Marburger Orchard

I have a history with ripe strawberries.

In 7th grade, I was in a production of "Oliver!" I had the largest role that I'd ever had - the understudy of the character "Bet". Alas, the girl playing that role made it to every performance, so all of my time on stage was in my chorus role.

During the Second Act, I was a strawberry seller. I sang the lyrics, "Ripe strawberries, ripe" throughout the "Who Will Buy" song.

For the last performance, I decided to go to authenticity.

Instead of the platic prop strawberries, I brought fresh strawberries for my basket. It's not as if the audience would know the difference, but I would.

After the show, I put the strawberries in a bag, along with my costume and other props, and focused my attention on cast parties and program-signings.

A week later, I was cleaning my room, and found my bag. I realized by the smushy red goo in the bottom that I had forgotten to clean out the strawberries. They leaked through the bag, and onto the carpet, leaving a permanent red stain.

The rest of the story involves scissors, a vacuum, a chair, and some deception on my part. My parents never discovered the hole in the carpet, and I long since confessed it to my priest.

Needless to say, ripe strawberries, although delicious, certainly bring back memories.

I'm creating new strawberry memories, though, thanks to Marburger Orchard in Fredericksburg.

About an hour from San Antonio, Marburger Orchard is a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city and suburbs. At various times of year, you can pick peaches, blackberries, tomatoes, summer vegetables, and strawberries.

We came out first thing in the morning in order to get there when they open at 9. We wanted to beat the heat and the crowds. If you go after lunchtime, you might not find anything worth picking. We learned, too, that if you call to make an appointment, the owner might open up for you as early as 7.

The owner gave us a demonstration on strawberry picking - what to look for, and the proper way to pick them. He gave us STRICT instructions not to walk on the black tarps covering the berries, and we learned from someone else that this kind of violation will send him into Soup-Nazi status, like the character on "Seinfeld".

We each took a strawberry container, and headed out to the fields. For two glorious hours, our eyes were keenly focused on any sign of bright red. Further inspection would tell us if a berry was large enough and ripe enough to make the cut. It became an addiction - we kept saying that we were done, but we'd see ONE MORE worth picking, and then ONE MORE, and then just ONE MORE. Well, a half hour of "one mores", and we had another half-basket!

We couldn't get out with with just the berries, though. When we went to check out, our wallets lost out to homemade honey, strawberry preserves, peach amaretto preserves, and more.

What a wonderful day it was. We have pounds and pounds of strawberries to eat and share, and my kids got to learn that strawberries don't come from the grocery store.

Best of all, I have a new memory when I think of "ripe strawberries".

Note: Always check the Marburger website before going. They are very honest about the status of the fruit and vegetables. For example, after a recent hail storm, they basically said that it wasn't worth coming out.

*******************************************************
Marburger Orchard
559 Kuhlmann Road
Fredericksburg, TX
830-997-9433
Visit Marburger's Website!

Fralo's - The Art of Pizza

You say tomato, I say toMAHto.

You say potato, I say poTAHto.

You say Fralo, I say FrAHlo.

However you say it, I say, it's good pizza.

Fralo's has been creating pizza buzz in Leon Springs for a few years now, rivaling the buzz that Rudy's BBQ has long monopolized on that little stretch of low-lying road.

I went there yesterday for the first time, armed with a gift certificate, my four children, and my aunt.

The weather forecast predicted 97 degrees and humidity, but the Pizza gods must have been smiling on us. We quickly decided on an outdoor table, anxious to eke out any hours of bearable San Antonio heat.

The staff was minimal over the lunchhour, and we learned that it is at dinnertime that you can hardly find a table. In laid-back Hill Country style, they eventually took our order, but it was with a hearty friendliness that made me feel like I had been there a dozen times over.

We decided to try several items, although one pizza would have easily served two adults and four Munchkins. I ordered off of the Specialty menu - a barbeque chicken pizza. It wasn't an easy, choice, though, because there were some great, artistic choices. I was intrigued by the "Spanako" - a Greek-sounding pizza that included lamb, tomatoes, Kalamata olives, and Feta Cheese. Their "cheese" pizza was quite gourmet, too - it featured a blend of mozzarella, provolone, feta, parmasean, and gorgonzola.

My children, being normal kids, weren't so high-falutin'. And, being normal, they argued over what to order. Cheese or pepperoni. Thankfully, Fralo's averted World War III by letting me order a half cheese/half pepperoni pizza. We might want to ship them to the United Nations.

My aunt, always healthy, (save for the occasional relapse into a chocolate addiction that we share), chose the Margherita Pizza with cheese, spinach, and basil - on wheat crust. And, Texans, please understand that despite the homophonic relationship to our favorite tequila drink, a Margherita pizza gets its roots in Italy. It was named for Queen Margherita, and decorated in the colors of the flag of Italy - red, white, and green.

It took nearly half an hour for the pizzas to come out, but it was well-worth the wait. One bite, and I knew that I was in Pizza Heaven.

Halfway through our meal, a guy came out with a place of pizza rolls. We visited with him for awhile, and learned that he was from Austin. He was bringing his artsy Austin vibe with him and was trying to add his creations to the menu. He wanted our opinion on what he'd whipped up - pizza rolls with sausage, pepperoni, and cheese. I don't know what else he added to it, but it was very savory. When we hinted that we wouldn't be opposed to a second tasting, he happily brought us another batch. He told us about the variations that he was trying, and my aunt gave him advice on a vegetarian possibility.

We ordered plenty with the intention of leftovers. Three slices and two pizza rolls later, I still had a little bit left to take home. Hey, I'm a nursing mom, and I need my calories!

Fralo's isn't cheap - for that for to the Domino's that is just down the street. But, if you're looking for great atmosphere, live music in the evening, creative pizza, and a great time, stick with Fralo's. You'll be back, and you won't care how it's pronounced.

Note: If you sign up at www.woai.com, you will often get alerts for a gift certificate program. In this case, I was able to buy two $25 gift certificates for Fralo's for $25. They arrived within a few days. You cannot use the certificates for the same visit, but it's still a great deal. These go FAST - when you get the email alert, sign up right away. There are a limited number, and always for different restaurants.

****************************************************************
Fralo's - The Art of Pizza
23651 IH 10 West
San Antonio, TX 78257
210-698-6116

Visit Fralo's Website!