Friendly Competitors

One would assume that restaurants, like other businesses, are inherently competitive with each other. To the extent that you would have never expected Microsoft’s Bill Gates to walk into the launch party for Apple’s I phone and offer congratulatory words.

But that’s exactly what happened at the new Barlata Spanish restaurant on South Lamar the other night.

Greg and Jason Schnurr, owners of the long-established Malaga (2nd St. tapas bar) showed up to dine and to pay their respects to owner Daniel Oliveda. I thought it was a classy gesture as the two restaurants are direct competitors. Oliveda was equally outgoing. Emmet Fox of Asti and Fino was there enjoying the food as well, even though I didn’t recognize him without his chef’s whites on.

I’ve seen comparable acts of hospitality around the Austin restaurant community. And it seems to fit the image we all have of our city. Maybe I’m wrong but I can’t imagine NYC’s Rocco deSpirito heading over to Mario Batelli’s Baboo for a quick ataboy.