Wine Fight in Italy!
The families that make one of my favorites, Amarone del Valpolicella, are squabbling over the control of the name Amarone. Well more than squabbling apparently: there’s litigation involved at this point. As Colonel Niebaum once famously said, “can’t we all just get along?”
The Best Pizzas in Austin:
Pizza Wars 2016 Part 1.
Welcome to Pizza Wars 2016. We started this back in 2000 when Austin didn’t have enough locally owned pizza joints for us to select a Top 5 let alone a Top 10. But my how things have changed. I no longer have to begin these pieces by lamenting my lack of access to Pepe’s and […]
Pieous Introduces Pie-e-tea
on 290 W
Josh Kaner wasn’t content with the runaway success of Pieous on 290 W. So the mercurial pizza maker and sourdough curator opened a tea and pastry shop adjacent to his restaurant a few months ago. And just like the bread he makes at Pieous for the pastrami sandwiches these pastries are amazing. The place opens […]
Chinos and Gringos Opens
in Oak Hill
Oak Hill has its first Tex-Mex and Asian fusion restaurant. Partners Tom Hsieh and David Deicke bring backgrounds in Asian and Mexican cuisine to the table. Like many newer Austin restaurants, they began as a food truck in 2014 and evolved from there. They’ve got some diverse influences on the menu from Korean-styled Kimchee Fries […]
Last minute Mother’s Day choices.
It’s still not too late to choose a dining option for Mother’s Day. Here’s a quick list, many of which include members of our new Top 25. Trio Always the best brunch in Austin. Fonda San Miguel Consistently the best Mexican brunch in Austin. Dine at the Radisson. David Garrido and exec chef Mario work […]
Stephan Pyles Shuttering Famous Dallas Restaurant
Stephan Pyles has been pleasing Dallas palates for years and his influence reaches down to Austin as well. So it’s a big story up north that Pyle’s namesake restaurant is closing. He’s at the end of another of his ten-year cycles and well, just like the chef of Star Canyon fame will be moving on. […]
Rob’s Ultimate Movable Feast
Movable feasts have gone in and out of popularity over the years. But they work like this: a group starts at one restaurant for a first course, moves on to a second restaurant for the next course, and so on. Of course a large spacious limo is a requisite (Marriton would be good). Here is […]
Via 313 Opens 2nd Location at site of Blackbird and Henry
Detroit-style pizza Via 313 has opened a second location at 31st and Guadalupe at the site of the closed Blackbird and Henry. I had high hopes for them after the move from 919 in Marble Falls. Ah well. Don’t expect any problems for the new Via 313 location. The first brick and mortar location on […]
Austin Wine and Food Festival Cancellation
For the first time in the 30-year history of the event the Austin Wine and Food Festival was cancelled this past weekend. That’s sad but sadder still to see how far this has strayed from its original roots. Ed and Susan Auler, founders of Fall Creek Winery had begun the Texas Hill Country Wine and […]
Whole Foods Cake Allegation
It was Marie Antoinette that said: “let them eat cake!” Well an openly gay Austin pastor ordered a cake from the Lamar store several days ago. He wanted “Love Wins” written on it. The story goes that he was in a hurry, picked up and paid for the cake, and later noticed a three-letter homophobic […]
Gonzo Gourmet Club Planning Next Dinner
After a killer first dinner at III Forks last month, our rejuvenated Gonzo Gourmet Club is planning a second dinner. We’re thinking about Prelog’s downtown and have also had some requests for the always excellent Freda’s Seafood Grille near Lakeline Mall. Please email us rbbalon1@gmail.com if you have other requests or feedback. One way or […]
