| MLB All-Star Week 2024 - part 1 of Day 2  Tanya's Daily Scoop CURRENTLY IN: DALLAS, TEXAS Well hello hello, I am here in VERY HOT (and I do mean HOT) Dallas, Texas. Boy oh boy, talk about that Texas heat. We are here for the MLB All Star Game and all the fun festivities that go along with the annual event. First I will take you along and continue off where I was on Saturday... GLOBE LIFE FIELD for the Futures Game, Futures Skills Set and the Celebrity Soft Ball Game.  Home of the Texas Rangers (c)travelincousins.com  Fun wall inside of the ballpark (c)travelincousins.com  The field set up for the Futures Skill Set (c)travelincousins.com  In our seats (c)travelincousins.com Please follow along with me in the VLOG posted below.. During the games and during every aspect of my travels, I always carry along multiple cameras for a number of reasons but due to my lack of time at the moment (since I have to get back to the festivities), I am only uploading from one device and will update later on. Thus I have realized that I do not have any photos from the games on this device. But I do have Mickey! The Mickey statue was decked out in Texas Rangers design for the statues on parade back in 2010 for the MLB All Star Game that was held in Anaheim, CA. *Note that the MLB no longer does this fun citywide tribute.  Texas Rangers Mickey (c)travelincousins.com  Shopping and playing around (c)travelincousins.com  (c)travelincousins.com  (c)travelincousins.com  (c)travelincousins.com  (c)travelincousins.com  (c)travelincousins.com TANYA CHECKING IN WHILE SHOPPING FOR ALL-STAR MERCH  (c)travelincousins.com  (c)travelincousins.com  (c)travelincousins.com  (c) travelincousins.com TANYA COMING TO YOU ON THE FERRIS WHEEL!!  (c)travelincousins.com Ciao 4 Now! -Travelin' Tanya | The Heart of Texas Cuisine  Elisa's Daily Scoop CURRENTLY IN: LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK Hey guys, Before I get into this blog, I need to apologize -- when Tanya and I resumed blogging on our tenth anniversary this year, we set out to do it three times a week. Specifically on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Well...although we have been getting out three blogs a week, our publishing schedule has not always been on those specific days of the week. Our schedules have been so nutty, that we are still trying to get the kinks out and get settled into a dependable schedule for you to expect AND RECEIVE The "Almost" Daily Scoop, so please be patient with us! Now, back to travel!! As my dear Cuz is boppin' around Dallas, Texas this week, it's bringing back some fond memories of this city from my sales and marketing days in another life before kids. And of course that was a while ago!  (credit: Brittanica) And at the risk of sounding a bit cliche, Texas is known for football, bbq and cowboy culture. The city of Dallas embodies all of these and more! As a vibrant and diverse city, it is home to world-class museums, thriving arts scene, and famous sports teams. Dallas has also become a destination for good shopping and fancy lifestyles, and and a booming center for the foodie scene with numerous iconic eats that we have all come to know and love. Texas cuisine has developed as a result of the wide range of cultures in the Lonestar State, which include Tejano/Mexican, Native American, Creole/Cajun, African-American, German, Czech, Southern and other European American groups. Major state events like The State Fair of Texas, have helped popularize many dishes and items that have made their way into mainstream American culture. Historically, "The State Fair of Texas has been a source of culinary inspiration at the heart of Texas cuisine. From the invention of the famous Fletcher's Corny Dogs in 1942 to the origins of the snow cone, which can be traced back to the fair in 1919, the city's love for indulgent, fried treats is undeniable," according to Visit Dallas.  (credit HTexas) This year, the State Fair of Texas is celebrating 138 years of Texan pride. with its nearly month-long festivities from September 27 - October 20, 2024 for anyone interested in attending! Filled with live music, parades, animal stunt shows, livestock, petting zoo, pig races and more, including food which is a major attraction in itself!! Iconic Tex Mex Tex-Mex is one of the most famous cuisines found in Texas and it would surely be a crime to visit Dallas and not indulge in some Tex-Mex food the city has to offer! You may be wondering what the difference is between "Tex-Mex" and Mexican food. Well, here's a good rule of thumb - Tex-Mex cuisine leans on yellow cheese, beef, canned tomatoes, and flour tortillas, creating a hearty and flavorful combination. In contrast, authentic Mexican cuisine emphasizes fresh, locally sourced ingredients such as corn, diverse chilies, and indigenous vegetables, capturing the essence of regional flavors.  credit: Serious Eats / J. Kenji López-Alt But what if you are vegan or predominantly a plant-based food eater? Fear not! Many of the iconic food items, flavors and preparations can still be enjoyed for non-meat eaters. According to VegOut, Texas has more than two hundred vegan and vegetarian restaurants, and another 1,500 that serve vegan and vegetarian options. And for those visiting the Big "D", People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has ranked Dallas as the seventh-friendliest city for vegans in the U.S. in 2019. I know for those of our followers that are not vegan, this may seem quite boring, especially considering the long-standing tradition in Texas of meat-based dishes. And that's why I've listed some of the must-try (non-vegan) items because we never want to leave you guys out!! I was actual.y surprised by one list I found from Tripadvisor for its diversity, as I was expecting mostly just barbeque and Tex-Mex dishes. Tripadvisor's 8 top dishes in Dallas, includes Italian items like mortadella ravioli with pesto sauce, brisket & sides, breakfast tacos, chicken coconut curry and garlicky, saucy meatballs topped with cilantro. They even included in this list a vegan dish - ginger tofu spring rolls! Who woulda thunk??  credit: secretfoodtour If you are really up for some fun while in Dallas, you can check out the Secret Food Tour where you'll experience true Southern hospitality and discover why their cuisine has always been a culinary melting pot of different cultures. The tour leads you through the art and music-filled streets that make up the foodie paradise that is Deep Ellum and you'll sample their famous BBQ brisket, award-winning Texas chilli, buttery handmade biscuits, and lots more. You'll also experience a delicious Secret Dish, which is described as "downright addicting!" They even have private tour options! There are also some food tours that offer Vegetarian items like the Food Walking Tour in Dallas where you can roam historic neighborhoods and meet local artisans. Food options feature international cuisines, with gluten-free and vegetarian options available at every stop.  'Dallas Unveiled: A Journey Through Culture, Art, and Flavors" Tour - (credit: Marriotbonvoy) Do I wish I was in Dallas with Tanya now - we would be eating our way through the city when not watching the games!! See ya'll next time! -Travelin' Elisa |
