by Virginia B. Wood
Zoot, one of Austin’s most successful dinner houses, has recently added a
Sunday brunch. Service in the sunny, comfortable West Austin cottage is
available from 11am-2pm, featuring an � la carte menu. Diners can
sip Mimosas and order from an interesting selection of breakfast and lunch
dishes such as cinnamon brioche french toast, Jamaican potato omelet with
tropical fruits or a cornish hen with fontina grits and haricots verts.
Pastry chef Mary Perna’s baked goods and desserts complement the menu. In other
notable news from Zoot, chef/co-owner Stewart Scruggs has resigned his
position. “After five years at Zoot it was time to make a change,” explains
Scruggs. “It’s a very amicable split and I just wanted to give (co-owners) Bick
and Erica Brown plenty of time to find a replacement before they open Manga,”
an Asian diner the Browns are starting in Hyde Park. Scruggs is considering all
job options and not limiting himself to Austin or even Texas. The Browns are
reviewing resum�s from local and national applicants for the vacant
position…
Several local confectioners have great holiday desserts for sale
around town. Consider these: The new holiday flavor from Amandine French
Sorbets is Cranberry Spice for sale in all the usual places; the ever-popular
Pumpkin Flan from Marta’s Flan will soon be joined by Eggnog Flan at Whole
Foods, Central Market, Fiesta and restaurants all over town; scrumptious pies
such as Bourbon Pecan, Mocha Pecan and Pumpkin with Ginger Pecan Crust created
by PamMade Pies can be found at both Whole Foods stores and Central Market as
well as her little retail outlet at 103-B W. Pecan in downtown Pflugerville;
Sweetish Hill’s delicious Pumpkin Cheesecakes and other famous sweets are for
sale at Central Market this year as well as their two retail outlets…
If
you’ve decided to leave the cooking of Thanksgiving Dinner up to professionals,
there are many eager to oblige. Reliable spreads from Whole Foods Market,
Central Market and Threadgill’s are just a phone call away and there are some
new contenders this year. Bon Fresh Food Market (327-3801) will have items such
as turkey, leg of lamb, ham and various side dishes, seasoned and ready to pop
in the oven so no one need ever know you didn’t slave for days. Sfuzzi
(476-8100) has a dynamite menu to eat in the restaurant or take home. If an
American Thanksgiving dinner with a French country flair sounds interesting,
contact Jean-Luc’s French Bistro (494-0033) for a fax copy of their stress-free
holiday order menu…
Two popular local ethnic restaurants are celebrating
anniversaries with special menus. Check out the Peruvian Tasting Menu at El
Rinconcito on Monday, November 25 and wish chef/owner Lalo Garland a happy
fifth anniversary while you’re there. This year’s crop of Beaujolais
Nouveau will arrive at Jean-Luc’s French Bistro the weekend of November
22-23, and they’re offering a four-course prix fixe degustation menu on
those evenings in conjunction with the completion of their maiden year. Raise a
glass of beaujolais and wish them joyeux anniversaire.…
Randall’s has joined the local Farmer’s Market craze. Drop by the Randall’s on
William Cannon Saturday and Sunday mornings this month to shop for fresh fall
vegetables from Gary Hodge’s Hodge Station Farm. Hodge’s produce will be picked
fresh early the morning it goes on sale at the store. Sounds like something to
be very thankful for.
Send restaurant news, chef/menu changes, food events, or intriguing
rumors to: “food-o-file,” The Austin Chronicle, PO Box 49066, Austin, TX
78765.
This article appears in November 22 • 1996 and November 22 • 1996 (Cover).