Mansion at Judges’ Hill Names New Exec Chef
The Mansion at Judges’ Hill, long one of Austin’s distinguished dining and lodging destinations at MLK and Rio Grande, has named Scott Mechura as its new executive chef. Mechura has an impressive background with stops at The Timbers at Moonlight Lodge in Big Sky, MT as well as the Escondido Golf and Lake Club in […]
Boomerang’s to Sell their Pies at Whole Foods
One of my favorite little places for empanadas has always been Boomerang’s, the little Aussie pie shop at 3110 Guadalupe. Great news for them. Their product is now going to be available in Whole Foods stores in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. I love the Thai Pie. Hope they have that one on the Whole […]
Hot Off the Presses: News from the Local Food Scene
We blogged last month about the “strange case of Eddie Nimibutr” who owned or worked at (depending on who you’re talking to) the Thai Noodle House on Guadalupe. He was the unfortunate Facebook poster who went nuclear about the Newtown shootings, and claimed that the media only cares when white kids are killed. But he […]
Fore in Lakeway Updates Menu Under New Chef
New Chef Robert Snow will roll out updated lunch and dinner menus at Fore in Lakeway beginning February 20th. Snow, whose credits include Fix at Bellagio in Las Vegas, Fleming’s and most recently Judge’s Hill in Austin, has his eye on some new dishes that have got my attention. How about hand-cut steaks, from an […]
Hill’s Cafe: Demise of an Austin Icon?
I have known Bob Cole as a friend and industry colleague for over 30 years. I was pleasantly surprised when he ventured into the restaurant business about a decade ago after he acquired the venerable Hill’s Cafe on South Congress. I ate there several times and always enjoyed it for the Hill Country roadhouse that […]
Heard on the Street: New Developments in the Restaurant Biz
Mizu to Seque into the 2nd “Grove”? The ill-fated Mizu in Lakeway, which closed on New Year’s Day, and which had one of the most spectacular views in Austin, may soon house the 2nd iteration of Reed Clemon’s highly successful Grove in Westlake on Bee Caves Road. Reed, who first hit paydirt with his Granite […]
Indie Chefs Week at Foreign and Domestic is a Foodie Smash
January 9th thru the 12th has been and continues to be a very special week at Foreign & Domestic. It’s the first Indie Chefs Week for Austin and it features local chefs and other rising stars from around the country. Please note: no Bobby Flays, Morimoto, Lagasse and all the “celebrity chefs” one usually sees […]
Foo Swasdee Back in the Kitchen at Satay
Fans of Satay, the long-running Thai classic off Anderson Lane, will be glad to know that a reinvigorated Foo Swasdee is now back in the kitchen on a full time basis. Swasdee, who has a PhD in Food Science from A&M has got lots of new creations bubbling out of her creative domain, including an […]
Restaurant Jezebel Initiates Mandatory Jacket Policy
Austin is the kind of town where the concept of “laid back” is ingrained into the daily fabric of life. The sartorial casualness that kind of flows from the campuses, tech firms and resonates outward has created a minimalist style of dining attire, even at the fine dining establishments, that occasionally shocks visitors from other […]
The Pita Man and His Empire
Odds are, if you’ve eaten a slice of Pita bread at any local deli or restaurant around Austin, chances are Malek Abijaoude, the proprietor of Phoenicia Bakery and Deli, has gotten up at 2am and fired up his South Lamar ovens and baked the bread that’s covering your Gyro or Shawarma, or what’s served at […]
Rob’s Top Ten Comfort Food Restaurants in Austin
Ever since 9/11, when the national craving for comfort foods made a dramatic comeback, foodies have been rediscovering all those simple yet memorable tastes from their childhoods. And restaurants have been alert to what might have been called a fad for a time but is now most certainly a trend. Restaurants serving simpler, people-pleasing chow […]
More Troubles for John Mueller
A battle with sister LeeAnn Mueller once again spells trouble for the prodigal son of central Texas BBQ, John Mueller. And just like that, in enough time as it takes to say “beef ribs,” John is out at the popular South 1st St. Trailer. No point in going into graphic details here, but suffice it […]
Hoover’s Cooking to License Restaurant at Bergstrom Airport
Hoover Alexander has always been able to deliver that down-home finger-lickin’ good southern style of cuisine at this restaurant on Manor, Hoover’s Cooking. But now the East-side impresario has found a way to bring the dishes at Hoover’s Cooking to Bergstrom International Airport. Hoover has signed a licensing agreement with DNC where he allows him […]
The Russian House to Finally Open on Friday, October 19th
Had my first look at the interior of the new Russian House on 5th and Trinity (next to Rival’s Steakhouse) and received assurance from co-owner Varda that the long-awaited opening will actually occur on Friday evening, October 19th. Her husband, Chef Vladamir and GM Constantine have decorated the place with Russian kitsch so that it […]
Fans of JP Mueller’s BBQ Have a Tense Moment
A faulty propane line at JP Mueller’s caused the fire department to temporarily close the popular BBQ trailer on South 1st over the weekend. Rumors immediately started to spread that the place was permanently closing. But I was there today, Wednesday, and all was well. They were running out of sausage and turkey as usual […]
