The Balon North Carolina Dining Tour Ends in Hillsborough

Posted by on Jun 28, 2022 in Cuisine, Fusion, Travel

One last night on our trip, and one last spectacular meal. No seafood tonight, but instead one last meal at The Nomad, a cross-cultural street food inspired eatery in Hillsborough where I had the most amazing gua bao (shown below.) The pork belly was incredibly tender and the chili sauce was a perfect complement. Three […]

Bombay Bistro’s Classic Saag Paneer

Posted by on Jan 12, 2020 in Cuisine, Indian

If dishes from Northern India are in your culinary wheelhouse then surely you will appreciate a well made Saag Paneer. This classic and delicious vegetarian dish which features creamy spinach along with chunks of paneer or Indian cheese is virtually irresistible when served with some hot naan bread for dipping. One of my favorite versions […]

Finally, a New Korean Restaurant, Oseyo, Opens on the East Side

Posted by on Jan 6, 2020 in Cuisine, Korean, Openings

I can’t tell you how long I’ve been craving a new Korean restaurant in town. That’s why I’m so pleased that Oseyo has opened on the East Side. The menu is packed with all my favorites: Bibimbap, Mandu (dumplings), Bulgogi, Pa Jeon, Kalbi, Kimchi and other original Korean mega dishes. Nothing against the other Korean […]

Homespun Kitchen and Bar Evolves into Must-Visit Restaurant in Dripping Springs.

Posted by on Jan 2, 2020 in Cuisine, Dripping Springs

When I I first visited Homespun Kitchen and Bar, I was impressed with its hominess and the quality of its comfort food dishes. But owners Randy Ford and Jennifer Walker (shown above) have ramped up the food to the point where they have a real coterie of devoted foodies. Sophisticated dishes like fried catfish Pontchartrain […]

Spam Comes Back with a WHAM at Poke Austin

Posted by on Oct 23, 2019 in Cuisine, Hawaiian

Spam is one of those kinds of canned meats that many people disdain upon initial contact. But because of its long shelf life and no need for refrigeration, it was introduced to GIs in Hawaii during World War II. The product gradually spread to the locals and to this day remains a phenomenally popular black […]

How Mourad Belkacem Brought the Texican Cafe to Life

Posted by on Oct 13, 2019 in Austin Originals, Cuisine, Southwestern, Tex-Mex

Mourad Belkacem spent his formative years working in a restaurant in the suburbs south of Paris. He later emigrated to Texas and studied engineering at UT. To make ends meet he took a job at the original Mr. Gatti’s startup. He was intrigued by the energy there and moved up the ladder at Mr. Gatti’s […]

Creek Road Cafe’s Clam Chowder Just Keeps Getting Better

Posted by on Sep 6, 2019 in Cuisine, Dripping Springs

You can always tell a lot about the quality of what a restaurant will offer farther down the menu by one simple barometer: their soups! The first time I tried Chef Chae’s clam chowder at Creek Road Café in Dripping Springs, I had no doubt what would follow: pure unadulterated excellence! And you know what? […]

Rob’s Take on Austin BBQ is Live on Forbes.com

Posted by on Aug 22, 2019 in Barbecue, News, Rob On Cuisine, Rob's Blog

When a national site like Forbes.com asks you for your favorite BBQ joints in Austin, it’s very cool. Click on the image above or this link to read the article.

Scott Roberts Leads Salt Lick from BBQ to Wine

Posted by on Aug 5, 2019 in Barbecue, West, Wine & Spirits

I had an enjoyable meeting last week with The Salt Lick BBQ honcho Scott Roberts. We tasted some astonishingly good new dishes like bison ribs and (yes, you’re reading this this correctly) smoked tofu. But the biggest takeaways for me were the wines from Salt Lick Cellars. The Tempranillo was exceptionally balanced with great mouth […]

Forbes.com Chooses Rob for Article Rating Austin BBQ

Posted by on Jul 22, 2019 in Barbecue, News, Rob On Cuisine, Rob's Blog

So you thought that Texas Monthly was the only go to source for rating Austin BBQ? Turns out Forbes.com, the website of nationally distributed Forbes Magazine, has shown an interest in BBQ in and around Austin, so they asked Rob to rate the local scene along with a ranking of his favorites. The article is […]

Chinatown Westlake Keeps Raising the Bar

Posted by on Jul 15, 2019 in Asian, Chinese, Cuisine, Fine Dining

Ronald Cheng showing his lighter side at Chinese New Year bash There was a time in Austin not that long ago when most Chinese restaurants were fairly predictable and boring. You know: #10 was hot and sour soup, #9 was beef and broccoli, and so it went. Most dishes were on the Cantonese side and […]

Rob Heads to Tillie’s in Dripping Springs for a First Tasting and Chat with Exec Chef Brandon Martin

Posted by on Jul 11, 2019 in Dripping Springs, News, Rob On Cuisine, Rob's Blog

Tillie’s is a collaborative ensemble of Texas cuisine with international flair. Located at Camp Lucy Resort in Dripping Springs, it derives its name from owner Whit Hanks’ great grandmother, who was an enthusiastic world traveler and co-founder, along with her husband Lewis, of The Austin Country Club. Stay tuned – we’ll be back soon with […]

Rob Enjoys Terrific Wagyu Tasting at III Forks

Posted by on Jun 29, 2019 in Cuisine, Rob's Blog, Steaks

Wagyu is the name for Japanese beef. It is beautifully marbled and highly prized for its amazing texture. In a tasting At III Forks last week, I had the chance to sit down with Chef Eric Nixon and sample various cuts of Wagyu raised in Pittsburgh, Tex. The beef is characterized by layers of fat […]

Jennifer Ling and Trent Schneiter: From High Finance to Poke Austin

Posted by on May 21, 2019 in Cuisine, Hawaiian, South

There’s a great back story to how Poke Austin on Brodie Lane got started. Trent Schneiter worked in high finance where he first met Jennifer Ling, who hailed from China and had an MA in economics from UCLA. Trent had always enjoyed cooking and dining out. Jennifer also had family in the restaurant biz in […]

Gino’s Vino Osteria Recreates Old-Time Hospitality in a New Round Rock Restaurant

Posted by on May 5, 2019 in Cuisine, Italian, Round Rock

One of the long lost traditions from my old days of eating Italian food in New Haven (aside from authentic Naples coal fired pizza) was the congenial and seemingly ever present owner who worked the room like a Las Vegas host and virtually presided over every patron‘s table. You usually walked out of one of […]

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