Trademark Bloodbath on 10th St: Chico’s (from El Paso) vs. Chuco’s!
In my other life as head of a market research firm, I do a fair amount of work as an expert witness in trademark infringement cases. Sometimes you run across some lawsuits that are petty, vindictive, and totally lacking in any kind of understanding of trademark law. We have our own example here in Austin […]
Rob’s Favorites from the Wine Spectator Grand Tour 2008
When Wine Spectator Editor and Publisher Marvin Shanken conceived the idea of the “Grand Tour” back in 2001, the idea was to bring a number of well-known wines, classics that are hard to find, and new releases all together in one room on one night. Wine aficionados immediately adopted the idea. And as a result, […]
Dining Out and Gas at $3.60-$4.00 a Gallon?
I was filling up the old gas guzzler this morning when I heard this profane muttering from the other side of the pump. Curious, I leaned closer and thought I heard this lady talking on her cell phone to someone. She was unleashing a tirade of invectives regarding gas prices. But she was talking only […]
The Demise of Cibo
I’m really bummed about the closing of Cibo. This restaurant at 10th and Congress was the pride and passion of Chef Will Packwood. Everything he knew about Italian cuisine he poured into Cibo. He had actually spent a couple of years cooking in Italy (north of Venice) and every night some new taste extravaganza with […]
Kinko’s Classic Comes to Lakeway: Where Hungry Golf Fans Can Dine
I don’t know about you, but watching golf makes me hungry. Playing golf makes me even hungrier but that’s another story. This week the Kinko’s Classic is being played in Lakeway. The pros on the Champion’s Tour will all be there: Crenshaw, Kite, Watson, Loren Roberts, Jay Haas and all your favorites. So where to […]
Athenian Grille Finally Receives Funding
Got a call from councilwoman Jennifer Kim’s office this morning informing me that Anil Simicia, owner of the Athenian Grille, has finally gotten the funding approved for the build out of the new Athenian Grille, which will be located on West 6th St., across from Ruth’s Chris. This is by no means a Perez sisters […]
Local Chefs Come Up Huge at Stars Across Texas at the THCWFF
Well, another Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival has gone into the books. And I think most would agree that it was a fun weekend. I started things off with the “Hot Blooded Latins” seminar at Fogo de Chao featuring the wines of Chile and Argentina. John Bonadies was a knowledgeable and affable host […]
It’s Time for Another Restaurant “Poll”
I just got an email from a restaurant reminding me that it was time for another one of those annual restaurant “polls” that one sees in various local periodicals and web sites. They then asked me to VOTE for them in the poll. I must get 50-100 of these “vote for me” emails during polling […]
Josh Watkins Exits Driskill Grill to Open His Own Restaurant
No sooner had I finished praising The Driskill Grill’s Josh Watkins and the way he had guided the seamless transition from outgoing Chef David Bull last year than I find I have to write another “departure” story. It’s unusual for a restaurant of the Driskill’s stature to lose two seriously good chefs in under two […]
Gordon Ramsey Decides Not to Dance with the Bakehouse
It looks like bad-boy Fox TV chef Gordon Ramsey has really delivered the ultimate slap in the face to the south Austin icon, The Bakehouse. Ramsey, well-known for his mercurial rants, has apparently passed on doing one of his “Kitchen Nightmares” segments that would have focused on a drastic makeover of this 30-year-old establishment. Owner […]
