespaetzle- I'm not a fan of Mac n Cheese, have never understood the fascination with the dish that many people have; this is the German version, I guess.  I wanted to try some spätzle prepared by a professional but once was enough for me.  Many will love this, I'm sure.

Goulash - Eastern European variety vs. American Goulash - got it to go, a very generous portion.  Wow!  Loved this, too.  The knedliky dumplings are Czech. 

Konigsberger meatballs - pork and beef in a lemon caper sauce - another Wow!  

Watershed had been open for a few years before I got around to visiting but it's one of the best and most interesting additions to this side of Houston.  Despite the number of beers available this is not just a beer bar with a kitchen - check the closing hours, much earlier than your usual pub.  I'm a Sausage-a-holic and not fond of pretzel buns so haven't tried any of the wursts that way but there are other sandwiches and lots more on the menu that is appealing.

Watershed - 4820 West Bellfort, about 100 yards east of South Post Oak, just off the corner of the West and South Loops. 

Momma's Tamales

 I wanted to do a tamale run this Christmas and had big plans - Arandas and Dona Tere on Beechnut, La Roca on Bissonet, Tamales a Mano on West Bellfort @ Chimney Rock and maybe Amigos Meat Market on West Bellfort @ Roark where I've had some very good tamales as part of  a platillo.  I already know I love Alamo Tamales but I thought I'd stick to places on the southwest side, closer to home and see what I could find.

On eGullet I read about fast food tamales - I didn't know Wienerschnitzel had tamales @ Christmas time!  Then I found El Pollo Loco had three tamale offerings on their Holiday Specials menu.  

And on Next Door I read about a new place in Bellaire called Momma's.  I only made it to El Pollo Loco and Momma's, which only opened about 3 weeks ago.

These were the pork; they only have a half dozen varieties ($14 per dozen, $8 per half) and they make a couple of salsas ($4 for 8 oz as I recall).

These were pretty good, a little on the drier-than-I-like-'em side but not too much.

I'll be back to try more, including the Brisket tamales.

I got the Double Loaded Queso Tamale bowl from El Pollo Loco.  I dropped it in the driveway trying to carry too many things into the house in one trip, so no pictures (and the Holiday Specials Menu seems to have been taken down already).  But the tamales were not bad, spicier than I expected.  They only have --- pollo.  Of course.

I probably should be grateful there's not a Wienerschnitzel any where near me.

Momma's Tamales, 5214 Cedar, Bellaire, in the block just west of the Bellaire HEB market.

I went to the El Pollo Loco on Rice, just south of Westpark.  We definitely need more drive-thru tamale stands.

Lockdown Delights - Wieners, veggie balls, tortilla

Brooklyn Hot Dogs - smoked, un-cured, all beef, natural casing (Central Market), veggie balls (Gronsakskaka - Ikea), leftover corn tortilla from Teotihuacan.

Making do, using up what's in the freezer and refrigerator; still adjusting to having to shop a week-and-a half ahead.  I couldn't decide what sauce - mustard for the wieners but not for the veggies or tortilla?  I spread some butter on the tortilla, a la old style Tex-Mex restaurants, before tortilla chips and salsa made their debut, and dabbed a little on the veggie balls.

Plus some Butter Pecan ice cream.

Take-out: Carne Asada

El Escribano - grilled skirt steak topped with  sautéed fresh garlic, scallops, shrimp and Monterey cheese, with arroz, guacamole and pico de gallo, plus chips and 2 salsas, charros, and hot, fresh, hand -made thick corn tortillas.  Note steam.

From Teotihuacan, West Bellfort location