Musk Opening Austin Bistro in 2024; Dish Society Arriving Even Sooner; Churro Co. Is Open Now; Tiki Tatsu-ya Debuts Rum Flights; Fiore’s Regional Pasta Club Can Be Delivered; the Texas Veg Fest Draws Nigh; and More

Here’s some of what's happening in Austin's culinary scene – as wrangled from numerous PR releases, words on the digital street, and even the occasional (verified) IRL eavesdroppings.

Yes, citizen, it’s your “Food News Buffet” for the second week of April.

Chef and entrepreneur Kimbal Musk – uh, yeah, he’s the brother of that Elon — has signed a lease to open the first Austin location of his American bistro, The Kitchen, in the Sixth & Guad tower (400 W. Sixth). To this end, he’s snagged almost all the ground-floor retail space available in the 66-story skyscraper – the tallest tower in the city, scheduled to open in 2024 – and has hired Austin’s own Michael Hsu to design the bar, dining room, and private dining space. How’s that for some news, hey?

So – here comes Peter Cottontail. Which means that Easter’s on its way, right? Mmhmm, and we’ve got a basketful of dining options wrangled for you online: Just click right here and, quicker’n you can say “Holy pagan origins, Batman!”, you’ll be eye-to-screen with a sweet array of springtide recos. Tell you right now, though, that Tiff’s Treats has just debuted a relevant new cookie among their sweet ranks: The Spring Sparkle, a sugar cookie bedazzled with iridescent pastel sparkles, an elegant addition to any Tiff’s delivery or Easter dessert board you’re arranging this weekend …

(Oh, and? The Salty, that local bastion of bodacious baking at 2000 S. Congress, will be offering bunny-shaped strawberry and blueberry Peep donuts for your delectation on Sat.-Sun., April 8-9.)

Austin native Aaron Lyons of Five 12 Restaurants is bringing his Houston-based restaurant brand Dish Society to his hometown. Led by celebrated Houston chef Brandi Key, Dish Society’s signature farm-to-table menus will serve brunch all day, lunch, social hour, and dinner – all offered seven days a week via counter service or full service at the bar – at 1900 Aldrich in the Mueller development in the fall of 2023. The chic diner will offer seasonally shifting dishes with modern takes on American favorites, such as a smoked brisket-stuffed sweet potato, Brussels sprouts super salad, fried chicken and biscuits, shrimp and grits, and Nutella French toast …

But what about concepts that are already available, hey? Listen: Gabriela's Group has just opened the doors to Churro Co. Dessert Shop & Bakery next to Taquero Mucho (11101 Burnet Rd.) near the Domain. Citizens can already eat and drink inside the expansize, all-pink interior that boasts, of course, a highly Instagrammable design. (You do recall our cover story on the group’s cofounder, Gabriela Bucio, right?)

Also: Around the world and past your gums, it’s time to travel the global rums! Aikawa Tropical Tours, the fictional travel agency behind Tiki Tatsu-ya, is “now boarding” for their newest cocktail experience: rum flights. Served from an airline cart with a dedicated food menu, these rum flights are available in three different levels: tourist ($17), economy ($26), and business class ($50), each featuring three different expressions of rum. This’d be a pretty cool deal anywhere, right? At Tiki Tatsu-ya, baby, we’re already rushing the queue …

Say, you know how chef Fiore Tedesco of L'Oca d'Oro (1900 Simond) was running Fiore’s Regional Pasta Club each month, serving off-menu pastas and noodles inspired by his travels around the globe? Well, next they’re gonna offer goodness from Japan and Mexico – but the newest news is that the monthly Club menu is now available for delivery to your own pasta-craving home …

And of course that same chef Tedesco’s prepping the Passover goodness this week, too, as is Aba Mediterranean on Soco …

And, let’s see – what else, what else? Oh! The Texas Veg Fest is coming up fast with its celebration of plant-forward deliciousness … It’s Earth Month at Texas Farmers Market … Joelle Dipaolo has wrangled up some local dog-friendly coffee shops for those who love both hounds and java … Jessi Cape tells us about some tasty AF cannabis edibles that offer radical wellness …

WUXTRY! The parking lot of Franklin BBQ (900 E. 11th) will soon be hosting the third installment of Les Dames D’Escoffier’s You Grill Girl! celebration, featuring women and nonbinary chefs and grillmasters who’ll be dishing up a plethora of smoked and grilled dishes. That’s on Thursday, April 27, 7-10pm when some of Austin’s most acclaimed culinary champions will bring the fire and the heat to bear on creating a stunning variety of meaty and veggie delicacies. Who? How about Annie Thomas of Emmer & Rye, Janie Ramirez of Dai Due, Lutie’s Susana Querejazu, Abby Love of Abby Jane’s Bakeshop, the Diner Bar’s Kristine Kittrell, Épicerie’s Sarah McIntosh, Amanda Turner of Olamaie, and (Oseyo’s secret pastry weapon) Laura Sawicki? Yes, and many more. Note: Tickets ($85-110) are already on sale for this nightlong feast …

Now eat as well as you can, tip like it’s going out of style, and try not to talk too much about the weather.