Food & Drink Archives - Page 59 Of 81

David Highfill Shakes and Stirs at The Driskill Hotel Bar

Posted on May 13, 2015 by Judy Rae Merhar

Inside the elegant Driskill Hotel (Credit: The Driskill Hotel)

Editor’s note: David Highfill passed away on March 25, 2019. May he rest in peace.

My relationship with The Driskill began twelve years ago when I surprised my mother-in-law with afternoon tea. Imagine our surprise to find we were the only reservation. This hotel’s high level of service was apparent when I noticed a harpist with waist long blond hair sitting beside a table set for two. It would have been easily justifiable for the hotel to cancel this indulgence, but they didn’t.

For the next two hours this lovely women played, solely for us. It was surreal hearing the gentle melody flow through the foyer as we nibbled through three tiers of delicacies and sipped steaming cups of tea. It was an unforgettable moment.

Years since, I’ve experienced the indulgence of waking up beneath plush piles of soft linens under the roof at 6th and Brazos, enjoyed Mother’s Day brunch with my girls under crystal chandeliers and spent countless hours with a coffee cup and croissant at the hotel’s bakery, 1886. And when I gave birth to my third daughter, Emma Pearl, our first stop wasn’t home. It was 1886 to pick up a four layer buttercream cake topped with lavender roses my husband had pre-ordered for my 30th birthday. I only associate good memories with The Driskill Hotel, including the day I met David Highfill. [Read more…]

Strange Land Brewery Puts Uncommon Selection on Tap

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Bill Tucker

The tap wall at Strange Land Brewery is full of surprises

Here in beautiful Austin, Texas, breweries are breeding like rabbits. It seems like a new one is born every week. One of these newbies is Strange Land, a brand new jewel in the Austin craft crown. With a focus on creating “the beer less traveled,” Strange Land delivers old world style to the rapidly growing ATX beer scene. [Read more…]

Austin Soul Food Battle: Olamaie vs. Fixe

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Edgar Barguiarena

This beautiful room serves as the entrance to Olamaie

Golden, crispy, buttery perfection. Biscuits in Austin have officially been elevated. And you’d be hard-pressed to find two restaurants doing more for our favorite flaky bread than Olamaie and Fixe.

The two Southern cuisine inspired restaurants have been making a name for themselves in Austin’s dining scene for their fresh take on soul food. But those biscuits, whew, those biscuits are game-changers.

Olamaie’s basket of fresh biscuits

You might think it odd to compare two gourmet restaurants that average $20-$30 per entree by the most inexpensive thing on their menu, but that would just mean you haven’t actually tried their biscuits. These aren’t the Pillsbury tubes you’ll find at HEB. Both Olamaie and Fixe spent months crafting their biscuit recipes, and when you see a server walk past your table carrying a steaming stack of doughy perfection, you’ll understand why.

This Austin soul food battle pits Olamaie vs. Fixe, examining their biscuit skills as well as their menus as a whole.

[Read more…]

Go Inside Kerbey Lane’s Kitchen After 35 Years

Posted on April 27, 2015 by Cris Mueller

Executive Chef Joel Welch of Kerbey Lane

Executive Chef Joel Welch shapes the Kerbey Lane menu (Credit: Moonshine Images)

Any true foodie loves to experiment with their food and attempt to recreate their favorite dish from their favorite restaurant. Today you and I get to take a peek inside one of Austin’s most beloved restaurants as they celebrate their 35th anniversary. Executive Chef Joel Welch invited The Austinot inside the Kerbey Lane Cafe kitchen for an introduction to some of their wildly popular dishes that have stood the test of time. [Read more…]

Waller Creek Pub House: Your Haven from Dirty 6th Madness

Posted on April 27, 2015 by Bill Tucker

Good food and great beer await you at Waller Creek Pub House

Picture this. You’re walking eastward on 6th Street in the midst of Friday night madness. People shouting drink specials. Pounding house music. The street is thick with UT kids and tourists. In desperation, you consider the 15 minute hike to East 6th for respite.

But imagine if there was a chilled out craft beer pub in the dark space between Red River and Route 35. A place with a relaxed vibe, quality beer and spirits and a yummy food menu.

Well, go ahead and open your eyes. Waller Creek Pub House, nestled on Sabine between 6th and 7th, will become your new favorite spot and a safe haven from the downtown hustle. [Read more…]

Nasha Brings Mumbai and Margaritas to Austin’s East Side

Posted on April 24, 2015 by Erin May

Nasha India offers complexly flavored food with a seriously spicy kick and a fun Tex Mex twist

Looking for your next food adventure in Austin?

Search no further than East 7th Street and the charming wooden house previously occupied by Casa Columbia. While that east side favorite has moved further down the street, Nasha India has taken its place with a bold attempt at a new food genre: Indian-Tex Mex fusion. [Read more…]

Your Austin Guide to Oysters on the Half Shell

Posted on April 22, 2015 by Natalie Parra-Novosad

Oysters. Either you love them or you can’t get over the idea of swallowing a raw mollusk, which is not an easy thing to overcome for some.

If you’ve only ever tried Gulf oysters, give Atlantic oysters a shot at one of the Austin oyster bars listed in this article. [Read more…]

Baked by Amy’s Creates Sweet Dreams from Scratch

Posted on April 21, 2015 by Judy Rae Merhar

Baked by Amy’s on Hwy 183 in northwest Austin

Erin Fellows, Head Baker and Managing Partner at Baked by Amy’s

Prepare to be smitten with Erin Fellows. Her crystal blue eyes and button nose are framed by blond locks of shoulder length hair, resembling the adorable animated Cindy Lou from Whoville, the knee-high girl with charms even the Grinch couldn’t resist!

But Erin has something Cindy Lou lacks. She can bake! To smell divine, some women spritz themselves with liquid botanicals. Erin’s presence is followed by the fragrant mixture of buttercream and chocolate. [Read more…]

5 Favorite North Austin Lunch Spots

Posted on April 16, 2015 by Edwin Ochoa

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…]

La Patisserie: Scrumptious Piece of Paris in Austin

Posted on April 15, 2015 by Judy Rae Merhar

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…]

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