Mathis Kennington - The Austinot

Get to Know These 9 Austin Farmers’ Markets

February 1, 2016 by Mathis Kennington 1 Comment

Downtown farmers’ market (Credit: Lars Plougman via Flickr CC)

If you haven’t explored the generous selection of robust Austin farmers’ markets, you’re missing out on a fantastic collection of veggies and vibes. From North Austin to old Austin, from rural farms to urban farm stands, our city offers some of the most unique and exciting ways to eat seasonally and locally throughout the year.

There’s no better time than now to get out to one of these local markets and find farm-fresh food and artisanal vendors to entice your pallet and spruce up your dinner table. With choices all over the city, there’s likely to be a market right around the corner from you. But don’t limit yourself to just one. Visit all of these delicious farmers’ markets to put the fresh in Austin. [Read more…]

Sala and Betty Features Farm to Table Quality With Drive-Through

January 7, 2016 by Mathis Kennington Leave a Comment

I’m always on the hunt for a truly unique Austin restaurant experience. With the robust variety our city offers, something amazing can be just right around the corner.

At the same time, it takes a lot to impress when there are so many places that already stand out. Sala and Betty, a farm-sourced restaurant located on Airport Boulevard, is about to celebrate a full year since they opened their doors last February. The dining venue, which takes its name from owner and chef Teresa Wilson’s childhood nickname, effectively delivers a unique twist on high quality and delicious food.

Wanting to create something that combined quality with efficiency, Wilson developed a restaurant accessible to all kinds of schedules, but one ingredient stays consistent: quality. [Read more…]

Blue Owl Brewing Pours Fresh Take on Austin’s Beer Scene

December 30, 2015 by Mathis Kennington Leave a Comment

Blue Owl Brewing on E. Cesar Chavez (Credit: Tygrr DosRemedios)

Austin’s newest urban brewery has opened on Caesar Chavez, offering a collection of rare brews you won’t find anywhere else in town. Blue Owl Brewing is Austin’s only all sour-mashed brewery. Those who know a thing or two about Austin beer might immediately think of Jester King, which for a long time has held the market on farmhouse-style sour beers.

Blue Owl brews don’t have the dramatic sour taste you might expect when you think of a tart sour beer. Instead, the one-of-a-kind sour-mash process creates a delicate sour that is gentle enough for anyone who is just trying out sour beers, yet complex enough for the pickiest of craft beer drinkers. [Read more…]

Don’t Miss the 51st Year of Austin’s Trail of Lights!

December 10, 2015 by Mathis Kennington Leave a Comment

Trail of Lights 2015 from the air (Credit: Jared Tennant)

My holiday season doesn’t get started until Trail of Lights begins. This year, Austin’s beloved event is back for its 51st year of sparkling holiday goodness.

It may be like this every year, but there seems to be an renewed energy surrounding this celebrated Austin tradition. The Trail of Lights Foundation has worked extremely hard to make the experience better than ever, while keeping the cost to Austinites down.

Trail of Lights is free for its first week, Dec. 8-15. After that, its only a $3 for ages 12+. This is a small price compared to how much it costs to keep over two million lights bright on a trail where Austinites and visitors will walk a combined million miles this season! [Read more…]

5 Reasons You Can’t Get Reservations to Eat at Juniper

November 27, 2015 by Mathis Kennington 1 Comment

Juniper in East Austin (Credit: Robert Lerma)

Juniper is East Austin’s newest upscale restaurant. This dining destination on Cesar Chavez combines old-world kitchen style with Texas Hill Country ingredients, so it’s no wonder that it’s next to impossible to get a weekend reservation.

I’m not doing you any favors by writing this article. By the time you’re done, you’ll be reaching for your phone, hoping to get a table in Juniper’s intimate dining area. Good luck. I was barely able to snag a spot at the chef’s counter.

Here are my top five reasons why reservations go so fast. [Read more…]

Kooper Family Releases Only Rye Whiskey Made in Austin Area

November 12, 2015 by Mathis Kennington Leave a Comment

You can find almost any food or drink you want, crafted right here in the Austin area. As far as adult beverages go, we have locally-made beers, vodkas, gins and wines. But until recently, we didn’t have a distillery dedicated exclusively to producing a proud Texas rye whiskey.

Kooper Family Whiskey Co. is changing that.

For the first time ever, Austinites can enjoy a locally-aged rye whiskey for their shooting, slurping, sipping and cocktailing pleasure. This 100% rye combines the two essential ingredients you need to stand out in a market crowded with great spirit selections: a great story, backed by a great product. [Read more…]

Austin Music Foundation Empowers Local Artists

October 30, 2015 by Mathis Kennington 1 Comment

Though the typical Austinite may never see it, there is much more to Austin’s vibrant musicians than late night shows and the latest hustle.

Austin Music Foundation is one of the few local non-profits that support local musicians, so they can continue to rock our musical worlds.

Although I knew of Austin Music Foundation, I was amazed to discover just how hard the organization works to help musicians become as business-savvy as they are creative. This is vital to their lasting success. Because while Austin gets the best of their creativity, musicians aren’t always equipped with the business savvy it takes to be successful in the industry over the long run. [Read more…]

Banger’s Kicks Off Oktoberfest With Beer, Food, Music and Fun

October 15, 2015 by Mathis Kennington Leave a Comment

If you’ve never been to Germany or experienced the passionate way Germans celebrate their beer, Banger’s invites you to discover this year’s holy matrimony of sausage and suds as they pack weeks’ worth of sounds, sights and sumptuous flavors into four glorious days.

Thursday, Oct. 15, to Sunday, Oct. 18, Banger’s will host what may be the most epic Oktoberfest celebration you can find in Austin. [Read more…]

4 Tasty Wood-Fired Hot Spots to Try in Austin

September 28, 2015 by Mathis Kennington Leave a Comment

There are plenty of wood-fired places to try in Austin, such as Summer Moon Coffee (Credit: Justin Terry)

High-tech may reign supreme in Austin, but nothing will ever beat the classic taste of wood-burning fire mixed with the delicious ingredients included on this list of “hot spots” around Austin.

So in case you forgot that cedar and mesquite are good for more than congestion, we’ve compiled a guide to four of the smokiest local places to clear your sinuses and entice your appetite. [Read more…]

Helm Boots Takes Austin Style Coast To Coast

September 18, 2015 by Mathis Kennington Leave a Comment

Joshua Bingaman, owner of Helm Boots

Your Feet Will Thank You for Reading This

If you haven’t heard of Helm Boots, get ready to discover some of the best of what Austin style has to offer. The last time we checked in with our little slice of leather heaven, Joshua Bingaman and his team had proudly introduced a brand new, American-made line of boots.

We described how Joshua had been beating down the doors of the somewhat suspicious classic American shoe-making factories that produce monster-brand boots like Red Wing. Helm Boots wanted to bring their previous line, made in Istanbul, over to the U.S. to have more control and design freedom with their product.

The story of how Joshua managed to get his boot in the door (see what I did there?) of these factories is so classically Austin, you could eat it from a taco. [Read more…]