Food-o-File
Where to pick berries, events to attend, and people to congratulate in this week's Food-o-File.
By Virginia B. Wood, Fri., May 11, 2001
It's the Berries
Late spring in Central Texas means berries, and they are particularly good this year! You can pick your own organic strawberries one last weekend right here in town at Boggy Creek Farm (3414 Lyons Road, 926-4650) during their Saturday farmstand hours (9am-2pm). If you're headed up toward Marble Falls and Sweet Berry Farm (FM 1980, 830/798-1462), check out the Web site at www.sweetberryfarm.com for availability of strawberries and dates they expect their blackberries to ripen. If blackberries and raspberries are your pleasure, call Jack Dougherty for directions to his Bella Vista Ranch (3101 Mt. Sharp Road, 512/847-6514) near Wimberley and the opportunity to pick the most luscious berries you can imagine. Another great place for blackberries is east of Austin, at the Wolf Farm (512/273-2388) near McDade. They're closed on Mondays and Thursdays but open for pick-your-own the rest of the week from sun up to sundown. Call for directions and availability.
Plenty of Events
Where in town could you expect to find menu items from Frank & Angie's, Güero's, Iron Works, Jeffrey's, Krispy Kreme, Ray's Steakhouse, Stubb's, Ruta Maya, and Threadgill's gathered on the same tables? The menu items Clifford Antone loves from each of those locally owned restaurants will be on the buffet tables at the Help Clifford Help Kids benefit concert at Antone's (213 W. Fifth, 474-5314) on Thursday, May 17, at 8pm. In Clifford's much-lamented absence, his friends are carrying on his remarkable penchant for community service and staging a benefit for the American Youthworks Art and Technology Building. The musical lineup includes Bob Schneider, Toni Price, and Vallejo, and tickets are available in advance and at the door… Lots of activity at the Breed & Co. (718 W. 29th, 474-6679; 3663 Bee Caves Rd., 328-3960) stores this Saturday, May 12. Renowned Southwestern herb expert Lucinda Hutson will sign copies of the new edition of the Herb Garden Cookbook (Gulf Publishing, $24.95) from 10am-noon at the 29th Street location. Both stores will hold a "Skillet Swap" on May 12 where you can trade in a used skillet from any manufacturer to purchase a 9.5-inch Black SignoCast Classic by Berndes for $24, a substantial saving off the list price. This is a joint charitable promotion between Breed and Berndes. Used skillets suitable for donation will go to El Buen Samaritano for distribution to the needy… As you might expect, every restaurant and their mother has something special planned for Mother's Day Brunch. Emilia's (600 E. Third, 469-9722) has created a unique menu just for the day at $50 for adults and $25 for kids, with reservations suggested. If Mom would prefer a soothing drive to the Highland Lakes, treat her to luncheon in the courtyard at Fall Creek Vineyards (915/379-5361, www.fcv.com) to be prepared by Fredericksburg chef Jason Felton. There will be three seatings for the three-course meal which will be complemented by Fall Creek's award-winning wines. Cost is $24.95 per person, seating is limited, and reservations are necessary.
Congratulate Foo
Another round of kudos for Dr. Foo Swasdee and her Texas Food Research product development company, makers of Gemsugar. The Thai crystal sugar product in a dazzling array of colors was recognized as Best New Product at the 13th Annual Specialty Coffee Association of America National Conference in April.
