Here’s some of what’s happening in Austin’s culinary scene, as wrangled from numerous PR releases, words on the digital street, and even the occasional (verified) IRL eavesdroppings: It’s your Food News Buffet for the first week of November.
Yes, the multifarious marvels of the Austin Food + Wine Festival will be enjoyed this weekend. Yes, all the tickets are already sold out. We tried to tell you, friend, we really did …
And, more’s the pity, next week’s annual Wine & Swine event of porkwise partying is similarly out of reach …
Reckon, then, that we’d better tell you quick-like right now about the James Beard Foundation’s Taste America: Austin brilliance that’s coming up on Tue., Nov. 9, at which chefs Fermín Núñez of Suerte and LeAnn Mueller of la Barbecue will prepare a multi-course menu – and if you don’t think that’s reason to swoon in a culinary manner, then we think you should probably move back to Oshkosh or wherever. We mean, there’ll be a brisket amuse bouche to start you off, then: beef tri-tip kimchi tacos; smoked beef short ribs with recado negro, black beans, and tortillas; smoked cauliflower with mole rojo; frozen chocolate mousse like a thick shred of cloud from cocoa heaven. And, bonus: The duo’s superlative dishes at this feast will be paired with whiskeys from Rabbit Hole Distillery and wines from William Chris Vineyards, so, click right here for details and tickets …
Ah, hey – what about the Whiskey X at Fair Market on Thursday, Nov. 4? If you’re totes into that sort of tipple – or just wanna groove to a live concert by Shakey Graves – where else would you be on that night?
And, let’s see, what else is going on?
Blurred Vines is a new tasting room and wine club that’ll open on November 13. The by-appointment-only tasting room at 901 E. Seventh lets guests “sample and learn about great wine in a fun and relaxing atmosphere,” offering “sommelier-hosted tasting experiences designed to educate and delight.” The tasting room will serve wines from small producers – primarily sourced from the great wine-making regions of California, Oregon, and Washington, with an occasional bottle from other parts of the world. “Blurred Vines’ exclusive distribution deals mean that you won’t find these wines in retail shops and that they will always be tremendous values that drink well above their price point,” says lead sommelier and managing partner Malon Lemoins. “Price point,” right? They like to say that, don’t they, managing partners? Not just “price,” but “price point.” Sounds all, you know, professional. Makes one think of college business degrees, hours of study before grueling exams, buttondown shirts and double-entry ledgers. Barons of industry. J. Pierpont Morgan with his ravaged turnip of a nose. Still, though: Who doesn’t want more wine – especially wine that’s good and not so easy to find …
Meanwhile, South Lamar’s popular Corner Bar (1901 S. Lamar) has brought a new Thai food trailer alongside to enhance its own potent offerings. Kiin Di, the new mobile joint is called, and it “embraces original cooking techniques from Thailand combined with Austin culture to create unique Thai dishes.” Note: They’ll be rocking that particular Asian yum on Tue.-Fri., 4-10pm and Sat.-Sun., noon-10pm …
Speaking of South Lamar, we recently reviewed that Patika coffeehouse at 2159 S. Lamar, and now come to find out that, whoa, those amazing pastries from chef Bria Jones? Now you can pre-order them by the dozen, thus assuring yourself (and your luckiest friends) of a plethora of handcrafted bready goodness. Check out Patika on Instagram for full menu and ordering details …
And, on North Loop, there’s DrinkWell, right? It’s already a great place to pass a little time, enjoy a few adult beverages, partake of some surprisingly sumptuous noms. And now? They’ve unveiled their new fall cocktail and dining menu. Yeah, if you haven’t been there in a while, reckon it’s a good time to stop on by. What we’re currently obsessing about there is a heady refresher called Dusk ’Til Dawn, which is made with El Dorado aged rum, espresso liqueur, chicory cold brew, créme de cacao, Fernet-Branca, and freshly grated cinnamon. It’s like, whoa, we’re already in heaven …
Did we say “sumptuous noms” just then? Sure, and if we were talking about sumptuous Italian noms right now, we would’ve been talking about Andiamo’s 17th anniversary dinner that’s coming up on Tue., Nov. 9 …
And Paperboy, the excellent bastion of breakfast and lunch dining on East 11th, the inviting place that’s also got a full and fully impressive bar program? They now have a Mini Bourbon Book Library stationed right outside, made from a refurbished newspaper stand and filled with books about bourbon and whiskey and the culture of spirits – available to read as you wait for a table or dine solo. Seriously: What a cool idea. Note: The folks at Sweetens Cove are to blame for this goodness, and local artist William Schweigert handpainted the container for max visual impact …
So, your humble Food Lieutenant, he doesn’t really get this whole hard seltzer thing, you know? On the other hand, there’s no way anyone can deny what a formidable force of business – and, for those who enjoy hard seltzers, what a font of liquid deliciousness – is the local company called Blue Norther, with its impressive array of flavors and boldly decorated cans and, okay, look: Blue Norther is having a grand opening party at their 440 E. St. Elmo outpost this Fri., Nov. 5, with free hard seltzer and more drinks abetted by their pals at Dolce Vida and Still Austin and Iron Wolf. And there’ll be live music by Paul Val, Connor Stephens, and Lewis Christian. And shopportunities with Passport Vintage and Bones Custom Hats. And – yeah, go ahead, grab you some tickets right here …
Your Chronicle friends would never suggest – although we did do that Pie Fighters thing, didn’t we? and that Thrilla in the Tortilla caper, too? – but we’d never really be like, “Hey – you and him, fight!” sort of thing, would we? So we definitely won’t be suggesting that Bird Bird Biscuit needs to battle it out with Little Ola’s for ultimate biscuit supremacy. Nuh uh, not us. However, we will remind you that Little Ola’s is the offshoot of Michael Fojtasek’s justly acclaimed Olamaie. And that Olamaie – and L’Oca d’Oro and the Peached Tortilla, to name a couple more – are among the excellent eateries repped by Table22, which offers subscription boxes from some of Austin’s most beloved restaurants and bars. Hard to recommend that service too highly, tell you what. And we’ll have a whole bunch of other places’ Thanksgiving options rounded up for you (for pick-up, delivery, or dine in) real soon, citizen, but we suspect Table22’s programs could gustatorily tide you over ’til then …
Or – just so many delivery options in this town, n’est-ce pas? – there’s Farmhouse, too, of course. We told you about that local farm-and-ranch-to-your-home-kitchen brilliance a while ago, and they’ve just rocked the magnificent Field Guide Festival, and they’re still working for your most enjoyable sustenance …
And, over at Red Beans and Ricely Yours, the seemingly indefatigible Maris Clegg and Chris Cubas are still working for everyone’s sustenance …
Note: The 25th annual Austin Empty Bowl Project will be a mostly virtual event this year, during which you’ll have two weeks (Nov. 6-20) to bid on the amazing vessels created by local artisans, with the proceeds benefiting Central Texas Food Bank and Meals on Wheels Central Texas …
Now eat as well as you can, tip like it’s going out of style, and watch out for those lingering ’ronas …
This article appears in November 5 • 2021 and October 29 • 2021.