Trailer eating in Austin has only been picking up steam since the last time we went trailer touring. Recently, with our trailer buddies Jeff and Sharon in tow, we attended the Tasty Up Trailer Tour, a mash-up between Jodi's Tasty Touring and Addie's Eat-ups.

Continue reading "Tornado Magnet"

I'd been hearing about the Carillon off and on since December, it seems, and almost exclusively via Twitter. We were fortunate enough to be invited to a media event to celebrate the restaurant's official launch this past Friday. I will not lie to you. It was a little tough to find the restaurant which is tucked neatly into the shiny new AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center, but after the food we sampled, I believe it's well worth seeking out.

Continue reading "Dreaming of Beef Short Ribs"

It all started with Eat Local Week this past December. It got me thinking that I often didn't consider the bounty that central Texas has to offer – and that extends beyond organically grown produce and ethically raised meat. It includes talented people producing all manner of wonderful food items. So, in the spirit of Eat Local Week, we placed our very first order with The Soup Peddler.

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The seed was sown last Christmas when my husband's parents gifted me with a lovely tin of tea called Earl Grey Creme from Mrsteas. The aroma was heavenly. I am generally a fan of Earl Grey tea anyway, but whatever they blend it with to give it that incredible sweet aroma and subtle “creme” flavor renders it unique. This holiday season, after begging to go back and refill my long-depleted stock of Earl Grey Creme, I found out they served food as well, and it turned out to be one of my favorite dining experiences of the trip.

Continue reading "A Spot of Tea"

You know how Sean and I are shameless devotees of the Uchi restaurant here in Austin? The mastermind behind that restaurant, Tyson Cole, branched out and partnered with John Cassimus to open a fast-service sushi joint in the Birmingham, Alabama area called Maki Fresh. Well, it just so happens that during our recent holiday visit with Sean's family, we had a chance to try it out ... and now I'm sad that there isn't one in Austin.

Continue reading "Sushi in Alabama"

I have sort of a love/hate relationship with some of the new eco-friendly restaurants that have been opening around here. On one hand, I love what they're trying to do. Energy-efficient appliances, green building materials, grass-fed meat, local produce – these are all things I can happily embrace. But when I tell people about the food, I catch myself adding qualifiers. Not bad ... for low-fat, grass-fed beef. Pretty good ... for healthy fries. I'm happy to report that Promise Pizza, a new “green” pizza joint up in Round Rock, is actually just good pizza – no qualifiers required (well, **almost** no qualifiers).

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We were recently sent on a treacherous errand, full of drudgery and malcontent. We were forced, practically at gunpoint, to go eat doughnuts for lunch earlier this week because our friend needed us to pick up a fancy doughnut for her husband for his birthday. Fine, who am I kidding. I've been lusting after these doughnuts since I heard about Gourdough's and this week we finally had an excuse to try them out.

Continue reading "Enter the Entree Doughnut"

My husband's family remembers Zoe's Kitchen as a local restaurant in their home city of Birmingham, AL. Zoe was often in the kitchen, and the chocolate cake was moist and topped with fudgy icing. Well. Zoe's Kitchen is all grown up and several locations now dot the southern United States (though as I understand it, Zoe is still heavily involved). And now, Zoe's Kitchen has a location in Austin.

Continue reading "In the Kitchen No Longer"

Recently, we took advantage of a gorgeous weekend here in Texas and spent an afternoon in Wimberley. Our intention had been to head down to tour the olive orchard at the Bella Vista Ranch, but we wound up staying for a late lunch / early dinner at The Leaning Pear.

Continue reading "Tuscany by way of Wimberley"

This is mostly Sean's post. I'm writing it, but he's supplying all the information (just so you know who to blame later). Recently, a media event was held to kick off Flavors of Austin, a "52-Week Food Frenzy." Each week a different local restaurant, caterer, or supper club will offer up a discounted multi-course meal. Austin gets to try out a variety of restaurants at a discounted rate, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Sustainable Food Center of Austin. The first restaurant in the Flavors lineup is Frank, a hot dog and artisan sausage restaurant-bar-market in the downtown area. Yeah, no need to wonder why Sean was so willing to attend the media event without me.

Continue reading "Best Little Hot Dog in Texas"