Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Camp Brisket Tickets Going on Sale!


Foodways Texas and the Meat Science Section at Texas A&M University will hold our second Camp Brisket on January 10-11, 2014.

While our popular Barbecue Summer Camp takes a broad approach to barbecue cookery and culture in Texas and beyond, Camp Brisket focuses on that quintessential Texas smoked meat, the humble brisket, covering topics such as grades/types of beef, types of smokers, wrapping or not wrapping the brisket, and much more.

Attendees will receive direction from professors in the Meat Science Section at Texas A&M, as well as hear from pitmasters from around the state regarding some of their basic techniques. Programming schedule coming soon. Read about last year's camp here, here, and here.

*Cost of ticket includes all sessions, talks, and activities as well as lunch and dinner during the event.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

6 Years and Many More to Come - J. BLACK'S Feel Good Kitchen & Lounge - Austin, Texas

Located in the heart of the West 6th Street District, J. BLACK'S Feel Good Lounge provides a true Austin lounge experience featuring easy-to-share menu items, creative cocktails, a diverse wine list, and an attentive, friendly staff.

Everything from the welcoming covered patio entrance, to the uniquely shaped centerpiece bar creates Austin's premiere social setting.

Whether it's for drinks after work, hosting a client, or a night on the town, the ambiance and great music makes J. BLACK'S Feel Good Lounge the place to be for all occasions.

10-B W. 6th St.
Austin, Texas 78701
512-433-6954


Olamaie to Bring Modern Southern Cuisine to Austin This Winter - Austin, Texas

OLAMAIE TO BRING MODERN SOUTHERN CUISINE
TO THE HEART OF CENTRAL AUSTIN THIS WINTER

Olamaie to Host Exclusive Pop-Up Dinners Beginning at Lenoir on August 6


Opening this winter, Olamaie will bring the taste of the South with a new modern spin, to downtown Austin. Unique to the city’s culinary scene, the restaurant will quickly become one of Austin’s newest dining hot spots. Prior to the opening, Olamaie will host exclusive pop-up dinners beginning at Lenoir on August 6.

Texas native and CIA-trained Co-Executive Chef Michael Fojtasek (formerly of Lincoln Ristorante and Son of a Gun Restaurant) and CIA-trained Co-Executive Chef Grae Nonas (formerly of Tarry Lodge and Son of a Gun Restaurant) have teamed up with CIA-trained General Manager Ben Hickerson (formerly of The Red Devon and Lincoln Ristorante) to form the talented team at the helm of Olamaie with experience spanning both coasts.

"When I moved out of Austin to continue my training, my heart stayed here,” said Co-Executive Chef Fojtasek. “Now I'm back with a team of unbelievably thoughtful and talented folks doing food that has been a lifelong passion.”

Olamaie will fill the Southern cuisine void with a menu that focuses on farm-to-table freshness and a dining experience that combines classic southern hospitality with modern restaurant craftsmanship. Until the opening this winter, Olamaie will host multiple pop-up dinners across Texas, beginning at Lenoir on August 6-10, to represent what they endeavor to do.

Olamaie’s pop-up dinners will feature dishes such as Olamaie Biscuits with chicken grease and honey butter; Cucumber Salad with buttermilk, burnet, pickled onion, soft herbs and peanut; Smokey Hen of the Woods with tomato jus, braised peanuts, field peas and sorghum cipollini; and Peanut Pie with buttermilk ice cream, caramel and gulf salt.

Each pop-up dinner will have a limited amount of seating. Reservations for the pop-up dinners at Lenoir will begin on Monday, July 15 at www.olamaieaustin.com/pop-ups.

Pop-up dinners hosted by Olamaie will also include the following:

  • August 18: Pop-up at Nonna in Dallas
  • August 25: Pop-up at FINO in Austin
  • September 23: Pop-up at Lenoir in Austin
  • September 29: Pop-up at ASTI Trattoria in Austin
  • October 6: Pop-up at Driftwood in Dallas

Olamaie will be located at 1610 San Antonio Street, Austin, TX 78701. For updates, go to www.OlamaieAustin.com and follow on Facebook @OlamaieAustin and on Twitter @OlamaieAustin.

Friday, July 12, 2013

Pelóns Tex Mex Debuts Their New Brunch Menu - Austin, Texas

HEAT YOUR WEEKEND UP AND INDULDGE IN
PELÓNS TEX MEX’S NEW BRUNCH MENU


 Pelóns Tex Mex is excited to announce that it will now be serving Sunday brunch every week starting this Sunday, July 14. Keep the weekend going and start your Sunday Funday with Tex-Mex breakfast specials and a Bloody Mary/Maria Bar.

“Brunch is an Austin staple and we’re glad that we can finally join in the tradition,” said Doug Guller, CEO of ATX Brands. “Pelóns has become a Tex-Mex hot spot for lunch and dinner, and we wanted to expand our menu to allow our guests the perfect start to their Sundays.”

Delicious brunch menu items include Huevos Rancheros, Migas, Breakfast Burritos and Breakfast Tacos all served with crispy potatoes and refried beans paired with hard-to-beat drink specials. Guests can enjoy the Bloody Mary/Maria Bar for $6, beer including Lone Star, Tecate and Pabst Blue Ribbon all for $3, Mimosas for $3 and Pelóns Signature Margarita for only $4.

Guests will be able to spend the afternoon lounging in Pelóns’ expansive patio, complete with water misters that are perfect to beat the summer heat, every Sunday from 11:00am to 3:00pm.

Known as a classic rock-n-roll Tex-Mex joint with a twist, Pelóns serves signature dishes such as Enchilada Coronadas, Chile Relleno and Fried Crispy Sesame Avocado. 508, an adjacent cocktail boudoir, serves up specialty cocktails, including Pelóns House Margarita, Cuernos Largos and the Revolución. The ambitious indoor/outdoor food venue turns the 79-year-old foundation of Austin’s venerable Jaime’s Spanish Village into what is quickly becoming a culinary staple in the ever-evolving Red River District.

Pelóns is located directly across the street from Stubbs at 802 Red River Street. Pelóns is open for lunch and dinner on Sundays to Thursdays from 11:00am to 10:00pm and on Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00am to 11:00pm. For more information, please visit www.PelonsAustin.com. For updates, follow Pelóns Tex Mex on Facebook @PelonsAustin and on Twitter @PelonsAustin

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Pay It Forward with Daniel Curtis Benefit - Austin, Texas

PAY IT FORWARD WITH DANIEL CURTIS BENEFIT
FEATURING ROTEL & THE HOT TOMATOES AND
AUSTIN’S MOST CELEBRATED CHEFS


AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center, along with Lone Star Paralysis Foundation, will host Pay It Forward with Daniel Curtis on Thursday, August 8 from 6:00 to 10:00pm at the AT&T Conference Center.  In its third year, the benefit’s goal is to raise money for those with spinal cord injuries. Rotel and The Hot Tomatoes, a popular cover band named one of the top ten party bands in the United States by Harper’s Bazaar magazine, will perform your favorite songs from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. In addition, the evening will feature a dynamic lineup of Austin’s top culinary talent guaranteeing a memorable night.

In May 2011, Daniel Curtis was injured in a diving accident, which resulted in a severe spinal cord injury. His family, friends and co-workers teamed up with Lone Star Paralysis Foundation to stage a fundraiser in July 2011, raising over $65,000 to help with his medical expenses not covered by insurance. Now following two successful years, Daniel, in partnership with Lone Star Paralysis Foundation, will pay it forward once again to raise awareness about the spinal cord injury community and help those in need of medical assistance.

“I’ve now spent a little over two years of my life in a wheelchair and have gone from being the newbie to playing more of a mentor role,” Daniel said. “Because of the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation, Austinites with spinal cord injuries have a recovery center they can go to five days a week for free. It’s not just a gym and it’s not just for physical recovery; it’s a family, a support group and therapy for the body and the mind. Pay it Forward is about making the necessary resources available so that people can face their life’s greatest challenge with not only a sense of hope and purpose, but knowing the chair is just a temporary solution.”

The benefit has brought together Austin’s most celebrated chefs including Chef Josh Watkins of The Carillon, Chef Plinio Sandalio of The Carillon, Chef Tatsu Aikawa of Ramen Tatsu-Ya, Chef John Bates of Noble Sandwich Co., Chef David Bull of Congress & Second Bar + Kitchen, Chef Steven Cak of Parkside, Chef Shawn Cirkiel of Parkside, The Backspace and Olive & June, Chef Mat Clouser of Swift’s Attic, Chef Jason Dady of BIN 555 and Tre Trattoria, Chef Ned Elliott of Foreign & Domestic, Chef Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue, Chef Bryce Gilmore of Barley Swine, Chef Jack Gilmore of Jack Allen’s Kitchen, Chef Harold Marmulstein of Salty Sow, Chef Rene Ortiz of La Condesa & Sway, Chef Laura Sawicki of La Condesa & Sway, Chef Callie Speer of Swift’s Attic, Chef Philip Speer of Uchi & Uchiko and Chef Shane Stark of Kenichi, each offering will be matched with cocktails from local spirit distillers as well as hand crafted cocktails by Tipsy Texan, David Alan and tastings from Casa Brasil Coffees. Live auctions and silent auctions will be held throughout the evening.

Tickets begin at a suggested donation of $75 and VIP tickets for $125. VIP tickets grant early entry into the benefit at 6:00 pm, which includes a happy hour, an early opportunity to bid on silent auction items, as well as a chance to mingle with the award-winning chefs.  To make reservations or donate to this cause, please visit www.payitforwardwithdaniel.org.

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Bridget Dunlap's East Austin Hotspot, Mettle, Introduces New Lunch Menu - Austin, Texas

Bridget Dunlap’s East Austin Hotspot Mettle Introduces New Lunch Menu:
Traditional Bistro Fare Infused with Eclectic International Influences


Recently-opened East Austin hotspot Mettle—the first restaurant venture by über nightclub developer Bridget Dunlap—is offering a new lunch menu just in time for the lazy days of summer. Executive Chef Andrew Francisco has created offerings that infuse traditional bistro with eclectic international influences. The ingenious fare (innovative pairings and modern updos on classics) fits a remarkable re-imagined space that was once home to a tortilla factory. Dunlap, who transformed the downtown nightlife scene by refurbishing dilapidated properties on Rainey Street and turning them into the city’s hippest clubs and pubs, has once again shown her visionary prowess.

Francisco, who interned at the French Laundry and worked at Austin’s Olivia as the chef de cuisine, uses locally-sourced products and ingredients from his on-site garden for a menu that boasts simple starters—watermelon, kaya, and mint ($5); pickled anchovy, black olive, and pepper ($5); and vegan chicharron and salsa ($5)—and smart flavor and texture pairings, such as Beet with white chocolate, jalapeño, and chevre ($10) and Beef Tongue Tacos with escabeche, crème fraîche, and salsa verde ($11). Salads include the Walnut Caesar—crispy parsley and pecorino Romano dressed in balsamic ($7)—and the Grain (kale, almond, and pickled tomato; $7).

Larger bites range from a Grilled Cheese (this revamped version features a crispy green tomato, spicy mustard, and caramel; $10) and Fried Chicken with buttermilk-mustard ($13) to Fish and Chips (red fish, pickled chili, and aioli; $11) and Pork Belly Quesadilla with cilantro and chipotle crème fraîche ($9). Even Chinese Broccoli is elevated with white soy and foie gras butter ($7).

Like Dunlap’s Lustre Pearl, Clive Bar, and Bar 96 concepts, Mettle pours freshly squeezed juices and seasonal cocktails such as the Siamese Caipirinha with Thai chili and basil-infused Cachaca and lime or the Wimbledon Cooler with Pimm’s No. 1, cucumber, lemon, and ginger ale (all cocktails are $10). And Mettle offers an extensive wine list—probably the most selective on the east side—with about eighty labels and by-the-glass options.

The modern L-shaped venue seats nearly 200 guests in the 4,000-square-foot space that houses a variety of dining areas and a bar that features a floor-to-ceiling sculpture by lon Art. The modern architecture mixed with decorative European wall coverings elicits a relaxed vibe that encourages socializing indoors as well as out on the plant-lined patio.

Mettle is located at 507 Calles, in East Austin. Hours are Tue­­sday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information about Mettle, call 512.236.1022 or go to mettleaustin.com.

Monday, July 1, 2013

Inwood Estates Bistro - Fourth of July - Food, Wine and Live Entertainment - Fredericksburg, Texas


Thursday, July 4, 2013 from 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Fredericksburg, Texas

Inwood Estates Bistro
10303 US Hwy 290 East
Fredericksburg, Texas 78624
830-997-2304

Cost: Bistro: $5 - $18; Wine by the Glass: $10; Estate Tasting of Six Wines -$12 - 10 % Millitary Discount

"Celebrate the Fourth of July"!

Enjoy Great Food...   by Chef Kendall   
Slow-cooked  pork shoulder sliders with homemade slaw and pickles
Watermelon-feta  salad with jalapeno vinaigrette
Cowboy  caviar and tortilla chips
Banana pudding  
Great Wine....

The Vineyard at Florence "Aurelia" and "Aura"-  Blanc d'Bois from Williamson County
Inwood Estates Tempranillo-Cabernet and "Cornelious"- Tempranillo from the High Plains
And, the Unique Sounds of Tim Scott!
Thursday, 7/4
4 - 7 p.m.

Tim takes his place among those who have come before him—the ones who supported and guided him on his journey. As the music unfolds, you can tell who they are—Dan Fogelberg, John Lennon, George Harrison and Warren Zevon. The lyrics say it all, “So I spin another story like those before I still raise my pen…There’s a common thread between us though we often stumble, we rarely fall.” That common thread is the ability to take a handful of words, a few chords and a shitload of honesty to grab people right where they live. Tim’s got it down good.

Visit Event Website: www.inwoodwines.com

Malverde to Expand Private Events Program on Saturday

MALVERDE TO EXPAND PRIVATE EVENTS
PROGRAM BEGINNING EARLY JULY


Malverde, the private event space at La Condesa, announced today that its current bar and lounge program will end on Saturday, July 6 in order to expand the private events program. After a successful run as one of the top lounges in Austin, Malverde’s expansion is intended to accommodate increased demand for private events by offering a more convenient and expanded weekend availability, as well as easier access to the La Condesa kitchen.

“We have enjoyed a successful four and a half years as a lounge,” said Alexis Lanman, director of marketing and events for Violet Crown Management. “However, Malverde has primarily evolved into a private event space for La Condesa and extension of our dining room. We look forward to the transition as well as the opportunities it will provide us to welcome a larger scope of private and special events.”

Wired for presentations, DJs and live performances, Malverde is designed with a flexible room configuration to accommodate rehearsal dinners, cocktail receptions, corporate parties, happy hours and other breakaway functions. Malverde will also continue to be catered exclusively by La Condesa.

Perched above 2nd Street directly over La Condesa, Malverdeoffers skyline views of downtown Austin and looks directly into Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theatre and City Hall.Malverde is located at 400 W. 2nd Street. For updates and more information about Malverde, please visit www.lacondesa.com/malverde. Follow Malverde on Facebook @Malverde.Austin and on Twitter @MalverdeAustin.   To book your next private event please contact Jessica Tate at Jessica.Tate@lacondesa.com.

Malverde will be throwing a party to celebrate four great years as a lounge on Saturday, July 6th.  The party will begin at 5pm with DJ Michael Crockett and happy hour pricing until 9pm.  Drink specials will continue throughout the night with Deejay Honeycomb, DJ F’in A and DJ Starsign spinning until 2am.