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Craving Breakfast: Check Out Texas Honey Ham on Bee Caves Road

What a pleasant surprise this place has been. In a small strip mall on 3736 Bee Caves Rd, this place sits where the old C-5 Steakhouse used to be.

My wife discovered it when she bought one of their Honey Glazed Hams for the holidays. But they are much more than that. I am a breakfast freak and they have a wide variety of neat offerings. The breakfast tacos are excellent as are the Ham, Egg & Cheese Rolls and the Bacon, Egg & Rolls. The Baked Potato Hash is also very good.

They’ve got you covered for lunch as well with some fun sandwiches: a particularly tasty Pulled Pork and a classic and very fresh BLT.

More on their web site at www.texashoneyham.com.

01/02/2009

George Thomas to Assume the Helm at Imperia

Big changes at one of my Top 20 restaurants, Imperia. Chef Joe Tellus has left the restaurant and chef George Thomas, late of the Paggi House and Maiko joins as the new executive chef. Thomas is a hell of a chef and I’ve enjoyed his work for the last several years. We shall see what changes he brings to this already excellent restaurant.

12/22/2008

Steiner Ranch Steakhouse Reopens Thursday, Dec 11th

After the unfortunate events that occurred on Monday of this week, Steiner Ranch Steakhouse will reopen this Thursday evening.

Chris was a very likeable young man as well as a wine enthusiast who had taken great pleasure in putting together the wine list at Steiner Ranch. General Manager Shane Street said that the restaurant is considering naming the restaurant’s fine wine room after Chris.

Chris was engaged to be married, was about to close on a house, and had his life in apparent order till the ultimate chaos on Monday afternoon ended it.

The Bar at Steiner Ranch

No one could have foreseen what happened Monday. But one thing I can pretty much be certain of is that Chris would have wanted Steiner Ranch to reopen as soon as possible. He was a restaurant guy: through and through.

And so my wife and I will dine at Steiner Ranch tonight. And we will drink a toast to Chris. We hope you will join us in celebration at a restaurant that has become this young man’s legacy.

12/11/2008

For Those Who Are Unaware, Today is Repeal Day

That’s right. 75 years ago today, in 1933, prohibition was repealed when the 21st amendment was ratified. Created 14 years ealier in 1919, prohibition was probably one of the most misguided attempts to legislate morality ever to rear its head in the USA. It gave organized crime a serious foothold and created multi millionaires out of people like Joseph P Kennedy who allegedly made a fortune running liquor.

Finally, saner heads prevailed and prohibition was repealed. So what better thing to do? Go have a drink tonight or a bottle of wine. It’s one of the few rights we Americans have left.

12/05/2008

Get a Head Start on Christmas Day Dining: Choices other than Hotels

Christmas day dining options are usually a great deal more limited than Thanksgiving. Usually the major hotels have buffets and that’s about it. But here are some options you might not have considered that take you past the traditional hotel fare. Monday, we’ll post the entire holiday dining schedule for some of our favorite spots. But for now, here’s a bit of an appetizer.

Chinatown Mopac: Chinatown will offer a Dim Sum brunch on Christmas day from 11:00-2:30pm. We think this is a great idea. Open your presents, and then bundle up and go get some dim sum. 343-9307

Manny Hattan’s Deli: This north Austin deli will be open all day on Christmas day from 8am to 8pm. Their varied menu has something for just about everyone and it’s all good. 794-0088

Hill Country Dining Room at Barton Creek Resort: This excellent restaurant will be open on Christmas Day evening from 6-9pm. 329-4000

Chon Som on Wells Branch Pky. How about a little Thai food for Christmas day? Works for me. And the very tasty Chon Som will open for Thai and Sushi Fans.

12/05/2008

Chef Jim Tripi Shines at Spanish Oaks Golf Club

I first became a fan of Chef Jim Tripi when he began the delightful Rojo Red restaurant at the downtown Marriott some eight years ago. Tripi was at the time was ranked among the top 5 chefs in the entire Marriott chain and it was easy to see why. He brought a sense of passion and creativity to each meal that was admirable. And his cornbread was, without question, the best I had ever tasted anywhere in the US.

Chef Tripi moved on to the impeccable new Marriott at Horseshoe Bay and quickly created the most impressive restaurant in the Highland Lakes area. But then a new club in southwest Austin called Spanish Oaks made him the proverbial “offer you can’t refuse.” And so Jim moved in to create a restaurant for a private club with about 250 members and their families. It’s difficult for a club with a relatively small membership roster to sustain a restaurant of the type that Tripi has created. But as my KLBJ broadcasting partner Ed Clements can attest, the restaurant is phenomenal. The members love it and what’s more they support it. It’s open Thursday-Saturday for dinner and six days a week for lunch. And the cornbread may even be better than when I first tried it.

Chef Jim Tripi

Saturday night we had the privilege of dining there (and it is a privilege) and even though I hadn’t dined at a Tripi table in over three years, it felt as though I’d been doing so on a regular basis. That’s how his food stays with you. We began with some Hawaiian Poke and Lump Crabmeat salad with some hatch peppers crushed in for seasoning. It was spectacular. Then we tried Bacon Wrapped Venison which was cut-with-a-fork tender, not to mention incredibly tasty. Next an appetizer featuring fresh Maine lobster with polenta in a creamy butter sauce. This one almost left us speechless.

And all the while, the can’t-say-no-to cornbread kept coming. And coming. And we continued devouring it.

The Chicken Fried Steak with gravy, haricot vertes (skinny string beans) and mac and cheese was a huge, massively breaded chuck of incredulity. Not only was it tender, but everything worked! Marge tried a chicken and pasta dish that was equally rewarding. And we finished by splitting some exceptionally light but texturally perfect Strawberry Mint sorbet. Then, as if my magic, the requisite doggie bags magically appeared in our car which was warmed up and waiting to go.

I’ve had meals like this in the best restaurants in Austin but NEVER have I had anything this good at a smallish private golf club, no matter how nice the layout was. And I’ve eaten at many: from Cypress Point to Pine Valley to Shinnicock Hills. I won’t tell you what it costs to join Spanish Oaks. And I have yet to play the course. But if I had a bunch of discretionary dollars lying around, I’d join Spanish Oaks just for the food. Great golf courses come and they go, but there is only ONE Jim Tripi. And I hope the members realize how lucky they are.

11/18/2008

Yama Chinese Sushi/Grill on Highway 620 in RR

About a mile west of St. David’s Round Rock Hospital on Highway 620, you’ll find a small strip mall with a killer Asian restaurant. Remember this name: Yama Chinese Sushi/Grill. This place is seriously good.

Chef Roger Jang and his wife Elaine have created an uncommonly good Chinese and Japanese/ Sushi menu. I’ve tried the Gyoza (potstickers), a number of the Rolls, the Szechuan Beef, the Salt and Pepper Shrimp and the Vegetable Yakisoba. All delicious. Roger Jang is a heavy hitter in Chinese circles, having helmed legendary restaurants like Bejing, Hunan Lion, and the Tea Garden.

I can see that I am going to be spending a lot of time working my way through this menu. The phone is 671-4788. Please go there NOW because this place deserves more of an audience than it’s currently getting.

11/17/2008

Heading to New York with lots of money: Have we got two restaurants for you!

One thing I like about the restaurant scene in New York City is that it always keeps try to one-up itself. The hottest new restaurant is never hot for that long: there’s always something bubbling under the firmament.

And just when you thought that Tao, Nobu, Per Se, and Craft were all the rage, along come a couple of new restaurants that push the envelope to hitherto unscaled heights.

There are two new outrageous players on the scene: Megu and Tom.

Megu is at 62 Thomas Street between Church St. and West Broadway. It is a Japanese styled steakhouse but not to be confused with a typical tepanyaki spot like Tokyo Steakhouse. There’s no sitting at a table where the chef makes fire-hissing volcanos our of onions. This is a restaurant that purports to serve only the highest quality Kobe beef from Japan. It’s not uncommon for $500-$600 bllls for a party of two. I imagine that partly goes to support the gigantic ice sculpture they carve daily. The ambience is also breathtaking. So, if you’ve never had Kobe sashimi before ($110 per appetizer-size plate), then Megu could be for you.

A friend in NYC whose culinary opinions I trust loves the place. But a caution: the serving sizes are small. You might have to raid some late-night deli afterwards. 212-964-7777. www.megunyc.com

Tom at 47 E. 19th St. is the brainchild of uber-chef Tom Colicchio, founder of Craft. This one is interesting. It’s located in the private dining room of Craft and is only open on alternate Tuesdays each month, a total of 24 evenings per year. The pre-fixe menu changes frequently and usually begins at $150 per person before drinks, tax and tip. So do the math.

Colicchio, who opened the award-winning Grammercy Tavern in NYC 1n 1994 and then later Craft along with appearing on the Top Chef TV program says he always wanted to do a “personal” restaurant like this since he first achieved culinary stardom. He will do all of the cooking himself. Wonder how tough it’s going to be to get a reservation here?

Chef Tom Colicchio of "Tom"

Try calling 212-400-6495.

10/06/2008

Zu Zu’s On Bee Caves Road Celebrates 1st Anniversary

It’s always a pleasure to have one of my favorite restaurants open a location near my home in restaurant-starved southwest Austin. Thus I am doubly pleased that Zu Zu’s, a healthy and tasty Tex Mex emporium on Bee Caves Rd across from the County Line, has just celebrated its first anniversary.

Owner Russell Arnold should be pleased. It’s always a tough go for restaurants in Westlake. And ZuZu’s has built a substantial fan base. Click here to see their Menu.

10/03/2008

High End Restaurants at ACL: Join ‘em If You Can’t Beat ‘em.

The pedigree of the food at the upcoming ACL festival got ratcheted up quite a bit this year. Lots of higher end restaurants like Hudson’s on the Bend have joined in. And there’s a good reason.

Last year during ACL a number of upscale places were deader than a doornail for three days. So the prevailing theme this year is apparently: if you can’t beat ‘em, than join ‘em.

Who would have thought that Roy’s, Aquarelle, Hudson’s on the Bend, Saba Blue Water Café, and Vespaio’s Enoteca not to mention the Salt Lick or Jezebel would have graced the trampled grass of Zilker park.?

Well, I think it’s a great idea. Nothing will cost more than $8 and these fine restaurants will get to show off their wares to an entirely new and upscale audience. Besides, it beats sitting around and folding napkins all night.

Here's a complete list of the restaurants:

Amy's Ice Cream
Aquarelle Restaurant (steak and frites sandwich, caprese sandwich)
Austin's Best Burger
Austin's Pizza
Ben & Jerry's
Best Lemonade
Boomerang's Pies (Guinness steak-and-potato pie, spinach and mushroom pie)
Children of the Kettle Corn
Doc Green's Gourmet Salads & Grill
Jezebel (falafel pita sandwich, cold pasta, curried potato, cabbage and pea burrito)
El Chilito (braised beef, spicy chicken and bean tacos)
Flipnotics (iced coffee and smoothies)
The Original Hoffbrau Steaks
Hudson's on the Bend (chicken cone, avocado cone, fish cone)
Maine Root (organic beverages)
Nice Conez (snow cones)
P. Terry's (burgers)
Pureheart (lamb and beef gyro, ham and brie panini)
Roy's (Asian barbecue wings, pulled Kahlua pork nachos)
Saba Blue Water Cafe (fish tacos, pulled pork tacos)
Salt Lick
Amazon Berry Smoothies
Snowie (shaved ice)
Solar Natural Foods (wraps)
Stubb's Bar B-Que
Sweet Leaf Tea
The Best Wurst
Thistle Café (wraps, turkey melt)
Vespaio/Enoteca (mozzarella, tomato and pesto sandwich, calamari sandwich, meatball hoagie)
Wahoo's Fish Tacos

09/25/2008

Austin’s Best Restaurants Shine at Busby Foundation’s “Flavors of the Town"

It was my pleasure to host the Busby Foundation’s annual fund-raising event at the Hyatt this past week. 11 of Austin’s best restaurants came out to help raise money for Lou Gherig’s Disease (ALS). Pictured below were some of the many VIP restaurant participants.

Imperia Exec Chef Joe Tellus and Marketing Director Trena Garza.

Hudson’s on the Bend Exec Jeff Blank explaining the fine point’s of the evening’s offering of expresso-rubbed beef tenderloin served with green chili mashed potatoes.

Eddie V’s chef Daniele Edwards serves Rob a spicy crab cake with a remoulade.

III Forks Exec Chef Jamie Guttierez and friends served a lovely smoked prime rib buschetta

Chef Ben Nathan of the Belmont served an ancho chile and brown sugar crusted tenderloin with a crème de leek and smoked bacon twice-baked potato.

Chef Brian Trumbell brought along some of McCormick and Schmick’s
signature ice-cold Blue Point Oysters.

09/15/2008

Bizarre Food’s Andrew Zimmern Speaks at The Austin Hilton

You’ve seen him on The Travel Channel in his quest to eat bizarre and unusual food choices. Deep fried scorpions, Cobra penises, 18-inch sandworms, rats on skewers, etc. This is one of those shows that makes one literally squirm. But it has a legion of dedicated fans who fall all over themselves attempting to outdo Andrew in their bizarre choices.

The truth of the matter is that a lot of the foods that Andrew tracks down were eaten on a much more regular basis 150 years ago. Take animal meats for example: many more people consumed organ meat than muscle meat. Why? Because organ meat was so much more inexpensive. As far as fried scorpions or tarantulas go, let’s write that off to the lack of a serious middle class in the rain forests of Brazil.

Frankly, the closest I’d come to eating a fried scorpion is the chocolate one shown in the picture created by Finn and Porter pastry chef Ed Schultz!

09/11/2008

Alternate to Las Manitas for Breakfast Tacos: Dona Emilia’s

Where to get downtown breakfast tacos after the closing of Las Manitas? Dona Emilia’s just down the street on Cesar Chavez (across from the Four Seasons), just two blocks away, is open each morning serving up Austin’s favorite breakfast treat. You might not run into Gus Garcia just yet, but that’s actually OK. The tacos are the thing at Dona Emilia’s!

09/04/2008

"Kids Eat Free" Promotion at ZuZu

ZuZu is offering "Kids Eat Free" Monday through Wednesday nights after 5:30 pm. Two kid items free with the purchase of an adult platter. In house only, no take out and not valid with any other offers.

Click here to see the Menu for ZuZu .

08/12/2008

Rob Meets with Rusty Coco, co-founder of Jason's Deli Chain!

The first things that struck me about Rusty Coco were his genuineness and his east Texas charm. It's not often that I come away from a meeting with the head of a large hospitality chain wanting to go have dinner with the guy. But Rusty is not your average button-downed executive type. He's interested in people and cares passionately about Jason's customer base. He's a fitness enthusiast who works out two hours each day. Yet he loves good red wine. He also loves "Curb your Enthusiasm" on HBO. My kind of guy.

He hails from Beaumont where the first Jason's Deli was launched in 1976. The reason that it became a deli at all was because the owners of the strip mall were from New York. They said they would lease the space to the budding entrepreneurs but only if operated as a deli. Thus, Jason's debuted with all the requisite Deli chow: Reuben's, Liverworst, et al. A local Beaumont DJ who was on a diet suggested that put in a salad bar. And so they did!

Funny how some things begin! Jason's Deli now consists of almost 200 stores across the country with an emphasis on Texas, and the Southeast. More stores are targeted for the upper Midwest and the Northeast.

Rusty has championed the menu development of the chain since the first store and continues to be involved on a daily basis. He shocked the fast-casual industry four years ago by completely pulling trans fats [partially hydrogenated vegetable oils] off the Jason's menu. He now has high-fructose corn syrup in his sights.

Rusty also acknowledges that some of the sandwiches and especially the Potatoes at Jason's can be highly caloric. And so he's worked on introducing lower calories sandwiches and salads. But there are devotees of the restaurant who must have their Muffalettas [the classic New Orleans sandwich] and their potato concoctions. So as Rusty knows, trimming calories is a work in progress, especially in Texas.

I brought my daughter Lauren [marketing grad from St. Edwards and current Apple marketer] along to the meeting. Rusty asked her how long she's been coming to the Bee Caves location of Jason's.

"Since I've been alive," said Lauren without a moment's hesitation. Well, perhaps a bit of an overstatement given that the store opened 15 years ago and Lauren is 23. Bu the perception was there. Jason's likes to start its customer base young. And the Balons made many a trip there when our kids were growing up, playing sports, etc.

Nonetheless, Rusty loved it. He then left to have dinner with his son: all prepared from scratch after an excursion to Central Market.

"I get to watch him cook" and I sit and drink some red wine and admire the process," said Rusty. Well, if you're going to be a success in the restaurant business, you have to love food. No?

As I said, I would definitely like to go to dinner with this guy.

07/30/2008

New Executive Chef Jeffrey Cummins Debuts at Finn and Porter

Jeffrey Cummins is the new executive chef at downtown favorite Finn and Porter at the Hilton. His credits include a seven-year stint as chef du cuisine at the Grand Californian Hotel in Disneyland. He trained at the prestigious California Culinary Arts Academy.

What I like about Cummins philosophy is that he lets the food speak for itself: he’s not into masking flavors but rather helping diners to experience the full range of taste possibilities in each dish.

07/25/2008

Café Panini Is Worth A Visit on N. Mays in Round Rock

Had the good fortune last week to have lunch at a seriously good little eaterie in Round Rock on N. Mays called Café Panini. Owned by a husband and wife who are entrepreneurs and helmed by a CIA trained chef, these are Paninis to get excited about. I tried a Turkey Club Panini that was just about perfect and the other ones looked great as well.

And they make these homemade scones that are to die for. I usually can take or leave scones but these have incredible texture (not the usual dry, crunchy things one finds at most bakeries) and a serious flavor.

1105 S. Mays Street. (866) 866-4976.

07/21/2008

Breaking News: What Happened to and What May Be in Store for the former Cibo’s: El Chilito?

As noted in these pages last month, Cibo which had to close its doors in the spring, was supposed to have been bailed out by an investor from New York who was apparently going to open a restaurant called Luciles. That deal crashed and burned at the 11th hour.

Now, news has it that the team from the successful El Chile operation on Manor has purchased the restaurant at 10th and Congress. Doesn’t take too much of a stretch of the imagination to suggest that the theme of the new restaurant will be Mexican. Perhaps another El Chilito?

07/17/2008

Are you ready for Shochu?

First it was Cachaca, the Brazilian liquor made from the distillation of fermented sugarcane juice,that began to attract attention internationally. Perhaps because it has a alcohol strength of between 38%-48% and is the basis for the famous Caipirinha, the national drink of Brazil.

Now, keeping with the current culinary craze for all things Asian, comes Shochu. This is a trendy new Japanese liquor that’s catching on in the big culinary centers of the US. Available at most Twin Liquors.

07/17/2008

9 Reasons to Patronize Austin Java

I tend to get annoyed when area restaurants are attacked for no apparent or viable reason. Such has been the case over the past few weeks as Austin Java has been the subject of boycott threats allegedly made by a certain blues singer. All this because the owner of Austin Java and his partners followed a business plan that had already been approved by the city council, the zoning commission, and the Zilker neighborhood association with regard to the removal of certain tress to make way for a new condo development behind Austin Java on Barton Springs.

That being said, here are my Top Nine reasons to patronize Austin Java on Barton Springs Road and for that matter, all the other Austin Java’s in the River City.

1. Their coffee is fresh roasted and damned good. Have a biscotti to go along with it.
2. They are geek friendly. Lap tops rule. The staff is friendly.
Occasionally quirky, but friendly.
3. You can bring your pet as well. And they have hibiscus tea.
4. Their breakfast tacos are terrific. My favorite is the eggs, turkey sausage and cheese white whole wheat tortillas.
5. You can eat breakfast any darned time you want.
The Blueberry pancakes are to die for.
6. The Cajun Blackened Crawfish Pasta dish is one of my favorites in the city.
7. They have free parking and will shuttle you to and from it.
8. The Smoked Gouda and Bacon Cheeseburger is very good.
9. Because singers should sing. If they don’t want to eat a restaurant because of a personal grudge, fine. But recognize that when they say this onstage to their fans, it can easily be interpreted as a mandate

07/11/2008

Join the Senior Citizen Social Circle at the Veranda

The Veranda Restaurant & Bar presents the Senior Citizen Social Circle. Membership is complimentary and entitles you to a 20% discount off any entree (not including lunch specials), a 30% discount off of Saturday and Sunday brunch, and complimentary dessert on your birthday.

The eligibility requirements are:
1. You must be an Austin resident
2. You must be 60+ years of age
3. You must be a registered member
4. Your membership Card must be presented to receive discounts.

07/10/2008

The Bakehouse Hosts Open Mic Competition for Singer-Songwriters

Each Monday the Bakehouse, one of our favorite “iconic” restaurants at 5404 Manchaca near Stassney is sponsoring the “South Austin Singer-Songwriter Contest”. This is an open contest for which rewards each of the top three finalists with prizes including a PAID gig for the overall winner.

The contest is hosted by award-winning songwriter Steve Power (I’ve heard the guy’s CD: he’s really good).

The contest winner is determined by voting from the audience. So it would not be a totally bad idea for each artist to bring some family and friends to join in the fun.

Click here for more details.

07/02/2008

Singer Marcia Ball Allegedly Urges Boycott of Austin Java

Singer Marcia Ball is apparently upset with the owners of the Barton Place Project over the removal of a number of trees; so much that she allegedly announced a boycott of the Austin Java restaurant on Barton Springs Road during her Blues on the Green concert last week.

One of the owners of the Barton Place project is Rick Engel, who also happens to be one of the owners of Austin Java.

According to Engel, who phoned in while I was hosting the Jeff Ward on KLBJ-am show last Friday, Ball called for a boycott of Austin Java while she was on stage at the concert on Wednesday, June 25th.

This appears to be a disagreement between Engel and Ball: why the singer should ask all those at the concert to boycott Austin Java is a mystery to me. There are dozens of employees who derive their livelihood from that restaurant.

Engel and his partners are adamant that no additional trees have been removed other than the ones agreed on. There were several that were lost in that freakish storm we had toward the end of May. But that, as they contend, was that.

One would hope that Ms. Ball would address her grievances to the appropriate parties and let Austin Java continue unencumbered. The restaurant business is tough enough as it is these days.

07/02/2008

Imperia Celebrates New Sushi Bar by offering 2-1 each night till 7pm!

The newly opened Sushi Bar at Imperia is going to offer 2-1 sushi each night during happy hour. Chef Tatsu is rocking and “rolling” and his sushi needs to be celebrated.

Now that’s value!

07/02/2008

Imperia to add Full-Service Sushi Bar

Imperia, one of my favorite modern-Asian restaurants and the newest member of our Top 20, will add Sushi to its already innovative and delectable menu offerings.

Chef Tatsu Aikawa joins Executive Chef Joe Tellus to make a powerful combination in downtown dining. Chef Tatsu, born in Tokyo, has years of experience including stints in Tokyo at “Kikuzushi” and most importantly, five years working with the master “Smokey” at Musashino Dokoro below Chinatown on Mopac. (Musashino is one of my top two favorites for Sushi in central Texas.)

Chef Tatsu has a rare opportunity: starting a Sushi bar at Imperia is the culinary equivalent of being given an unfinished painting by Jackson Pollack and being asked to complete it. The stakes are high but the opportunity is extraordinary!

And as Tyson Cole of Uchi discovered, Takehiko-san Fuse (Smokey) of Musashino is one hell of a tutor. I look for big things from Chef Tatsu!

06/27/2008

More Woes for Cibo: Sale Falls Through at 11th Hour

Cibo, absolutely one of my all-time favorite Austin restaurants, closed several months ago. The Italian-styled restaurant at 10th and Congress helmed by Will Packwood just never got any traction.

The owners had planned to sell the business but the buyer backed out literally at the 11th hour last week. Packwood is one of our most talented, albeit least understood chefs, and I’m afraid we’re going to lose him to a larger city. Too damned bad.

06/18/2008

Green Mesquite Gets Unwanted Drive Through Addition at 4am Monday

In one of the more bizarre events in the food world this month, a truck barreled into the side of BBQ favorite The Green Mesquite at Barton Springs and S. Lamar at about 4am Monday morning. The driver, interestingly, apparently had fallen asleep at the wheel and didn’t wake up even after he crashed through the wall.

To make things more curious, a piece from the dislodged wall flew across the restaurant and hit one of the beer taps, causing the beer to begin to flow.

(Click here to see
an enlarged version)

Owner Tom Davis, who knows how to roll with the punches, had a temporary wall up by Monday and the restaurant is open for business. According to Davis, the driver, who claimed he was going through a divorce, was apparently NOT cited by police for reckless driving nor was he given an alcohol or drug test.

Don’t you just love Austin?

06/10/2008

Kinko’s Classic Comes to Lakeway: Where Hungry Golf Fans can Dine

I don’t know about you, but watching golf makes me hungry. Playing golf makes me even hungrier but that’s another story. This week the Kinko’s Classic is being played in Lakeway. The pros on the Champion’s Tour will all be there: Crenshaw, Kite, Watson, Loren Roberts, Jay Haas and all your favorites.

So where to eat after the round? My first choice would be Ciola’s smack dab in the middle of Lakeway on Higyhway 620. This is southern Italian food at its best. You’ll love their Linguine with Clams, the Penne with Vodka Sauce, the Clams Ciola, the Bruschetta, the Sausage and Peppers, the Oso Busco, and more. Plus they have an outstanding wine list.

Another good bet is Pao’s at the corner of Highway 620 and Lohman’s Spur. This is Chinese cuisine that will satisfy the western and the eastern palate. There’s two separate menus and they both rock. The Scallion Cakes are to die for and the Shrimp lettuce wraps are the bomb. I love the Tofu with Shredded Pork and the Sea Bass is incomparable.

And fans of Thai cuisine will love Thai Spice across the center from Ciola’s. Vicky Vicha presides over a very tasty and spicy menu. The Royal Dumplings are sinful. And the Charcoal Pork will make you a believer. The Pad Kee Mao is exceptional.

Want a burger or a pizza? Then head over to Kahuna’s Ice House farther down 620. The burgers are juicy and irresistible and the fries have real taste and staying power. The pizza is also pretty darned good. And do try the Fish tacos as well.

So enjoy the tournament and enjoy the food out at Lakeway. Fore!!!!!

04/29/2008

Athenian Grille Finally Receives Funding

Got a call from councilwoman Jennifer Kim's office this morning informing me that Anil Simicia, owner of the Athenian Grille, has finally gotten the funding approved for the build out of the new Athenian Grille, which will be located on W. 6th St., across from Ruth's Chris.

This is by no means a Perez sisters deal. All of the money is to be repaid. The small business office of the city did help: and that 's what they should do for small business.

No word on when the new AG will open but we'll keep you posted!

04/28/2008

Local chefs come up huge at Stars Across Texas at the THCWFF

Well, another Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival has gone into the books. And I think most would agree that it was a fun weekend.

I started things off with the “Hot Blooded Latins” seminar at Fogo de Chao featuring the wines of Chile and Argentina. John Bonadies was a knowledgeable and affable host and we should acknowledge the serious amount of time and energy put in by the Austin Chronicle’s Claudia Alarcon.

The follow-up lunch at Dona Emilia’s featured food from Dona Emilia’s, Sampaio, and from the kitchen of Aaron Sanchez, proprietor of two New York Latin hot spots, Centrico and Paladar. His ceviche was a smash!

Friday night found us sipping and noshing at the Stars Across Texas Chef’s competition at the ballroom of the downtown Austin Hilton. One thing was immediately apparent. The Austin chefs were not only in fine form but were well-represented.

Elmar Prambs from the new Trio at the Four Seasons, as usual, knocked us out with a lovely Niman Ranch Flat Iron Steak with corn brulee with beet salad along with an apple bacon biscuit.

Jeff Blank from Hudson’s on the Bend never fails to surprise at these events. His plump strawberry wrapped in venison with goat cheese and honey was another smash hit.

The Navajo Grill from Fredricksburg rolled into town with a nopalito biscuit with a sweet potato and goat cheese puree along with some crispy prosciutto and a ancho honey drizzle. Chef Josh Raymer was presiding.

The chefs at Finn and Porter from the host Austin Hilton were not to be outdone with a seaed pork belly, braised romaine, peppercorn aoli and roasted heirloom tomatoes.

Harvey Harris, Exec Chef at the always popular Siena prepared a rabbit and wild boar tureen with black truffles and a sweet green fig conserva on homemade crostini. Amazing!

Tyson Cole, Chef at the uber-cool Uchi on S. Lamar has been in the local headlines as of late for his epic battle against Chef Morimoto on the Food Newtork’s Iron Chef. Although Cole lost that one, he was a winner Friday night with a seared fois-gras nigiri sushi. You want to talk about a one-bite taste explosion!

Massively tasty!

The chefs from the new Italian restaurant at the Domain, NoRTH, looking a bit like magic men Penn and Teller, produced a magically tasty short rib. I had to go back for seconds on this one.

Jeffrey’s, as usual, was very much in evidence with a cool and lovely yellow tomato and habanero gazpacho with a bit of shrimp and avocado crème fresh. Chef Alma Alcocer-Thomas who helmed the seamless transition from David Garrido a few years ago continues to deliver daily excellence from this most revered of bistro restauants.

04/15/2008

The Gonzo Gourmet Club dines at Sicola’s: A Culinary Experience

Our Gonzo Gourmet Club has got to be one of the coolest dining clubs in Austin. We meet about 6-7 times a year and have epic feasts with wine pairings at wonderful restaurants. Our most recent splurge was Saturday, March 29th, at Sicola’s: A Culinary Experience.

Chef Steven Sicola showcased his inestimable skills with lobster cakes with remoulade, a stunning Portabello and Brie soup, an entrée choice of a light and flaky Sea Bass, a killer Braised Lamb Shank, and a delightful Ribeye. Dessert was a wickedly tasty chocolate raspberry torte. Each course was paired with wines.

For more information on setting up a corporate event or private party at Sicola’s call 323-6907 and ask for Melanie. Their web is www.sicolas.com. To join our Gonzo Gourmet Club, click here.

04/01/2008

Tyson Cole of Uchi Brings the Battle into Kitchen Stadium on the Iron Chef

It isn’t often that a local Austin chef gets to journey to New York to do battle with the big boys on the Food Network’s Iron Chef program.. The last one to do it was the former chef at the Driskill Grill, David Bull. And he lost to Bobby Flay.

Tyson Cole, the uber chef of Uchi on S. Lamar was the next Austin chef to get the call. Last September, he went to New York with his team of Paul Qui and Phillip Speer to take on the almost mythic chef Masaharu Morimoto. The featured ingredient was ginger. Cole was under a strict gag order to not reveal the outcome until the show aired.

On Sunday evening, March 23rd, a packed house of media and Tyson’s best friends and customers watched at Uchi as the event finally aired on the Food Network. We got to sample the same menu Tyson prepared in his battle with Morimoto. And it was fabulous food. From the Japanese black snapper sashimi to the Skewered and grilled salmon belly with ginger compressed watermelon; to the Pan-seared black bass with gingered lemon puree and the Ginger-cured smoked baby yellow tail (hamachi) served with ginger dusted yucca chips (my favorite) and finally to the Brown butter sorbet with ginger consommé it was enough, in my opinion to send Morimoto crumbling into the dust.

Iron Chef airs
to a packed house at Uchi

Alas, the judges, an odd lot if there was ever one assembled, did not agree. Morimoto got the victory but Tyson acquitted himself very well. Had the Food Network actually invited a few additional judges whose culinary chopsticks had a few more notches in them, it might have been different. But the evening was a gas.

The good news is that this exact same menu will be available to the public for the next four Sunday’s for $65 per person with wine and sake pairings available for an additional $31.

Call 916-4808 for reservations.

03/27/2008

Rob Opens Mouth, Inserts Foot: Both County Lines are very much open and doing great!

Radio is a live medium. That’s what makes it special and that’s what also makes it occasionally problematic. This morning, I inadvertently confused the County Line with the Salt Lick as we talked about the Salt Lick’s closing in Davenport. I corrected myself moments later but some folks apparently left the program thinking the County Line had closed.

I love what the County Line offers up, as do thousands of others in central Texas. AND as Hans and Franz of SNL fame used to say, “Listen to me now and hear me later!!!” Both County Lines are very much open. And as evidenced by my last meal at the County Line on the Hill, the food is still great. The view ain’t bad either!

02/29/2008

Austin Dining Recommendations for Hillary and Barack

Okay, the big night is at hand. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are going to square off in an Austin debate with the future of the Democratic presidential nomination at stake. Duly noted.

But the really burning question is where in our fair city are they going to dine? Or perhaps to couch it in culinary logic, where should they dine based on their political ideologies?

Obama is the candidate, so he says, who will unite all the disparate groups out there in fractious old USA. He will fuse, if you will, all the dissenters into one united front. So what better place for him to dine then Austin’s preeminent fusion restaurant, Bistro 88 on Bee Caves Road. Chef Jeff Liu has fused European and Asian flavors with great success. So this would seem to be a natural. Anothe

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