Healing Food

Kevin and I were wiped out but still adrenalized after Thursday night's vehicle break-in. Despite not going to sleep until six in the morning, we woke up around ten yesterday and filed a police report. APD sent a forensics van to my house to dust the car for prints. Frankly, I was surprised they went to that much trouble.

The healing started around lunchtime when we drove out to far North Austin to get some soul food at Dot's Place. Dot's was destroyed by an electrical fire in October 2004. Owner Dot Hewitt didn't have insurance, but the restaurant is now being rebuilt with assistance from East Side Baptist Church and various other well-wishers.

Until then, Dot's is serving $7 lunch plates out of a trailer on the property at 13805 Orchid Lane. Kevin had moist, flaky catfish and I had my old favorite beef tips with rice. We both got sides of black-eyed peas and collard greens. Kevin had an extra side of stewed okra and we shared sweet potato pie, peach cobbler and banana pudding. The whole shebang was only $19. I used to eat at Dot's semi-regularly when I worked up north, but I'd forgotten just how good it is.

Then we set about finding Kevin some duds for the rest of his stay by making a vintage run down the Drag. Of course that included a stop at Blue Velvet (a.k.a., the house of Felt Up), where Kevin scored a sharp cream-colored Guayabera. Since we were running on four hours sleep, the day ended somewhat early with a few pints over a few hours at the Dog & Duck Pub.

I think we'll be making a barbecue run out to Lockhart today.