NEW AND NOSHWORTHY
Brio
1112 W. Sixth Street, 499-0442
Dinner nightly from 5 pm to midnight
If you’ve been hungry for the full, hearty flavors of Raymond Tatum’s
definitive Texas cuisine since the closing of 612 West, drop in for dinner at
Brio and satisfy yourself. This new dinner-only spot from the creators of
neighboring
Z Tejas Grill features what they describe as “spirited
contemporary Texas cuisine with European and Asian influences.” The Z Tejas
folks brought Texan Robert Mayberry home from their Las Vegas outlet to get
this restaurant off the ground before he moves on to open another Z Tejas at
the Arboretum. Chefs Tatum and Mayberry are serving up appetizers such as tasty
Crawfish Tamales ($6.95) and delicious Shredded Duck and Scallion Pancakes
($7.50). Standout entrees include a Spit-Roasted Leg of Lamb with Asian BBQ
Sauce ($13.95) and a Grilled Vegetable Pasta ($9.95). This place definitely
fills the longtime local need for a fine-dining restaurant that serves dinner
’til midnight.
Rinehart’s Real Texas BBQ
6701 Burnet Road, 453-0604
Daily from 10am to 7pm Father-and-son team Charles and Mike Rinehart have turned their love for
the fine art of Texas barbecue cookery into a business. They started with a
little catering and that grew into a cozy spot at the Travis County Farmer’s
Market. These days they are serving up BBQ beef, chicken, and Elgin sausage
smoked in their portable pit while they wait for their custom-made, permanent
pit to be finished. The traditional side dishes of pinto beans, potato salad,
and coleslaw are made from scratch, and the creamy banana pudding is prepared
fresh daily, as is the homemade lemonade. They’ll feed you there, pack it to
take home, or cater your next event. You can check them out while you’re
shopping at the market or sample their Texas victuals while you attend the
upcoming Hot Sauce Festival. PROFESSIONAL SALSA INSTRUCTION
The Herb Bar presents Chef Ruben Rodriguez
Sunday, August 20, 5pm to 9pm
$45.00 per person; call 444-6251 for reservations
If you want to enhance your salsa-making skills before the Hot Sauce
Festival, this class comes just in time. Ruben Rodriguez, chef-owner of
Botanitas Restaurant (formerly Evita’s) at 6400 S. First, will present a class
featuring a complete menu of dishes from his Mexican homeland: Stuffed
Jalape�os, Grilled Tuna in Hoja Santa leaves, Lime Cilantro Rice, black
beans, fruit salad. Chef Rodriguez will also share tips on preparing his
award-winning salsas, including techniques for roasting tomatoes and chilies.
Participants will join in the preparation of the meal and dine like royalty
afterwards. Space is limited.
GREAT KITCHEN SHOPPORTUNITIES
Cornerstone Home and Hardware 3801 Bee Caves Road, 327-0404
There’s just nothing better than a good hardware store with lovely gifts,
functional and attractive gardenware, and a great selection of quality kitchen
ware. This newly opened Westlake business fits the bill. Of particular note in
the cookware department is the complete line of German R�sle stainless
steel kitchen utensils. These exquisite cooking tools are each designed and
engineered for a specific function. Cornerstone is one of a very few retail
outlets in the U.S. to carry the R�sle line. A perfect but pricey purchase
for the passionate cook.
Grand Opening of Breed & Co. Westlake Saturday, August 19th
3663 Bee Caves Road, 328-3960
If you love the original Breed store on 29th Street, the new larger,
suburban location will surely double your pleasure. The opening festivities
will include a book signing with local cooking teacher and author Ann Clark, a
demonstration of Calphalon cookware, and tastings of a variety of gourmet food
items. In addition to a complete line of hardware, garden tools, cookware, and
gifts, the new store will feature a Coffee Bar, a Baby Boutique, and a Cooking
School with Belgian chef Marie-Claire Quittelier as a consultant. She reports
that popular local cooking teachers will alternate teaching classes on Tuesday
nights, with the occasional chef or cookbook author added to spice up the
schedule.
Whole Foods Puts Your Money Where Their Mouth Is
Thursday, September 7
In celebration of National Organic Month, Whole Foods will hold its first
ever statewide 5% Charity Day, donating 5% of the gross sales from all 11 Texas stores to the Texas Organic Growers Association (TOGA). The
5% Charity Day event is designed to be both fun and educational, so
in-store demonstrations will feature Texas chefs preparing dishes with fresh
local produce and growers will be available to answer questions about
production techniques. Funding for TOGA supports organic farmers in Texas and a
wide range of educational and information programs, so if you like to eat
organic, shop ’til you drop on September 7. -Virginia B.
Wood
This article appears in August 18 • 1995 and August 18 • 1995 (Cover).