by Virginia B. Wood
The arrival of spring means a variety of things in Austin: wildflowers, new
gardens, fresh produce, and restaurant openings. The rainy winter should yield
a bumper crop of bluebonnets and also make it that much easier to get a good
garden started. The folks at Starbucks Coffee know one component of a
successful garden is a healthy compost pile and they are willing to do their
part by offering spent coffee grounds to consumers free of charge. Grounds may
be picked up at any of the local Starbucks outlets but they request people call
ahead to reserve the grounds. Speaking of gardens, Boggy Creek Farm owners
Larry Butler and Carol Sayle report that even though their market at the farm
(3414 Lyons Road) doesn’t reopen until the first weekend in April, the
delectable fruits of their organic strawberry crop should be available at the
Wednesday Whole Foods Farmer’s Market by this week. A little farther down the
road, the famous Poteet strawberries are ready. While you’re appreciating
wildflowers, look for strawberry stands at farms along Hwy16, south of San
Antonio. The 50th annual Poteet Strawberry Festival happens April 12-13. Call
210/742-8144 for info.
The good news from Cafe Josie chef/owner Charlie Mayes is his new venture
opened in early March to enthusiastic support from the West Sixth Street
neighbors in Pecan Square Emporium. The new eatery is open for lunch
11:30am-3pm and dinner 5:30-10pm, Monday-Saturday. A Sunday brunch 11am-3pm
begins this weekend, March 23. According to Mayes, some items on his brunch
menu will harken back to the days when the space housed the European-style
Sweetish Hill Cafe and other choices will have more of an island flair,
prompting the description “Euro-Tropic.” Look for Cafe Josie at Sixth and
Blanco, behind the Coffee Exchange.
Sweetish Hill partisans in the Northwest Hills area no longer need to drive
downtown for their French pastry fix. As of early March, cappuccino and
selected Sweetish Hill breakfast pastries, breads, cookies, and cakes are
available with the regular menu items at the Mangia Pizza restaurant at 8012
Mesa Drive. Breakfast hours at the Mangia NW will be 7am-10:30am on weekdays
and 8am-1pm on weekends. The newly expanded West Austin Mangia location at 2401
Lake Austin Blvd. is now a full-service restaurant, serving continuously from
7am until 10pm weekdays and 8am-10:30pm on weekends. Sweetish Hill pastries
won’t be available at the West location.
The perfect trip for adventurers who appreciate gourmet meals prepared
outdoors under shooting stars is available from Crumpets Restaurant in San
Antonio and Far Flung Adventures in Terlingua. Rio Grande gourmet raft trips
to afford the best viewing of the spectacular Hale-Bopp Comet are scheduled for
April 11-13 and April 18-20. A fee of $600 includes wine, beverages, and major
meals prepared by Crumpets chef/owner Francois Maeder, and also includes
boating equipment and travel expertise from Far Flung Adventures. For
reservations, contact Crumpets at 210/821-5600.
If you are so inclined, one way to usher in the new season would be to
participate in the Great American Meat-Out. Inspired by the Great American
Smokeout against tobacco products, the Meat-Out encourages American consumers
to “kick the meat habit, at least for a day” and also to pursue more “healthful
and humane alternatives to the Standard American Diet.” The Meat-Out takes
place today, Thursday, March 20, and is sponsored by the Farm Animal Reform
Movement
This article appears in March 21 • 1997 and March 21 • 1997 (Cover).