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Today on Texas Eats NOW:
EAT IT OR LEAVE IT | MURF’S BETTER BURGERS
2922 West Ave, San Antonio, TX 78201
David Elder traveled out to Murf’s Better Burgers to try out their double cheeseburger combo, which includes fries and a drink, only for the affordable price of $8.99. The fries were alright as they could’ve used some more salt, but the cheeseburger was great, and the drink is a generous size as well. While the meal as a whole was very filling for only $8.99, Elder would leave the fries, but he’d eat the double cheeseburger any day of the week. There’s a half price deal every Thursday, which makes an already affordable meal, even cheaper. As an institution in San Antonio’s fast food scene, Murf’s lives up to it’s reputation as a cheap option to load up on a juicy cheeseburger.
FOOD NEWS | MIGRATORY MONTH
The 11th annual Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Festival caps off Migratory Month in San Antonio, a September celebration of the birds, butterflies, bats, bees and other pollinators that travel through the region. Throughout September, nine San Antonio restaurants, bars and cafes featured special dishes and drinks built around ingredients made possible by pollinators, including Liberty Bar, Best Quality Daughter, Farm Table, Southwest Elixirs, Howdy Child, Geranium Club, Fine and Dandelion, Miss Chickpea’s Bake Shop, and Mesquite. Guests who spot the Made Possible by Pollinators logo can snap a picture and tag @MonarchFestSATX along with the participating restaurant for a chance to win a goodie basket.
MEAL DEALS | CHICKEN WINGS
Just in time for football season, San Antonio Metro Health shared food safety guidance for cooking chicken wings at home. The first step happens before the package is even opened: clean your counters and cutting boards and wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Metro Health also recommends keeping raw poultry separate from other foods to prevent cross-contamination, and thawing poultry completely before it hits hot oil, either in the refrigerator a couple of days ahead or by buying it already refrigerated.
The wings used for this recipe were Hill Country Fair chicken wingettes, $7.10 per pack with roughly 12 to 14 wingettes inside. They soak in a brine of a quarter cup of kosher salt to one quart of water for one to two hours, covered and kept on the lowest shelf of the refrigerator. They then get drained, patted dry, and dusted with cornstarch for crisp skin. Frying happens outside on a stable surface, with the oil brought to at least 380 degrees so it settles near 350, and the wings cook about 7 to 10 minutes to an internal temperature of 165. From there they get tossed in butter, then Cajun seasoning, then buffalo sauce.
CHOP IT UP | JOHNNY HERNANDEZ
This episode of Chop It Up welcomes chef Johnny Hernandez, a name that comes up in nearly every conversation about the city’s culinary scene and someone who has spent years promoting both his own brand and San Antonio itself. The set for this episode, including the chairs, rug, coffee table and side table, was furnished by La-Z-Boy of San Antonio, with more at SouthTexasFurniture.com.
Hernandez traced his start back to the family business his father opened when he was about five years old, where everyone pitched in and he gravitated to the back of the house, washing dishes, peeling potatoes and chopping onions. His father closed the business when Hernandez was around 14, but by then the kitchen had already claimed him.
DAYCATION DESTINATION | STATE FAIR OF TEXAS
The State Fair of Texas is officially underway in Dallas, running 24 days with a Ferris wheel spinning, plenty to do and an enormous lineup of food. The Cotton Bowl sits on the fairgrounds, hosting Texas OU on October 10. Prices range from $15 to $25 a person depending on the day and time, some kids get in free, and fairgoers are encouraged to check prices online before heading out.
This year’s savory winner is the Burger Chop Tater Taco, a shell made of flattened tater tots with a crunchy cheese crust, filled with ground beef, coleslaw, cilantro, onions and a chipotle sauce. Also in the mix is the Flamin’ Crunch Pizza, a top five bite topped with hot Cheetos over cheese pizza, with a creaminess and crunch that hold up to the over-the-top presentation.
WILL IT SLUSHY? | PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE
In honor of National Coffee Day, “Will It Slushy?” gave one of fall’s most recognizable drinks an icy makeover as David Elder put pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks and Dutch Bros into the Ninja SLUSHi machine. The recurring Texas Eats NOW challenge pits drinks against each other to find out whether they taste better, worse, or just plain strange after being transformed into frozen slushies. This time, neither pumpkin spice latte survived the experiment particularly well, with the freezing process changing the flavor and leaving the team preferring both drinks in their original form. The verdict was clear: Pumpkin spice may work hot or iced, but turning it into a slushy did not improve either.
ON THE MENU | PHARM TABLE
611 S Presa St, Ste 106, San Antonio, TX 78210
Pharm Table is an award-winning apothecary kitchen in San Antonio’s Southtown and King William area from chef and founder Elizabeth Johnson, featuring globally inspired dishes built around a health-conscious, anti-inflammatory approach to food. The menu draws inspiration from Latin American, Asian, Mediterranean, and Ayurvedic traditions while emphasizing seasonal, plant-forward ingredients and selectively sourced meats. The restaurant avoids ingredients such as wheat, dairy, refined sugar, and heavily processed foods, and works with local and regenerative farms when possible. Guests can also explore botanical cocktails and mocktails, natural wines, and two outdoor patios with views of the Tower of the Americas. Pharm Table’s focus on food, sustainability, and the natural world made it a fitting partner for the upcoming Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Festival.
ON THE MENU | MONARCH BUTTERFLY & POLLINATOR FESTIVAL
Brackenridge Park, 3700 N St. Mary’s St, San Antonio, TX 78209
The 11th Annual Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Festival returns to Brackenridge Park on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering a free, family-friendly celebration centered on monarch butterflies, pollinators, and environmental education. Presented by Project Bloom and Blooming with Birdie, the festival features live monarch tagging with Monarch Watch, the Bizzee BumbleBee life cycle adventure, a Monarch Migration Obstacle Course, and the Lights Out! Bird City Maze. More than 50 education and environmental partners will participate, with additional activities including free plant and tree giveaways, live music, local food vendors, face painting, and a pollinator procession. Shuttle and trolley options will also be available to help attendees travel to and from the event.
FAST FOOD FRIDAY | CHICKEN SANDWICH SHOWDOWN
KFC | POPEYES | CHICK-FIL-A | JOLLIBEE
Fast Food Friday turned into a chicken sandwich showdown as David Elder put regular and spicy chicken sandwiches from KFC, Popeyes, Chick-fil-A, and Jollibee head-to-head. Each restaurant brought its own approach to the fast-food staple, giving the Texas Eats NOW team a chance to compare everything from the chicken and breading to the toppings, sauces, spice, and overall flavor. After tasting all four contenders, Jollibee came out on top in both categories, earning the title of Best Regular Chicken Sandwich and Best Spicy Chicken Sandwich. The taste test highlighted just how different the familiar chicken sandwich can be when four major fast-food restaurants battle for bragging rights.
DAYCATION DESTINATIONS | MISSION MARQUEE PLAZA
3100 Roosevelt Ave., San Antonio, TX 78214
Mission Marquee Plaza on San Antonio’s South Side combines the history of the former Mission Drive-In Theater with free movies, markets, festivals, and other community events. The original drive-in opened in 1948, and its iconic movie screen remains a centerpiece of the 60,000-square-foot plaza, which reopened in its current form in 2014. In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, Mission Marquee Plaza will celebrate Latino culture with screenings of “La Bamba” and “Selena.” The pet-friendly venue also hosts outdoor movie nights, farmers and artisans markets, live music, cultural celebrations, and community activities throughout the year. This Daycation Destinations segment was sponsored by Metro Health, the public health agency serving San Antonio and unincorporated areas of Bexar County.
ON THE MENU | TERRY BLACK’S BARBECUE
1310 E. Common St., New Braunfels, TX 78130
Terry Black’s Barbecue has brought its Central Texas-style smoked meats to New Braunfels with a new location that opened Sept. 15 in the former Los Cucos building. The 8,649-square-foot restaurant features market-style ordering, a dedicated 1,400-square-foot pit room, and a two-story covered outdoor deck, giving barbecue fans plenty of room to dig into the Black family’s signature offerings. Diners can order brisket, massive beef ribs, pork ribs, turkey, chopped beef, and original or jalapeño cheese sausage by the pound, along with sandwiches and traditional barbecue sides such as macaroni and cheese. Family packs offer larger spreads for groups, while house-baked peach cobbler provides a sweet finish. The New Braunfels restaurant expands Terry Black’s footprint while keeping the focus on the smoked meats and casual service that have become hallmarks of the Texas barbecue brand.
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