Food-o-File
Austin has a religious experience
By Virginia B. Wood, Fri., Oct. 3, 2014
The newest concept from the creative team behind the success of Uchi and Uchiko opens today, Oct. 2. St. Philip Pizza Parlor & Bakeshop (4715 S. Lamar) is named for the patron saint of bakers and pastry chefs, and culinary director and project partner Philip Speer reports that "made-from-scratch doughs and batters will be the canvas for what we create here." Indeed, the new eatery will offer a full line of sweet and savory breads, pastries, and desserts under the direction of pastry chef Kerstin Bellah as well as an eclectic selection of pizzas prepared in a Bakers Pride deck oven. Chef Omar Rodriguez is in charge of a menu that features hot and cold sandwiches, small plates, house meatballs, and entrées, many of which will derive their distinctive flavors from roasting in a wood-fired oven. In addition to ingenious flavors of swirled soft-serve and house-made ice creams, both the bakeshop and dining room will offer an accessible list of wines and carefully chosen craft beers. Speer says the new business bears no resemblance to a traditional Italian pizza parlor, but some of the food will reflect a Mediterranean influence and will be based on fresh, seasonal ingredients that are sourced locally. St. Philip is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with brunch available on weekends.
Patika Wine & Coffee (2159 S. Lamar) is the first brick-and-mortar shop from Andy Wiggington and Nick Krupa, owners of the popular Patika trailer. The serious coffee aficionados have created a multi-roaster shop with quality coffees from various national sources. Look for a full line of coffee beverages in addition to teas, chai, Italian sodas, and house-made hot chocolate, plus a curated list of wines and craft beers. They'll also feature a rotating selection of house-made breakfast pastries, augmented by a menu of snacks, small plates, and cheese and charcuterie platters served with Easy Tiger breads.
Artist Jon Lawrence has decided to close the Wet Whistle grocery (1900-A E. MLK) in October and relocate the concept to a larger Eastside space in 2015. The tiny, clever niche market stocks everything from local vegan artisan foods to bike tubes to Kosmic Kombucha on tap to organic eggs. Lawrence says the move comes after a couple of frustrating years haggling with an absentee landlord about parking issues and permission to apply for permits for on-site consumption of beer and wine as well as adding a covered patio. Stop in soon for customer appreciation discounts on existing inventory.
In other news about that particular corner, we're told Portland, Ore., transplant Adam Bryan relinquished the lease on the building where he planned to create Motel Bar and word is that Mean Eyed Cat owners Matt Luckie and Max Moreland along with their regular group of investors are planning to open a new bar named the Wheel early next year in that location.
