Food-o-File
To the victor belongs the cheese
By Virginia B. Wood, Fri., July 10, 2015
The Taste of Victory
Two of Austin's most delicious culinary competitions take place this weekend. To honor the anniversary of his event, co-founder Adi Anand has added a new category to Quesoff V. Now, in addition to meaty, spicy, veggie, and wild card queso concoctions, competitors will whip up their best version of guacamole for the new guac division. More than 25 restaurants, caterers, individuals, and teams enter this event regularly, so there will be plenty of samples to taste and compare. Quesoff V takes place at the Mohawk (912 Red River) with music provided by DJs Johnny Hottub. As always, the event is free, but a bag of chips costs $5. Saturday, July 11, 2-5pm.
Easy as Pie
If your taste for competition runs to both sweet and savory, consider KOOP-FM's third annual Red-Hot Hootenanny & Best-by-Golly Pie Contest at the Spider House Ballroom (2906 Fruth). Pie experts from Tiny Pies and Blue Note Bakery will judge the sweet and savory entries based on taste, appearance, and creativity. Pies must be delivered by 8pm the day of to be considered for judging, and once the judging is over, slices of pie will be available for a small donation. Other pie-related activities will include a pie eating contest and a hot apron sale featuring both new and vintage aprons. Fine Southern Gentlemen will be there with their Swag Wagon, hand-screening pie-related wearable art for sale. Musical entertainment will include Jesse Vain & the Happy Hour Holiness Movement, the Blacklands, and New Mystery Girl. Tickets are $10 at the door. Saturday, July 11, doors at 7pm.
Restaurant News Lightning Round
la Barbecue (902 E. Cesar Chavez) will not be moving to the Wahoo's Fish Taco (1722 S. Congress) space after all this fall. The team is once again on the lookout for just the right brick-and-mortar spot... Susana Vivanco of La Chaparrita Peruvian restaurant in the now-shuttered Highland Mall food court is rebranding her eatery and moving to a nearby space in the Linc. Look for Lima Criolla (6406 N. I-35 #1550) to be open there by July 25, just in time for her annual Peruvian Independence Day celebration July 28... Gardner (1914 E. Sixth) begins offering their summer prix fixe dinner this week, with four courses from the regular menu for $38, Tuesday-Saturday evenings... The grand opening of the Romanouskas Delicatessen trailer (1309 Rosewood) is Thursday, July 9, 11am-3pm with hearty deli sandwiches made with house-cured meats and homemade breads by Bobby Lovelett... The second Schmidt Family Barbecue (2125 Lohmans Crossing) outlet opens near Lakeway at 11am on Monday, July 13... Look for chef and restaurateur Parind Vora to open his new Lockhart Bistro (119 E. San Antonio St. in Lockhart) August 1, with a dining patio overlooking the town square and historic courthouse.
