Ciclo Restaurant Dances With Latin Flavor Downtown

Ciclo Menu Dishes Downtown Austin

Ciclo is located inside The Four Seasons Hotel downtown (Credit: Galdones Photography)

Introducing Ciclo restaurant and neighboring Live Oak inside Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Austin! Ciclo is the latest concept from world-renowned restaurateur Richard Sandoval, led by Chef de Cuisine James Flowers (TRIO, Wink, Asti Trattoria, Cipollina).

Ciclo and Live Oak dance with Latin flavor, with the latter taking menu inspiration from Guadalajara, Mexico. I had the pleasure of experiencing both concepts. The way they complement each other makes Four Seasons a superb destination for dinner and drinks.
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The Flying Carpet Food Truck Magically Transports Austinites to Morocco

The Flying Carpet Moroccan Food in Austin

Maria and Abdu welcome diners to The Flying Carpet

Editor’s Note: As of spring 2019, The Flying Carpet is closed until further notice.

“Love Wins.” The sign on the side of The Flying Carpet, a family-run Moroccan food truck, says it all. The Flying Carpet brings the rich cuisine of Morocco to south Austin with nothing but love.

Owners Abderrahim “Abdu” and Maria Souktori personally welcome diners as though they were guests entering their own home. The delicious food is sourced and prepped daily, and cooked to order on the spot. [Read more…]

The Beer Plant Invents Creative Gastropub Fare for Vegans in Austin

The Beer Plant Austin

A beautiful bounty of food at The Beer Plant in Austin
Photo credit: Jessica Attie

“Have you tried that vegan place?” isn’t an uncommon question in Austin. But when a friend of mine asked me to join her at our city’s newest plant-based gastropub, I knew I was in for something noteworthy.

The Beer Plant, located in Tarrytown next to Austin Pets Alive!, pulls together the attributes veggie-eating Austinites adore most: good food, a nice vibe and tasty drinks. [Read more…]

Top 10 Austin Restaurants When It MUST Be Gluten-free

Gluten-free Restaurants in Austin, TX

Guest article by Jaclyn Hubersberger

Dining out is one of my absolute favorite activities. So when I received my celiac diagnosis, I thought my world was ending. No more pizza, pasta or sandwiches. Good-bye to sushi happy hours and baked goods. “Having a beer” was now a thing of the past.

On one hand, it was a relief to know I wasn’t dying, and that by eliminating gluten from my diet I could relieve all the symptoms that had left my life in a state of disarray. On the other hand, I knew future family gatherings and social outings were going to require a certain degree of diligence and abstinence on my part.

For those of us with celiac disease and severe gluten sensitivity, dining out can cause anxiety. Even though we are fortunate to live in a city where almost every restaurant has gluten-free options, cross-contamination and uninformed restaurant staff present a real risk. I had to find this out the hard way while navigating this disease and learning as I went along. Getting accidentally “glutened” isn’t pretty—the symptoms can range from gastrointestinal to neurological, and it can take anywhere from a couple of days to several weeks to recover.

I’m aiming to open your eyes to a world beyond bunless burgers and skimpy salads. Whether you can’t eat gluten or simply choose not to, here are my top ten tried and true gluten-free eats in Austin.  [Read more…]

5 Stops for Year Round Tamales in Austin

Tamales are a staple in many households during the holidays in Central Texas, but why let the calendar limit what time of year you can enjoy them? This article rounds up 5 Austin tamales spots that sell delicious bundles of comfort and joy year round.

Tamale House East: Tried and True

Tamale House East Tamales in Austin

L-R: bean and cheese, chicken and pork tamales from Tamale House East

As the name informs, you’ll find this tamale favorite on Austin’s east side. The chicken tamale is delicious, but Tamale House East’s bean and cheese is the winner. [Read more…]

Battle of the Brunches Round 6: Bouldin Creek Cafe

Bouldin Creek Cafe in Austin

Bouldin Creek Cafe Jodi Hart via Flickr CC

What’s brunch without crispy bacon, spicy sausage, or maybe some brisket hash?

If you’re at Bouldin Creek, you’ll find that brunch is exactly the way it should be.

Bouldin Creek Cafe has been providing Austin with uniquely delicious vegetarian options for 14 years now, most of which can also be made into vegan dishes. During its lifetime, the artistically inclined cafe has developed quite a brunch following made up of vegetarians and carnivores alike. [Read more…]

Austinot Podcast: Kite Festival, Vegan and Vegetarian Picks and More

Austin Kite Festival at Zilker Park

The Austin Kite Festival happens annually on the first Sunday in March

Click on the Play button on the podcast player above to listen to this week’s episode of the Austinot Podcast.

Thanks to everyone who submitted questions for this week’s episode of the Austinot Podcast! You all continue to ask some fabulous questions, and we enjoy answering them every week. [Read more…]

Nation’s Longest Running Vegetarian Chili Cook-Off Needs Your Help

Vegetarian Chili Cook Off Austin TexasThis guest post is by Fletch Brendan Good and Stevie Duda.

Did you know that the nation’s longest-running vegetarian chili cook-off has been taking place in Austin every November since 2004, and in Texas since 1989?

We’re talking about the Lone Star Vegetarian Chili Cook-Off. This year’s edition (the 24th) is on Sunday, November 11th, at the historic Burnet Road Farmers Market.

It’s sponsored by The Natural Epicurean Academy of Culinary Arts, and benefits the Texas Humane Legislation Network. [Read more…]