Chefs Brady and Loiacono Team at Ventana

Chefs Brady & Loiacano

I like the idea of a functioning restaurant as a learning center for culinary students: you know a place where they can put their classroom instructions to the acid test. Ventana, the commercial restaurant of the Texas Culinary Academy is such a place.

And the TCA just scored a major coup by securing the services of two of our most outstanding central Texas chefs: Robert Brady of Aquarelle and Steve Loiacono, formerly of Bellagio.

We attended a student-prepared dinner there the other night where the food was paired with wines from the Frank Family Vineyards. The Foie Gras au Torchon was magnificent: deep, rich flavors with perfect texture. And every dish after that was equally good. The dinner was a complete success and the students deserved the recognition they got from a room full of critical foodies.

If you’ve not yet tried Ventana, you owe it to yourself and your palate to get out to 11400 Burnet Road behind the Domain and see what chefs Brady and Loiacono have taught their young protégées. Phone: (512) 339-3850