Soul Story: Emilie Hernandez- Avocado Chef

“Mackadocious, she's sweet and precocious, she's the one girl that I just dig” (Slinky, 311) A tomboy after my own heart. Emilie is a striking woman indeed and such a remarkable figure. As she says, “We have such an awesome group of women around us. Doing such great things and so powerful it is great to have all these women around right here as friends.” She is totally right, and having to include her as an admirable soul in my book, she has to be one of the most beautifully enlightened women that is particularly a marvelous human being. Having a chance to be a part and hear of her experiences, fierce passion, and drive to see the sweet reflection in others…getting to know Ms. Hernandez has crazy fun listed as many of her charming traits you would be lucky to experience. Check her out.

Why do you do what you do?

I am a personal chef. I especially love grocery shopping. HEB is the perfect place you can find me when prepping for client’s meals and events. It is one of my favorite places to be. I go in my coat sometimes and love when people ask me about it. Just so I can talk about it. There at the grocery I go to the meat market and get to talk to the guys there, get the info on some good deals and the meat, seafood and produce and have a great time. Shopping is one of the best parts of what I do. I love what I do.

You love what you do, how did becoming a personal chef happen?

I attended Texas State a majored in Broadcast Journalism with intentions on being a host for motocross games. I use to race motocross and that was a dream of mine to be a part of. Then I broke my back and had to finish, but here I am with something that I absolutely enjoy to everyday.

I have cooked since I was a kid. Since 2013 I worked with another personal chef and when ties amicably parted I was referred. It kept happening until I got to where I am now. I have no formal marketing and have cooked for people through word of mouth connections. It has been great and from personal to demonstration cooking I am loving it.

In addition to my personal chef scheduling I also demo(stration) cook for Humble House (http://www.humblehousefoods.com/) at Groomers Seafood (http://groomerseafood.com/ ). Demoing recipes with their sauces and spreads. Also, I do cooking demonstrations with Tenderbelly bacon (http://www.tenderbelly.com/ ) a Colorado based company with awesome cuts of pork.

*Side note from Em: By the way…I absolutely love sauces, it is the best part, like truly obsessed, with any food with sauce. If it has sauce I want more of it.  

Why the avocado tattoo?

(laughing big) I am a huge 311 fan. In the 311 community, there are song-titled nicknames for each

gender: a “Brodel” is a guy and “Slinky” for the ladies….in the Facebook community, there are groups for each where 311 fans from all over can chat and stay in touch with each other.  There are no boys allowed in the Slinkies group and no ladies in the brodels. The lead singer, Nick Hexum has a consistent way of standing in front of the crowd after certain songs….hands up and hips thrusted toward the crowd. The ladies in the slinkies group seemed to notice his manhood more often than not due to his tailored pants. When he would stand like that so many pictures, comments, conversations and more happened in the group and the ladies (not me!) decided to coin Mr. Hexum’s manhood as “The Avocado”. While I may be a heterosexual woman, the avocado on my wrist is more of an inside joke in the female 311 community…a community that supports and encourages each other….it also represents something funny, something that relates to 311 (but doesn’t say it out loud) and something I truly love to eat. I love my tattoo…it’s truly one of my favorites.

If Emilie was a dish, what would she be?

Hard chocolate, Reese’s ice cream bar with strawberry puree. It’s tough, once cracked she is sweet. I am a true mama bear. I love being able to take care of people when they need it. I will be the first one on the scene with what you need and how we can get you feeling great again.

What bevvie would accompany your sweetness?

Mojito with extra rum.

Biking and Yoga. What do they do for you?

Oh my. Both are so liberating. Cruising on my Tealy (bike) is: still using my sensory, peripheral, attention. It is not if something is going to happen, it is when. All the things that are happening around me, the sounds and lights of where I am, having the to keep aware.  It keeps me heightened through all my senses and it’s great to see and meet others who get that vibe of riding too.

Like that one last ride. Before turning in back into the world.

The last ride when it’s 3 am and the streets are empty.

When all you hear is the sound of the bike. Or when you run into other bikers on the street and hear the love of the frames they have and hearing how everyone just loves to ride and the ticks of the gears.

There is no other sound like riding.

And yoga? It started at Lulu doing there free classes in 2012. As a birthright, with my Jewish heritage, I was able to travel to Israel. I was practicing with the Dead Sea as my line of sight, it was amazing. I took that trip like why the hell not, and been practicing ever since. 

Emilie is certainly a traveler for yoga. Here she is practicing yoga in Costa Rica where at a yoga retreat with Mobile Om (www.mobileomtx.com)

What’s your final destiny?

A café-yoga studio. With cooking and teaching there as well. A nice slender styled place where people can learn to meal prep, cook, and chill with a practice in the space. I want it to be personal. It’ll be a definite spot where people will connect and be right there with each other in everything that the place will mean.

She’s love, fun, and above and beyond the smile that she gives and receives from people that enjoy everything she is cooking up. Emilie is that heightened sense of joy from that essential bike ride, the taste of creative confection to the excitement of dancing and riding high of the best song of your life. San Antonio is lucky to have her on its radar as she blends her path of more to come for the city to taste.

 

Soul Story: Burleson Yard & Beer Garden- 

The Journalist of Existence

Interview by Jess Brunson

Beer.  Okay. Hammocks. Alright. Entertainment. Sounds good. What else do you have?

How many places can say they are giving you more than what you are seeing in front of your eyes and actually follow through without breaking the culture of what initially drew you to be there?  While some watering lounges can give you a typical sit and sip atmosphere, Burleson Yard is authoring a restored scene in San Antonio for those to exist in a vision.

As in Casablanca, Burleson Yard is willing to stick their neck out for the people that want to come and be a part a presence.

Anyone can visit a new place to see what it is going to be.  Possibly get on a train and see the sights along the way. But how does someone get to that point of traveling with a purpose of their vision? And now that you have reached your first stop what is happening now? A vision is just the beginning of more moments of ideas and pit stops that most are not willing to travel towards. Most are not willing to cover the sacrifice that goes into pursuing a successful journey.   As one who chooses to seek an optimum goal before it really exists, you must keep going. Especially when you come to the crossroads of being different to changing for popularity. How does a place keep its vision going after the train reached its destination?  How do you know this is the right place to be? Talking with Daniel D., he led on to cross the tracks that have led to Burleson Yard. 

What drives Burleson Yard?

Success and the ability to get there. We are more and we are doing more with what we offer and are willing to sacrifice. To please and make our people that come here happy that’s what we want to see, but…with more to give as the vision grows beyond what has already been seen.

---Interesting things happen every day. There is something to enjoy seeing when success comes through to the Yard.  Every day, every moment is an interesting thing.

What bevvie would be the signature?

Whiskey. It burns better with age. Gives the taste of dedication of success in a drink.

As time grows, so does the atmosphere with changing effects of dedication and belonging.

So what separates you from any other beer garden?

Dedication to the end goal. The clientele: we believe everyone belongs.

How does Burleson Yard rep San Antonio?

By refusing to change when people ask you to change. There is always an expectation to become something to fit in. Success is relative and we plan to be a place that lets you exist. For anything, it should not be subjective, you strive to succeed because there is a goal that you are willing to exist. We are here not just for a simple beer garden. Here in San Antonio we are becoming the place to serve what people deserve.

Are you ever looking to evolve?

We are not looking to evolve; we change only our surroundings to improve. At Burleson Yard we are actors of change, not as much currently represented, a catalyst that exist here in San Antonio for a future goal.

“The ability to suffer, be blessed, or spoiled…success is begat by sacrifice.” says Daniel D. As sounding as they are in the business of “War and Revolution” preparing to be the unexpected contenders, Burleson Yard is growing with linked associations of advantageous abilities capable of rising in a multifaceted expedition.

Burleson Yard is here because the vision is to be MORE. Welcome MORE. Become MORE. This place is writing a future for San Antonio and you should probably “be scene” there sometime soon to say you were a part of the success. The growing Texas mark is happening whether you are ready or not, and it is definitely wise to hop the tracks on over to see what it is becoming. 

Da na. Da na. Da na...Whoa.

I say. I think me and my fellow Weekenders were spared this weekend and breathless from the adventure. I mean c'mon you know you had a time in your life where you experienced that near ending moment when everything FLASHED before your eyes. 
JUST. LIKE. THAT. 
It was insane!!!!! (OK i am exaggerating, a bit)
But leave it to Texas to make EVERYTHING Bigger and Better.

Of course being downtown has its perks and one of them is being closest to everything that happens in good ol' Bexar County.

FIRST FRIDAYS on South Alamo. Tell me fun from Country to Bachata had to happen with Breweries to Boozy Ice Cream. I mean it was crazy fun from the Acoustic vibes of John Moses to the Bachata  and salsa fun at Azuca with the trumpet sounds of Orquesta Tropicante . IT WAS GREAT!!!!! (Check these musicians out)
Every first Friday of the month (when weather is good, which is always) the Southtown neighborhood of SATX has Art museums, open mic, dancing, great food and drink deals, local artisans and vendors with great items on display and for sale. This neighborhood is one of the coolest places to be in the city. 
We listened to the soulful artists at Rosella Coffee that were amazing to check out like John Moses and Sierra Lynn . Swung around the corner to Azuca and The House Boozy Ice cream (my faves), And THEN worked our way around to Blue Star Brewery checked out the Fab painting artists and Riverwalk and nightcapped at Tucker's Kozy Korner for "Soul Spot"
And that was just Friday.

Saturday: You should definitely try if you are into eating FRESH & INTERESTINGLY. Just a good evening at home we created an indoor picnic (blankets and all, plus it was blazing outside) and made our own Farm-2-Table Picnic. It was incredible what everyone brought when challenged. With only fresh ingredients used from local farmers, markets, and sources no more than 30 miles away food was prepped healthy and tasty. Even local beer was on the menu like Freetail Brewery and their great Bat Outta Helles. :)  From stuffed figs with honey to homemade pesto squash and BBQ pork avocados, WE feasted.

And of Course SUNDAY , when you are suppose to rest...we couldn't help ourselves but to go to Alamo Drafthouse Rolling Road Show with "Jaws on the Water"! Dancing sharks, wake-boarders doing tricks,a  great classic film (Jaws), and your coolest buds at Texas Ski Ranch in New Braunfels. 

Oh, and the Bboys at The Paintyard were dope with hip hop and soul for a great Sunday Funday. You gotta check out Sam, he knows his stuff and looking for new artists for a festival coming up soon!

Lets just say this week is playing catch up and I am ready for the next shindig in the city!

Adventure on peeps. 
IG: @paparazziJ 

Belly Happiness Trail

If you are human, animal, or alien you like to eat one way or another. My buddies and I certainly like to adventure wherever the food is popping (occasionally healthy) with classy bevvies to boot. So recently, since we were on break from Grocery Adventures, we trekked the downtown area of San Antonio. Though a heat box while riding and rolling, we hit the city.

Here we go:

Just hop in your AC car or take into consideration of the environment and ride a bike to these spots. All are very close to each other and worth the social ride on a nice day. (not like the 100 degree day we did, whoa) We hopped on our B-cycle banana seats and rolled over to Alamo Beer company on Lamar and got some awesome hospitality with neato pints and great entertainment with board games and witty conversation (the games are hilarious).

As we thought our regular spot to the Pearl would suffice, we gasp at the relief at a cool biker joint at the Alamo Ice House. They had some really good apps and choices of cold cold cold bevs that certainly led to fancy conversation of how to stand up to the man. Yup, we got a good dose of "What you tell that Big Sir" to go sip on while you set the Man straight. Once again very hilarious.

As it was getting ridonkulously hot, that even a mule would kick our butts for being outside in the middle of the day, we biked homeward. Beading up sweat the size of the baseballs and seeking our cold break again we Epiphany the idea of our Icee Major. That would feed our fix. So after our "MAN" talk we race to Big Daddy's by Cevallos.

Talk. About. Major. Ice heaven. (check out photos) this was the papa of all icees if I ever seen. And ones with pickles (yes, you see correct), cucumbers, strawberry, coconut, and gummie bears! This place knows how to do CHILL.

The day was still young, and we were still feigning for super relief, so because we live in a city where there are cool spots on every corner on our way home, we stop again. And the spot was: The House. I cannot explain more than to give them their own feature on here because they are the coolest of cool.

But before I go and you need some places for the weekend to chill, Go to The House Boozy Ice Cream and Bar. One of the many great new businesses to hit the South Alamo stretch. I have been working on this feature for a while because they are truly a family with awesome work and connection values and a great vibe to the city. Check them out.

Back to our riding:
To wrap up our night we get so fresh and so clean for some food trucks, more quirky glasses and new friends along the way. we travel back to Alamo Beer because they are cool for skool and have a lil bit of brew talk with the peeps there and order some crazy tastes from The Box Street Social food truck and order pork BBQ stuffed avocado and a burger with mac n cheese and pork. Just brilliant.
 Shout out as well goes to Big Hops on N Alamo and the food truck of dynomite BLT with apple-wood smoked bacon and cheese galore by food truck Say She Ate and duck fat fries...ommmmmmnononononononononoom

      

And we attacked National Cheesecake Day.

Next up: The House
After that: White Elefant performance at the Alamo Lounge


SATX you rock. And we are still rolling...

Adventure on folks.

J

The Groove of Bike and Soul

Passion is why I do this. Go places and challenge my environment, people around me and the next day to be better and exciting. It is incredible what just "Hey. How are you?" can have on someone. You may not have thought that someone walking up to you and asking whats going on with you may matter but it does. And getting to know folks here in Texas has been nothing short of amazing. 

The person I got to know, through his awesome chica Valerie, is Matt Vasquez and the Soul Spot Crew at Tuckers. They are the real Soul for tonight's Bike and Soul Event in Downtown San Antonio. Hosted by yours truly, I cannot imagine a better way to celebrate with DJs and riders with the passion they hold to keep wheels up and rolling in SATX.

So, I asked how Matt was doing...and see his Soul Story:

How did you start in this DJ game? Once upon a time…

  I started DJing at Tuckers Kozy Korner on Thursday nights in 2012. Having been influenced by JJ Lopez, Founder of “The Soul Spot” and DJ at Trinity Jazz Radio Station KRTU 91.7 FM. The very first time I went to Tuckers was on a Friday night in the summer of 2010, having been invited by a friend. JJ Lopez was there spinning Disco, Soul, and Funk vinyl classics during the very beginning of “The Soul Spot”. From that point on I decided I wanted to share music with others and start DJing. 

What song/melody/mix/artist made you decide, “Music is what I must live through?”

                             The Artist known as James Yancey AKA J Dilla probably influenced me most in music. The “Art Of Sampling” was very interesting to me when I first stumbled upon it and J Dilla was one of the very best in that aspect. Something about the way he put his beats together gave it this very unique dynamic in sound.

1 If there were 3 songs to describe your music story, what would they be?

     1. Tom Browne - Funkin' for Jamaica. I don’t think this “Soul Spot” staple has ever had the dance floor empty. This is also a song that JJ Lopez played, that I knew and loved, the very first time I went to Tuckers. I couldn’t have been happier.
2. The Brand New Heavies – Sometimes (The Ummah Remix) w/ Heavy Jay Dee aka J Dilla production along with the rest of the Ummah production crew. It has such a warm, smooth, chest thumping rhythm that just makes you want to groove... and never disappoints upon repetitive listening.
3. Minnie Ripperton – Inside My Love. This tune resonates with me deeply as it reminds me of when I first met my girlfriend. 

 It’s just perfect.

Certainly is. 

Come out tonight and every 1st and 3rd Friday at Tuckers on Houston St  for Soul Spot in Downtown San Antonio at the Soul Spot. The best hidden jam spot with great people, vibes and changing the music scene one groove at a time. The passion of Texas from gearing up with our cycling crew to keeping the dance floor packed at vintage spots, is happening and growing. This city is going to be beyond out of this world before you know it. I would love to see you out there and being a part of it. 

Adventure on.

Jess

Special Thanks to Bike World, The Rivard Report, mySA, Downtown Highlife Bicycle Club, Blue Star Bike Shop, The House (boozy ice cream), Tucker's Kozy Korner, The Soul Spot DJs, and all the great bicycle peeps of San Antonio. Yall have been awesome! Much luv

I promise...I am ALIVE!!!

And I must say, I have survived my surgery, conquered goals, and I am back in the socialite game!

This past 4th of July has been a memorable one as my I joined great friends and location on Woodlawn Lake in San Antonio, Texas. The house was excellent, the company was hilarious. Great stories, childlike feeling of fireworks and yummy food all weekend long. 

That reminds me...What did you do to make your weekend adventure top notch?

Well, as the weekender vibe closed, and like this boot on my foot, I am ready to kick off another adventure sooner rather than later. 

Second Thursdays at McNay Museum is happening this week and I hear to get there early. So as a mobile citizen again I am ready to see and hear some amazing things for that evening. From digital to musical art, McNay has something that has drawn quite the crowd to their events. Check them out at: Second Thursdays and see the special performance and the artist herself, Lesley Dill compose a digital form with vocalist Pamela Ordoñez in Drunk with a Starry Void


Catch up with the latest and greatest soon Weekenders!


Cheers!