Food-O-File

By one o'clock on Sunday, November 22, the friendly folks at ClayWays Pottery Studio (5442 Burnet, 459-6445) had dazed but happy expressions on their faces and rightly so. In the first two hours of the Empty Bowl fund-raiser, hundreds of civic-minded pottery lovers snatched up the custom-made bowls and slurpeddelicious soup, generating pots of money for theCapital Area Food Bank (8201 S. Congress, 282-2111). Congratulations to the organizers, sponsors, pottery artists, and soup and bread chefsfor a job well done! I chatted with East Side Cafesoup maven Ruth Carter over a couple of bowls of Five Pepper Bisque. Now that the fourth East Side cookbook, Soup Someone Else (self-published, $10 spiral) is on the shelves at Pitchforks & Tablespoons (2113 Manor), Ruth and husband Bill Carter will spend the firstthree months of 1999 in London working for their good friend Johnny Depp while he works on a new film by Tim Burton. According to Ruth, they'll be sharing a job, which should leave plenty of time for travel and exploring London's restaurant scene. She promised to e-mail us tales of their culinary adventures and zip back to Austin in February to teach a soup class at the Central Market Cooking School (4001 N. Lamar, 458-3068) with boss Elaine Martin.

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Texas Christmas Traditions

The historic French Legation Museum(802 San Marcos, 472-8180) will celebrate the many cultural heritages of the Lone Star state Sunday, December 6, noon-5pm. This family-oriented holiday event will feature American Indian dancers, Scottish Highland dancers, Czech singers, storytellers, book signings by Texas authors, singers, quilters, ethnic foods, shopping for handmade crafts, and a silent auction. Santa will be on the grounds to pose for photos in an 1828 antique carriage. Food and beverage booths will be available on the grounds. Admission is $3 for adults; children under 12 are admitted free.

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Bocaditos

The national chain Don Pablo's MexicanKitchen just celebrated the opening of its first Austin location. The new Don Pablo's, featuring Mexican ranch cuisine recipes, is located at 11023 Pecan Park Blvd. in Cedar Park, adjacent to Lakeline Mall...

Chez Nous (501 Neches, 473-2413) has a good supply of Beaujolais Nouveau for the holiday season and a prix fixe menu to go with it...

Trying to maintain a caloric balance during the holiday season? Whole Food Markets can help. In addition to their Body Balance classes, the stores have created a new line of Body Balance-prepared meals available in their delis with approved entrees paired with mixed vegetables for only $4.99. Fresh Planet Cafe, located upstairs in the downtown store, has also added five new menu items for Body Balance practitioners in the $5.50-6.50 price range...

Local herbalist Lucinda Hutson will sign copies of the new second edition of her Herb Garden Cookbook (Gulf Press, $19.95, hard) at Barnes & Noble on Saturday, December 5, 2-4pm...

'Tis the season for decorating gingerbread houses. Area Randalls grocery stores with in-store bakeries will be giving classes on gingerbread house decoration the first two weekends in December. Classes are free, but participants must purchase a plain gingerbread house and decorating items. Check your favorite Randalls bakery for schedules...

Fans of La Madeleine French Bakery & Cafe (800/645-3185) may want to check out their mail-order catalog, Les Cadeaux de la Madeleine, which offers gift boxes and baskets made up of their coffee, soups, salad dressings, cookies, etc...

Be on the lookout for a modern Indian restaurant called The Clay Pot to open soon in the Bertram's building at 1601 Guadalupe.