The Salty Tom or Pepe’s Hibiscus Paloma—the choice is yours! (Credit: @dollarsaenz)

The name Salt Traders Coastal Cooking was inspired by the most crucial ingredient used in the kitchen. It’s also a reference to a precious commodity that brought work to the American (and specifically Texas) coastline, as far back as the 1800s.

And while the sister restaurant to Jack Allen’s Kitchen may not be selling salt or seashells by the seashore, its team members are cooking up seafood for the residents of Austin, inspired by some of the most memorable meals they’ve eaten by the sea.

I recently pulled up a chair at one of the tables in Round Rock to sample the fare. I was so impressed by what was served and how many of the ingredients were made in-house–from the sauces to the bread to the pickled veggies–that I just had to tell you about it.

Here are a few of the meal highlights.  [Read more…]