Food-o-File

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New Flavors in Town

Three local businesses are promoting products with brand-new flavors this month. Based on the overwhelming success of their Handmade Marshmallows (over 10,000 pounds sold since last November), Whole Foods Bakehouse debuted its Handmade Chocolate Marshmallows earlier this month. The sweet little chocolate pillows are packed by weight and cost $5.69 per pound at either Whole Foods location (601 N. Lamar, 476-1206; 9607 Gateway, 345-5003). The friends who sampled them at my house were headed straight home to make chocolate Rice Krispie treats but I was thinking more along the lines of S'mores or floating them on Kahlua-laced hot cocoa... In honor of the upcoming Austin Fine Arts Festival on April 13-14 in Republic Square, the talented folks at Amy's Ice Cream have created Artist's Ambrosia, a custard-based flavor studded with chocolate chips and cherries. The new flavor went on sale March 13 and will be available until after the Festival. Customers who purchase Artist's Ambrosia will get a $1 off coupon for admittance to the annual art show and sale that benefits the restoration of Laguna Gloria... The newest sandwich from Schlotzsky's, the Albuquerque Turkey, is all over national TV these days with animated promotional spots featuring the work of Austin musicians. The spicy new sandwich is made with a pile of shaved smoked turkey, fire-roasted vegetables, bacon, sliced cheese, and a savory chipotle sauce, served warm on the signature Schlotzsky's bun. The hot, juicy sandwich gets a nice warm tingle from the chipotle sauce and packs plenty of flavor. The musical spots range in style from zydeco to blues to hip-hop and were produced locally at Tequila Mockingbird Studios. With local musicians selling everything from Chevrolets to Schlotzsky's, that's bound to be good for the local economy.

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News

After two long years of struggle and anticipation, Robbie's Cajun Kitchen (1203 W. Sixth, 477-7768) is finally open on West Sixth between Lamar and MoPac. Chef/owner Robbie Greig hopes the loyal Austinites who've followed his cooking career over the years will visit him at the new West Austin spot where he's open daily for dinner from 5:30pm "until," and for Sunday brunch from 11am-2pm... Several people have inquired about the future of Sardine Rouge (311 W. Sixth) since owners Joe Elminger and Norbert Brandt put it on the market last fall. The new owner is restaurateur Don Rhode, former managing partner of the first Austin P.F. Chang's outlet. After a complete renovation of the building, Rhode's new restaurant will be called Demi Epicurious and will feature a menu of small plates designed for grazing. More details as the new restaurant develops... If you haven't flown American Airlines in the past couple of weeks, you probably haven't seen the newest issue of their in-flight magazine, American Way, with the cover story about Lance Armstrong's favorite weekend out in his hometown. The celebrated international cyclist and cancer survivor describes a perfect weekend with tips on lodging (the Driskill, the Four Seasons), nightlife (the Continental Club, the Paramount), culture (the Texas State History Museum), and lots of restaurant suggestions. Seems Armstrong and his wife are partial to Mirabelle, where they like the food and wine pairings of owner Mike Villim and the game dishes at Hudson's on the Bend. They like the Hula Hut, Maudie's, and the Oasis for Mexican food and are big fans of the sweet rolls from Upper Crust and the Morning Glory muffins at Sweetish Hill.