https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/food/2015-03-27/food-o-file-friday-lagniappe/

Food-o-File: Friday Lagniappe

By Virginia B. Wood, March 27, 2015, 4:50pm, On the Range

Sometimes there is too much Austin food news to squeeze into the print edition of the Chronicle. Rather than wait a week, we've decided to give our readers a little bite of something extra.

• Hearty congratulations to Fredericksburg author Terry Thompson-Anderson whose most recent cookbook, Texas on the Table - People, Places, and Recipes Celebrating the Flavors of the Lone Star State (UT Press, $45) has been nominated for a James Beard Foundation cookbook award in the American Cooking category. The award winners will be announced in May.

• The Austin Chamber of Commerce was mighty impressed with late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel's overwhelming support for our local restaurant industry. Kimmel made references to restaurant meals during his nightly monologues, greatly increasing the sale of banana cream pies at Chez Zee and El Yimmy tacos at Fresa's Chicken al Carbon, simply by mentioning them on air. He and side kick Guillermo Rodriguez posted a wall of photos of their local meals on social media, not to mention the generous donation the program made to local organic farming non-profit Urban Roots . Consequently, the chamber named everyone associated with the production of Jimmy Kimmel Live! as an Austin Small Business Champion, and awarded Kimmel with a specially designed brisket rib trophy.

• Two Central Texas wineries scored big at the recent 2015 TEXSOM International Wine Awards. Pedernales Cellars of Stonewall brought home gold medals for their 2012 Texas Tempranillo and Tempranillo Reserve, their 2014 Texas Vermintino, and 2014 Texas Viognier. Meanwhile, Pilot Knob Vineyard & Winery near Bertram came away with a silver medal for their 2014 Viognier and bronze medals for their 2014 PK Cuvee and 2013 Franco Rojo Reserve in their debut entry at the Dallas-based competition. Kudos to them both!

• Monday night need no longer be the loneliest night of the week when you can grab a date and make the most of great restaurant deals. Starting Monday night, Mar. 30, Foreign & Domestic (306. East 53rd) will now offer a family style fried chicken dinner with a quarter chicken per person, biscuits, salads, sides, and pie a la mode for only $14 per person, with the option of a selection of at least 2 East Coast oysters for $1 each. Their popular Oyster Shack menu will also be available and the restaurant is now taking reservations.

• If vegetables strike your fancy on a Monday, Gardner (1914 E. Sixth) begins a new four-course prix fixe menu this week, as well. On Mondays, they'll offer a $28 dinner customized meal with one choice from each of the four sections of their main menu.

Here are some events you won't want to miss.

• East End Fourth Friday at Tiny Taiga (1200 East 11th, #106) where you'll find the super-charged, spiced raw chocolate blends of Chocolate Pharmacy. Friday, Mar. 27, 6-8pm

• Callie Speer hosts a sweet Saturday pop-up featuring limited edition Negroni tumblers created by acclaimed local potter Keith Kreeger at Delish Bakery (209 W. Third). The 25 tumblers will be filled with a Negroni-inspired dessert created by Callie especially for the occasion and will sell for $50. Half the proceeds from the sale will benefit the Austin Food & Wine Alliance. Saturday, March 28, 11am-2pm

• Farmhouse Delivery hosts their third annual Fais Do-Do & Gumbo Cook-off on the grounds of Rain Lily Farm (914 Shady Lane). More than 10 teams will be competing to please the judges and the crowd. Enjoy gumbo, complimentary drinks, and Cajun dancing to the zydeco stylings of the fabulous Gulf Coast Playboys. $35 ticket proceeds benefit Austin non-profit Creek People. Saturday, March 28, 1-5pm

• The Children's Picnic & Real Food Fair returns to the grounds of Austin's historic French Legation (802 San Marcos) for an afternoon of free, family friendly entertainment. Enjoy gardening and cooking demonstrations, live music, plus food and drinks for sale from local vendors. Sunday, March 29, 1-5pm

• laV Restaurant & Wine Bar (1501 E. Seventh) hosts a multi-course dinner paired with the wines of award-winning author, sommelier, and now wine-maker Rajat Parr , longtime friend and mentor of laV sommelier and managing partner, Vilma Mazaite. Tickets are $115; make necessary reservations by phone or email [email protected]. Tuesday, March 31, 7pm