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Ask any of my friends and they’ll tell you I’ve got a big sweet tooth. Luckily, Austin has plenty of options to help with that. If you’re looking for best dessert in Austin like ice cream, cookies, pies, or more, keep reading. Although I can’t offer a full list of all the delicious treats available in Austin, here are 10 businesses that I recommend you check out.
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Ice cream is a beloved dessert but, sometimes Austin snow cones and shaved ice are better to beat the heat. If you have been searching for where a snow cone shop near me is – you’ve come to the right place. Check out where you can find some of the best shaved ice in Austin.
Shaved ice is a refreshing dessert. And at Shaved Ice Island, it’s taken up a notch. This island-themed food truck serves creative shaved ice recipes. Try their signature flavor, the Moscow Mule!
Where: 2701 W William Cannon Dr, Austin, TX 78745
Sno.Co is another snow cone food truck in Austin. It serves up Flattop Shaved Ice. Sno.Co also serves their treats in cool cups, so get your fill today.
Where: 2307 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722
This local business has over 50 flavors of syrups to choose from! Not only does this Austin snow cones and shaved ice shop has many flavors, but it also serves New Orleans-style snowballs. Their special machines absorb the syrup instead of it sinking to the bottom.
Where: 11220 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78753
This ice cream parlor serves more than the traditional dessert. With mangonadas and raspaditos, you might feel a little spicy on your way to cooling off.
Where: 1144 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX, TX 78702
Sno Mo is fluffy like snow but creamy like ice cream. We know it might be confusing, but when you take a bite, it’ll all make sense. Wait Sno Mo for good snow cones!
Where: 13497 N Hwy 183, Austin, TX 78750
Hula Cowgirl serves shaved ice out in Georgetown. It isn’t too far from Austin. What’s great about this shaved ice company is that you can order a catering package if you’re holding an event like a birthday or corporate gathering!
Where: 103 N Austin Ave #305, Georgetown, TX 78626
Snow cones are overlooked often as a dessert. But The Snowball’s Chance will make you rethink that. Because this isn’t the ordinary snow cone stand, it’s one with epic snow cones. We’re talking vanilla wafers, strawberries, and more.
Where: 408 Main St, Buda, TX 78610
New Orleans-style snowballs are popular because they’re made with fluffy shaved ice. Casey’s is one of the best places to find snow cones in Austin. Take a trip to their truck today.
Where: 808 E 51st St, Austin, TX, TX 78751
Another shaved ice truck! We’re sensing a theme here. Austin likes to cool off as easily as possible. Snowbowla prepares its syrups with vegan sugar and has dye-free flavors!
Where: 5801 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78756
At Woody’s, the shaved ice comes in one size. Each creation is made with fresh fruit, no dyes, and no artificial flavors. After all, shave ice is on the lighter side, so it should be healthier too.
Where: 1158 Lost Creek Blvd, Austin, TX 78746
The shaved ice truck in Austin is abundant. But don’t forget about the local snow cone shops in Austin. Make a trip to get a snow cone today, you deserve it!
Want some dinner before your dessert? Check out these Austin Thai Food Restaurants.
With many lakes in Austin, you might be reminded of the ocean and how far away good seafood is. We get it. With the ocean far, it can make you hesitant. So, if you’ve yet to dive into some of the seafood restaurants in Austin, now is your chance, because these are some that are shrimpy the best!
Clark’s serves lunch, dinner, and even brunch. It’s one of the upscale seafood restaurants in Austin. The menu has a wide variety of oysters to pick from. So, if oysters are your favorite type of seafood, you’ll have to try Clark’s.
Where: 1200 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78703
Café Blue is a local favorite for seafood restaurants and oyster bars. There are two locations in Austin, and both have indoor and outdoor seating. On Monday, happy hour is all day.
Where: 340 E 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701
Po’Boy is a common seafood sandwich. But Turf N’ Surf serves up more than that. They also serve salads, chicken, and plates that’ll have your mouth watering for more.
Where: 407 Lavaca St, Austin, TX 78701
Austin seafood boil is hard to come by. But at Kasian Boil, it’s made for you to order. While they do have the traditional seafood boil, they also sell shrimp bowls and offer family-sized meals so everyone can enjoy.
Where: 13717 Mopac Service Rd #250, Austin, TX 78727
Seafood places in Austin that are independent are sometimes the best. Poke-Poke is a family-owned and operated seafood restaurant. They start every poke with fish and promise that nothing is pre-made.
Where: 3100 S Congress Ave Suite A, Austin, TX 78704
Seafood and chicken… Terry’s has the best of both worlds, that is if someone in your party doesn’t like seafood. The place started as a fish market, but since 1976 Terry’s has been frying and serving up good seafood in Austin at a great price.
Where: 1805 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78702
Cajun seafood is the best seafood, there are no arguments about that. Da Boot Po-Boys offers Austin a little taste of New Orleans. If you love cajun and Po-boys then you’ll have to visit this seafood truck.
Where: 4204 Menchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78704
Located in a shopping plaza, Marisco Grill is a small and hidden seafood place. If you haven’t guessed by the name, Marisco Grill is a Mexican seafood restaurant. So plan to have a margarita with your meal.
Where: 9515 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78753
There are a few markets in Austin. Salty Cargo is located in one of them. This casual seafood restaurant takes Hawaiian staples and gives them an Asian twist. It’s also a bonus that there is a market because they have easy access to fresh fish!
Where: 1700 W Parmer Ln #100, Austin, TX 78727
Salt Traders is an upscale seafood restaurant in Austin. Everything is seafood-centric. This place takes pride in sourcing its fish from the Texas coast.
Where: 2850 N Interstate Hwy 35, Round Rock, TX 78681
As you can see, there’s a lot of places in Austin to get seafood. With the option of seafood markets to fancy seafood restaurants, you shouldn’t be as hesitant now. These seafood restaurants in Austin are worth a dive.
Not a fan of the sea? Check out some of the top BBQ spots in Austin here.
As I’ve visited local markets and grocery stores in Austin that many neighborhood residents frequent, it quickly became apparent what Austinites value: organic food, local products, and craft beer.
Though the atmosphere of these local businesses varies, they all make shopping local convenient and offer easy access to unique foods that are difficult to find anywhere else. Here’s a list of what I consider the best local grocery stores in Austin.
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This Veteran’s Day, I’d like to shine the spotlight on some of Austin’s Veteran-owned businesses. From cybersecurity protection to coffee roasting to recruiting veterans, you’ll want to check out these 10 businesses and learn about the amazing things that they’re doing.
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A really good chocolate chip cookie just can’t be beat. I would even argue that they are the best dessert of all time! Chocolate chip cookies are classic and comforting, but the coolest part is that they can be made so many ways. Whether you like chewy, bakery-style cookies or giant, thick cookies or crispy and flat cookies, there’s definitely a perfect chocolate chip cookie for you in Austin.
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One of my favorite things about Austin is that there is an almost never ending list of activities to do and events to attend. At the top of that list of activities are all the things that allow one to splash into some water-filled fun: swimming in Barton Springs, paddleboarding in Lady Bird Lake, or even heading out to San Marcos to float the river. Anything to get some relief from the Texas summer heat, right?
And when you’re swimming, you’re going to need something to wear into the water. Enter House of ZZ. They are a local brand that sells sustainable swimwear for women – so you can feel and look fabulous while out in the water.
Owners Morgan and Michael Rizzuti started their careers in fields much different from where they’ve ended up. They both attended the University of Texas in history and engineering, respectively. While their educational journey didn’t teach them the inner workings of running and operating a business, there was something about Austin’s creative pull that made them realize that this was the place for them to start House of ZZ.
Morgan initially joined the corporate world after finishing college at UT. Over time, she knew that she wanted to leave her corporate job for something more, but wasn’t sure what the future held for her. It was her love of water that eventually inspired her to look into starting a swimwear brand. She had no design experience at the time, but wasn’t going to let that stop her. Morgan loves the power a good outfit – or bikini – has on a person and wanted to share that feeling with the world.
While a love of water was a big part of the business idea, the other reason that Morgan and Michael decided to dive into House of ZZ was the sustainability aspect that they could incorporate. Their initial research on manufacturers and fabric suppliers opened up a whole new world to them. They learned about the (non-)sustainability practices being used in the fashion industry. So instead of using nylon and contributing to all the pre and post-consumer materials that find their way into the ocean and landfills, House of ZZ is using recycled materials to create their bikinis. Their fabrics are derived from industrial plastics, unused fabric scraps, fishing nets, and more – which also results in a stronger, higher quality material.
But Morgan and Michael didn’t want to just focus on sustainable products. They planned to work with an overseas manufacturer and wanted to ensure that they found an ethical facility that cared about the employees who worked for them. After doing the research, they made the trip overseas to visit the facility they’d chosen. They learned that not only was this facility the right choice, but it was also more transparent than the U.S. companies they had considered. The bonus perk about the facility they had chosen? Their manufacturers donate a percentage of profits back to ocean conservation initiatives.
“All of this comes with a price, of course, but I’m not doing this because it’s easy. It’s hard, more time intensive, and significantly more expensive,” Morgan said. “But I don’t care. Making a quick buck isn’t the point. Doing something bigger than ourselves is.”
Now that’s a brand message that we can all stand behind.
House of ZZ draws its inspirations from a multitude of things: places that Morgan and Michael have traveled, swimwear and models from the 80s and 90s, and current trends from influencers. But whether they are worn on a casual day out or a fun vacation to the beach, all House of ZZ pieces are made with one intention in mind: to make the wearer feel good about themselves.
As Morgan explains, none of the suits are worn to cover up bumps or curves or what people misdefine as “flaws.” The female body is like a piece of art. Morgan loves to show it off and complement and accentuate every square inch. All bodies are beautiful and she wants her customers to feel that way when they wear her swimwear.
The 2020 collection includes both bikinis and one pieces. They feature colors like black, white, bronze, and Maya blue as well as a cute floral print called Orange Blossom.
Launching is an adventure within itself, but to do so during a pandemic is a whole new battle. Morgan and Michael have been able to face these challenges together while providing support to one another. This means that arguments over bikinis might happen in the kitchen every now and then. But it also means that they have each other’s backs when talking strategy and operations. The Rizzutis understand that they cannot ignore any business-related problems. They are open about providing feedback to each other and accepting constructive criticism.
One of the big challenges that they’ve had to face is learning to take advice from others with a grain of salt. As any new business owner will find out, there will be many people that decide to share their ideas of how you should operate or what you should do with your business. The Rizzutis learned over time that following the advice of others – no matter how experienced they were – can sometimes lead to wasted time and money spent on something that just doesn’t work for your business.
“Soak it all up like a sponge,” Morgan shared with me, “but take it with a grain of salt. Trust your gut – always. Most of the time, it’s probably right.”
From providing an engineer a ton of bikini knowledge to giving a corporate employee the satisfaction of starting her own business based on her passion, the House of ZZ has been quite an adventure for the Rizzutis. I, for one, can’t wait to see what comes next.
Learn more about House of ZZ and shop their bikinis on their website.
@theAustinot wants to know:
What’s your favorite water activity in Austin?
If you are into local restaurants, wineries, and farmer’s markets at all, you’ve likely sampled or bought Con’ Olio’s Ultra Premium olive oil or balsamic vinegar. They are offering their popular Olive Oil + Balsamic Vinegar class online.
That’s right, now we can experience this virtual burst of knowledge and flavor comfortably in our own homes. Con’ Olio is one of those places in town with a reputation that precedes it. I’ve long heard great things about their Olive Oil + Balsamic Vinegar 101 classes from foodie friends.
This Austin business has been on my radar for some time now, ever since I met owner Tabatha Conarko at a wine tasting and class at the outstanding El Gaucho Winery. I am so looking forward to this!
Disclosure: Con’ Olio invited me to join in a Olive Oil + Balsamic Vinegar 101 class. Look for social media coverage on Oct. 22, when I actually participate.
Con’ Olio’s classes are about so much more than olive oil and balsamic vinegar, although those ingredients are the core components of the class. The classes include an educational aspect and pairings with complementary flavors. I’m really looking forward to trying out their new classes, scheduled once weekly through mid-November.
Current dates for the Con’ Olio Virtual Class: Olive Oil + Balsamic 101 are October 22 and 27, and November 5 and 12. The classes are $40 per person, plus tax.
Here is the lowdown from the class description and press release.
Conarko will lead the class, guiding attendees through a variety of flavors: intense and robust, mild and buttery Extra Virgin Olive Oils (EVOOs), and light and dark balsamic vinegars. She’ll go over when and how to use each one. In the Con’ Olio class, Conarko will also pair these EVOOs and balsamics with lots of tasty goodies, like Antonelli’s cheese and prosciutto, apples, caprese salad, artisan bread, and Amy’s Ice Creams.
In the class, Conarko will go over the myths and truths of the Mediterranean diet and its health benefits. She’ll also talk about how the fine Con’ Olio EVOOs and balsamic vinegars are produced and will teach participants how to detect the freshest olive oil and when they have gone bad or are low quality.
Guests will be asked to pick up their plates via contactless curbside pickup at the Con’ Olio Arboretum location, from 1-4pm the day of the class. That same day, participants will receive an email with a Zoom link to the class. Classes should run about 45 minutes, with a 10-15 minute Q&A at the end.
I’m getting excited to see how many long-established Austin eateries are finding their online groove with these classes. Like many of you, I’m still staying home more often than not and avoiding crowds in an effort to socially distance myself safely for as long as necessary.
These virtual classes, cooking kits, and tastings help bring people together. Even while we are physically apart, the need for human connection is real. We also want to support our local businesses and enjoy the excellent food and drinks these Austin eateries have to offer.
I’m grateful to Con’ Olio for adding this fun – and tasty – class to the growing number of ways to virtually experience Austin’s best at home. If you sign up, let me know what you think!
10000 Research Blvd, #130 – Con’ Olio Virtual Classes
@theAustinot wants to know:
What is your favorite Austin local online class or tasting you’ve tried in 2020?
No more boring dinners! If you have run through your repertoire of go-to recipes, and can’t stand the thought of looking at that sourdough starter mess again, El Alma is here to help!
Now you can sign up for an absolutely genius El Alma At Home monthly membership program. They have considered a wide range of budgets and perks, so that everyone can join if they’d like. El Alma At Home membership tiers start at $5 and go up to the VIP membership at $75.
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Want to channel your inner Argentinian? Buenos Aires Café is here to make it easy! Besides dancing the tango and tossing back some Malbec, the make-at-home empanada kit from Buenos Aires Café is a fun way to show off your South American style.
Their take-home Amaro tastings and date night kits from their Milonga Room speakeasy are also excellent ways to do so for drinkers with a sophisticated or adventurous palate. Another way to celebrate Argentinian flair is to enjoy an upcoming cooking class with Chef Reina Morris and Paola Guerrero-Smith. Or you can try a date night with Guerrero-Smith and her husband.
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