Discover the Best Things to Do in Austin, Food & Drink deals and more!
Avery Harris and the SAvery Grilled Cheese team serve up awareness and heart (Credit: Avery Harris)
We all have our list of guilty pleasures–the things we love though we know they’re not the best choice. As a trashy TV addict and baker, my personal list is at least a mile long. Thankfully, Avery Harris of Austin’s SAvery Grilled Cheese food truck has found a way to take the guilt out of one America’s favorite comfort foods, one cheesy bite at a time. [Read more…]
There are three sections of Sixth Street in Austin: West, East and what locals refer to as Dirty. For locals, Dirty Sixth runs from Congress to I-35 even though technically, and according to street signs, East Sixth starts at Congress Avenue and runs east. But when you hear locals talk about East Sixth, we are referencing anything east of I-35. Don’t get confused by the street signs; you’ll be talking like a local in no time.
West Sixth is the section of Sixth Street that runs west from Congress Avenue. For the most part, the nightlife scene ends at North Lamar Boulevard, but for this article I’ll take us all the way to MoPac as there are several notable bars and restaurants in the extended stretch of West Sixth.
While you’ll find your fair share of bars here–no surprise for Sixth Street–West Sixth is much more diverse when it comes to local Austin businesses. This list highlights the cream of the crop. [Read more…]
Dive into a delicious treat courtesy of The Wafel Guys (Credit: The Wafel Guys)
Every other week, the company where I work does “Waffle Wednesday.” Two employees pull out a set of waffle irons, mix instant batter and cook breakfast for the office. Sometimes they go all out with toppings. Other times, they just supply the basics. Regardless, walking to my desk with the smell of breakfast in the air makes Hump Day that much easier.
Before meeting The Wafel Guys, that was the extent of my waffle experience: either fluffy pancakes with square divots in them, or frozen disasters hastily toasted. A delivery device for syrup and butter.
After tasting the legitimate, authentic Belgian treasures created by these culinary upstarts, ordering breakfast at a local diner simply won’t do anymore. Once you’ve tried the real thing from The Wafel Guys, you never want to go back. [Read more…]
I have a soft spot for old school, greasy spoons, so a visit to Nau’s Enfield Drug in Clarksville was a must. This neighborhood drug store, soda fountain and grill has around since 1951. It’s definitely a throwback to simpler times with its U-shaped counter, pink stools and retro booths which barely fit four people.
I highly recommend you step back in time with a breakfast or lunch stop at Nau’s Enfield Drug. [Read more…]
Aerial view of Trailer Food Tuesdays at The Long Center (Credit: Trailer Food Tuesdays)
By occupation, The Long Center is no stranger to large indoor and outdoor events. Whether it’s a large-scale musical act or a summer treat like Sound & Cinema, Austin residents and visitors suffer no shortage of entertainment on these active grounds.
Now in its fifth year and going strong, Trailer Food Tuesdays is no exception. As a segment of The Long Center’s “All Summer Long” series, this free event features over fifteen food trailers, live music and other entertainment provided by local vendors. [Read more…]
Main Street Smithville, TX along the Colorado River (Credit: andy via Flickr CC)
What’s more quintessentially Texas than rolling hills, grazing Longhorns and small town charm, set against an idyllic, pastoral backdrop?
While the small towns southeast of Austin nestled along the Colorado River–notably Smithville, La Grange and Round Top–are not considered part of Texas Hill Country, you only have to spend one afternoon basking in the river views and unrivaled hospitality to realize this region is nothing short of magical.
The kicker is that, even in the middle of the country where the air is clean and phone service spotty, you can find amazing restaurants that rival what you’re used to in our capital city. Just be sure to call ahead and confirm open times before you head out. Counter-intuitive closure dates and funky schedules are standard in rural areas. Before you hop in the car, double-check that your destination is indeed ready to receive you! [Read more…]
Credit: Whitney Arotegui
“What is a locavore?” you may ask. No, it isn’t a new diet trend or an exclusive club reserved for those in the know. Locavores are those whose diets consists principally of locally-grown or -produced food. Taking a locavore approach to eating means a step back into simpler times, before the industrialization of the food system. Before the existence of genetically-modified crops and the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Before monocropping practices and animal production facilities dominated the U.S. food supply.
The USDA defines “local” as less than 400 miles from the origin of the product, or within the same state where the product is produced. Austinites have the unique opportunity to dine with a distance from farm to table of literally only a couple of miles (and in some cases, only a few feet). That is a big deal, considering the average American meal travels about 1,500 miles to get from farm to plate (source: Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture). [Read more…]
A mix of early century charm and modern cocktails await you at The Townsend
(Credit: Andrew Bennett Photography)
When we last left The Townsend bar, we raved about their speakeasy ambiance and clever cocktail list.
Almost one year later, this vintage-inspired lounge has added gourmet, yet accessible, bar bites to their repertoire. The Townsend is now one of the premier spots on Congress Avenue to eat, drink and get your Jimmy Stewart/Barbara Stanwyck on. [Read more…]
Habana’s classic Cuban sandwich with fried yucca and tostones
Thanks to recent policy changes, traveling to Cuba has become a whole lot easier. But Austinites don’t have to travel far to experience the culture and cuisine of the region. Just head down South Congress Avenue and you’ll come across Habana–a hidden gem among tall oak trees where the cultural highlights of Cuba come alive.
The sights and smells will transport you to another world. So do yourself a favor and experience a slice of everyday Cuban life right here in Austin. [Read more…]
Fresh produce from East Austin’s Springdale Farm (Credit: Springdale Farm Facebook)
The topic of food access is a personal one for me, being from the small city of Pueblo, Colo., where half the population is Hispanic and 32 percent lives below the poverty line. Growing up, I consumed a diet heavily based on fast food, sodas, canned vegetables and packaged foods. I had never heard the word “organic” until my sophomore year of college in Boulder, Colo., when I stepped foot into a Whole Foods for the first time.
It was then that I began to question where my food came from and discovered my interest in nutrition. I now know I grew up in what the Department of Agriculture refers to as a “food desert:” an urban area in which it is difficult to buy affordable or good-quality fresh food.
“Food desert” seems to be a commonly used term nowadays. But beyond the deserts are food swamps, and neither are beneficial to a community’s health. Hilda Gutiérrez, Food Access Manager of the Sustainable Food Center (SFC), informed me that food swamps tend to be of more concern within the city of Austin, particularly in East Austin.
Food swamps are areas saturated with unhealthy food options offered by large corporations that target low-income communities of color. Not coincidentally, this is the population most affected by diet-related, preventable illness, such as type 2 diabetes and obesity. Fast food is cheap food. For families struggling to put meals on the table, the road leading to the drive-thru is often well-traveled. [Read more…]