A Taste of Tyler: Culinary Masterpieces of East Texas Unite!

Who would have thought that the once humble City of Tyler (Home of the University of Texas At Tyler!) would become one of the most well-known hubs of culinary treasures in Texas? For all of you foodies out there, whether you're a starving college gourmet or a food aficionado from the Tyler community, or you're even a visitor from the surrounding area, this annual event is one that will whet your appetite and hopefully satisfy your dizziest foodie daydreams.

Do you see all of these people? And this was the smaller room! 

Quick Tips On What To Do When Work Gets Intense

  The are always going to be situations where your workload suddenly decides to switch from "This is rather stressful but I can make it" to "oh god, oh god, oh god why?" When work decides to ratchet up the intensity and make your life painful, here are some tips to keep your brain from leaking out your nose and trying to escape ...

Freebirds is flying into town!

      Have you had cravings for Mexican food lately? Look no further. A new restaurant is rolling into town. Tyler seems to gain a new restaurant edition every year now, allowing new tastes for the locals to try. Freebirds is coming to town!

BACON DAY!!

                Christmas is over….sad face. The best holiday out of the year is gone. All the decorations get taken away. The Christmas lights no longer illuminate your home at night. Your home doesn't smell like pine trees or candy canes. But you know what it can smell like today??? BACON!!!!!!!!!!!

Random Holidays, December Edition

Okay, so I messed up. I didn't bring you the holiday joy in November, and I am very sorry for that. It was a busy month. Plus I figured that with all of the preparation for usual holidays and college finals, you guys might not have as much time to celebrate. My excuses are terrible.

I know, I know. ;__;

But I'm here when it counts! For those of you who think Christmas (25th), Hanukkah (Nov 27-Dec 5th), and Kwanzaa (Dec 26th- Jan 1st) are too mainstream and that New Years celebrations are for the lily-livered (or you wait to celebrate with another calender), I'm here to offer you good news. There is a solution. For you holiday hipsters and chronic revelers alike, here's a brand new list of December Holidays to consider celebrating, (and please remember to eat your sweets in moderation):

Hipster Santa

You can't cook?

Part of being a college student is fending for yourself when it comes to your meals (I don't mean using your dining dollars for every single meal). I've heard plenty of people say that they can't cook: they burn water, as the expression goes. I'm going to tell you to not listen to that noise.

Amen

Too many are afraid of making food because if it turns out badly, it would be a waste of food and time. That shouldn't stop you. I like to mostly bake, but I still try out new things to cook. And yes, I've messed up some recipes. Don't let that discourage you.

All you need are simple recipes, some creativity and some patience. After you learn some basics, you can get a little bolder and start experimenting with new things.

Feeling Greek?

                The thing about small cities is that they aren't small enough to the point where Bealls is the mall and the mini supermarket is the Wal-Mart. That being said, Tyler, Texas lacks some excitement, but it still has enough amenities to not be considered a small town. Even though there is no three story malls, there is something you can count on being in Tyler; Restaurants. Tyler has a lot of restaurants with new establishments already being built. What does this mean? You have options.

You have new Halloween plans!

                Old tales of headless horsemen, witches, and creepy crawly things that roam the night have been passed through generations. Ominous nights are shared around the country and screams are sure to be certain. Kids in costumes flock the streets to ravish in sweet deliciousness. Adults get together in social environments to have an excuse to dress in costume. These all represent one of the most beloved holidays  aside from Christmas; Halloween.

                There’s so much going on in one night that you hardly have time to decide where you will spend your night. Will you go to a haunted house?  Will you go to a get together? Or will you stay at home and study calculus? Who knows…but one thing is certain. Things are happening.

                SigmaAlpha Epsilon will host a fundraising event called Monsters for Miracles, Thursday, October 31^st at the UC Ballroom. This event will last from 8-11 p.m.  There will be FREE FOOD. Yes, free.There’s a cover charge of $5. All the proceeds will go to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals as it is the fraternity’s philanthropy service.

Fast, cheap and good!

               When it comes to college students, there’s nothing better than fast, cheap and good food. These three words describe the perfect concoction of dining options off campus. We don’t always have money to eat anywhere too fancy, but we also don’t settle for scraps. There are a few fast food joints that provide good food under $5.

                Yes, you may be thinking…”nothing good comes with cheap. You can’t compare candy corn to Reese’s pieces, so you can’t have good food for low cost.” This is false. Cheap doesn't necessarily mean that it is lower quality. I have liked store brand products better than famous brands. Why? I don’t know. Maybe the cheaper cost makes me subconsciously love it. It serves its purpose.

New restaurant opening next door

                In a small city like Tyler, nothing ever goes unnoticed; especially when there’s news of new restaurants being built. Why? BECAUSE WE LOVE FOOD. This is America. Even though we stopped super sizing everything, we still enjoy every single gram of salt and sugar. This includes burgers, hot dogs and milkshakes. We are a culture of living life to the fullest so we enjoy eating things that are delicious and satisfying. #YOLO.

                Right next to Ornelas Hall across University Boulevard there is a new plot being prepared for a new establishment. This will not be another bistro or fancy place, it will be an all-American burger joint where you will be happy digging into steak burgers and succulent fries. Steak ‘N Shake has come to Tyler!!

Study hot spots during the school year for UT Tyler students

                The comfort of your own room to spend your late night study grinds is the usual thing, but sometimes the bed calls you and you succumb to slumber. Where else can you go to study besides your bed? How about some coffee shops!

                If you’re interested in going off campus to study, there are different coffee shops around town that provide delicious treats, free Wi-Fi and the all mighty coffee boost. There are different kinds of shops that provide coffee around Tyler such as Starbucks, Einstein Bros Bagels, Caffe Tazza, Panera Bread, Barnes & Nobles and Newk’s. 

                Here’s a chart to show the amenities that these different locations provide: 
          

                

                If you like having some noise around you when you study like I do, then these places are right for you. These places provide a mellow atmosphere that is comforting to study around. There’s not too much noise and it’s definitely not too quiet to make you sleep.

                If you get hungry, these sell food so you don’t have to take too much of a food break since it is right there available to you. To look at the menu that each establishment provides, go to their menu by navigating through their individual website.

                You can also go on campus to study if you wish to stay close to home. The Muntz library provides a great zone to study in as the first and third floor are silent areas. They also have their own coffee shop that brews Starbucks coffee. To read more on what the library offers click here. 

              

Take Care of Yourself

The fall semester is here to stay. Lectures, quizzes, assignments, readings, projects and exams are about to happen to all of us and we need to be ready to face them. Don't let the semester and your schoolwork stop you from taking care of yourself the way you're supposed to.

Smoothie Sailing

Maybe doing stuff in the kitchen isn't your thing, and you don't want to end up making something you'll end up throwing away. Maybe you just don't know where to begin. I have a basic formula of how to make great smoothies that can be adapted to any taste.  It's still hot outside and we need every bit of cool escape we can get.

Smoothies are fantastic. I especially love drinking one after a workout because you get amazing nourishment and the cold feels really nice after sweating like crazy. I follow a few "rules" to making a smoothie and I don't have to stick to one flavor every single day.

This isn't a recipe: these are basic necessities for creating a smoothie. We have another blog post that features a recipe if following step-by-step directions is your thing.

The action happens at the Patriot Zone

                The University Center is always lively. Students take some down time from the late night studying to meet with their friends. Laughs are shared. Smiles are given. But what you don’t always see, is something that brings students together even if they’re strangers to each other; The Patriot Zone.

                There, past the smell of delicious Chick-Fil-A chicken, you will find one of the great extensions of the UC. The PZ is a great spot to spend your free time with friends or even complete strangers.

                Do you like TV and comfy chairs? They have more than you need. You can switch to whatever channel you want, so don’t be shy if you want to catch the new episode of the Vampire Diaries this fall. Why? Because everybody loves vampires. Blame Twilight.

                If you’re more of a video game person, you can go to the gaming center and play some. It’s easy, just go to the desk at the far end of the room and give them your student I.D. so you can play. They have a PS3, a PS2, and XBOX 360 and Wii! I know…uhhhhhh. You can play Mario Party on the Wii; you can play Call of Duty 3 on the Xbox.

                Are you a pool, ping-pong, or air hockey person? Bring your friends and share a game! You’re definitely welcomed to play anytime!

Me playing air hockey with friends at the PZ

                They can also help if your organization needs materials to help make posters! Save yourself the hassle of driving to the store.

                So don’t worry if you feel that there’s nothing to do this upcoming fall semester. Our university always offers great amenities to students that will make your experience here better every time!

                For more information about the Patriot Zone and what it has to offer, go to http://www.uttyler.edu/pz/



Open Mic at Stanley's

Stanley's BBQ hosts a wide variety of musical acts every Wednesday and Friday night to help digest one of their brother-in-law sandwiches or brisket tacos. On Thursdays starting at 6 PM they host a unique kind of open mic night...Every Thursday at 6 PM the stage lights turn blue and people are invited to bring their guitars and play the blues in and open mic jam session. The one I attended just this past week featured The Texas Soul Shakers as the backing band for anyone ready to lay down some feels.

Japan: A Culinary Enrichment Experience

Here at our fine campus, the Center for Global Education via the GATE (Global Awareness Through Education) Program has been offering an awesome experience every semester for foodies in an event called Foods of the World.

So far, we’ve had three other events like this one, each of which featured desserts, street foods, and high tea. This semester, in light of the impending trip to Japan that the GATE 13’ students are about to undertake, we partook in delectable dishes that one would expect to see on a visit to the country.

There were many interesting things to try that evening, all foods being catered from the local Japanese restaurant Yamato (Which I recommend to any fan of Japanese cuisine).  Some of the selection included:

• Udon Noodles
• Fried Rice
• A selection of cooked sushi, including crunch shrimp rolls, citrusy fish rolls, California rolls, cream cheese and crab rolls, among others
• Vegetable tempura
• Chicken tempura (A dish that a Japanese woman declared to be decidedly non-traditional)

Unfortunately, none of the raw delicacies that are so trademark in the Japanese culture were able to be offered simply because it was difficult to plan it out and keep it safe to eat.

The event took place in the UC Theatre lobby area, where plates, napkins, chopsticks, and seating were provided and the event was free to the public! It was a really fun experience to try new and delicious foods from a country that has always held my interest.

If you’re as much of a fan of new cultural culinary experiences, don’t miss out on this bi-annual occurrence. I have no idea what the next one will have in store, but I can guarantee that you won’t want to miss it!

Beware the Donut Cravings in College

Today I was watching Wreck-It-Ralph.
In one of the videogames that was candy themed, two donut policemen walk into the candy king or whoevers castle. (I was obviously paying SO much attention)

Anyway, upon seeing the donut cops I started craving donuts. Normally when I crave something I go out of my way completely to go get it.

So I look up the nearest Shipley's (they're my favorite) and head over there before my next class.

We get to Shipley's and it's closed!

We go to the donut shop down the road and it's closed too!

I don't know if everyone in the world except me already knew that most donut shops close around noon, but I had to find out the hard way.

So I went the day donut-less... and I'm still craving them.

So to all you fellow donut lovers...

They're open from 5 am - 12 pm or 1 pm

Get em' while you can.

P.S. Totally went to Shipley's the next day and got my donuts! :D

St. Paddy's Day Birthday Lunch

St. Patrick’s Day was my birthday so I decided to go out with my girlfriend for lunch. We decided to go with the usual Don Juan’s but were forced to drive to their location down Erwin away from downtown since the downtown location is closed on Sundays. On the way there I spotted Mariscos DJ’s.

This restaurant is owned by the same people as Don Juan’s however they take a seafood approach to their food. So instead of Don Juan's, I convinced my girlfriend to eat at Mariscos DJ's. My girlfriend decided on the octopus and shrimp tacos (delicious) and I settled for Huachinango Frito or whole fried red snapper. This is what came out for my birthday lunch.

What About Kabob in Tyler, TX

  Since moving to Tyler, I've tried very few new restaurants, but I have added one on that very short list.

 Chandler and I went to What About Kabob! last Thursday but with the three day weekend and my mounds of homework I have delayed making this post.
So here it is!

hmm.. isn't this the band of a former blogger? I don't know..

It was yummy! I had a mini gyro and some pita and hummus. Chandler tried Hummus for the first time!

 So try it out if you like Greek food!

My Thanksgiving!

                Hey Guys! Well, Thanksgiving break has come to an end, and normal life has started back up again for everybody. Overall, my break was amazing. I must admit that this has probably been one of my absolute favorite Thanksgivings ever!