Fork it over, Boston!: East Side King at The Grackle (Fork it over, Austin!

Thursday, March 8, 2012

East Side King at The Grackle (Fork it over, Austin! - Part 8)

After more than ten courses of exquisite sushi at Uchi, my colleagues somehow decided that even though it was close to midnight and we were close to bursting, it was time for dinner #2. (Frighteningly enough, there was even talk of yet another dinner after this one, but it didn't end up happening. My stomach is glad.)

With Mike, one of our Uchi dinner guests and early contributors to Tasted Menu Austin, we drove over to The Grackle location of the East Side King truck. Chef Paul Qui is one member of the East Side King team; he got his start at Uchi and is now the executive chef of sister restaurant Uchiko. Additionally, he just won this most recent season of Top Chef.

Mike claimed that the eggplant dish (Nasu Rice) was unlike any eggplant ever, so as an eggplant-hater, I was compelled to give it a try. The flavor was fantastic - even the rice alone was delicious - but the eggplant texture still turned me off. I just didn't have stomach space left to try our other dish, the pork ribs.