VOX Table Forms Bartender Supergroup

24 Diner impresses the Food Network, Gardner and Apis become BFFs, and more afternoon bites.

Locals who were watching the Food Network last night instead of unsuccessfully trying to unpack from the Thanksgiving weekend might have noticed that Elm Group’s 24 Diner was featured on Top 5 Restaurants. The show hosted by Sunny Anderson and Geoffrey Zakarian gave 24’s meatloaf the #5 spot in their top 5 diner dishes episode.

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Like Statler and Waldorf, Siegfried and Roy, and Wham!, Apis Restaurant and Gardner know the power of collaboration. The duo will be hosting a “wild” dinner together at Gardner on Tuesday, Dec 8. The wild part means that every ingredient will be “foraged, shot, trapped or caught.” Dishes include a grilled swordfish belly from Apis, served with savoy cabbage, fermented apple, and nanette oil and king oyster mushrooms from Gardner, served with a mushroom miso, sea beans, fennel pollen, and salmon roe.

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Delysia Chocolatier is getting cozy with a free holiday event this Sunday, Dec. 6. There will be chocolate making, a visit from Santa, screenings of holiday films, and more. Bring an unwrapped toy for Dell Children’s Hospital too. Owner Nicole Patel asks that attendees RSVP on Facebook or by emailing her at nicole@delysia.com by Thursday, Dec. 3.

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VOX Table with the help of Caña Brava Rum, Fernet-Branca, and Aviation American Gin has pulled together a mind-blowing collection of bartenders to help defray medical costs for the leukemia treatment of Aidan Almaraz, the son of VOX chef de cuisine Carlos Almaraz. VOX Table mixologists Travis Tober and Jr. Mocanu lead an all-star team, including Jason Kosmos (New York City’s Employees Only), Chris Bostick and Rashid (Half Step), Brett Esler (Whisler’s), Brian Floyd (Weather Up), Jonny Evans (Dive Bar & Lounge), Paul Neuenschwander (Firehouse Lounge), Michael Phillips and Jeff Boley (Midnight Cowboy), Justin Elliott (The Townsend), Chauncy James (Garage), Jessica Sanders (Drink.Well), Steven Robbins (Small Victory), and Stephan Mendez (San Antonio’s The Last Word). Monday, Dec. 7, 10pm-12mid.

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Four of the 23 finalists for Food+City’s second annual food system innovation competition hail from Austin. The finalists will be paired with mentors until the showcase day on Feb. 6 2016, when they will pitch and demo their startups before a panel of judges. A total prize of $50,000 will be split between the final winners. Congrats to Bento+Picnic, Crickers, Eat at Home, and Tastography.