Food-o-file

Yogi Restaurant
Dobie Mall, 2021 Guadalupe, 474-0808
Open daily 11am-8pm

The Dobie Mall food court continues to expand its diverse collection of eateries with Yogi Indian restaurant. Rumored to have been started by a man who began by selling meals to students from his home, Yogi features a small selection of Indian dishes (sag, curries, tandoori, pilar rice, etc.) served buffet-style by a small, friendly staff. The food is reasonably priced and, as advertised, there are options for vegetarians, vegans included. Yogi's fare is also less greasy than that of some other Indian restaurants in town, although the spices are toned down to American tastes. Daily specials include a vegan platter, tandoori chicken, and chicken curry platter, among others. - Patrick Earvolino

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El Sol y La Luna
1224 S. Congress, 444-7770
Open daily 7am-3pm, Wed-Sat 6pm-10:30pm

This cheery little spot is in the recently spiffed-up coffee shop of the South Congress landmark Austin Motel, itself currently undergoing renovation. The owners are a triumvirate of talented women: attorney Lynn Tiemann, artist Anna Salinas, and restaurateur Nilda de la Llata. Nilda gained her expertise working at Las Manitas and Granite Cafe. At her own restaurant, she presents a pleasant mixture of Mexican and Latin American dishes at breakfast and lunch. The dinner menu is a pleasant melange of Mexican and Latin influences with a nod to current American tastes. There are a few pastas ($7.75-$8.50), a ribeye steak ($8.50), a hamburgesa ($4.50), and three excellent grilled fish dishes ($10.25).
At breakfast, sample one of the 14 varieties of breakfast tacos ($1.00-$1.75) the Huevos Motulenos ($4.50) or the Machacado con Huevo ($3.50), all tasty and affordable. Good lunchtime choices are the Carne Guisada Plate ($4.50), the Chicken Fajita Plate ($5.75) or the Flautas con Pollo ($4.95). Comida muy casera, bien barata. [[exclamdown]]Andale! (Home-style food, good and cheap. Go for it!) - Virginia B. Wood

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Fruits of Summer

Eastside Farmers Market
Robert Martinez & East Seventh Street
Open Saturdays, 8am-2pm

The third season of the Eastside Farmers Market begins on Saturday, May 6. Sponsored by the nonprofit Sustainable Food Center (SFC), the market's objective is to provide accessible, mostly organic produce to citizens who might otherwise not be able to get it, although everyone is encouraged to come out and enjoy the products of some of Central Texas' finest gardens. Five to eight local farmers will be selling their fare every Saturday (and, starting in June, on a yet undetermined weekday) through at least October, although SFC officials are hopeful this year the market will remain open year-round. Among those participating will be Kerbey Lane supplier Oak Hill Produce, as well as P-2 Organics from Coupland, and Dan Wolf, who will be selling items from his peach, pear, and blackberry orchards. Tomatoes, squash, peppers, cucumbers, and herbs are also currently available. SFC is also offering space in its new community-garden beds. For information, call Eastside Projects Coordinator Erik Peterson at the Sustainable Food Center, 472-2073 (Fax: 472-2075). - P.E.
Samuel Adams Beer Dinner at Granite Cafe
Granite Cafe, 2905 San Gabriel, presents a Samuel Adams Beer Dinner, Tuesday, March 16, at 7:30pm. Chef Stephen McInerney and Beer Curator Peggy Conroy have developed a five-course menu complemented by five Samuel Adams Beers, including their new Scotch Ale ($35 per person); for reservations call 472-6483.

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Amandine Pastries and Cafe
8015 Shoal Creek #300, 467-7400
Open Monday-Saturday, 7am-3pm
921-A West 12th St., 476-1956
Open Monday-Friday, 7:15am-8pm; Saturdays 8am-5pm

With summer bearing down on us, Alain Braux has developed four delightfully chilling new sorbet flavors. They are an appropriately tart Lemon-Lime; creamy Cabana, a mixture of coconut, pineapple, banana, and lime; Apple-Mint; and my personal favorite, Four Star Fruits, a pale pink blend of orange, pineapple, banana, and raspberry flavors. These scrumptious frozen confections are low in sugar with no fat, cholesterol, dairy products, or preservatives. Exquisite taste and virtue are available at both Amandine locations, Whole Foods, Central Market, Wheatsville, Fresh Plus, Randall's Simon David, and Westlake. Indulge yourself.

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Perfect End of School Gift for Teachers

The King Arthur Flour Company catalogue offers two videos that any elementary school teacher would love. Bread Time Tales ($14.95) takes kids on a magical discovery tour that begins in a wheat field and ends with them making their own loaf of bread. Good Enough to Eat ($14.95) educates kids about what it takes to run a supermarket. I shared my copies with Carla Marshall and her students at Becker Elementary's Green Classroom and they pronounced them A-OK. Call
800/827-6836 to get the catalogue.