Food-o-File
A big week for the Chameleon Group
By Virginia B. Wood, Fri., Jan. 23, 2015
Swift's Attic, the upcoming Wu Chow, and Delish Bakery represent the hospitality wing of Stuart Thomajan's Chameleon Group, and all three businesses are generating buzz this week. Swift's Attic (315 Congress) will host a viewing party of Bravo TV's Best New Restaurant featuring Swift's in competition with a Miami restaurant. A screen will be set up in the bar/lounge area and complimentary bites and passed appetizers will be served there during the program Wednesday, Jan. 28, at 8pm. A dim sum pop-up scheduled for Jan. 24 to promote C.K. Chin's upcoming Wu Chow (500 W. Fifth) sold out within an hour after it was announced on Facebook, demonstrating just how hungry the public is for the Chinese eatery. And, in addition to her position as pastry chef at Swift's, Callie Speer will also be developing new pastry products and managing Delish Bakery (209 W. Third), Lisa Thomajan's Downtown shop known for specialty cakes and cupcakes. Delish is newly remodeled, giving the public full view of the decorating area and providing space for Speer to augment the already-popular offerings with new sweet and savory delights, starting this week.
Soup fans rejoice! Selections of the savory soups you love from Eastside Cafe are now for sale in 12-ounce ($3.95) and 16-ounce ($4.95) to-go containers at Elaine's Pork & Pie (2113 Manor Rd.), the little shop in the parking lot. At least two and sometimes three soups will be available daily, with vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. Grab a few of the signature cornbread muffins (25 cents each) to enjoy with the soups. Call 512/494-1464 or check their Facebook page for daily soup choices.
Lightning round of tasty news bites: With two new dining concepts and one expansion scheduled for this year, the ELM Restaurant Group has added Mark Sayre as service director for the company. Sayre begins implementing his hospitality standards as general manager at Arro (601 W. Sixth) Jan. 27 and will oversee the debut of their new Champagne Sunday brunch sometime in February... Barley Swine (2024 S. Lamar) launches an hour of à la carte snacks and drinks specials, weekdays from 5:30-6:30pm... Due to customer demand, Kerbey Lane Cafes (all locations) are bringing back the ever-popular cinnamon roll pancakes and it's possible to add a cinnamon swirl to any pancake stack... The new El Chilito (1623 E. Seventh) is now offering drafts and cans of local brews from Live Oak and Austin Beerworks, in addition to both frozen sangria and mimosas... Big Chief Darold Gordon has moved his Original New Orleans Po-Boy & Gumbo Shop (1701 E. Cesar Chavez) into the hip-pocket-sized space behind Las Cazuelas and expects to open his new Big Easy Bar & Grill (1806 E. 12th) in time for Super Bowl Sunday... Will Tanner and Nathan Hill will celebrate the grand opening of new bar Stay Gold (1910 E. Cesar Chavez) the weekend of Jan. 30.
