Food-o-File
James Holmes and Cristina Koester start one project before finishing another, and Manor Road's many changes.
By Virginia B. Wood, Fri., Feb. 24, 2006
Congratulations to chef James Holmes and his partner Cristina Koester on the arrival of daughter Olivia Grace Holmes (6 lbs., 11 ozs., 20 inches) last week. The proud father reports the couple had an easier time choosing a name for their dainty daughter than for their upcoming joint venture, an as-yet-unnamed bistro on South Lamar, set to open later this year... After years at Room 710, longtime Sixth Street denizen Woody Wiedeman has moved south and is now the proprietor of Woody's South (321 W. Ben White, 851-9663, www.woodyssouth.com). The new joint is part restaurant and part music venue, with a little touch of sports bar thrown in. Wiedeman's business partner is restaurateur Craig Cuny, and well-traveled local chef Ray Wheat is on the range, serving up an eclectic, affordable menu. They're open daily and offer live music several nights a week... Things are buzzing along Manor Road's restaurant row. The newest addition is Clementine Coffee Bar (2200 Manor Rd., 472-9900), where they've got a full menu of coffee beverages, panini, salads, and pastries from Russell's Bakery. Over at Eastside Cafe (2113 Manor Rd., 476-5858), they've just announced the schedule for their March gardening workshop, Of Vines and Viogniers, to take place March 7-8. The $35 classes will include food from chef Elaine Martin, wine commentary by Dorsey Barger, and the gardening expertise of David Kolasta. Reserve now, as these classes fill up quickly. And in response to queries from several distressed barbecue-loving readers, pit master John Mueller lost his lease on Manor Road at the end of last year and is hard at work trying to find the right spot in which to relocate his popular barbecue joint. We'll keep you posted as things develop... Friends who've been lunching at Enoteca Vespaio (1612 S. Congress, 441-7672) came away raving about the delicious house-cured meats, the imported cheeses, and the marvelous pastries: handmade artisan food at its finest.
The Texas Wine & Grape Growers Association (817/424-0570, www.twgga.org) invite you to a big wine and food tasting soiree during their 2006 Southwest Wine Symposium at the Omni Hotel Downtown. (We listed it incorrectly last week as taking place at the Hilton.) The event will feature vintages from 30 award-winning wineries around the state paired with signature dishes from 10 Austin restaurants. Tickets are $50; 5:30-8:30pm, Thursday, Feb. 23.
Event Menu: Feb. 24-March 3
The Texas Wine & Grape Growers Association (817/424-0570, www.twgga.org) invite you to a big wine and food tasting soiree during their 2006 Southwest Wine Symposium at the Omni Hotel Downtown. (We listed it incorrectly last week as taking place at the Hilton.) The event will feature vintages from 30 award-winning wineries around the state paired with signature dishes from 10 Austin restaurants. Tickets are $50; 5:30-8:30pm, Thursday, Feb. 23.
The 2006 Austin Fine Arts Festival kicks off with Night in the Galleries, a progressive tour of 12 downtown Austin art venues benefiting the Austin Museum of Art and the Blanton Museum of Art. Seventy-dollar tour tickets cover the cost of transportation between each location, food and wine at each stop, a discount on art purchases, a souvenir pin, and an afterparty at Thistle on Sixth. Food in the various art venues will be provided by Amuse Bouche Catering, Cafe Josie, Chinatown, Eatswell Catering, La Traviata, Primizie Austin, Roy's, Tacodeli, Z'Tejas, Zoot, and Thistle. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 458-6073 x6, or go to www.austinfineartsfestival.org; 6:30-11:30pm, Saturday, Feb. 25.
