Longtime wine writer Wes Marshall and his wife Emily have sold their home near Spicewood and taken up residence in Portland, Ore. We hope once they are settled Wes will continue to share “Wine of the Week” suggestions with our daily Food section online from time to time and perhaps send reports about the food and wine scene in the Portland area.
Sergio Varela advises us that the second outlet of Azul Tequila (3815 Dry Creek) opened last week to enthusiastic response from the surrounding Northwest Hills neighborhood. The popular eatery offers a mixture of Tex-Mex and Interior Mexican dishes, a full bar with a large selection of tequilas, mezcals, and sotols, as well as occasional mariachi music programming. He also tells us they are beginning construction on the second Papalote Taco House (13265 Research) location, due to open in early 2015.
Carson Symmonds is now executive chef at Mettle (507 Calles), and his new fall menu is taking the kitchen in a new culinary direction with the addition of some international dishes. In addition, Bridget Dunlap‘s casual bistro has designated Mondays from 8pm until midnight as Service Industry Night, with 25% discounts on beer, wine, and cocktails, and a special happy hour menu.
At Lucky Robot (1303 S. Congress), executive chef Mason Evans and sushi chef Jay Huang have revamped the brunch menu, putting an Asian spin on such dishes as Lucky Pancakes with matcha green tea whipped cream, mango peach sake Bellinis, sake coffee punch, and breakfast quesadillas. There is a 30% discount on Sunday brunch food from 10-11:30am for early risers.
The new VIVO (6406 N. I-35 #2343) opened under new management at the Linc this week, with expanded food and drink menus and an outdoor dining patio. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday, with weekday happy hour from 4-7pm and brunch service on Sunday and Monday from 11am-3pm.
Commercial real estate agent Brian Erickson reports that a lease has been signed on the former home of the revered Tamale House No. 3 (5003 Airport). Look for Kim Thai and Quang Vong of Bun Belly to open an artisan bakery and coffee shop in the space, whose name has yet to be revealed.
The James Beard Foundation announced last week that they have added new categories to the slate of annual awards for restaurants, chefs, restaurant design, books, broadcast, and journalism. Nominations will now be accepted for the outstanding baker at restaurants and bakeries in different sections of the country in addition to outstanding pastry chef. In the broadcast area, they’ve added awards for best podcast and visual and technical excellence. Nominations are now open. For complete details and nomination deadlines, go to www.jamesbeard.org/awards.
This article appears in October 24 • 2014.