Food-o-File

I had a fascinating conversation with Susan Gayle about her new foodie radio ­program over a delicious bowl of shrimp and grits at Cherry­wood Coffeehouse on Saturday. A native Midwesterner, Gayle says she discovered her passion for food while working in San Francisco years ago, and now she's eager to share that passion with Austinites via the airwaves. "I felt that Austin was really missing a locally focused food radio show, and when I was helping my boyfriend with the avant-garde music show he does on KOOP, I suddenly realized – I could do this!" she recalled. After the requisite six months of volunteer work and technical training, Gayle made a proposal to the KOOP program committee, and they enthusiastically accepted. Food Love Austin debuts on KOOP 91.7FM Thursday, Nov. 11, at 1:30pm. The 30-minute magazine-style show will include conversations with locals and visitors who are passionate about food and a Q&A component during which listeners can write or call in with cooking questions, plus news and information about food-related community nonprofits, farmers' markets, and health and sustainable agriculture issues. Tune in to welcome Susan Gayle as the newest member of the Austin food media....

It's official: The Austin City Council has revised City of Austin Food Code Chapter 10-3 to include a Mobile Food Establish­ment Permit for certified farmers' markets in the city. This will allow vendors to prepare and serve hot food, scoop ice into drinks, and serve food samples during cooking demonstrations. Sustainable Food Center market manager Suzanne Santos reports that all vendors in the markets experience higher sales volume when freshly prepared food is served. Look for vendors such as Dai Due selling hot biscuits with sausage and gravy, Fête Accompli serving chocolate beignets, Thai Fresh dishing up Thai specialties, and others selling hot foods as soon as this weekend at the Downtown and Sunset Val­ley farmers' markets....

Hot on the heels of Antonelli's Cheese Shop and Con' Olio, Austin welcomes another new specialty food shop: The Savory Spice Shop (1201-B W. Sixth, 524-1093, www.savoryspiceshop.com) opens Friday, Nov. 12, with Austin's largest selection of spices and seasonings – chiles, vanillas, salts, peppers, organic herbs, spices, extracts, seasoning blends, and culinary gift sets. Wow!...

Congratulations to the winners of the first Gypsy Picnic Food Trailer Cook-off: Holy Cacao's Frozen Hot Chocolate (Greatest Gulp) Torchy's Tacos' Green Chile Pork Taco (Carnivore's Delight) Bananarchy's Vegan Frozen Banana (Veggie-licious Vittle) Cutie Pie Wagon's Buttermilk Pie (Darn Good Dessert) The Mighty Cone's Shrimp Cone (Trailblazing Creation) Short Bus Subs (Fan Favorite)...

Don't forget the Holiday Baking Contest at Faraday's Kitchen Store (1501 RR 620 N., 266-5666, www.faradayskitchenstore.com) this Saturday, Nov. 13. Kate Thornberry and I will join store manager Sharon O'Quinn and Hudon's on the Bend Executive Chef Kelly Casey on the judging panel.