Food-o-File

Looking at the stellar lineup of events for Edible Austin's second annual Eat Local Week, celebrating the bounty of the late fall harvest, made me very aware of just how far Austin's local food movement has come in the past 15 years. When I started writing about food and restaurants for the Chronicle in 1993, there was a small pioneering group of area organic farmers, a handful of artisan-food producers, a few people trying to get farmers' markets off the ground, new legislation that encouraged microbreweries, and a statewide wine industry still in its infancy. Fast-forward to 2008 – now we can boast a healthy list of farmers and ranchers selling their products at two strong local farmers' markets and a few farmstands, several area farms selling shares in community-supported agriculture programs, a burgeoning group of artisan-food producers, microbreweries that are going strong, and a wine and spirits industry that generates millions of dollars for the Texas economy. Restaurants, grocery stores, and neighborhood markets proudly feature local produce, meat, dairy, and locally prepared foods, plus Texas wines, beers, liquors, and liqueurs. There's a publication focusing specifically on local food and a brand new Sustainable Food Policy Board that will advise the city of Austin and Travis Co. about a wide range of sustainable food issues. (See www.edibleaustin.com/sustainablefoodpolicyboard for details, and then call the city clerk's office at 974-2210 about the application process for membership on this new 13-member board.) Eat Local Week runs from Friday, Dec. 5, through Saturday, Dec. 13. Proceeds from many of the scheduled events will benefit the nonprofit market gardening program for high school students called Urban Roots. Whether you're a biking enthusiast; a movie or art lover; an aficionado of tea, coffee, beer, or cocktails; or simply someone who appreciates fresh, local food, there's an event to suit your taste; see a complete list of events and participants at www.edibleaustin.com. A sustainable food system enriches our lives, our city, and our environment in so many ways. Support this invaluable community resource not just during the coming week but all year-round. Vote with your dollars and your forks – it is vital for us to demonstrate the value of local food in order to ensure that it will continue to be available... In other local news, in a recent item about the closure of five Delaware Sub Shops (Nov. 21), I inadvertently stirred up a hornet's nest among the former franchisees. Turns out the franchise agreements for the five shops were dissolved by mutual agreement, and all five stores remain open with different names and somewhat different menus. Debbie Mustian's shops are now Capital City Subs (1104 W. 34th, 458-8423; 3654 Bee Caves Rd., 347-1045); Jayne Maze has CaliJane's Deli & Grill (1401 S. I-35, 388-1888) in Round Rock; and David Tucci's businesses are now called Tucci's South Side Subs (801 E. William Cannon, 440-1850; 7101 Hwy. 71 W., 288-7414). I apologize for any confusion the previous item may have created... Finn & Porter restaurant in the Hilton Downtown closed in mid-November for a spectacular $600,000 renovation. The reimagined space will include two private dining rooms as well as an expanded sushi bar and should reopen just in time for New Year's Eve.