Bits and Bites

Events/Happenings
-- I had the pleasure of seeing a preview of the new movie Chef, written and directed by Jon Favreau, and includes and all star cast. Overall, it's a feel-good movie which will leave you very hungry for a Cuban sandwich. I'd say the story line is a bit predictable, and I am not sure that I feel a lot of chemistry between the characters, but it works. Additionally, our fair city plays a nice cameo in the film with nice shots from around town -- the 360 Bridge, Franklin Barbecue (complete with an Aaron Franklin appearance), Homeslice Pizza, and the Guerro's outdoor stage with Gary Clark Junior. Alamo Drafthouse (Slaughter) will be doing a dinner on June 4th for $40 -- the menu looks spot on!

-- Andiamo is hosting an Italian winemaker dinner on Tuesday, May 27th with the Cosimo Maria Masini Winery, $50/person.
-- Les Dames d'Escoffier of Austin is holding a kitchen sale at the Mueller Farmer's Market, on Sunday, June 1st from 10 am - 2 pm, with items donated from local culinary professionals and Les Dames members. All proceeds benefit their culinary scholarship programs.
-- Greenhouse Craft Foods is hosting a winemaker dinner with Becker Vineyards on June 1st,  four courses for $40.
-- Swift's Attic turns two on June 1st, and from 8 pm onward, they're celebrating with a party!
-- Foreign and Domestic will host Executive Pastry Chef Bill Corbett from the Absinthe Group in San Francisco for Indie Chefs Week on June 16th, $100-$125.
-- Both locations of Central Market will have Beerfest from June 11-24. 
-- In partnership with Citygram magazine, Pleasant Storage Room presents their "Summer of Rum" cocktail series, where a new "how to" video will be released each week, leading up to National Rum Day on August 15th.  The first video installment is here (love the music!).
-- The June issue of Southern Living magazine features all things food related, and includes the  "A to Z's" of southern favorites, including local standouts Jester King Brewery ("B"), Aaron Franklin/Franklin Barbecue ("Q"), and Yeti Coolers ("Y").
-- Dripping Springs own Argus Cidery has debuted Tepache Especial, a wild fermented sparkling pineapple wine. I had a taste of it at Central Market Westgate -- great aroma, dry and minerally, lightly oaked. Additionally their tasting room reopens on May 31st by reservation only.
-- Dishcrawl Austin held their first 2014 event last week. This progressive/secretive dining experience (where guests don't know where they're going when they sign up) made stops at Scholtz Garden, Goodall's, and Teji's Indian.

Openings
-- One of my favorite spots in Austin (shhhh, it's my secret!), Travaasa Resort and Spa, has opened a bar adjacent to their main dining hall, complete with a new bar program. What a better way than to relax than with a delicious cocktail and a stunning hillside view!
-- Odd Duck is now open for Sunday brunch. 
-- Punch Bowl Social has opened at the Domain, now making three operations nationwide (Denver and Portland). From their press release, "they are centered on culinary integrity, 'old school' entertainment and a craft beverage program."
-- The Scarlett Rabbit, a Texas bistro which promises "an immersive trip down a culinary rabbit hole", will open in Round Rock from the chef behind Greenhouse Craft Foods.
-- Jo's on SoCo has happy hour Monday - Thursday,  4 - 9 pm, and the downtown location, Monday - Friday, 4 - 7 pm with food and drink specials.

Closings
-- Your Mom's Burgers, Paggi House and Garrido's closed this past week. Your Mom's sold their contract to the folks behind Pho Thaison. Paggi unfortunately will become surrounded by new condos (booooo), and Garrido's sold to an Austrian restaurant group; more details from the Chronicle.

Bits and Bites -- your Austin food news!

-- Both locations of Central Market kick off Brewniversity, a two-week event all about beer! Sept 11 - 24. Check their respective web pages for special classes, demos and tastings at each store. In conjunction with Brewniversity, the Brooklyn-based Floyd Beer Cheese will also be making their debut in the CM Dairy case; it's a cheese dip made with beer of course,  in three varieties.

-- Scrumptious Chef RL Reeves is hosting a Diana Kennedy inspired Oaxacan pop-up dinner with Jack Allen's Kitchen chef Diana Sanchez, Saturday, September 14th at 7 pm at Tamale House East.

-- Uncle Julio's will be running guac and drink specials on Monday, September 16, or National Guacamole Day!

-- Bourbon, Bluegrass + BBQ will be September 24th at Mercury Hall, sponsored by the Austin Chapter of the US Bartenders Guild and the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM). Thirty American whiskies, all you can eat BBQ, music from Sour Bridges and the Possum Posse, and a friendly cocktail competition, all for $35/person.

-- The Austin Food Blogger Alliance (of which I am a member) is holding it's first ever Photography Camp, Saturday, September 28th. It's a day-long workshop with different classes geared to make you a better photographer. AFBA members $45 /non-members $75, lunch and snacks included; register now before it's too late! While this is geared towards food photography, sessions will include photo editing, the manual settings on your camera, camera phones, and the best gear for your camera.

-- Local theater collective the Rude Mechanicals is hosting a fundraiser, Pearl Dive at The Plant, Saturday, September 29th, 4 - 7:30 pm, at The Plant in Kyle. A great lineup of area chefs (Kenichi, Cafe Josie, Salt + Time, East Side Showroom, Paggi House) are preparing a seafood feast, tickets are $100.

-- Travaasa Austin will be hosting the Mike Beck Concert + Dinner, October 18th, $75/person (or $15 for just the concert), benefiting the Joyful Horse veterans program, which brings former combat soldiers together with horses that are being rehabilitated for adoption. Five courses (wild game), with beer pairings. Mike Beck is an acoustic solo guitarist who plays around the nation; his recent album "Tribute" features a collection of horse songs and a few that were recorded in honor of US veterans.

-- Houndstooth Coffee is introducing their new line of packaged coffee, Tweed, now available at Houndstooth and Texas French Bread in Austin.

-- Benji's Cantina is now open for Sunday brunch, 10 am - 2 pm. 

-- The Austin Food + Wine Alliance is offering culinary grants again this year; the application period has just started (September 9 - October 11). From their press release: "$25,000 in grants will be given this year to support chefs, farmers, wine-, beer- and spirit-makers, artisan producers and food-focused nonprofits." Got a project in mind? Apply now!

-- The Woodland on South Congress has apparently closed, and will reopen later this fall as a new establishment, Little Barrel and the Brown. (My last trip there in February had mediocre food and not-so-great service, so I am not entirely surprised.)

Bits and Bites -- Food News

Happenings
-- Tonight (June 3) is the Austin Food for Life Seasonal Tomato Dinner at Springdale Farms, six courses, $100/person, with food from the chefs of Swift's Attic, Glass-2-Plate Catering and Cafe Josie. 
-- La Condesa is kicking off their Tequila Dinner Summer Series on Tuesday, June 4 at 6 pm, with the Ocho Tequila Pairing Dinner, which will feature a 5-course menu created by Chef Rene Ortiz. $100/person, tickets can be purchased here.  
-- Amy's Ice Creams annual Trick Olympics will be June 5 at 7 pm at the 6th & Lamar location; bring a chair and go watch! Benefits CASA of Travis County.
-- One of my favorite places in Austin (or on the edges of town, I should say!) and one of the area's best kept secrets is Travaasa Spa. They have added a 10 acre farm, with 3.5 acres for row crops, along with 100 chickens. Calling it the Farm at Travaasa, they are kicking it off with a BBQ Bash on June 15th, featuring some of the best BBQ purveyors in the state! $100/person, should be an incredible evening! 

-- Texas Tiki Week is coming, beginning June 23rd; drink.well will have a variety of events happening at their place.

Openings
-- Picnik Austin has taken over the old La Boite trailer/ box container at 1700 S. Lamar; they are "paleo, primal, gluten-free and grain-free."
-- The Spicewood restaurant It's All Good BBQ has opened a trailer at South First and Live Oak in the SoFi Food Court.
-- Contigo is changing their Sunday hours, and will now close at 2:30 pm after brunch. 
-- The Dallas-based chain Uncle Julio's will open it's 17th location at 301 Brazos Street downtown, From their press release: “Since opening our first restaurant in Dallas in 1986, we have prided ourselves in providing the freshest and highest quality Mexican food in a fun and warm setting. We look forward to sharing our signature dishes and drinks with Austin residents.” Their space will have different seating areas that will accommodate 400 guests. 
-- Jodi Elliot of Foreign and Domestic will open her own bake shop in the next year; location to be determined. Oh those Gruyere popovers!
-- Two new food trailer parks: South Lamar and Bluebonnet (photo by yours truly!) and on Lakeshore Blvd. along Lady Bird Lake, east of IH-35.
-- Noble Pig, er, Noble Sandwich Co.  is adding a second location, at 49th and Burnet Road; while I wish they were coming to South ATX, this sure beats a drive to Cedar Park! :) I think they will always be Noble PIG to me! 
-- Faraday's Kitchen Store has reopened in a bigger spot at the Shops at the Galleria.
  

Misc.
-- Confirming what most of us in Austin already know, Bon Appetit magazine has named Central Market one of the top grocery stores in the country. 
 -- I received a press release on the new Goodbee's Honey which is an affordable raw honey now exclusively in HEB's throughout the state. And it's sourced from Argentina. At least they're not claiming it to be local honey, though it IS packaged up in Round Rock.

Bits and Bites

-- Along South First Street, longtime mainstay La Reyna at Mary Street has recently closed. New management took over within the past year, but I guess that wasn't enough to save this notch along the "Mexican Mile."  I live nearby, and will be incredible curious to see what happens to the property in what's becoming prime real estate. Sway, a new Thai spot at Elizabeth Street (from the La Condesa restaurant family) is still not open...


-- California Pizza Kitchen at the Domain location only will donate 20% of your check to Stiletto Stampede, an organization that promotes breast cancer awareness, on Wednesday, October 17; you must have a flyer to present to CPK. If you're interested in the flyer, please email me at southaustinfoodie@gmail.com, and I can forward it to you. 

-- I Spy Pie will take place at Central Market on North Lamar on Saturday, October 20 from 12 - 3pm. Local bakeries will be competing for best pie, as picked by both judges and audience. The event benefits Creative Action, formerly the Theatre Action Project; pie tasting tickets are $5, and it's a family-friendly event.

-- Tuesday, October 23rd, Lucy's Fried Chicken will have a pig roast in the parking lot beginning at 6 pm,  $17/person. These pigs have been feed a special diet, which includes (512) Brewery's brewers mash; southern side dishes and (512) beer will be served. 

-- Two upcoming events at Easy Tiger, a five course pairing with Ommegang beers on October 23rd, $70/person, and the Real Ale brewmaster will be present on October 25th with six casks of beer from their collection.

-- Uncle Billy's Brew and Cue will have a five course beer and food pairing at the Barton Springs location on November 4, 6 pm, $50/person.

-- Already a huge list of restaurants who are donating soup to this year's Empty Bowl Project, where your $20 donation gets you a one-of-a-kind ceramic bowl made by a local artist, you get it filled on the spot with a bowl of soup, and proceeds go to the Capital Area Food Bank and Meals on Wheels. Stop by Marchesa Hall (in Lincoln Village, across from Highland Mall) on Sunday, November 18th from 11am - 3pm.

-- You may have seen my recent post on dinner at The Carillon, which was absolutely fantastic. They are continuing their 3 course, $29 prix fixe menu during October when you dine before 6:30 pm. The courses: grilled Bandera quail with miso, Broken Arrow Ranch antelope with butternut squash, and sweet potato beignets. They are currently my new favorite fine-dining restaurant!

Central Market Westgate

Central Market Westgate has once again changed it's old wine bar in the center of the store to yet another eatery. At present, they have The Local, inspired by British pub grub and will coincide with the upcoming Olympic games in London. It's got a pub feel to it and even a telly, currently playing daytime sporting events. 

I stopped in the other day, and had Squeak and Squeal -- a piece of seared pork belly over wilted cabbage. And this pork had a wonderful sear on it, wasn't too fatty, and was served with a Crispin Cider glaze to it.  And I think a decent sized portion for $7. I could eat more of those -- it certainly rivaled some of the pork belly dishes I've had in fancier restaurants around town!

My friend had the steak and ale pie, a pot pie with nice chunks of tender beef. The ale gave it a great flavor, but it seems more of a colder-weather food to me.

The fish and chips is also a generous-sized piece of fish, with a great batter on it. It was well-fried, and not greasy, and the plate is with a house-made tartar sauce, though malt vinegar is also available. 

The Local is open daily, 12 - 8pm. Apparently it will change to New Mexican foods to coincide with the store's green chile festival (aka Hatch chiles)  August 8th. Shop for your groceries, and go grab a pint and some pub grub! All three of these were really good dishes!

Bits and Bites

It's been an interesting few days in the Bouldin Creek neighborhood! I literally awoke with a bang, on Thursday morning, around 6 am. I heard two loud noises -- akin to a sonic boom or transformer popping, followed by a third, about 20 - 30 seconds later. My power was still on, but I had no idea what the noises were from. When I got to work around 9 am, I saw a co-worker who told me: the FBI raided Jovita's and the two houses on Milton to the east, behind the restaurant, on suspicion of operating a large heroin ring, and ties to the Texas Syndicate gang, being run by the bar's owner. The noises I heard were most likely from flash grenades that the FBI used when entering the premises; I live about three blocks away, so I can only imagine what it was like for the next door neighbors on Milton!

You can read the Austin American-Statesman's article on the raid here. At last count 17 or 18 people were arrested, $40,000 cash was seized from the houses, as were some drugs and firearms. My co-worker's wife has worked at Jovita's off and on for 13+ years (she's not implicated); he had left his bicycle there the previous night, and went down Thursday afternoon to retrieve it. He said the restaurant was trashed -- dishes thrown everywhere, but after a bit of haggling, he was able to get his bike. Many bands have played there over the years, and  it is a shame that a dive music spot with mediocre food has to go out this way, but such is the case. No wonder I never cared for the food there!

And in other news...

-- Hillside Farmacy has a new happy hour menu (M - F, 3 - 6 pm), as well as Oyster Mondays, featuring half price oysters from  6 - 10 pm on, yes, Mondays.

-- Texas Tiki Week kicks off on Sunday! Brought to us by the Austin chapter of the US Bartender's Guild, several area bars will be featuring tiki specials, including tiki barware and "tiki tchochkes" at drink.well. (That one made me laugh!) The president of the Austin group is Tipsy Texan David Alan, who conceived of the idea to coincide with the Texas visit of rum expert Ed Hamilton.

-- Slow Food Austin is collaborating with the Central Market cooking school to teach a series of summer classes that introduce kids to preparing tasty and nutritious meals. Tickets can be purchased here.

-- Coming very soon on Rainey Street, Banger's Sausage House and Beer Garden. (Can Rainey take on yet another establishment?)

Bits and Bites

-- More Derby Day (May 5) happenings at drink.well and  J. Blacks Feel Good Kitchen and Lounge.

-- Con Olio Oils and Vinegar on Lavaca and 2nd will open on May 10th.

-- Sustainable Food Center's Farm to Plate dinner, May 10th, featuring Eastside Showroom/Hillside Farmacy chef Sonya Cote.

-- Peche has a new summer menu, featuring local, seasonal ingredients.

-- Elizabeth Street Cafe now doing happy hour with $2 off select drinks, and $2 off appetizer plates. They're also doing take out food too!

-- Trophy's Bar and Grill on South Congress will close, and be taken over by Larry McGuire (of Lambert's, Perla's, Elizabeth St., La Fresas), reopening in a few months. 

-- Mexia peaches were at Central Market Westgate yesterday! They're small overall, and smell good, though the two I bought need another day or so to ripen!

-- Central Market also held a media preview at the French Legation of their upcoming Passport France event, May 9 - 22. Glorious cheeses and baked goods! Crepes. Wines and champagnes. All CM's will have French products, wine tastings, and events at their stores.