Burger Wars and Raw Food

I am a fan of Hillbert's burgers. Their no-frills, Burger-Chef-conveyor-belt-grilled burgers really hit the spot. The fries and a chocolate shake make for a filling, tasty lunch.I wrote about them last year(with a picture of the sign), after a visit to their Lamar Street location.
http://jaysummer4.blogspot.com/2008/06/3-lunches-and-in-store.html


Well, the P.Terry's people really wanted that location, across from the hospital and big lunch crowds. They offered the property owner a huge increase over what the Maldonado Family (owners of Hillbert's) was paying to lease the land. So it was good-bye to Hillbert's. By all accounts, the P.Terry's people are not evil; it was just business, and business in good on North Lamar. They tore down the old building, and put up their trendy-yet-retro new digs. I've liked P.Terry's when I've had burgers from their other location. It's good value for a quality, fresh burger. I have yet to eat at the new location, out of some sense of loyalty to Hillbert's.

The Maldanado's aren't naive about business, and they have two locations other than their new flagship store on North Burnet Road. I wasn't even sure where the new place was, but yellow is their color. I knew that if I drove north until I saw a garish (I write "garish" with the most positive of meanings) yellow building, I'd be in the right spot. I stepped inside, and it was just like visiting an old friend. The A/C works better in the new place, so you sweat a lot less. And the decor is like visiting an old friend who can't afford to upgrade the mustard yellow couch that they had in college. The burger and shake were as good as ever, but in a nod to "healthy eating," I passed on the fries.

A major upgrade has occurred at the corner of 45th and Duval. No longer a car repair place, it is the home of Daily Juice, which as you might guess from the name is a juice bar. Usually, I get my juice in a smoothy at home, or in canned concentrate from the HEB, and I like bars to have sudsy beverages on tap. But the Daily Juice is also a cafe, which drew me in for lunch last week.

Interestingly, they follow a style of food preparation that allows food to be heated to only @120 degrees. This is something I've heard called the " Raw Foods Movement." So cooked meat is out. It's all veggie and fresh, and served at room temperature. But it's not all cold sandwiches and salads. They have enchiladas which I'm dying to try, and tacos, and more that I can't recall. I had a taco with walnut chorizo - that's a fake chorizo created out of walnuts. I don't know how they do it, but it was awfully good; kinda spicy with guacamole, sprouts, and other fresh veggies.

As you can see, the exterior still has the look of an old gas station, but the interior is colorful, clean, youthfully hip. It sort of makes neighborhood favorite, "Mother's Cafe," look stodgy by comparison. Sometimes on the weekends, Daily Juice has what appear to be Hula Hoop Festivals on the patio/parking lot area. A fine addition to the neighborhood.

Hope you all had great 4th of July.

Peace,

JS4