Discover the Best Things to Do in Austin, Food & Drink deals and more!
Guest article by James Lipari
With the new year approaching, I asked several Austin breweries to gaze into their crystal balls (or planning software, whatever), and tell us what magical things we can expect in 2020. Here’s the inside scoop on what they told us.
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Do you crave ice cream all year, no matter the weather? Then you’re in luck! Lick Honest Ice Creams has launched a holiday flavor menu in tune with the flavors and feelings of the season.
These wintry flavors are reminiscent of cozy nights by the fire with loved ones, family gatherings, or treating yourself to ice cream after an active day outdoors. You know I take my blog writing seriously, so I assure you I tasted each of these flavors to better share them with you!
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For the latest installment of my Austin speakeasy series, I visited Garage, a cocktail bar in–you guessed it–a garage. Like so many speakeasies in Austin, if you don’t know what you’re looking for, you may miss it.
Look for a parking garage on Colorado Street, directly south of Dirty Sixth. There, set back away from the street, is a set of doors where entering may stop time altogether. At least, I learned, that is the intent.
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Cafe Nena’i is tucked away on the east side of Austin. Elena Sanguinetti and Gladys Benitez, mother-daughter duo and owners of the bakery, chose the location because it was raw and largely untapped at the time they opened in 2017.
Sanguinetti, the mom, was raised on a farm in Paraguay. Daughter Benitez grew up in Miami. When they arrived in Austin, they wanted to share the food of their heritage and melting-pot experience in Miami.
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Party time, Austin-style! Festivities are reaching peak season, and good holiday party trays can be edible works of art to feed and impress the masses.
Whether for work or private parties, these Austin companies have the hookup on noteworthy holiday party trays and boxes that will have your loved ones drooling with appreciation.
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As you may already know, Austin is a huge hub for foodies. With increased support for the local movement, as well as a growing preference for small-batch and handcrafted products, many local brands have skyrocketed in popularity.
The following is a list of companies that are Austin-born and Austin-loved. Even better, they’re all available in area grocery stores. Even the most voracious localvore may find one or two surprising new products here!
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It’s hard to deny Austin has some of the best tacos in the country. And they’re everywhere! Before moving here, tacos were a once-in-a-while treat for me, and now they’re a part of my weekly–and sometimes daily–diet. But there is an amazing meal that took me a little longer to discover: arepas! Yes, tacos will always be great, and I’m glad they’re popular cuisine here. But in this article, I’ll shed some light on the arepa, the taco’s under-appreciated cousin.
What is an arepa? It’s a patty, or cake, made from ground corn. The ground corn is mixed with water and salt to make a dough, and can either be fried, baked, or grilled. Arepas are normally eaten as a savory dish with beans, meat, and/or cheese. They’re typical to the cuisine in Venezuela and Colombia, but are enjoyed widely throughout Latin America and the world.
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Speakeasies tend to latch on to the creepy and salacious. During the course of my speakeasy series, I’ve visited horror film-themed bars, heard multiple stories of ghosts haunting the premises, and learned that brothels existed in the heart of Austin not long ago. When I found out Austin’s newest speakeasy is named after J. Stephens, who came to his end in the late 1920s via suicide, due to drinking the equivalent of Lysol, it felt rather on-brand.
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Everyone has a home base, a place in town where they feel welcome, comfortable, and relaxed. For me and many of us at The Austinot, that place is Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches.
It’s easy to explain why. Not only does Batch produce exquisite baked goods, but the exceptional craft beer tap list, awesome bottle selection, and family-friendly environment sets it apart from the rest. Whenever I’m planning to meet friends, Batch is my go-to recommendation.
But with a new brewery open as of this past weekend, our venerated local hangout is wading into uncharted waters. Luckily, Batch has approached this new venture with the same heart and spirit of adventure that created Austin’s kolache haven in the first place. And with an initial offering of brews you won’t find anywhere else, there’s nowhere to go but up.
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More people are incorporating CBD into their regimen for its reported benefits. Its applications are wide and varied. Many modern spas offer CBD as a topical add-on you can incorporate into your massage. There are CBD oils, creams, and lotions you can apply yourself. There are capsules and tinctures.
Another common way to receive CBD is by consuming foods and treats we already love. CBD can be infused into smoothies, pastries, candy, and basically anything your heart desires. CBD and coffee is becoming a more widely available combination, much to the delight of both CBD and coffee enthusiasts.
Al Mortada is an enthusiast of both. With his Austin-based CBD coffee company, Ott Coffee, he is able to share both of these passions with the world.
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