Yulia Dyukova - 2/3 - The Austinot

The Tasty Spoon’s Gelato Spotlights Local Ingredients, Italian Technique

June 26, 2017 by Yulia Dyukova Leave a Comment

Ashley MacDonald, owner of The Tasty Spoon

Just in time for hot summer days, The Tasty Spoon, a traditional Italian gelateria, opened on South 1st Street a few weeks back. And if cooling down with delicious treats isn’t good enough, they also brought a fun new mural to Austin that is bound to become a hit on your Instagram.

Following classic Italian techniques and using only the freshest natural ingredients, Ashley MacDonald creates magic in the kitchen of her shop. From traditional chocolate peanut butter, pistachio, and coffee, to seasonal lavender honey and basil lime sorbet, each flavor is well thought-through and tested to achieve perfection. [Read more…]

Spend an Unforgettable Day Like a Tourist in Austin

June 12, 2017 by Yulia Dyukova 2 Comments

Austin’s changing skyline (Credit: Jessica Pino)

Let me start by stating the obvious: we live in one of the greatest cities in the world. Austin has so much to offer that my list of must-see places and must-do things keeps growing, even though I’m constantly exploring.

While I try to keep up with the latest restaurants and music festivals, there are a number of places in Austin I’ve been neglecting. You know, the kind of places at the top of TripAdvisor, where the tourists go.

So many times, I’ve thought of visiting these places, only to tell myself, “Oh, I live here. I can always go later.” For many people, years go by and they never make the time. [Read more…]

Our Search for the Best Macarons in Austin

May 29, 2017 by Yulia Dyukova 1 Comment

A few months back, my petite French friend Agnès and I spent a day driving around Austin in search of the most authentic croissant. This important research gave us an opportunity to drink coffee, eat pastries, and chat all day long! We liked it so much, it’s no wonder that we decided to do another “research” project: this time for the best macarons in Austin.

I have good news and bad news for you. The bad news is we couldn’t find authentic French macarons anywhere. Some were very close, but not quite the same. The good news is you can find a lot of delicious macarons in Austin that will make your day brighter. [Read more…]

LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue Food Truck Reimagines Texas Traditions

May 16, 2017 by Yulia Dyukova Leave a Comment

If I’ve learned anything from a year of living in Texas, it’s the fact that every Texan has a strong opinion about how BBQ should taste. Actually, “opinion” is a weak word in this case. “Indisputable truth” better explains the situation.

In a state where brisket is king, opening a BBQ joint that specializes in creative meats and unusual cuts is an act of courage. On a regular weekday, you won’t find the oh-so-familiar trio of brisket, ribs, and sausage on the menu of the newly opened LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue food truck. Instead, you might come across beef cheeks, quail stuffed with macaroni and cheese, and pork shoulder. [Read more…]

Finally, an Austin Taco Joint That Lets You Create Your Own Menu Item

April 19, 2017 by Yulia Dyukova Leave a Comment

I’m at the point in life when I become slightly ashamed to admit out loud the number of tacos I consume weekly. If I share one more picture of tacos al pastor on my Instagram, I’m afraid people won’t understand.

Having said that, I’m not about to slow down. Especially since I’ve discovered that Tyson’s Tacos, a small neighborhood joint on Airport Boulevard, offers tacos created by its customers. I even have a shot at getting my own taco creation on the menu if I visit often enough. [Read more…]

From Hot Rods to BBQ: The Story Behind Slow Pokes Brisket Shack

April 10, 2017 by Yulia Dyukova 1 Comment

Slow Pokes Brisket Shack

I don’t often find myself in Manchaca. But when I venture that far south, I always come across something awesome. A few weeks ago, on the way home from Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-in, I was looking through the car window when something strange caught my eye. “Oh! Wait! Stop! Turn back! What was that? Okay…next time.” I thought I saw a trailer with a bunch of bicycles on the roof. And a couple of vintage cars in the parking lot. And there was a sign for BBQ. I came back a week later to check out this strange place, which turned out to be Slow Pokes Brisket Shack. [Read more…]

Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-in Reopens in South Austin

March 13, 2017 by Yulia Dyukova Leave a Comment

For seven years, Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-in has been a place where families and friends can get together to watch movies under the open sky and relive childhood memories. The world’s first boutique drive-in movie theater has held fundraisers for diverse organizations in Austin and donated to charities, and has been a place for local up-and-coming filmmakers to showcase their talent.

So when Blue Starlite asked for help relocating to a new, permanent home in South Austin, its fans showed love, gratitude and support in return. [Read more…]

Delicious Meets Healthy With Italian Food at L’oca D’oro

March 2, 2017 by Yulia Dyukova Leave a Comment

Credit: Jackie Klusmeyer

Wolfgang Puck once said, “Italian food is all about ingredients and it’s not fussy and it’s not fancy.” It seems to me Chef Fiore Tedesco of contemporary Italian restaurant L’oca D’oro would agree with this statement. Moreover, he brings it to life.

If you aren’t sure how to pronounce the name L’oca D’oro, don’t stress out. You’re not the only one! Simply leave out the apostrophes and say “loca doro,” which means, “golden goose” in Italian. Without knowledge of the language, all Italian words sound like music to me. But L’oca D’oro actually has a sweet story behind it. The restaurant was named after Tedesco’s daughter, Lucinda. “I call her Lucy, Lucy Goose. She was born with blonde hair and I called her that since she was a baby.” [Read more…]

How Austin’s Tiny Pies Ended Up on Tables Across the U.S.

February 16, 2017 by Yulia Dyukova Leave a Comment

With over 40,000 followers on Instagram alone, Tiny Pies proves their taste is big, though their pies may be little. This is the story of how a small business from Austin took the nation by storm.

Tiny Pies Idea Is Born

Tiny Pies is a creative endeavor started by the mother-daughter duo of Kit Seay and Amanda Bates back in 2011. The idea of making hand-held pies came from Bates’ son. He loved taking a slice of pie to school, but it always got too messy. “One day he tossed out an idea: ‘Why don’t you come up with something I can eat with my hand?’ We instantly knew it was a really good idea,” Bates explained.

The idea turned into days spent in the kitchen playing around with recipes and testing flavors. Baking together wasn’t new for the pair. Bates baked with her mom for as long as she can remember. And Seay, in turn, used to bake with her own mom. [Read more…]

Atlas Coffee Club Brings Coffee From Around the World to Your Doorstep

February 3, 2017 by Yulia Dyukova Leave a Comment

Credit: Dennis Burnett Photography

If coffee and travel have something in common, it’s the sense of awakening they both give you. Coffee awakens your body, while traveling awakens your mind and soul. When two adventurous and energetic individuals combined the two, it resulted in a brand as unique as a far-away country and as bold as your morning cup of joe. [Read more…]