09/20/2026
Some dishes are food. Some dishes are a whole chapter of your life.
Hi, this is Ricci.
The top photo was taken 14 years ago.
The bottom photo is mine.
After my divorce in 2012, I found myself building a new life in Austin, and I was lucky enough to find a pretty incredible group of friends along the way.
Thursday nights became our night.
We’d start out listening to Eightysixxed at Saxon Pub, and eventually end up at Z’Tejas on 6th Street for appetizers, drinks and dancing to The Brew.
Those nights were loud, fun, a little ridiculous sometimes 😂 — but looking back, they were also part of a season when I was figuring out who I was again.
And almost every time we went to Z’Tejas, I wanted the same thing:
Chili Pork Verde.
That’s the bowl in the top picture.
There are certain foods that become permanently connected to a time and place in your life. I can still remember that pork, the potatoes, the green chile sauce and all that melted cheese.
Z’Tejas eventually closed its doors after decades in Austin, and this dish has always stayed with me.
So this is my little nod to them.
I’m certainly not claiming it’s their recipe. This is my version, made from the memories of a dish I loved 14 years ago, and I genuinely hope I’ve done it justice.
I start with our smoked pulled pork and new potatoes, simmered in a poblano-tomatillo verde sauce, then serve it over steamed rice with melted cheese.
It comes with a homemade buttermilk tortilla, charro beans and our house salsa.
I’ve made this one before, and quite a few of you have been asking when I was bringing it back.
Tuesday is the day.
Maybe you remember the original.
Maybe you’ve never had anything like it.
Either way, come try mine. ❤️
TUESDAY LUNCH SPECIAL — CHILI PORK VERDE
Smoked pulled pork • new potatoes • poblano-tomatillo verde sauce • steamed rice • melted cheese • homemade buttermilk tortilla • charro beans • house salsa
Kolaches start at 7am
Lunch starts at 11am
We.close at 2pm
917 Commerce St
Portland TX 78374
Limited seating available, we are mostly to-go. We can deliver in the Portland area during business hours, to Corpus Christi after hours.
361-271-0723
