Many Mouths to Feed
Fri., Dec. 15, 1995
Overwhelmed by the thought of holiday over-indulgence? Terrified by the
thought of consuming too many calories, spending too many dollars on the wrong
gifts, being a pawn in the crass, commercial Xmas machine? The perfect antidote
to these chronic holiday complaints: volunteer and donate. Need suggestions?
Contact the Volunteer Center (472-3848) for a look at the food-related options
in their 1995 Giving Guide (some listed below). They will gladly provide you
with all the information you need to make sure Austin families have enough to
eat this holiday season. Obsessing over the 10 lbs. you'll most likely gain
during the holidays? Donate 10 lbs. of groceries to the food pantry at AIDS
Services of Austin (458-2437) or the Capital Area Food Bank (448-2111). Facing
another dysfunctional family holiday meal? Volunteer to serve at the Salvation
Army or HOBO, or contact The Christmas Bureau to adopt a needy family for
Christmas. Make a donation to Meals on Wheels (476-MEAL) in memory of a loved
one or in the name of someone who already has everything. Empty-nest syndrome
got you down? Drop by the Austin Children's Museum to help kids make
gingerbread houses or donate bags of candy for decorations. Contact Blue or
Brown Santa with baby food donations. Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa,
or Christmas, in the true spirit of the season, nourish yourself and your
family by feeding someone else.
Ararat restaurant owner Hasan Punc has recovered from that unfortunate
automobile accident and the restaurant is now back in operation after a
two-month hiatus. Check out the new live entertainment offerings at Ararat:
Thursday evenings they have live music and belly dancers and on Sunday evenings
there will be classical Middle Eastern music. Jean-Luc's French Bistro is now
open for lunch and dinner at 705 Colorado. Stop in and check out the French
Country decor and enjoy one of the more than 30 wines that are available by the
glass during their Wine Happy Hour from 5-6pm. Hot Sauce impresario J.P. Hayes
is expanding his wholesale and mail-order hot sauce empire to include a retail
outlet. The Sgt. Pepper's Hot Sauce Microbrewery is newly open for business at
601 E. 53rd. Their holiday hours are 10am-6pm, Wednesday through Sunday. Hayes
is selling his own salsas and pestos as well as the products of local companies
such as Don Alfonso, Stubbs BBQ Sauce, and Two Women Cooking.
Texas French Bread on 29th Street was the location of a recent reception for
Betty Kempe, former owner of Villa Santa Monica, a small hotel in San Miguel de
Allende, Mexico. The gracious hotel was very popular and famous for its
wonderful cuisine. When Kempe sold the place she set out to compile all the
eclectic recipes she had served there over the years, and the result is a
self-published cookbook, Artists in the Kitchen. The spiral-bound book
is completely bilingual and the "artists" in the title refer to the many good
cooks in Kempe's kitchen, including employees, hotel guests, and cooking
teachers. Most of the guests at the reception were former patrons of Villa
Santa Monica who remember it quite fondly, and they all bought books.
Artists in the Kitchen is only available by mail order from Betty Kempe,
#15 South Sligo Plantation Road, Natchez, Mississippi 39120.