Hey, You, Food Network Fans!
Austinist has received an anonymous tip that Rachael Ray of 30 Minutes Meals with Rachael Ray and $40 a Day is coming back to Austin for some chow and she'll be dining at Santa Rita Tex Mex Cantina on Thursday around 2pm. Okay, the anonymous tipper is an Austinist contributor who works there. We've been inspired by the recent disclosure of Deep Throat's identity.
So, anyway, we have to wonder what Ms. Ray will order at Santa Rita. We hear the fish tacos are good. And will she be chasing her Tex Mex down with an authentic Mexican Mechilada? Since Santa Rita has happy hour prices all day all summer long, Ms. Ray can afford to get a little juiced up. But she better take the Dillo to her next locale, 'cause everyone knows you shouldn't drink and drive. Since she's taking care of lunch at Santa Rita, we'll go ahead and guess that she'll order a $6.99 meal off the lunch express section. That seems like the best deal, right? Where else might she be eating in Austin?
Guesses made after the jump!
Last time she was here she got a breakfast taco, so we are assuming she's going to want to change it up a bit and will venture into one of our better known bakeries, like Sweetish Hill or Upper Crust. Or perhaps she'll want to feature Jo's and eat a kolache washed down with an iced Turbo. Now we've got dinner to figure out. How about Hoovers? Ms. Ray seems to love her comfort food and we happen to think Hoovers is a great place to eat. The highly recommened (by waitstaff) meatloaf is only $8.99. Of course she'll have to get dessert, perhaps a cobbler or pie. If she has any money left over we think she ought to head out to the Cedar Door for one (or two, or three) of their yummy Lemon Drops or Mexican Martinis.
Now if it were us, we'd have a pretty great day of eating on 40 bucks. We would eat breakfast at the Waterloo Ice House, probably the one on 38th (in Midtown). A short stack of blueberry pancakes for $4.35 and a cup of coffee for $1.50. For lunch, let's go get a bowl of vegetarian chili at the Texas Chili Parlor. A large bowl of their yummy five bean vegetable chili costs $6.50. We'll take a beer too, please. Now on to dinner (after a leisurely stroll along Town Lake, of course) we'd head on out to the South Congress Cafe where we can get Southwestern style pasta or fajitas for 10 to 12 bucks. We'll round that dinner out with a margarita. If we have any money left, we'll head on over to Amy's for a creamy dish of fresh ice cream. And then we'll take a couple Advil because a hangover should always be avoided. Perhaps Ms. Ray will need a couple, as well.
Tell us, dear readers, where would you spend 40 bucks?
