Doesn't Look Anything Like Me...

But was nice of this lady to draw me. From the International Accordion festival in San Antonio, October 2004.





You can see more of her work at www.jazke.com

Serbia and Macedonia, all in North Austin

Life is oft made more livable by those little discoveries we make along the way. Here's 2 for you.

1) Vynyak Rubin.

First encountered this stiff Serbian Grappa at a Feast of St. George's party in Vladichin Han. "No headache.." I was promised. (Witness it's effects: that's a bottle of Rubin )

A product of the famed Krusevac based vinyards, Rubin (no relation) is damn near impossible to find outside of Serbia-Montenegro. I had violist Ames Asbell grab me a bottle when she was in Belgrade this
Summer touring with David Byrne. She hand carried it back to me and I've guarded it closely, like a lost Cask of Amontillado. Imagine my surprise when I stumbled across Milenko's Liquors on North Lamar (at
Plainfield, north of 183.)

Milenko and his wife moved here 3 years ago from Novi Sad and just Recently opened up this little package store, converting your typical corner shop into a center of Slavic-Muslim culture. Along with the
sodas and bloody mary mixes, you'll find all kind of Former-Yugoslav goodies: Ajvar, pickled everything, Halal sausage, home made cheeses, ect.

But joy of joys, tucked in the back, is a rack of "Product of Serbia" liquors. Not only your run of the mill Maranska, and the top shelf "Yellow Wasp" Slivovitzas, but 2 rows 6 deep of my beloved RUBIN. $22 is a bit more than the 700 Dinar ($3.75) I paid in Belgrade, but it's cheaper than a plane ticket. Milenko promises to keep it in stock. Tell him I sent you.

2) Macedonian Cuisine

Now as you leave Milenko's, you should head north on Lamar about a mile and turn left on Rutland. Go down two lights and look to your left for a little, literal hole-in-the-wall called "Kebab Palace." Stop in and ask for a menu (ignore the sandwiches of the board.) I recommend a small Shpopksa salad and then any meat entree you like. The place has like zero atmosphere save a few posters of the owner's
native Skopje, but no matter. Top of your meal with a Turkish coffee for sure.

Having never been in Bulgaria or Macedonia I cannot speak for it's authenticity. But the care of preparation, the wholsesomeness and hand preparation and the generous helping at a decent price are
reminiscent of the best meals I encountered in nearby Serbia.

4 Stars. Mark says check it out.