Food at ACL Fest: Best Year So Far?

The Austin Eats food court was a thing to behold at this year’s ACL Festival. Of course Jeff Blank’s Mighty Cone (Hot and Crunchy Shrimp and Avocdo) was there, as it has been since day one. But lots of other interesting new players were on the scene. Aquarelle, my favorite French restaurant had a tasty presence (Steak and Frit Sandwich) as did Olivia’s, the uber-cool South Lamar bistro (their bacon-wrapped cheddar jalapenos were the bomb) along with Torchy’s Tacos (Green Chili Pork Taco), Wahoo’s (Blackened fish tacos), and The Best Wurst

And if you looked carefully, you could even have spotted the mercurial GSD&M CEO Roy Spence pitching his new (and very tasty) Royito’s Hot Sauce at the VIP area.

The integration of good food and great music simply tells me that festival organizers C3 Presents really get what they’re doing. How many festival events have you been to where the food was a greasy afterthought? Well that was absolutely not the case this year at ACL. Hyde Park Bar and Grill was well-represented with their Pimento Cheese and Cucumber sandwiches (one of our favs). And new chef Ben Nathan (late of the Belmont) was rocking out the Lavaca St. Grille stand with his Hatch Green Chili Cheese Tots. Former Jeffrey’s exec chef David Garrido was on hand with his Beef Morita Burrito from his 3rd St. Taqueria that bears his name. Even Bess Bistro, Sandra Bullock’s southern French bistro was on hand with Semolina Crusted Artichoke Hearts.

Mangia Pizza was there with massive slices (1/4 of a whole pizza) of cheese and pepperoni. And the Salt Lick was on hand with Sausage Wraps and Ribs and Slaw (I love their slaw). One of my favorite cookie makers, Tiff’s Treat’s was serving up Chocolate Chip and Snickerdoodle cookies.

Over all, there were over 30 food vendors dishing out way above average fare at the event. I take my hats off to all of them. They gave music lovers the perfect complement: food that was worth standing in line for!