SAN ANTONIO, Texas – In the shadows of the Alamodome on the city’s east side you’ll find a burger business that’s been a part of this community since 2005, Mark’s Outing.
For 15 years, Mark produced rap music in the rapidly growing Alamo city, but a religious epiphany redirected the road he was taking through life.
“A relationship with Jesus Christ got me out of the music business,” Mark said. “Listening to a gospel preacher and realizing my state before a holy God. That’s what changed it. The Lord gave me a heart change.”
The Sunday morning that Mark made up his mind to take a more spiritual swing at life is one he remembers well.
“You know how you go to church and you’re there listening but you’re really not listening but this particular time the Lord allowed me to open up my ears to hear so I was able to hear what was being said,” Mark said. “It was very fearful at that point because I realized I wasn’t right with the Lord.”
Mark quit repping rap and a found this old building to start his burger business.
“It used to be a pawn shop many years back and then before we got it it was a funeral home. Actually was a funeral home for a little while. We came in and said, ‘There used to be death here, we’re going to bring life here. That’s where we’re at right now.” There you go. Raising from the dead. “Raising from the dead. Amen. Just like Christ rose from the dead.” ***
Becoming a builder of burgers isn’t the only epiphany Mark encountered. While trying to come up with new creations a trip to the ice cream parlor put a preposterous idea in his head.
“They made their own cone for their ice cream and that was kind of mind boggling to me because I’m watching them make it,” Mark said. “I said, ‘Well if they can make a cone, we can make an ice cream burger, it’ll be great.’ … If it had been left at that we probably never would’ve had our ice cream burger but my wife said, ‘That’s disgusting and no one would eat it,’ and I said, ‘Really? Yes they will.’”
The experiment began.
“If you’d have been here when we first tried the first sample of it you would’ve laughed,” Mark said. “We literally made a shake and poured it on the burger and we all at it. It was good but it was a mess.”
After finalizing the feature with fried ice cream, Mark’s heavenly hamburger was a reality.
“My wife ended up liking the burger, she just likes it with bacon,” Mark said.
The burger is seasoned and prepared and nothing seems odd until the ice cream hits the fryer. The bun gets all the toppings including mustard and mayo. Put it all together and everyone scream for ice cream. After letting the flavors come together, it’s actually not bad.
“If it seems a little weird to you, then just think of it this way: Most people have eaten a burger and most people have drunk a shake and we’re just going to marry them together,” Mark said. “Bring it all in one bite. Delicious.”
The ice cream burger at Mark’s Outing in San Antonio. A crazy conundrum of flavors that’s well worth a stop on The Texas Bucket List.
“It’s good, I can say that,” Mark’s Outing customer David said. “It’s interesting, it’s different. … If you get the opportunity to talk to Mark himself and hear where he’s coming from and see where his mind is at, it is a one of a kind experience.”