Food-o-File

After a fire destroyed the Barr Mansion's Arti­san Ballroom and all its contents last week, owners Mark and Melanie McAfee were faced with having to save their summer event bookings. So in between meetings with the fire marshal and with potential architects and building contractors, they fielded calls from distressed brides and made plans to move forward. In the wake of the fire, Mark McAfee took a philosophical tone, saying: "Well, we still have more than we did when we started out here. The house itself, our commercial kitchen, and the grounds are all fine, but it is going to take some time to rebuild the ballroom." Weddings scheduled for this past weekend went on as planned in a big, air-conditioned tent, and the staff hosted a preplanned tasting party on Sunday evening for bridal couples with upcoming events scheduled there. "We hosted weddings here for 20 years before we ever built the ballroom," Melanie McAfee reminded us. "We just need a chance to show people that we can still deliver the weddings they want." While the mansion staff was calming concerned brides, I was getting calls from local people whose main concern was what they could do to help the McAfees. For years, they've made the facilities available for benefits for individuals and businesses in crisis, as well as for a variety of worthy local nonprofits; in true Austin fashion, every call or e-mail I've received since the fire was from someone wanting to give something back. A benefit to help raise a new ballroom from the ashes is now in the works. Anyone who's willing and able to help should contact Elizabeth Wins­low (elizabethwinslow@me.com) or me, here at the paper (food@austinchronicle.com). We'll keep you posted as things progress... The second most distressing phone call I received last week was from a bartender at the Anderson Mill Tavern (10401 Anderson Mill Rd.) who had a disturbing story to tell. It seems that a young man made quite a scene at the bar while running up a big tab and identifying himself as a reviewer for this newspaper, before trying to settle his bill with a credit card that was declined. I assured her I didn't even know the bar existed and had not assigned it for a review. I've said this before, but it's worth repeating in this instance: No legitimate reviewer from this paper will announce their presence or offer (threaten) to trade a review for a free meal or bar tab. If someone tries this scam, call the cops!... In the "off with my head" department, I've been advised that the Kamburis brothers no longer own Flipnot­ics and are concentrating their energies entirely on the Satellite Bistro & Bar (5900 Slaughter #400, 288-9994, www.satellitebistroandbar.com), with long-range plans to open more Satellite outlets... Eastside Cafe (2113 Manor Rd., 476-5858, www.eastsidecafeaustin.com) chef/co-owner Elaine Martin reports this is the first summer she hasn't had to buy any tomatoes. She's having a great time with the garden's bumper crop of heirloom tomatoes – baking them with savory stuffings, serving them as a vegetable side dressed with lemon vinaigrette, adding them to sandwiches and salads, you name it. And speaking of great things made with local tomatoes – make sure to try Jesse Grif­fiths' all-local BLT ($7) at the Dai Due booth at the Downtown Farmers' Market the next two weekends – it is divine!