8/12/2019 Dining Out With Rob Balon
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DINING OUT WITH ROB BALON
Hoovers Cooking
2002 Manor Rd.
Austin, TXOwner/Chef: Hoover Alexander
hen it !o"es to down ho"e !oo#in$ with a dash of soul food
thrown in, Hoover Alexanderis to Austin !uisine what olf$an$ %u!#
is to &os An$eles, or what 'o(() *la) is to +ew or#, or
-"eril &a$asse to +ew Orleans. He is the "an. el!o"e to
Hoovers Coo#in$ on Manor Road.
Hoover Alexanders !ulinar) !hos are le$iti"ate. *ro" the earl)
Caun da)s on 1th t. to the
triu"h of the le$endar) 3ood -ats 4whi!h ironi!all) wasnt so
$ood after Hoover left5, hes left his
"ar# on Austin dinin$ with an arra) of authenti! and e"inentl)
tast) !how.
6 alwa)s li#e to (e$in with the Aus Tex win$s. These are si!),
tender, and "ess) as hell (ut
a(solutel) terrifi!. The) are a"on$ the tastiest win$s in a !it)
that rides itself on the". The
ina!h Arti!ho#e 7i is also reall) worth tr)in$. 6ts $ot a
wonderfull) "ellow flavor and a erfe!t
!onsisten!). Hoovers 8ueso is also a (last. 6ts a little on the
s"o#) side (ut has a ver) ni!e flavor.
6ts erfe!t for diin$ and tastin$. And dont for$et to tr) the
"o#ed Chi!#en Caesar salad. 6 love
the dressin$ and the ho"e"ade !routons alon$ with the tender
s"o#ed !hi!#en (reast. *or the
lun!h !rowd, this !ould (e a "eal in itself.
'ut the real aeal of Hoovers lies in his ei! southern9st)le
dishes. The Chi!#en9*ried tea#
would "eet an) southerners aroval. 6ts tender and deli!ious and
ea!h stea# is hand (readed.
Another eole leaser is the !o"fort9indu!in$ Meatloaf. 6n Hoovers
hands, this dish is elevated to
a "u!h hi$her lateau. 6ts $ot a little in$ to it fro" the
onions, (ell eers, and si!es, (ut its a
deli$ht. 3et the "ashed otatoes to $o alon$ with the !rea"
$rav). And )ou "ust tr) ") favorite,
the southern *ried %or# !hos. 6ve had the" (readed, non9(readed,
and s"othered. And 6 thin# 6"
"ost artial to the s"othered version. ow. 6" tal#in$
8uintessential !o"fort food here. And
)ouve $ot to order Hoovers hand9ru((ed %or# Ri(s alon$ with a
side of sausa$e fro" outhside
"ar#et in -l$in. The ri(s are a"ain$l) tender, (ut li#e "ost of
Hoovers fare, with a little (a!#(ite.
+o southern restaurant would (e !au$ht dead without !atfish. And
Hoovers is worth )our
attention. 6 love the Char(roiled Catfish with le"on9wine sau!e
and so"e Caun si!e.
And 6 would (e re"iss if 6 did not "ention Hoovers sides. The
"a!aroni and !heese is a
(last, #i!#ed u with a (it of sour !rea". The O#ra is ver) $ood
and the 3arli! !heese $rits are
stunnin$. And theres ie and !o((ler fresh ever) da), all with
that distin!tive ho"e"ade taste.
And now, Hoovers is oen for (rea#fast on the wee#ends. ou want
to tal# a(undan!e; How
a(out the !orn "eal an!a#es, or the a"ain$l) (utter) etouffe, or
sausa$e and (is!uits. ouve
$otta tr) it.
Hoovers Coo#in$ is on Manor Road, a(out a "ile east of 69
