Ciclo At Four Seasons Maintains the Tradition of the Best Sunday Brunch
The Sunday brunch at Four Seasons has long held the acknowledged top spot as the best in the city. The transition to Ciclo as the main restaurant has done little to change that. Executive chef and major-domo Elmar Prambs and his crew continue to shine. Our last visit there was delightful. The antipasto and Caprese […]
Texican Cafe Opens Fourth Location in Kyle
One of Austin’s most iconic and popular Mexican restaurants, Texican Cafe, has opened it’s fourth area location in Kyle. The El Paso style Texican is well known for its amazing cabrito, Hatch chiles, queso flameado, delicious sour cream enchiladas, shrimp flautas and appetizers like the stuffed jalapeños with genuine jalapeño jelly. Their weekend breakfasts are […]
Why are David Joseph of El Patio and Rob Smiling? Because El Patio is Reopening in September!!
Could there be better news for Tex-Mex lovers in Austin? Hard to say what that might be, but the fact that the beloved and iconic El Patio is reopening shortly is hard to top. The closing night of El Patio was mingled with both joy and sadness, but virtually none of the family owners were […]
Hoover Alexander, the Most Beloved Restaurateur in Austin!
This is my man, the king of Southern fried soul food and owner of Hoover’s Cooking on Manor Road. Hoover Alexander is not only a brilliant chef, but a flat out great guy and friend. We go back over 30 years to his days at Toulouse on West 6th Street. In all those years I’ve […]
The Secret to Getting the Best Moist Brisket at PoK-e-Jo’s
I was lunching with owner PoK-e-Jo’s owner Danny Haberman last week and I remarked about how tasty the moist brisket was. Then Danny gave me a tip. Each morning around 11, Pitmaster Demetrio brings out the latest briskets from the smoker. So head over to the Brodie Oaks store at that time and ask for […]
Rob Finishes Recent BBQ Austin BBQ Tour at Franklin. Lip Smackin’ Good!
My journey into the heart of Austin BBQ for Forbes.com ended at Franklin Barbecue. Here I was chowing down, of course, with the sumptuous pork ribs. Read the article on Forbes.com by clicking on this link.
Danny Haberman Keeps the Local Tradition of PoK-e-Jo’s Alive and Well
PoK-e-Jo’s is an Austin BBQ tradition. And Danny Haberman has seen that this family business has grown and prospered by focusing on customer service and great ‘cue along with some of the best sides in the city. In a city that has been virtually overrun with national and regional chains, PoK-e-Jo’s stands as a beacon […]
Rob’s Take on Austin BBQ is Live on Forbes.com
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
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 […]
Tillie’s at Camp Lucy Serves Sunday Brunch Amidst Painstakingly Imported Artifacts
Tillie’s owner Whit Hanks has traveled the world collecting religious relics and beautiful statues. How appropriate that they frame the wonderful dishes at Tillie’s that constitute one of the Hill Country’s best brunches. Chef Brandon Martin‘s brunch unfolds one delicious dish at a time beginning with a classic French Toast (below) and followed by a […]
Salt Lick Adds Bison Ribs to the Menu
Just when you thought the iconic Salt Lick BBQ couldn’t dish up any better pork ribs, Scott Roberts and crew unveil bison ribs. They just explode with flavor and your cardiologist will be pleased. 😉 I certainly was!
When Tex Mex Meets Austin Style BBQ: Welcome to Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ
In my quest to finish my article in Forbes magazine on Austin BBQ, my path led me to Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ on Manchaca. I had to schmooze my way through the line as I tracked down owner Miguel Vidal and his wife Melody. Seems that Miguel worked for Kevin Williamson at Ranch 616 off […]
Forbes.com Chooses Rob for Article Rating Austin BBQ
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
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 Enjoys Terrific Wagyu Tasting at III Forks
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 […]
