Food-o-File
Beau Theriot has got the Oasis back on track; plus, grillin', tea, 'The Future of Food,' and Roy's recipes
By Virginia B. Wood, Fri., June 10, 2005
The Oasis Lives!
During the past 20 years, Beau Theriot had become accustomed to receiving compliments about his Oasis restaurant (6550 Comanche Trail, 266-2442) overlooking Lake Travis. However, he never really knew how much people cherished the popular spot with the cascading decks until it caught fire last week. "The outpouring of love and support has really touched my heart," he told us last week. "There have been phone calls, letters, e-mails from so many people I don't even know who love this place – that helps keep me going." Though about two-thirds of the facility was destroyed by a lightning fire early on the morning of Wednesday, June 1, the unburned portion of the Oasis opened for business again on Friday evening. The Starlight Terrace will continue to offer live music, drinks, and light appetizers, while the rest of the facilities are being rebuilt. "The fire is my first experience with a tragedy like this, and I have been so impressed by the response of the people who handle these kind of things," Theriot reports. "The firefighters and the sheriff's department are so compassionate, so professional, they've taken such good care of us."
Several of the couples who had rehearsal dinners, weddings, and receptions scheduled at the Oasis took Theriot up on his offer to move their events to his palatial home just up the road on Comanche Trail. The Oasis event planning staff is helping others relocate their parties to other venues. Theriot plans to rebuild in phases, reopening areas that sustained mostly smoke and water damage later this summer and finishing the complete remodeling job by the late fall. "We're going to rebuild it bigger and better than before," he says. "I've got lots of people depending on me, and I want to get them all back to work." The sunset, and all the people who love to watch it while relaxing at the Oasis, will surely be there when Theriot is ready.
Event Menu: June 10-16
• Check out the thrill of the excellent Summer Grillin' menu at both Z'Tejas locations (1110 W. Sixth, 478-5355; 9400 Arboretum Blvd., 346-3506) now through June 19, and for every item you purchase from the special menu, they'll donate $1 to benefit the Sunshine Camps. Also look for chef Jack Gilmore presenting grilling demos at the Summer Grillin' and Chillin' Festival at the Downtown Farmers' Market (Fourth and Guadalupe) on Saturday, June 11, and at the Sunset Valley Farmers Market Tomato Festival (Toney Burger parking lot) on Saturday, June 18.
• Owners Carol and Bob Sims will reveal "Everything You Want to Know About Tea" at a seminar covering history, presentation, preparation, and tea etiquette at the Tea Embassy (900 Rio Grande, 330-9991). Cost is $50, and reservations are necessary; 1-5pm, Saturday, June 11.
• If you are concerned about the impact multinational agribusiness conglomerates have on our food supply, The Future of Food, a documentary by Deborah Koons Garcia, is a must-see. Screenings this week are hosted by Wheatsville Co-op at the Alamo Drafthouse Downtown (409 Colorado), 7pm, June 12, 15, and 16.
• Get a sneak preview of the recipes in chef Roy Yamaguchi's new cookbook, Roy's Fish & Seafood (coming in July from TenSpeed Press), by reserving a seat in the exhibition kitchen at Roy's (340 E. Second, 391-1500). The cooking class will include a three-course meal paired with wines and a signed copy of the book for $95; 6:30pm, Monday, June 13.
