Saturday, February 27, 2010

ACT NOW! Support Farm to School Improvements Act!

CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND URGE THEM TO CO-SPONSOR REPRESENTATIVE HOLT'S "FARM TO SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS ACT"!

We need your help to gain Congressional support for mandatory funding for Farm to School! THIS WEEK Congressman Rush Holt (D-NJ) will be introducing the "Farm to School Improvements Act of 2010", legislation which will provide $50 million in mandatory funding over the next five years to fund Farm to School Programs as part of the Child Nutrition Act Reauthorization. Gaining additional co-sponsors for this bill is critical to ensuring that it is included in the Child Nutrition Act. Please call or fax your Representative's office and ask them to co-sponsor.

It's easy to call. You can get your Representative's name and direct number by going to Congress.org and typing in your zip code. You can also call the Capitol Switchboard, provide your Representative's name and be directly connected to their office: (202) 225-3121. Once connected to your Representative's office ask to speak to the aide that works on child nutrition.

The message is simple. "I am a constituent of ________ and I am calling to ask him/her to co-sponsor Representative Rush Holt's "Farm to School Improvements Act" which will provide $50 million in mandatory funding for the Farm to School Programs as part of the Child Nutrition Act reauthorization."

The Farm to School Collaborative, a cross-sector alliance of school, nutrition, rural, and sustainable agriculture groups and farmers, has been leading the campaign for mandatory funding for Farm to School programs in the upcoming Child Nutrition Act Reauthorization (CNR). Members of the Farm to School Collaborative include the Community Food Security Coalition, National Farm to School Network, School Food FOCUS, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and the Wallace Center at Winrock International. Sustainable Food Center is a founding member of the Community Food Security Coalition. We thank you for your support!

About Sustainable Food Center
With roots dating back more than 30 years, SFC is involved in every step of the local food system from seed to table. Our mission is to cultivate a healthy community by strengthening the local food system and improving access to nutritious, affordable food.

Contact:
Susan Leibrock
Community Relations Director
Sustainable Food Center
512-236-0074 ext. 111

Austin Restaurant Week Starts this Sunday

Celebrate Dining in Austin
Feb 28-Mar 3 and Mar 7-10, 2010

The Spring 2010 installment of Austin Restaurant Week will run from February 28th - March 3rd and March 7th - 10th, and is hosted by Rare Media. The event will allow participants to dine at the finest establishments throughout the city for fixed prices, ranging from $10 - $15 for lunch and $25 - $35 for dinner. Peruse this site to find the stellar list of restaurants, and start making your plans for Austin Restaurant Week today!

For more details, click here.

5 Course Paired Wine Dinner with Ironstone Vineyards and Brazos Valley Cheese


5 Course Paired Wine Dinner with Ironstone Vineyards and Brazos Valley Cheese
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
7:00 pm
$65.00 per person/all inclusive

Join Jack Allen’s Kitchen, Brazos Valley Cheese, and the great grapes of Ironstone Vineyards for a terrific wine, cheese, and food pairing dinner in our private dining room overlooking the greenbelt.

Ironstone Vineyards, fourth generation growers and one of the ten largest family owned and operated wineries in the US, features the Christine Andrew, Leaping Horse, Sonoma Creek, and Ironstone Vineyards labels. Included in the evening’s presentation are five current releases that display Ironstone’s rich fruit flavors, balance, and grace.

Oh, yeah, and then there’s Jack’s food – making magic happen with incredibly fresh local produce, fresh Gulf caught seafood, and delightful cheeses from Brazos Valley Cheese.

Jack will share background on each flight and course, including a discussion of Ironstone’s Sustainable Viticulture practices - their time-honored and environmentally respectful approach to vineyard management. (Translated: they take great care of their piece of earth, which is really cool.)

Call 512.852.8558 or visit our website for reservations.

About us: Jack Allen’s Kitchen is located at 7720 Highway 71 West, ¾ of a mile west of the “Y” in Oak Hill. Regular hours are 11a to 10p, Sunday through Thursday, 11a to 11p, Friday and Saturday. Happy hour, featuring half-priced appetizers and drink specials, is offered every day, Monday-Friday 3p -7p, Saturday and Sunday 3p-6p. Entrée prices range from $6.99 to $17.99. The restaurant features an elegantly casual design, rich with reclaimed wood, earth tones, natural light, high ceilings, and a separate lounge & bar area, and is wheelchair accessible. Private dining rooms are also available.

For information, please visit www.jackallenskitchen.com, call 512.852.8338, or text “CHAIR” to 74700.

Facebook: Jack Allen’s Kitchen
Twitter @jackallens

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Bacon Takedown at Emo's in Austin, TX


The Bacon Takedown streaks across the Texas Sky, landing first at Emo’s in Austin, March 14th, 5PM! Last year’s Bacon Takedown was a blast - and we intend to show the rest of the world just what that means… The smartest and finest bacon ideas: Bacon ice cream? Bacon Bread Pudding? Bacon empinadas? No recipe too awesome…
Gladiators: Enter to compete!!! Consider any bacon-based recipe- we’ll give you the bacon to do it! Hormel sponsors, and they’ve got more than enough Hormel Black Label Bacon to make anything you create take center stage!!! We’ve got limited spots, so sign up now!!!
Attendees: For $10, anyone can come on down and fill their stomachs- just so long as they try every recipe and vote on the best Texas exemplar of bacon brilliance!!! Your judging guidelines: innovation, craftsmanship, yumminess. Now eat! Eat! Eat!

Emo’s
603 Red River St
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 474-5370

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Olivia opens for lunch to give a delicious start to the weekend


A LEISURELY LUNCH, SOUTH AUSTIN STYLE
Olivia opens for lunch to give a delicious start to the weekend

WHAT:
Olivia, the revered South Austin bastion of sustainable, local eating, will be opening its doors for lunch on Fridays & Saturdays. Chef James Holmes and newly-appointed Chef de Cuisine, Andrew Francisco will be collaborating each week on a menu that will offer a seasonal selection of sandwiches, salads and other Olivia favorites such as steak frites and seasonal pasta and fish dishes.

WHEN:
Fridays & Saturdays, starting February 1911:00 am – 2:00 pm

WHERE:
Olivia
2043 South Lamar
Austin, TX 78704

ABOUT:
After opening its doors in 2008, Olivia has gained countless praise for its innovative take on Mediterranean cuisine with a seasonal, Southern spin. Chef Holmes is a fervent locavore who changes his menu at Olivia every day ensuring that it captures the absolute best the market has to offer. A follower of seasons and an avid supporter of local ranchers, farmers and artisans, the majority of the menu items, from the tiniest herb to the chunkiest cut of lamb, come from Texas. This dedication resulted in Bon Appétit magazine naming Olivia among the “Top Ten Best New Restaurants in America” in 2009 and an invitation to cook at the James Beard House in 2010. The restaurant is open for dinner Monday-Thursday from 5:30-10:00; Friday and Saturday from 5:30-11:00; Sunday brunch from 10:30-2:30 and Sunday dinner from 5:30-9:00. The restaurant is located at 2043 S. Lamar Blvd, Austin TX, 78704 and reservations can be made by calling 512.804.2700.


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MEDIA CONTACT:
Bread & Butter Public Relations
Meredith Vachon
512-363-6485

Ali Slutsky
815-210-7454

Sunday, February 7, 2010

FREEBIRDS opens in Round Rock locale while benefiting Central Texas C.O.P.S.

FALLEN OFFICERS BESTOWED WITH WORLD WORKS BADGE OF HONOR
FREEBIRDS opens in Round Rock locale while benefiting Central Texas C.O.P.S.

Round Rock, TX (February, 2010) —FREEBIRDS World Burrito’s 2010 mantra "expanding with meaning" is continuing efforts with the opening of its Round Rock location on February 18 with a new charity that is near and dear to the citizens of Central Texas. The charitable arm of FREEBIRDS, FREEBIRDS World Works, is proud to announce the 2010 Round Rock charity partner as the Central Texas Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors or C.O.P.S. To honor C.O.P.S., over 400 FREEBIRD Fanatics will be given the opportunity on February 16 to purchase a “badge of honor” which will be displayed in the restaurant. In exchange for the $1 purchase Fanatics will receive a complimentary burrito. The money earned from the badges will go directly to help the families supported by C.O.P.S.


FREEBIRDS and FREEBIRDS World Works open each location with a local 501(c) (3) non-profit organization with the goal to instill a sense of charity not only within their customer base, but within their employees as well. The Round Rock locale is employing nearly 75 people, most between the ages of 16 -24, and is giving them all the opportunity to further the World Works' mission by encouraging their crew members to become involved in community organizations by giving back beyond monetary means. C.O.P.S. was chartered in May 2007 with the purpose of supporting families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in 31 Central Texas counties. Members of Central Texas C.O.P.S. are the family members or co-workers to officers’ lost in the line of duty while protecting the citizens of Central Texas. C.O.P.S. provides programs that sustain the mental health of survivors such as scholarships, peer-support, “C.O.P.S. Kids” counseling reimbursement, “C.O.P.S. Kids” Summer Camp and special retreats for the fallen officers’ loved ones. Additionally, C.O.P.S. will finance the surviving families’ trip to the annual National Police Week in Washington D.C. where the fallen officer will be memorialized.

The new Round Rock employees will be given the chance to band together and give back to Round Rock in a volunteer effort that reaches out to better the local community. While giving back to the community is a major priority of FREEBIRDS World Burrito, it shouldn't be forgotten that feeding the belly is as satisfying as feeding the soul. At FREEBIRDS they use only the freshest ingredients—the chicken is fire-grilled, pork is slow-roasted and the beef is always grass-fed. Veggies are cut fresh and guacamole milled daily. Burritos are offered in four sizes ranging from the small, but substantial Hybird all the way to a Super Monster. Signature tacos, quesadillas, nachos, salads or burrito bowls are equally as satisfying. Complete every FREEBIRDS meal with one of the many sides including fresh made chips and guacamole, salsa or queso, or Baja Chicken Enchilada soup. For those with a sweet tooth, try a “pot brownie” or a delicious monster size cookie. Wash it down with a beverage, which for members of the 21-and-over club that might mean a cold beer. Whatever the choice at FREEBIRDS, the options are endless.

The new FREEBIRDS World Burrito Round Rock location is at 200 University Blvd. Suite 200, Round Rock, TX 78665. Hours are Monday-Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm and Sunday 11am-9pm.

FREEBIRDS offers full service catering, for more information call 888.392.2287. For more information or to place an online order, visit www.freebirds.com or call 512.904.0070

ABOUT FREEBIRDS WORLD BURRITO
FREEBIRDS exists to feed the belly and the soul, serving a customized experience for its burritos, quesadillas, tacos and salads in a free spirited rock n’ roll atmosphere. Be it the backwards “F” logo, the music lyrics scrawled across the walls, the iconic music soundtrack, or the Statue of Liberty – “Libby” – holding up a foil burrito, FREEBIRDS has a unique 60’s rock n’ roll hipster vibe like nothing else. FREEBIRDS prides itself on its unique approach to the business, characterized by the tag line “It’s not normal!” FREEBIRDS WORLD BURRITO operates locations throughout Texas and Oklahoma. Expansion plans include doubling the number of FREEBIRDS in 2010. For further information, visit www.freebirds.com.

ABOUT FREEBIRDS WORLD WORKS
FREEBIRDS World Works was created to educate and inspire existing and new staff members about giving charitable gifts beyond the value of a dollar. Every FREEBIRDS World Burrito location is partnered with a local, charity to help create awareness, offer assistance and volunteer when needed. FREEBIRDS’ staffs are trained to become ambassadors from their location to their specific partners to share their story, meet the organization’s needs and to inspire each individual the importance of giving back.

ABOUT C.O.P.S.The Central Texas Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors or C.O.P.S. is a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization that provides resources to assist in the rebuilding of the lives of surviving families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty as determined by Federal criteria. Furthermore, C.O.P.S. provides training to law enforcement agencies on survivor victimization issues and educates the public of the need to support the law enforcement profession and its survivors. For further information, visit www.centraltxcops.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:
BREAD & BUTTER PUBLIC RELATIONS
Ali Slutsky
815.210.7454
ali@breadandbutterpr.com

Meredith Vachon
512.363.6485
meredith@breadandbutterpr.com