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A Journal of Local Foodie Happenings.

Mirabelle owner/sommilier Michael Vilim (right)

Hill Country Ride for AIDS Fundraiser at House Wine
Thursday, March 12 from 6-11pm, House Wine (408 Josephine St) will provide complimentary appetizers and live music. 10% of their sales proceeds during the fundraiser will go to the Hill Country Ride for AIDS (taking place April 25). 

 

Austin Regional Grilled Cheese Invitational, Sat, 3/14
The Grilled Cheese Society (no joke) hosts its second annual regional competition, with the winner earning a trip to the Grilled Cheese Nationals (again, no joke) in L.A. on April 25. The audience judges the competition. There are four categories: The Missionary Position (standard sammy in every way), The Kama Sutra (anything goes with cheese, butter, bread, and additional ingredients), The Honey Pot (like the Kama Sutra but with a sweet, dessert angle), and the Lambada (basically, a quesadilla, a category special to Austin and won’t be in the nationals). Now, we don’t know about you, but this altogether way too cheesey to pass up. You hold the fate of best grilled cheese in Texas. Harness your power! Held at Austin Moose Lodge (2103 E.M. Franklin Ave), doores open at 6pm, grilling starts at 7:10pm sharp (pun intended). For more foodie events, read Morsels on austin.com here.

 

Prepare Your Digestive Systems: Restaurant Week is Here
Austin Restaurant Week 2009 is set for March 1-4 and March 8-11. The event includes 41 Austin area restaurants, each offering a selection of special, three-course prix fixe meals for $25 or $35. Organizers made the right move by including a charitable aspect this year, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas. The majority of 2008 participants have returned, with several high-profile additions, including Jeffrey’s, Green Pastures, Driskill Grill, Gumbo’s, Chez Zee, and more. Full list is here , some accept reservations online, others, be sure to call. Another new feature includes official Restaurant Week Nightcaps, with participating nightlife hotspots holding after-party nightcaps, with a portion of proceeds again benefiting the Food Bank. Bon appetit!

Whole Foods Community Giving Day Wed, March 11
Both Austin Whole Foods Markets have designated March 11 in support of the Hill Country Ride for AIDS. Throughout the day, Whole Foods will donate 5% of all store purchases directly to Hill Country Ride for AIDS to help provide direct care services to people living with AIDS and to support prevention education in Central Texas. Both stores will also host Lunch & Learn sessions from 11:30am-1:30pm. You'll be able to learn info on the Ride, volunteer opportunities, and other ways you can help. Whole Foods Market is located downtown at 525 N Lamar Blvd, and in North Austin at 9607 Research Blvd. Hill Country Ride for AIDS marks its tenth anniversary this year with the ride on April 25. The goal is to raise another $650,000 this year. The ride encourages riders of all skill levels to enjoy a day in the Hill Country and help save lives.

Mardi Gras with Way Out Wineries
The Way Out Wineries (WOW) are extending an invitation to their Mardi Gras Road Trip Feb 27 through March 1. Great cajun-style food will be paired with wine. And in addition to music and beads, each winery will has a signature gold coin redeemable for merchandise at WOW wineries. Tickets are $20 , and gets you a wine tasting and a Mardi Gras-inspired food dish at each of the eight wineries. WOW are eight Hill Country wineries stretching from just north of Austin to just south of Dallas. They are Texas Legato (Lampassas), Pillar Bluff (Lampassas), Alamosa Wine Cellars (Bend), Brennan Vineyards (Comanche), Rising Star (Rising Star), Red Caboose (Meridian), Bluff Dale (Bluff Dale), and Barking Rocks (Granbury).

Taste Washington (in Austin)
The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas presents a special tasting of wines from Washington state this Friday, February 20 at the Hilton Hotel (500 E 4th St) in downtown Austin. The tasting will encompass more than 50 Washington vintners showcasing their finest wines, as well as delicious cuisine from local Austin chefs (Roy’s, Finn & Porter, Stubb’s, NoRTH, Latin Café, and Dagar’s Catering). The public tasting is from 6-9pm (there is a trade only tasting from 2:30-5pm). Tickets are $40 for WFFT members, $50 for non-members, and are available online here.

Hosteria Verde Supper Club at Austin Art Garage, February 22
Hosteria Verde, an Austin supper club and catering company, will host its next supper club at Austin Art Garage. Five to eight courses of Italian cuisine will be provided as party goers tour the gallery with over 250 works by over 45 local artists. The supper club will start at 6pm on February 22 and the cost is $50 per person.  Note: libations are B.Y.O.B.  Hurry, because parties are capped at 25 people. Austin Art Garage is located at 2200 S. Lamar Blvd. To order tickets, click here.

Whole Foods Market Culinary Center calendar
Whole Foods recently announced their January and February cooking class calendar at their state-of-the-art downtown culinary center. If you’ve never been, it’s like being in the studio audience of a Food Network taping, only more personal and very useful. Pre-registering could make for a great holiday gift. Our favorite new class on the schedule, “Cajun Versus Creole: What’s the Difference?” We’re close enough to the bayou that we should know…but the boundaries aren’t always clear. Our suggestion is they offer this class in future schedules, and team it up with a musical component, “Cajun vs. Zydeco.” Other highlights on the schedule instructional (and delicious) classes geared toward warm, winter meals, Chinese New Year, a smashing Super Bowl Party, quick favorites from Julia Child, and couples cooking in the kitchen.

Way Out Wineries January Road Trip Sale
This complimentary weekend event Janaury 23 & 24 will include featured wines selected by each winery, each of which will pair the wine with delicious, winter-weather food, such as stews, soups, and chili. The Way Out Wineries are a string of boutique Texas wineries stretching from just north of Austin, through the Hill Country, to just south of Dallas. Each of the wineries will have their wine on sale, so you can take some home. The wineries on the road trip tour are Texas Legato (Lampassas), Pillar Bluff (Lampassas), Alamosa Wine Cellars (Bend), Brennan Vineyards (Comanche), Rising Star (Rising Star), Red Caboose (Meridian), Bluff Dale (Bluff Dale), and Barking Rocks (Granbury).

Chili Cold Blood Chili Cook Off at Jo's Coffee
The third annual South Austin chili cookoff hits the parking lot Saturday, January 24, pitting home cooks vying for top prize for top chili. Non-cookers can taste it all without the early-morning pot-stirring with tasting cups for samples. Beer, chili, music, that’s a perfect Austin winter outdoor party. Registration is still open, with a $50 fee to compete. Folks just wanting to have fun can come out and sample for free. Music wise, we have the inspiration behind the cookoff, Chili Cold Blood, a band of heavy metal blues afficianados with a twisted set that lies somewhere between Black Sabbath and John Lee Hooker. Woodsboss is made up of former Weary Boys members, longtime roots rock favorites on South Congress. Tina Rose and the Jo’s House Band sings the blues. DJ Chicken George spins in between sets. Jo’s is located at 1300 South Congress.

Provencal Wine Luncheon at Mirabelle, January 18
A four-course meal with paired wines for only $35 at a premier restaurant is something to flip for. But wait ‘til you learn more. Provence is one of France’s most storied regions for both its cuisine and wine. The Wine and Food Foundation of Texas is hosting this luncheon with Christine Chapot, owner/chef of Jardin de Bacchus in the small, picturesque Provence village of Tavel. Chef Chapot gives cooking lessons in Tavel, and will treat Austin with some of her delights. Mirabelle has selected pairing wines from the region. The menu includes a Mediterranean Frittata (smoked trout brie rillette with blood-orange salsa); Chapot’s salad (Tartare de Tomate et Mousse de Basilic); Seafood Bouillabaisse with sourdough crostini and rouille; fresh fruit with sabayon, caramel drizzle and walnut dust. If not all that makes sense, just know that it will be damn good. The $35 includes tax and tip. Unheard of! The luncheon is by reservation only (512.327.7555) and begins at 11am, Sunday, January 18. Mirabelle is located at 8127 Mesa Drive.

Chinese New Year at Imperia Restaurant
Imperia is celebrating their second annual Chinese New Year party on Monday, January 26. The free event is open to the public, no reservations needed. Festivities will include live DJ entertainment, appetizers, traditional lion dancers, and an Asian drum performance. The party begins at 7pm. Imperia, the hip Asian cuisine and sushi hotspot eatery, is located at 310 Coloardo St downtown.



Wine DeVine, a great tasting for a great charity.
Women’s Symphony League of Austin presents Wine DeVine, Friday, January 30 from 6-8pm at Mexic-Arte Museum. The festive night will be a chic wine and beer tasting with excellent appetizers. The wine and beer selections are courtesy of Taste Select Wines, who will also provide samplings from their appetizer menu. Other restaurants providing food are El Arroyo, La Traviata, McCormick & Smick's, and more. All net proceeds go the Austin Symphony Orchestra and its award-winning children's education programs. Tickets are $40 and are available here. There will be free parking at the Frost Bank Tower for this event. The expected crowd is around 200, suggested attire: hip and comfortable. Mexic-Arte is located at 419 Congress downtown.

Travel Channel host challenges Austin food.
One of the newest TV series on Travel Channel, “Man v. Food” finds host Adam Richman traveling the country in search of big time food challenges. Just imagine they’ve taken their hit show “Bizarre Foods” and mashed it with some over-the-top county fair food-eating contest. Anyway, Wednesday, Dec. 17, “Man v. Food” airs a show filmed in Austin. Richman takes on challenges that involve eating a two-pound donut (Round Rock Donuts), the Don Juan Taco Challenge at Juan in a Million, and a visit to the world-famous pit at Salt Lick BBQ. The Austin episode will air at 9pm on the Travel Channel. If you miss the episode premier, keep an eye out for repeats.

Celebrating the Holidays with 12 Days of Driskill
Getting into the holiday spirit in extra fashion this year is the historic Driskill Hotel downtown, with their inaugural “12 Days of Driskill,” a series of scheduled events from December 4-16. Portions of proceeds will benefit various Austin-area charities. The celebrating kicks off with the Driskill Tree Lighting in the Grand Lobby (12/4, 6-8pm, free of charge), complete with carolers and holiday goodies. Other events include a Victorian Holiday Tea (12/5-12/16, 3-5pm, $48 adults, $18 children) with tea service, sparkling wine and holiday food from the 1886 Bakery; Breakfast With Santa (12/13, 9-11am, $16 children, $8 accompanying parent) is self-explanatory, a delicious breakfast with jolly old St. Nick (reservations required, 512.391.7121); the Pawliday Party (12/14, 1-3pm, $10 per pet, goes to Austin Dog Rescue) will feature a pet fashion show, photo ops for pets with Santa, special goodies for pets (and their masters at the cash bar), and more. Click here for more info on these and more holiday events at the Driskill. 

Come Hungry, Feed the Hungry, at Kerbey Lane
Kerbey Lane Café will be accepting donations for the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas through the end of the year. Originally scheduled through Thanksgiving, the food drive has been such a success that the local restaurant has extended it through the entire holiday season. Donations can be made in the form of food, cash, or cookie purchase. Customers donating canned goods will receive $1 off their check for every two canned goods (maximum $5 off). Special cookies will be available, with $1 of every purchase going directly to the Food Bank. The restaurant says they want “everyone to have a chance to be thankful for the delicious meals we all look forward to during this time of year.” The food drive is on at all four Kerbey Lane locations.

Ice Rink at Whole Foods Market is Now Open
For the fourth year, Whole Foods has opened its Rooftop Plaza ice skating rink, sure to attract families and friends to the natural foods store for something besides boutique olive oil and fresh produce. The rink spans 1800 feet and is fully covered to accommodate skating in all weather conditions. The skating rink is open 10am-9pm every day through January 11, 2009 (see exceptions below). Tickets are $10, which include skate rental. Hot chocolate, coffee, and other concessions will be available at the rink. On Saturday, Dec. 6, all proceeds will benefit the Austin Fire Department’s Free Smoke Alarm Program during the Fire & Ice event at the rink (adding live music to the fun). For more information, call the Skating on the Plaza hotline, 512.542.2260. (Holiday hours: 12/24 from 10am-7pm; closed on 12/25; 12/31 from 10am-7pm; 1/1 from 10am-8pm.)

Grinch’s Gala on 12/5 benefits Rise School of Austin
Friday evening finds the 14th annual Grinch’s Gala at Austin’s recently reopened restaurant gem, Paggi House. The upscale restaurant will present a culinary treat by Executive Chef Shane Stark and his staff. Entertainment will be provided by Suede, a popular rock cover band, and DJ Manny, one of town’s most noted (and fun) turntabilists. Proceeds from the Grinch’s Gala will benefit The Rise School of Austin, a non-profit that provides high-quality, early-childhood education to children with developmental disabilities. Tickets to the gala are $75 through 12/3, $100 after that date. Attire is Texas Black Tie/Holiday.


 

Driskill Pie Bake-Off Winner is added to 1886 Café’s menu.
Customers now have one more option under desserts on the menu at the Driskill Hotel’s 1886 Café: Betty Lou’s Buttermilk Pie. Jaynie Buckingham’s pie was the winner in the Driskill’s Pie Bake-Off. As part of the grand prize, Buckingham’s pie will be on the menu for a year. The traditional buttermilk pie recipe (interestingly, with no buttermilk) came from Buckingham’s late mother, Betty Lou Maxon (in the portrait in the photograph at right). “Mother was an amazing woman and an incredible cook who collected recipes from everywhere and everyone,” Buckingham says. Betty Lou’s Buttermilk Pie is only one of several of her mother’s recipes Buckingham serves at family gatherings; sounds like she needs to find some more contests to enter.

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