Food-o-File

October in Austin is everybody's favorite month for events and parties, so we've devoted the whole front page of the Food section in the print edition to an event menu for the first two weeks of the month and bumped "Food-o-File" straight to the web, just this once... Well-deserved kudos to Dawn Orsak for being named the executive director of the Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival recently. Before joining the festival staff three years ago, Dawn spent 10 years with the statewide cultural arts organization Texas Folklife Resources. A specialist in the foodways of her Texas Czech heritage, Dawn curated more than 75 foodways presentations at festivals around the country during her years with TFR, including the American Folklife Festival at the Smithsonian Institution. She also helped us stage the successful Barbecue Summer Camp for the Southern Foodways Alliance in the summer of 2002, and after working closely with her on that event, I know just how lucky the THCWAFF is to have her at the helm... In early September, the Culinary Academy of Austin (6020-D Dillard Circle Dr., 451-5743) hosted a practical exam that is an important component to chef certification with the American Culinary Federation. Qualifying as executive chefs were Texas Culinary Academy chef instructors David Waggoner and Evan Morgan, while CCA pastry instructor Alain Braux was certified as an executive pastry chef. Congratulations, gents!... The Woodrose Winery (662 Woodrose Lane near Stonewall; 830/644-2539) has recently changed hands. New owner and winemaker Mike Guilette has added a series of multilevel decks to increase the seating at the tasting room where he'll showcase new wines for the fall. Our Wes Marshall is particularly impressed with the Woodrose Cabernet... Brian Gilbert at Hill Country Pasta House (3519 RR 620 N., 266-9445) encourages folks in the market for an outdoor party venue to check out the attractive new Tuscan Garden Pavilion at HCPH, where they are currently booking holiday parties... Sandwich lovers will want to cruise by the deli counter at Wheatsville Co-op (3101 Guadalupe, 478-2667) where they've got four new mouthwatering sandwich offerings: a Catfish Po'boy with spicy chipotle mayo on a hoagie roll; a Popcorn Tofu Po'Boy with cashew tamari dressing on a hoagie roll; a fully dressed Italian Hero with two salamis, ham, and provolone on ciabatta; and the Italian Stallion with fresh mozzarella, basil pesto, and roasted red peppers on ciabatta. Yum... Congratulations to local condiment mavens Jill and Kevin Lewis of Austin Slow Burn (www.austinslowburn.com, coming soon) for their big wins at the Houston Hot Sauce Festival in mid-September. Their Salsa Verde, Jerk Marinade, and new Green Chile Queso all took first-place honors, while their Salsa Con Habanero took a third-place award... Frequent Chronicle contributor Mick Vann will present a free and informative seminar on the Secrets of Cooking with Fresh Herbs at It's About Thyme Garden Center (11726 Manchaca Rd., 280-1192) at 2pm on Sunday, Oct. 8... Pick up some invaluable info on how to cultivate an attractive wildflower patch right at home at the Blue Bonnets and Bleu Cheese class that's the upcoming installment of the gardening series at East Side Cafe (2113 Manor Rd., 494-1464). The class includes wine, cheese, and gardening tips for $39 per person and reservations are necessary. Classes are from 6:30 to 8pm on Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 17 and 18.