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Ready to indulge in the best pasta in Austin?
Guest article by Ashley Alkek
Pasta. Arguably the greatest creation involving flour, water and eggs. There are literally thousands of ways to prepare and enjoy each flavorful shape.
Some talented folks in the Austin culinary community are serving up dishes that are designed to rip you away from reality and into a glorious food coma. Here is a handful of restaurants to check out around town! [Read more…]
Regal Ravioli is one of many Italian food trucks in Austin
People say Austin doesn’t have a diverse food scene, but I say you just have to know where to look. While the capital city may not have a version of New York’s Little Italy, pasta, pizza, and authentic Italian desserts can still be found scattered throughout our streets. So, when you find yourself craving the warm, comforting goodness that only a certain boot-shaped country can provide, give these five Italian food trucks in Austin a try. [Read more…]
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…]
Austinites can access authentic Peruvian cuisine at Lima Criolla
Austin is known for Tex-Mex. Much less noticeably, there has been a recent surge in other Latin American cuisine. It’s about time we start branching out to try these restaurants inspired by Central and South America.
Lima Criolla is one such restaurant. Small and tucked away in North Austin, it’s owned by a family that moved here from Peru. They’re dedicated to introducing Austinites to the authentic food of their home country. [Read more…]
Peering into the kitchen at Red Ash Italia in downtown Austin (Credit: Susannah Haddad)
Tex-Mex and steakhouses may be the Texas standard, but when it comes to Austin’s growing culinary scene there are many cuisines challenging that tradition. Italian food is one of the most popular cuisines across America, yet in Austin we lack authentic options.
Only in the last five to ten years have we seen an increase in authentic Italian pizza locally, but Italian food is much more than just pizza. Finally, Red Ash Italia offers dishes that highlight both northern and southern Italian styles of cooking. Here’s what awaits you when you visit Austin’s Red Ash Italia. [Read more…]
Inside Italic on West Sixth Street
Do you know an easy way to find out how good the food is in a restaurant? Order a dish made of vegetables. When you order a pasta with meat sauce that has been slow-cooked for hours, or a pizza with cheese bubbling on top, you know it’s going to be good. But if a chef can turn zucchini into a dish even a carnivore would adore and make roasted carrots burst with flavor, rest assured you are in the right place. [Read more…]
Vespaio Ristorante and Enoteca Vespaio are co-located on South Congress Avenue (Credit: Joleen Jernigan)
Do you want freshly-made, locally-grown food served with a warm South Austin attitude? Vespaio Ristorante and Enoteca Vespaio bring both–with Italian passion–to the heart of South Congress Avenue.
These culinary cornerstones of the SoCo strip have been setting the standard for Italian food in Austin for decades. The kitchen staff at both restaurants is up and at it early, making pasta, bread, desserts and charcuterie, and prepping all of the daily specials in-house. Much of the food is made using ingredients from the on-site garden, Tecolote Farm in Manor and other local vendors. [Read more…]
Roaring Fork’s green chili mac and cheese (Credit: Susan S. Bradley)
Mac and cheese often gets overlooked in Austin, where brisket and tacos reign supreme. But what’s better than creamy, cheesy carbs? Nothing.
With so many remarkable restaurants in town, you have plenty of gourmet options to tantalize your need for cheese. Next time you go out, just say no to BBQ and Tex-Mex, and give cheese a chance.
Check out my favorite options in town!
aRoma Owner Dave Whitney, Executive Chef Jason Garcia and Restaurant Manager Carlos Cueva
Editor’s Note: aRoma is closed as of November 2017. Another Italian restaurant named ManinPasta is expected to take its place.
As the outline of South Lamar continues to change and quickly rise upward, Austin welcomes a new kid to town, aRoma Italian Kitchen & Bar.
Located at 3403 S. Lamar, aRoma has cozied up as a neighbor to our beloved Broken Spoke, bringing with it a new chapter of local Italian cuisine that reaches the south end of Austin. The contemporary kitchen boasts rustic recipes complemented by sleek presentation and fresh, local flavors, plus from-scratch pasta, dough, mozzarella and more. [Read more…]