PhoNatic

Went to a dinner tasting at the PhoNatic in Southpark Meadows last week. With five spots around town, there's bound to be one near you with their fresh offerings. (And shhhhhh! Director of Operations Joe Prior told us there's an eastside location in the works!) Owners Pat and Sara Lee first opened Pho Saigon in 2006, and then went on to build the Chinatown complex in North Austin, where they own the MT Market grocery store. PhoNatic came along in 2011, with the "desire to make Vietnamese food more inviting and less intimidating, in a fast casual environment." I think they've succeeded!

Thanks to PhoNatic for the dinner; all views are my own. Here's a look at what we sampled.

Nicely wrapped spring rolls with shrimp and peanut sauce

Banh mi sliders, a nice twist on the traditional Vietnamese sandwich

Salt and pepper tofu with a sweet chile sauce

Oxtail pho; good flavor from the meat, but a bit hard to eat

The 212 Pho (eye round steak, brisket, tripe and tendon); maybe not my most favorite meat combo!

Chicken pho with super-fresh veggies (they do have one pure vegetarian pho on the menu as well)

Vermicelli (or bun) bowl with lemongrass beef

Pat's Plate, with egg roll, pork, and fried egg over jasmine rice

Grilled chicken vermicelli bowl at top, and the runny yolk from Pat's Plate on the left.

Check out PhoNatic's website for locations and menu details. Fresh and flavorful!

Garrison Brothers Bourbon

I had friends in town a few weeks ago, and we took a drive out to Hye (just past Johnson City on Hwy 290) and Garrison Brothers Distillery. Billed as the first legal distillery in Texas, bourbon is their craft. I am not a big bourbon drinker, and I couldn't really tell you what Garrison Brothers tastes like, but it was a fun trip to check them out. A word of caution: it's presently hot out, and you will be outside almost the entire time you are there for the tour. They actually close for a couple weeks in July every year for routine maintenance and because of the heat (really? why not in August?!) so if you're planning to go, check their website first. Plus you'll probably want to buy your tickets in advance ($10/person), especially if you're going on the weekend.

Named the American Micro Whisky of the Year by the 2014 Whisky Bible.

When you arrive, there's a nice shady area under the trees and the gift store where you check in. Then your group loads up into the back of a flat-bed trailer that's hitched to a Jeep. You go up the hill, maybe half a mile to when the distillery actually lies. Did I mention it's hot? And dusty?

They get their wheat from their farmland across the road, and the corn comes from the Texas panhandle. After they are ground, mixed with barley, and allowed to ferment for a few days, the mash is put into the copper distiller. The out-product is called white dog, which is the bourbon before it's aged. This thimbleful was like tasting pure alcohol! Then it goes into oak barrels, where it's aged for a minimum of three years. Check out their video for more info on the process.

The grainery

The grains

In the still house

They've added more copper stills in the past few years.

Aging in oak.

 Bottles are hand-dipped in wax (they often need volunteers for this!) and then signed and numbered.

Cheers!

The Fit Foodie 5K

If you've been following my blog and social media posts, you know that I recently spent two weeks in Japan. And while the overall Japanese diet is one of the healthiest around, there were lots of noodles and rice along the way. I am excited to be a race ambassador for the upcoming Cooking Light + Health Magazine Fit Foodie Race Weekend, hosted by John Hancock. The Austin event is June 24-26, with the main 5K race/walk being Saturday morning at Mueller.

There's a reception Friday night, followed by the race itself on Saturday with lots of sponsor booths, culinary demos, and mini fitness classes. On Sunday, there will be a cardio sweat session for those inclined! The main race on Saturday is $35 to register, but prices will go up to $55 on Monday, June 13th, so hurry up and join me! I'll be the one walking! :)

A portion of the event proceeds go to the American Diabetes Association. Until then, I'll be checking our some of my old Cooking Light cook books for healthy inspirations!

The Best Foods I Ate in Japan

I just returned from a two week trip to Japan. Here's a look at what I ate!

Soba and tempura from Ukiya, outside the Nishiki Market

Fresh soybean crackers at the Nishiki Market

Soymilk donuts, also at Nishiki

Spicy ramen bowl from Ippudo Ramen

Traditional pork tonkotsu bowl at Ippudo

Hot pot place called Karu

Tofu and eggplant at a teppanyaki place

Pork tonkatsu with miso soup

Foie gras with mango at Motoi, a French one-star Michelin restaurant

Wagyu beef with seven kinds of peas/beans (sugarsnap, snow, edamame, lima, fava, petit and I never figured out the last one!), also at Motoi

Unagi donburi bowl (grilled eel over rice) in a rural town called Oyabe, near where my paternal great grandparents are from. This was one of my most favorite meals the entire trip.

Gorgeous sashimi place at Kusunoki in Kanazawa

Grilled eggplant with miso also at Kusunoki

Goma (sesame) tofu at Natadera Temple

Kanazawa-style ramen (traditional pork broth cut with dashi to lighten it a bit)

Oysters bigger than my hand at Omicho Market in Kanazawa

Making oobanyaki and takoyaki at Kuroman Market in Osaka

Tako pops

Kabocha squash at Kuroman Market

Okonomiyaki in Osaka

Matcha tea

Japan: A Teaser

Konichiwa from Japan! I am getting ready to board the train from Kanazawa to Osaka. I have documented just about every meal and will have lots to share! But since writing from a cell phone isn't easy, here are a couple pictures to tease you!

Kanazawa style ramen

Goma (sesame) tofu

Wagyu beef in the market