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Veggie Spring Rolls at Tam Deli in North Austin
Choosing where to go for lunch can be a challenge given the amount of options (or lack thereof) in North Austin. Something fast? A place where you can sit outside? Maybe something you’ve never tried.
Some of the best lunch spots in town can be found north of 2222. If you’re looking for a place to visit for lunch today or sometime soon, give these 5 North Austin lunch spots a shot. [Read more…]
A tray of decadent French macarons at La Patisserie in Austin
“When I’m having a bad day, I go to work.” Welcome to the sugar coated world of Soraiya Nagree, owner and pastry chef at Austin’s La Patisserie.
A darling little cottage sits surrounded by a sprinkling of flowers and colorful umbrella canopies that offer shade for outdoor café tables. While the scene is inviting and tempts passerbys to stop and relax, it’s the dainty pastel confections inside that will entice their return.
Maybe it was the soft melody of Edith Piaf in the background. Maybe it was the pale shade of pink that enrobed four golden layers of cake behind glass. Or it could have been the decadent chandeliers that dripped with sparkling crystals. But one thing was certain, the day I walked into La Patisserie, I was transported. No passport, luggage or language tutorial needed. The only requirement: a little self- indulgence. [Read more…]
Tacos de lengua y pastor at Taco More in Austin
Many people come to Austin to partake in the food scene. A big part of what draws outsiders in and keeps them coming back for more is the influence of Mexican food, or more aptly stated, Tex Mex. Austin food has gained fame thanks to the likes of Torchy’s, Chuy’s and Trudy’s. Breakfast tacos seem to grow on trees.
But as we indulge in mountains of chips, queso and cheese-smothered enchiladas with frozen margaritas to wash it all down, we tend to forget about the real Mexican food that inspired Tex Mex to begin with.
So what makes authentic Mexican food authentic? Mexico is a large and gastronomically diverse country with flavors and modes of preparation varying greatly from the mountains of Monterrey to the Southern tip of Chiapas, so it can be difficult to pinpoint one or two ingredients that make up the real thing.
Nonetheless, the difference can be determined by the tastes that result from the combination of [Read more…]
Monday Steak Frites Night takes place on Josephine House’s back patio
Updated July 25, 2016
One of the oldest neighborhoods in Austin, Clarksville sits on the western outskirts of downtown. Commonly referred to as “quaint” and “charming,” this area is rich in history and style.
But what I like best about Clarksville: I practically don’t have to make any decisions when it comes to food. There are a handful of great restaurants that offer multi-course, prix fixe dining events on designated nights every week. [Read more…]
Are you connected to the faces of your family’s oldest recipes? Find out who was sitting at your table, fork in hand. Credit: Annette Priest
As the food stratosphere continues to change at a national level, Austin’s food blogging scene is closing the generational gap with culturally significant plates served in the home kitchen. Three Austin food bloggers, Kay Marley-Dilworth, Amy Kritzer and Sahar Arafat-Ray have embraced their heritages (Mexican, Jewish and Palestinian, respectively) by bringing family recipes back to the table.
An image that ignites a food memory, a taste that transports you back to your childhood or a familiar aroma that reminds you of a cooking experience from years past. Sadly, sensory driven food memories of family kitchens have been lost as current generations prefer pre-packaged meals over home cooking.
Kay, Amy and Sahar shared similar food loving stories at SXSW SouthBites this week. They may convince you to get you back into your grandmother’s cookbook. [Read more…]
The Peached Tortilla food truck (Credit: Megan Heller)
This past weekend, SXSW Southbites gathered four of the brightest, most inventive and hard-working individuals among food truck royalty to talk about more than just their food. The panel was about the legacy their brands will leave behind and what goes on behind the curtain when you’re talking food trucks.
Eric Silverstein, founder of The Peached Tortilla, was Austin’s local voice. He shared candid details about his path from street food to brick and mortar, and his story is one of the most interesting I’ve heard in recent years. [Read more…]
South Lamar spotted through the archway of OPA! on a rainy day in Austin
My title may say this café defies labels, but perhaps it’s more accurate to say that OPA! on South Lamar invites many descriptions – wine bar, café, restaurant, student study haven, happy hour spot and casual hangout.
Stone walls outline an extensive front porch perfect for basking in the Saturday sun with a discounted cocktail. Deep in the café, however, are rich wooden tables, couches and red paneled walls where both heavy studiers and intimate chatters can find a haven.
Meanwhile, solo visitors perch at the coffee bar under strings of hanging pots and cups, watching the barkeep sling drinks and take orders with practiced skill. [Read more…]
Delysia Chocolatier Wine Collection
Delysia Chocolatier owner Nicole Patel
Even the best department stores lack the ability to bottle and sell a quality most only dream of obtaining: grace. Nicole Patel, proprietor of Delysia Chocolatier, wears it with ease. Her posture is perpetually poised, leaving me to wonder if she were a dancer in her childhood. Her smile is enhanced by warm expressive doe eyes framed by fluid dark shoulder length hair. Both these physical features mimic her passion: chocolate.
Walking into this petite store front and culinary center, the sweet scent of chocolate greets you with a warm welcome. Crisp shades of grey, white and black on the walls offer a nice contrast to the entry’s focal point: a crimson red wall that pops with vibrancy spelling out the establishment’s name, Delysia Chocolatier. Gazing upward, you’ll find [Read more…]
Red’s Porch savory Cheese Biscuits (Credit: Red’s Porch)
Call it a comeback, a fashionable re-entry, a timely coming of age. No matter what you call it, biscuits are blazing in Austin’s culinary spotlight.
With a multitude of flakey and layered, baked delights to choose from, my current favorites will only make a small dent in the plethora of biscuits the world is offering for the tasting. Nonetheless, here are three delicious choices in town. [Read more…]
There’s a new trend in Austin, with businesses playing convenience store, restaurant, bar and neighborhood hangout all in one (Credit: gina pina via Flickr CC)
Where can you go to buy locally sourced groceries, hang out with friends, have a fresh cup of espresso, grab a beer, hear good music and eat breakfast, lunch or dinner all under the same roof?
As you try to imagine what sort of establishment might be able to pull all that off, you’re probably thinking it has to be a large location or national chain. Well in Austin, that’s just not the case. Turns out, we have quite a few places that bring all these things together in a one-stop-shop for the surrounding community. You’ve probably heard of a couple of them, like Whip In and Quickie Pickie.
These types of stores/restaurants seem to be becoming a trend in Austin. They’re the result of a conglomeration of concepts from around the world like the American general store, the Indian dhaba, the Spanish bodeguita and others, but with a distinctive Austin vibe. [Read more…]