Kudos to the Chuy’s folks: Their annual Children Giving to Children Parade collected 42,000 toys for local kids on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Those donations make up one-third of the total number of toys that will be distributed to local kids by Austin’s Blue Santa operation on Dec. 16… Austin’s own Mangia Chicago Stuffed Pizza (six locations around town) just announced the debut of their new e-commerce Web site, www.mangiapizza.com, where their distinctive deep-dish pies can now be ordered online for overnight shipping via FedEx. The pizzas are partially baked and then flash frozen before shipping to ensure that all the recipient has to do is pop the pizza in the oven for a few minutes before indulging in a mouthful of Austintatious goodness. Mangia’s signature football-shaped pizzas can be sent to the sports fans on your holiday gift list, and they’ll gladly ship the heart-shaped pizzas to your long-distance love after the first of the year… Chronicle contributor MM Pack served the McPherson Sangiovese to a surprised and appreciative group of Bay area foodies last month, not a Sauvignon Blanc as I erroneously reported earlier… Chef instructors at the Culinary Academy of Austin (6020-B Dillard Circle, 451-5743) have been busy this fall. Longtime Austin pastry chef Alain Braux has been recognized as a certified executive pastry chef by the American Culinary Federation, adding to his many degrees and certifications. CAA co-owner, chef Steve Mannion, has recently returned from his fourth tour of duty as a guest chef instructor aboard the USS Cowpens, a Navy cruiser stationed off the east coast of Japan… Look for those delicious homemade pies from Royers’ Austin Pie Empowerment Project at the Austin Farmers’ Market (Cesar Chavez between Colorado and Lavaca) every Saturday until Christmas. Pieman Bud says he’s in negotiations for convenient midcity and Westlake locations for drive-through pie pickup locations for the week before Christmas, so we’ll keep you posted… Tamale days are under way at Santa Rita Cantina (1206 W. 38th, 419-7482). The delicious Chicken Tomatillo and Pork Tamales are made from the secret family recipe of chef Julio Dominguez and come in frozen packs of a dozen for $14 with a 16-ounce container of your choice of sauce. Dec. 11-24, just give the restaurant 24 hours’ notice, and grab some good Tex-Mex comfort food for the holidays!
This article appears in December 8 • 2006.