There is a little bratwurst stand that is found parked in various places downtown... sometimes it's across from the art museum on Congress during the day, but at night you have to prowl about 6th Street to find it. But believe me, it's well worth the pursuit. These literally are the 'best wursts' you have ever had this side of Germany.
So my little story from yesterday continues... My DH and I were cruising along after our afternoon at the park and hungry, I was craving none other than a delicious bratwurst. Not even Whole Foods had what I was looking for... and thus began our little jaunt through downtown Austin. It was not quite dusk yet and so we figured 6th wouldn't be closed or packed out with the usual drunken crowds just yet. The roads twisted and turned in an unusual fashion and that should have been my first clue. But then we passed a building through which windows we could see a horde of police officers. 'A police officer reunion or party,' I naively thought.
Then finally we reached 6th. A few blocks down I spotted the stand. Circling the block, my DH handed me his wallet and let me out at the light. He drove thru the light to the end of the corner to wait for me. I think we were the last car down the street before they started to close it off. When I approached the Best Wurst stand the man said it was still cooking the first few. So as I waited patiently next to the stand I looked around. Over hearing two street-men gabbing about their ex-lovers I turned my attention to the little purple, yellow, and green festive flags blowing in the wind at ever street lamp... (second clue, but I was still very much confused). A large lady in a motorized scooter scooted up to a man standing outside his shop, he had some merchandise available for sale.. There were beads, big ones, bigger ones, and flat out HUGE ones. She settled for the ones in between and scooted off in her scooter.
A group of like ten officers walked past in a pack with pamphlets in their hands. They gave one to one of the street-men by the stand. Feeling a little safer I thought to myself, man, they sure have a lot of officers out on 6th tonight. The smell of the brats were intensifying and I was still sooo hungry. On two occasions I noticed motor cops turn down the street where my DH had parked waiting for me with his blinker on. It was then I realized I had his wallet! Uh oh!
At this point I was nearly salivating at the supremely appitizing aromas that were reaching my nostrils. After claiming the very first two brats off the grill topped with delicious sauerkraut and mustard the man quoted me a price for them that was cheaper than his sign... so I mentioned the difference, and he said he usually charges more at festivals, and it was then that I realized it was Marti Gras. Silly me, I get that mixed with Cinco De Mayo all the time. When I rounded the corner to get to the car I noticed he had moved a little further down the street. and that just ahead of him three large buses were parked... and out of them jumped another 15-30 police officers.
I got in the car all pleased with my hands full of the best wursts I have ever had and my DH tells me of the three accounts where officers had to mention that he couldn't park where he was... Phew! They hadn't asked for his i.d. which I promptly afforded to him after freeing my hand of his bratwurst. We got out of there as best as we could with the roads all shut down, all just before the evenings festivities had fully been kicked off.
Needless to say, the bratwurst was devoured shortly after that down to the last lick of mustard off my finger tips. My dear husband however did make me promise not to send him off on a best-wurst bratwurst hunt if it happened to be a holiday someday when I'm pregnant. (note: I said someday, I am not currently at large *grin*).
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