Congress Restaurant to Close

Truffles at laV, a new direction for CRAVE, and more afternoon bites.

It hasn’t been the easiest month for Austin food. Earlier in the month, Blackbird & Henry and Fork & Taco both suddenly shuttered, joining St. Philip, Bess Bistro, Mann's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que, Mulberry, Fino, Jezebel, and Live Oak Barbecue in this year’s In Memoriam reel. Now Restaurant Congress, chef David Bull’s fine dining showpiece, will close January 1 to make room for an expanded Second Bar + Kitchen. The remodeled space is expected to open Spring 2016, joining new locations in the Domain and the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in La Corsha Hospitality Group's mini empire.

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In a little-known, deleted scene from 8 Mile, Eminem’s perpetually red-eyed B-Rabbit breaks out a verse rhyming truffle with buffle in a rap battle with Meghan, the patrician-but-streetwise nemesis played by Amanda Peet. The scene was later re-filmed with Anthony Mackie, but it goes to show how the addictive fungi can make anything a little more interesting. That’s likely why laV decided they will add shaved white Alba truffles on any dish at cost – fries, whipped potatoes, mushroom risotto, Strube Ranch Wagyu ribeye, you name it – through the end of the month. In other laV news, lead sommelier Rania Zayatt was named one of three alternates in the Keeper Collection’s annual Somms Under Fire Contest. She was the only person in Texas to qualify.

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Kaskaid Hospitality, the Minneapolis-based owners of the somewhat unfocused CRAVE (Burgers! Sushi! Flatbreads!) have entrusted executive chef Frank Johnson with the development of a new concept in the space, Revival Public House. The new restaurant will feature an extensive craft beer list, Southern-inspired dishes with a few international flourishes, and much more conventional capitalization. Chow down on dishes like Creole corn pups, Nashville hot chicken sandwiches, and kimchi Frito Pie starting this Thursday, Dec. 17.

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We are not very religious, but after reading what Dai Due’s pastry chef Abby Love has in store for their holiday market, our idea of heaven includes lard snickerdoodles. There will also be Parker House rolls, kolaches, conches, sourdough, tallow-fried empanadas and donuts made to order, pecan pies, chicken liver mousse, jerky, smoked sausages, and more. Worship Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 22-23, 10am-2pm.