Food-O-File

Local restaurateurs often spend the last few weeks before SXSW in a mad dash to update their menus, finish their remodeling jobs, or open their new locations in time to welcome fun-loving festival participants to Austin. Hungry movie lovers catching SXSW Film Festival flicks at the Alamo Drafthouse & Theatre (409-B Colorado, 867-1830) will be pleased with the brunch menu that's been added to complement films running early in the day. In addition to the usual espresso service, the drafthouse will be serving mimosas, granola, fritattas, omelettes, and fresh bagels with lox. Down at Threadgill's World Headquarters (301 Riverside, 472-9304), they've added a beer garden, enclosed the neon-decorated porch bar, and turned the back dining room into the Threadgill's Saloon. The Saloon will host live music and serve dinner until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights. Look for Western swing sensations Hot Club of Cowtown to be there for six Saturdays in March and April. Threadgill's WHQ will also host the Kenneth Threadgill Music Fund Youthfest for young musicians in the new beer garden on Saturday, March 21, 1-5pm. Owners of the popular downtown eatery Austin Java Company (1206 Parkway, 476-1829) opened their second outlet earlier this month. Check out the new northwest Austin Java (13376 183 N, 219-5338) in the Galleria Oaks Shopping Center.

Here's some good news for juice lovers. Local juice purveyor John Lincoln of Doctor Dreams has recently acquired X-Squeeze Me! Juice, Inc. from Jeff and Michelle Jorgensen of San Marcos, creating the new company Doctor Dreams Juice Machine, Inc. (416-0738). With the change comes an expanded line of fruit drinks, including Jai chai, a traditional East Indian tea and juice blend; pineapple-kiwi, a blend of juices, chamomile, and peppermint tea; Asian apple, with apples, lemon, and ginger; citrus krush, an orange-grapefruit combo, plus fresh-pressed orange, grapefruit, lemon, and lime juices. Look for the bright new Doctor Dreams labels at Whole Foods Market, Wheatsville Co-op, Sun Harvest Farms, Ruta Maya Coffee House, Mojo's Daily Grind, Little City Espresso Bar, Flipnotics, and Central Market.

Potential contestants in the 20th annual Spamarama™ who are looking for inspiration should check out Spamarama™: The Cookbook (Whole Hog, $19.95 paper) by the Potentate of Potted Pork Products, David Arnsberger, with John Booher, now available at local bookstores. The book contains history, poster art, photographs, and award-winning recipes. The potted pork party is Saturday, March 28, noon-6pm. at Auditorium Shores. Proceeds benefit United Cerebral Palsy.

The Sierra Club has recently joined Clean Water Action, Greenpeace, organic farmers, and consumers in protesting the USDA's proposed standards to implement the Organic Food Production Act of 1990. According to Sierra Club executive director Carl Pope, "If USDA's proposed rules are adopted as written, consumers will lose all faith in the organic label." The most recent suggestions from local activists involved in this important struggle are that concerned consumers should correspond with the OFPA's original sponsor, Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont (433 Russell SOB, Washington, D.C., 20510), as well as Texans on the Agriculture Committee, Senator Phil Gramm (370 Russell SOB, Washington, D.C., 20510) and Congressmen Larry Combest (1026 Longworth HOB, Washington, D.C., 20515) and Charles Stenholm (1211 Longworth HOB, Washington, D.C., 20515). They also suggest writing to TV news anchor Ted Koppel at Nightline (1717 Desales NW, Washington, D.C.,20036). Postcards and form letters on this issue are available at the information desks at both Whole Foods Markets (Sixth & Lamar, 476-1206; Gateway, 345-5003) and the membership services desk at Wheatsville Co-op (3101 Guadalupe, 478-2667).