Food-O-File

The second annual SIMS Supper is scheduled for this coming Tuesday, August 11. Several local restaurants have agreed to donate a portion of their proceeds from meals sold that day to benefit the nonprofit SIMS Foundation (263-2281). The foundation and the event are named for former Pariah bassist Sims Ellison, who took his own life in June of 1995. The foundation was formed to raise funds to provide Central Texas musicians with low-cost counseling services, as well as education about mental illness, alcohol and drug abuse, and their effects on the community. The list of participating restaurants was incomplete at press time, but check "Public Notice" (p.16) for a partial list to decide where to dine that day. Considering that local musicians are always the first to volunteer their time and talent anytime there's the need for a benefit in River City, dining out to support their continued mental health seems like the least that the rest of us can do. Gather up a crowd and go out to eat Tuesday. The slogan says, "The more you eat, the more they donate!"

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Maria's Expanding

South Austin taco queen Maria Corbalan has moved her tiny Taco Xpress business into the Sugar & Spice General Store (2529-A South Lamar, 444-0261). Over the last two years, Maria has built a loyal clientele by feeding lots of taco-hungry musicians and their friends. The growing popularity of her homestyle Mexican food has made it necessary for her to turn her quaint little grocery store into a cafe to better serve her hungry fans. Maria invites friends old and new to help celebrate the expansion of her business at a party this Saturday, August 8, 6-10pm. There will be beer, tacos, and live music. Andale!

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Bocaditos

Castle Hill Cafe (1101 W. Fifth, 476-0728) hosts a five-course vintner dinner for winemaker Annegret Reh-Gartner of Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt this evening, August 6, at 7pm. Cost for the event is $60, all inclusive...

A drive down South Lamar last week revealed yet another change for the restaurant location at the corner of Treadwell and Lamar, former home to Trudy's, Hank's Roadside Cafe, and, most recently, the Asian Cafe. According to the banner on the side of the building, the new tenant will be Rose Maria's Cafe & Cantina and will feature the "comida MexicanadeJorge Arrendondo." Many locals may remember Jorge from the popular 1980s Mexican restaurants that bore his name. No opening date yet...

Another South Austin restaurant location that periodically generates both gossip and fantasies is the former McKendrick's Treehouse at the corner of Barton Springs Road and Bouldin. The elevated space, which boasts a dynamite view of the downtown skyline, is currently under renovation, and the buzz has it opening again in late fall...

The revolving door on the executive chef's office at Central Market has turned again with the departure of chef Adrian Creasey in late July. No word yet on his replacement...

Now that tomato season is over, the hottest selling item at Boggy Creek Farm (3414 Lyons Rd., 926-4650) are little jars of incredibly delicious Smoke-Dried Tomatoes from Larry Butler ...

Several readers have e-mailed me questions about the abrupt closing of Bertram's and the whereabouts of popular chef Miguel Ravago. The owners describe the closing as a real estate decision and are now operating Cedar Street Courtyard (708-8811) and Malaga Wine & Tapas Bar (236-8020) in the 200 block of West Fourth. As for Ravago, he is busy with menu consulting, catering, and product representation related to his award-winning cookbook while he considers other restaurant projects.